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!
576
Well, That Backfired (Part One)
We asked our listeners: What's something you tried thinking it would go great, and instead it spectacularly backfired?
40 min
577
Ask Amy- My Kid Gags At Foods He Used To Like!
If kids already have limited food repertoires, seeing them reduce their list of acceptable foods is very stressful. What should a parent do when her child’s picky eating actually increases with age? How can parents push back without power struggles?
7 min
578
Fresh Take: Rachel Nielson of "3 in 30" Podcast...
Rachel Nielson hosts 3 in 30 Takeaways, a podcast for moms who want to love motherhood as much as they love their kids. She tells us how noticing the "flecks of gold" in her life has actually changed her parenting– and how we can start that practice.
31 min
579
Does Having Kids Make Us Happy?
Studies show an uncertain connection between becoming a parent and increased pleasure, so asking whether having kids makes us happy is complicated– and might not be the point. What are parenting’s rewards? What can we do to raise happiness levels?
40 min
580
Ask Margaret - Will I Always Be This Tired?
When you have little kids feeling tired can start to feel like a permanent state. Kids are master energy-sappers and with, say, a baby and a toddler at home it's easy to feel like being rested is a thing of the past. But there is hope for sleep in the future of even the most tired mom and there are even a few things we can try to make us less tired during those super-tough baby years.
4 min
581
BEST OF: Dr. Edward Hallowell on the New Scienc...
In this “Best Of” interview Dr. Edward Hallowell, co-author of ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--From Childhood Through Adulthood, explains the growing understanding of brains with “variable attention.”
39 min
582
Might Seem Crazy. Works for Me.
45 min
583
Ask Amy - Can I Really Love My Second Child As ...
When moms have a second baby it’s common for them to fear how it will change their relationship with their first child. And whether they’ll have enough love to give them both. Trust us: you will. And you’ll give that older kid the gift of a new bond.
5 min
584
Fresh Take: Zibby Owens on What Moms Don't Have...
Zibby Owens is a podcaster, writer, publisher, and mom who doesn’t have time to exercise, see friends, sleep– or even get sick. Her new anthology MOMS DON’T HAVE TIME TO HAVE KIDS offers 49 essays on what most moms don’t– and yet must– make time for.
30 min
585
Taking Care Of Our Parents (And Our Kids)
Half of adults in their 30s and 40s say they handle some of their parents’ caregiving, even if it’s mostly logistical or financial. When you’re also taking care of your kids, it’s a lot. We talk “sandwich generation” stress and how to get more help.
43 min
586
Fresh Take: Tiffany Jenkins on Mom Anxiety and ...
Tiffany Jenkins is as hilarious as she is honest. She’s a comedian, blogger, author, podcaster, and mom who uses her platforms to help and inspire others struggling with motherhood, mental health, and addiction, and those who just need a good laugh.
39 min
587
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
588
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
589
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
590
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
591
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
592
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
593
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
594
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
595
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
596
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
597
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
598
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
599
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
600
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