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
551
Fresh Take: Kat Vellos On Friendship and Connec...
Making friends as adults? Hard work. Seeing the friends we already have? Weirdly difficult. Post-pandemic social stamina? Not exactly helping. Kat Vellos, author of WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER, explains how to get intentional about the connection we need.
28 min
552
Back to Ones (And Why They're Better Than Goals)
Tired of setting New Year’s goals every January? How about some “back to ones” in February? No expectation of perfection, no frustration you didn’t get it all right, no exasperation that what you’re trying to fix is always the same. Of course it is.
41 min
553
Ask Amy : I Accidentally Created a Toddler Scre...
The more screen time toddlers have, the crankier they get when you try to take the screens away. The good news is that a reset around screens really is possible with little ones, thanks to their still-limited short and long term memories. Here’s how.
5 min
554
Fresh Take: Cara Harvey on Real Productivity
Getting more done isn’t about hustling harder, wanting it more, or stuffing more errands on our calendars. Cara Harvey, author of THE 15-MINUTE FORMULA, says it’s about becoming specific about goals, then aligning our productivity with what matters.
38 min
555
Dealing With Uncertainty as a Parent
As parents we can feel like uncertainty is something we have to solve, especially where our kids are concerned. We’re supposed to have the answers. But how do we reassure them when we’re not certain either? How do we manage “uncertainty distress”?
39 min
556
Ask Margaret - My Child is So Rude to Me!
It's not unusual for our "little besties" to grow into eye-rolling rude tweens and teens who can't seem to tolerate our existence - but that doesn't mean we have to put up with it.
6 min
557
Fresh Take: Dr. Lynyetta Willis on Breaking Out...
Ever felt like things are going pretty well, but that happiness is somehow missing from your parenting and your relationships? Dr. Lynyetta Willis calls that feeling “stable misery,” and explains how we can create more joyful harmony in our lives.
36 min
558
This One Thing Is Saving Me Right Now
45 min
559
Ask Amy: What's It Like To Have a Kid Away At C...
What’s it really like to have a kid away at college? Sure, drop-off day is hard, but there are also real benefits to this shift in the parent/child relationship. If you’re dreading an upcoming transition, Amy’s perspective will improve your outlook.
6 min
560
Fresh Take: Meghan Leahy on How To Really Conne...
Meghan Leahy is the "On Parenting" columnist for The Washington Post and a certified parenting coach. In her work, she has found that parenting problems usually come less from a lack of awareness than from a lack of connection.
32 min
561
Pandemic Decision Fatigue
In a recent study 47% of parents reported being so stressed about the pandemic that they struggle to make basic decisions like what’s for dinner. Sound familiar? We discuss our own pandemic decision fatigue, and where we’re finding peace right now.
40 min
562
Ask Margaret - My Boys are Bathroom Destroyers!
If you've got boys you probably have a bathroom in your house that no one dares walk into, but this doesn't have to be a permanent state! Here are some tips and tricks for how to keep the bathrooms in your house at least passable, if not perfect.
4 min
563
Fresh Take: Melinda Wenner Moyer on Raising Kid...
These days, our kids are getting the message that being selfish, obnoxious and cruel is not only okay– it’s how people in power behave. How do we teach them that it actually matters to be kind, ethical, and nice to be around? Guest: Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of HOW TO RAISE KIDS WHO AREN’T A**HOLES.
36 min
564
Well, That Backfired! (Part Two)
Part Two! We asked our listeners: What's something you tried thinking it would go great, and instead it spectacularly backfired?
43 min
565
Ask Amy: My Toddler Thinks It's Funny to Hit Me
Toddlers don’t possess "theory of mind"– the ability to understand other people's mental states, and that those emotions can differ from their own. If smacking Mommy's face makes a 2-year-old feel curious, he really might not know it’s inappropriate.
3 min
566
BEST OF: Katherine May on "Wintering"
Katherine May is the author of WINTERING: THE POWER OF REST AND RETREAT IN DIFFICULT TIMES. In this episode, which originally aired in December 2020, May explains how we can apply the lessons of nature’s actual winters to our metaphorical ones.
44 min
567
2021: The Year in Review
We look back on the year that was and discuss the episodes that were our favorites: the ones that surprised us, taught us the most, and made us laugh. Check the show notes for the one-click playlist of all our favorites!
39 min
568
Ask Margaret - How Do I Handle Kid Crushes?
When our kids tell us about their elementary school crushes– or we find out thanks to notes in their backpack– it can be exciting, confusing, or hilarious. Here’s how to talk about crushes with our younger kids and why it might be best to ‘lean out.’
5 min
569
BEST OF: Carla Naumburg
Kids are hardwired to push our buttons. We’re hardwired to freak out when they do. Carla Naumburg, author of HOW TO STOP LOSING YOUR SH*T WITH YOUR KIDS, explains in this "Best Of" episode how managing our triggers can help.
42 min
570
BEST OF: Holiday Fails
We asked our listeners to tell us their holiday worsts, and in this "best of " episode we discuss them all, plus a few of our own. Think your holiday season has been a little crazy? Hold our eggnog.
44 min
571
Ask Amy: Tips for Flying With Little Ones
Flying with little ones this holiday season? We’ve got tips for what to pre-load on your phone, how to get little ones to keep masks on, and how to decide whether you want to get on the plane first– or absolutely last.
5 min
572
Fresh Take: Rashida Dinehart on Normalizing Grief
Being a parent when you’ve lost your own parent is a special grief journey. Rashida Dinehart of The Grieving Mamas Podcast tells Margaret how her own stages of grief have progressed, and how she says moms on this journey can protect themselves.
30 min
573
It's the Most Everything Time of the Year
According to a recent study, 41% of men strongly agreed that they can relax during the holidays. Only 27% of women felt the same. It’s the most everything time of the year, and we’re doing– and feeling– all the things.
41 min
574
Ask Margaret - Splitting Time at the Holidays
When we have to balance time with our partner’s family and our own at the holidays, it gets difficult to make everyone feel loved and appreciated. The key to making it work? Establishing clear expectations ahead of time, and then holding your ground.
6 min
575
Fresh Take: Relationships with Danielle Silvers...
29 min