What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face...

When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.

We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.

In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.

If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.

We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.

We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.

If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!  

whatfreshhellpodcast.com

Parenting
Comedy
Kids & Family
251
Ask Amy: When Kids Have Negative Self-Talk
What do we do when our kids' frustration causes them to direct their anger inward and call themselves stupid and worthless? Amy has suggestions for showing kids their worth consistently- not only when they're at their lowest.
5 min
252
Fresh Take: Catherine McCarthy, Heather Tedesco...
How can we help our kids in this age of anxiety, when we can't make it go away, and we don't we have all the answers? Guests: Catherine McCarthy, Heather Tedesco, and Jennifer Weaver, authors of the new book RAISING A KID WHO CAN.
29 min
253
Keeping Up with Friends Without Kids
A recent New York magazine article suggested that new parenthood is the single greatest threat to our adult friendships. How do we hang on to our friends without kids? When is it OK to let them go?
42 min
254
Ask Margaret: How Do I Handle Devices on Playda...
Kids' restrictions on their devices vary widely from household to household. But what about when other people's kids are at your house? How can you maintain your family's boundaries without making your house the "unfun" one?
6 min
255
Fresh Take: Esau McCaulley, "How Far To The Pro...
What does it mean to “escape poverty” in the U.S.? In his new book HOW FAR TO THE PROMISED LAND, Esau McCaulley questions the narrative of exceptionalism that he, and other Black survivors, are conditioned to give when they “make it” in America.
31 min
256
Making It Work With Extended Family
How do we handle the differing expectations, caretaking styles, and cultural traditions within extended families? Amy and Margaret discuss the value of relationships with extended family (while taking a moment to brag about their own relatives!)
37 min
257
Ask Amy: I've Got a Bedtime Staller
What do we do when our child takes forever to get ready for bed? How do we get them back on track without too many tears? Amy gives suggestions to a listener.
7 min
258
Fresh Take: Minna Dubin on Mom Rage
Mom rage is something we don't like to admit exists—but Minna Dubin, author of the new book MOM RAGE, found that each of us only thinks we're alone for having had these moments. Here's why.
27 min
259
Best of: Sick Day Hacks
Back to school, back to home from school with an itchy throat. Here's how to keep sick kids happily busy, when to keep them home, and when they just might be pulling one over on you.
47 min
260
Fresh Take: Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Pu...
Most of us have been posting about our children since they were born. Once they get phones, they post about themselves. Devorah Heitner, author of GROWING UP IN PUBLIC, explains how to help kids navigate their own privacy..
35 min
261
Back-to-School Back-to-Ones
It's back to school, back to morning insanity, back to seventeen different after-school activities per kid! We asked our listeners for their best back-to-school tips - or their biggest complaints.
42 min
262
Ask Margaret: How Do You Get Your Kids to Part ...
How do we cull some of our kids' least-played-with toys without going down to tantrum town? Margaret gives some tips for helping kids say goodbye to toys they no longer need or use.
6 min
263
Ask Amy: My Child Is Not Nice to Her Grandparents
What do we do when our child makes hurtful or rude comments to family members? Here's how to turn those embarrassing moments into teachable ones.
6 min
264
Fresh Take: Dr. Emily Edlynn on Autonomy-Suppor...
How do we stop ourselves from "overparenting" our kids and let them find their own agency? Dr. Emily Edlynn, author of the book "Autonomy-Supportive Parenting" explains how to foster independence in our kids.
30 min
265
I've Got a Mom for That
If someone were to drop your name as the perfect person for a job, what would that job be? Remembering dates for random events? Sensible homesteading? Running efficient meetings?
42 min
266
Ask Margaret: Should I Quit the School's Group ...
How do we avoid being dragged into the Negative Nancy talk in parent chat groups? Margaret answers a question from a listener who is getting stressed out by her nursery school's group chat.
5 min
267
BEST OF: Debbie Reber on Parenting Kids Who Are...
At least 20% of today's kids are “differently wired” with anxiety, ADHD, autism, giftedness, processing disorders, learning disabilities, and more. Guest Debbie Reber explains the parenting “tilts” that work best to support non-neurotypical kids.
37 min
268
BEST OF: How Little Parenting Can We Get Away W...
How little parenting can we get away with? Is doing less better—or at least good enough? We talk backing off on what our kids wear, what they eat, and what they do all day with James Breakwell, author of the hilarious new book Bare Minimum Parenting.
45 min
269
Ask Amy: What Age Is Old Enough for Social Media?
How old should our kids be before they have social media accounts, given all that we know about their dangers? It's a complicated decision, but here are the factors to consider.
6 min
270
Fresh Take: Jennifer Wallace on Achievement Pre...
How do we protect our kids from the toxic achievement pressure that surrounds them? Jennifer Wallace, author of the new book NEVER ENOUGH, explains how to walk this line.
30 min
271
When Typical Parenting Advice Just Doesn't Fit
Parenting advice is often deemed to be universal. When it's not, we tend to question ourselves—but what we should be questioning is why parenting was ever thought to be one-size-fits-all.
40 min
272
Ask Margaret: My Kid Won't Eat a Bite of Dinner!
How do we get our kid to eat what's on their plate when they'd rather launch it across the room? It's time to start thinking of our kid's nourishment in larger units (like weeks).
5 min
273
Fresh Take: Bea Kim on Rediscovering Yourself A...
Once we become mothers, does everything else about us go out the window? How do we get back in touch with our values? Bea Kim, executive and life coach, provides concrete advice for maintaining a healthy sense of identity post-parenthood.
31 min
274
Crazymakers
We all have people in our lives who are crazymakers— always late, always stirring the pot, always causing chaos. Here's what a crazymaker really is - and how to deal with the ones in your life effectively.
42 min
275
Ask Amy: Should I Care If My Teenagers Curse?
What do we do when our kids start using colorful language around the house? Especially when we are sometimes guilty of doing the same thing? Here's how to lay down some ground rules around cursing if you can't outlaw it completely.
4 min