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
276
Fresh Take: Dr. Tracy Dalgleish on Making Relat...
Miscommunication is one of the most common issues that sends partners into couples therapy. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, relationship expert and author of I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS, offers concrete solutions.
30 min
277
DEEP DIVE: Meeting Our Kids Where They Are
Sometimes our kids are a little behind on meeting their milestones. Sometimes they’ll never reach those milestones at all. How do we let go of “should be”? How do we meet our kids where they are, while still holding expectations that help them grow?
48 min
278
Wait, Didn't Everyone's Family Do This?
From odd birthday traditions to showtunes in 8-part harmony, each family has their own quirks! We asked our listeners about the things they used to think everyone else's family did too.
42 min
279
Ask Amy: Coping with Having a Sick Child
How do we accept a life-changing diagnosis for our child? And how do we manage the fear, grief, and anxiety that accompany it? Here's how to take life-changing news one step at a time.
6 min
280
Fresh Take: Alyssa Blask Campbell on Raising Em...
How do we raise our kids to be emotionally intelligent, especially when many of us weren’t raised that way? Alyssa Blask Campbell, author of the new book TINY HUMANS, BIG EMOTIONS, offers a framework for helping kids build these skills long-term.
32 min
281
Is There Just Too Much Information?
A recent study found many parents report consulting the internet for parenting advice every single day. But how much information is too much? And is it the same for everyone?
31 min
282
Ask Margaret: My Spouse and I Disagree About Be...
How do we get our children to bed at a reasonable hour, especially when our parenting partners have different ideas? Here's how to get on the same page.
6 min
283
Fresh Take: Vanessa Kroll Bennett and Dr. Cara ...
These days puberty starts sooner and lasts longer. That requires not one "The Talk," but a hundred small conversations. Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, co-authors of THIS IS SO AWKWARD, offer tips for getting started.
37 min
284
We're Still Cringing
What cringey moment do you lie awake at night thinking about, 5, 10, or 20 years later? That's what we asked our listeners, and let's just say we're embarrassed FOR them.
40 min
285
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
286
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
287
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
288
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
289
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
290
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
291
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
292
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
293
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
294
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
295
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
296
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
297
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
298
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
299
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
300
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