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!
551
Things We Hate
From making doctors’ appointments, to “just a reminder” emails that are definitely first notices, to book fairs, to eternally elusive rain boots on a wet morning, here are a few of the things that we (and our listeners) really hate.
40 min
552
Fresh Take: Claire Lerner- Why Is My Child In C...
Margaret and Amy interview Claire Lerner, a child development specialist with more than 30 years of experience, and author of Why Is My Child in Charge? A Roadmap to End Power Struggles, Increase Cooperation, and Find Joy in Parenting Young Children.
38 min
553
Why Does Everything Feel Hard Right Now?
We’re so used to being stuck at home that the thought of social stimulation has become somewhat anxiety-arousing. When did that happen? How can we turn that story around and find our way back to the friends and connections we’ve missed for so long?
40 min
554
Ask Margaret - My Kid Acts Out When Their Sibli...
The dynamics between siblings are always complicated, but when a sibling adds an outside friend to the mix, things get even tougher. Margaret explains why kids act out when their brothers or sisters have friends over and what we can do about it.
6 min
555
Fresh Take: Amy Koppelman on "A Mouthful of Air"
Amy Koppelman is the author of A MOUTHFUL OF AIR, the story of a new mother struggling with severe postpartum depression. Now that novel is a film written, directed, and produced by Koppelman. We discuss how our understanding of PPD has changed, and why it’s still in many ways a silent health crisis.
35 min
556
5th Anniversary Episode! Our Kids Are Creepy
From phantom cries to sleepwalking to night terrors, our kids are creepy. Perhaps never more so than when they tell us they see their dead great-grandfather sitting next to them in the back seat. Are ghosts real? Some of our kids sure think so.
41 min
557
Ask Amy- My Kid Is Not Great At Apologizing
Kids sometimes view saying “sorry” as a get-out-of-jail-free card. I said the magic word, Mom, why are you still mad? But sorry is only the first step in a proper apology. When we help kids get why their actions were hurtful, they can then address the hurt they caused by taking proactive measures.
6 min
558
Fresh Take: Dr. Stacy Haynes on the Best Method...
Dr. Stacy Haynes is a professional counselor who works with kids with behavioral challenges. She says when we identify kids’ underlying problems or lagging skills, we can work together on solutions, rather than focusing on consequences and punishment.
30 min
559
Solo Parenting Seasons and How To Get Through T...
Even if our partners normally pull their weight, sooner or later most of us end up in a “solo parenting” season. Here’s how to deal with those extra-intense times, plus how to prevent the “non-integrated spouse” thing becoming the default reality.
45 min
560
Ask Margaret - Is It OK to Brag About My Kid to...
Feeling proud of our kids is completely normal. But just as we tell our kids which "spaces and places" are appropriate for their behavior, we need to remember that our mom friends may not always be the best audience for our excitement about our kids' achievements.
5 min
561
Fresh Take: Shannon Carpenter on Being a Stay-A...
Shannon Carpenter is a stay-at-home dad and hilarious guy. His new book is THE ULTIMATE STAY-AT-HOME DAD: Your Essential Manual for Being an Awesome Full-Time Father, a manual on day-to-day parenting filled with actionable advice sourced from Carpenter’s own life and over 50 stay-at-home dads.
30 min
562
How Motherhood Changes Us
Studies show that mothers’ brain structures change during pregnancy, along with our shoe sizes. That most of us become more hypervigilant and more anxious isn't a personal failing– it's a biological imperative. We discuss how to give ourselves grace about the ways motherhood has changed us.
41 min
563
Ask Amy- Should I Have My Holiday Shopping *Don...
Is holiday shopping worth starting early this year? Yes, there are Covid-related supply chain issues. On the other hand, “You must buy now!" sounds suspiciously like something a retailer might want you to believe. Either way, one listener’s relative is feeling–and outsourcing the pressure.
5 min
564
Fresh Take: Kate Bowler on the Truths We Need T...
Kate Bowler was blindsided by a Stage IV cancer diagnosis at the age of 35, forcing her to make peace with her limitations in a culture that wants to sell us exhausting positivity. Kate explains what she’s learned about living her “best life now.”
32 min
565
It's The Little Things
There are just those things that we will never, no matter how much we try, get right. Whether it’s remembering birthdays, going shopping and returning with everything we planned to buy, or keeping track of lefts and rights… it’s the little things.
38 min
566
Ask Margaret - My Kid Won't Stop Interrupting!
Kids aren't the best at impulse control, and one rather annoying way this manifests is in constant interrupting. Yes - even when we are trying to answer a question they've asked! The key to curbing interruptions from our kids is to be consistent in our reactions.
6 min
567
Fresh Take: Whitnee Hawthorne On Strategies Fo...
Whitnee Hawthorne is a Fortune 500 executive. She's also a mom of two little ones, and the host of the SAVVY WORKING MOMS podcast. Whitnee explains how to delegate more effectively and why choosing joy every day is crucial to living our best lives.
37 min
568
Getting Kids To Cooperate
Getting kids to cooperate is a challenge at all ages and stages. Here’s how to know when little kids are old enough to kick in, how "connecting before directing" works for older kids, and whether "whistling while they work" might be too much to ask.
39 min
569
Ask Amy- My Kid Dumps Out The Toys Right After ...
Got a toy dumper? Make organizing the playroom a special time with you as the parent. Follow your child’s lead on what that organization should look like. Or consider making your playroom to be more like a preschool classroom, with heavy rotation.
4 min
570
Fresh Take: Dr. Pooja Lakshmin on Burnout and M...
Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is a psychiatrist, author, and founder of gemmawomen.com, the first digital education platform dedicated exclusively to women’s mental health. We discuss mom guilt, burnout, true self-care, and finding ways to reclaim ourselves.
30 min
571
A Room Of Our Own: Claiming the Space We Need
Virginia Woolf said that a woman needed "a room of her own" to do important work. 18 months into a pandemic, with some kids still learning remotely and with spouses noticing they kind of like working at home, we are feeling it: there’s not enough space.
38 min
572
Ask Margaret - My Spouse and I Disagree About H...
When we disagree with our spouses about what our parenting rules should be, it can get fraught quickly. Rather than thinking we have to constantly agree, it's probably a better idea to find a middle ground where each person gets their way sometimes.
6 min
573
Fresh Take: Dr. Danielle Dick on "The Child C...
Danielle Dick is an expert on genetics and environmental influences and the author of THE CHILD CODE: Understanding Your Child's Unique Nature for Happier, More Effective Parenting,a science-based approach to parenting based on kids’ genetic “codes.”
36 min
574
Yep, That Was So Me
What's your "wow, that was so me” story? What is something you did as a kid (or your little one did ) that exemplifies exactly who you/they are now? We discuss some of our listeners’ favorite memories, plus a few of our own.
38 min
575
Ask Amy - How Can I Tell When My Kid Is Overtir...
There's a fine line between tired and overtired. Sometimes the right bedtime exit becomes clear only once you've blown right past it. Overtiredness can look like hyperactivity, irritability or clinginess–and it’s caused by a sudden rush of adrenalin.
3 min