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!
601
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
602
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
603
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
604
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
605
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
606
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
607
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
608
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
609
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
610
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
611
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
612
Fresh Take: Kate Anthony on Doing Divorce Right
Divorce can be amicable, even if your breakup (or marriage) was not. Guest Kate Anthony explains how to make the decision to stay or to go, how to move past the anger, and how to put kids at the center of your co-parenting, but never in the middle.
33 min
613
Let's Rethink Birthday Parties
Have we utterly lost the script when it comes to kids' birthday parties? Is there anything to be gained by simplifying the expectations, the gift-giving, and the goodie bags? We’ve got ideas for parties that are super-fun without breaking the bank.
43 min
614
Ask Margaret - My Kid Doesn't Want to Spend Tim...
When a kid is spending a lot of time alone and seems disconnected from peers, it is tempting for us to swoop in and try to solve the problem. But the better approach is to offer perspective and support to your teen, and be a “safe landing spot.”
7 min
615
BEST OF: Husband Crimes- Can This Marriage Be S...
We asked you to tell us your spouses’ most unacceptable- and also extremely minor- infractions. Whether it’s turning off the AC, creating a Sock Mountain, or pausing Netflix to point out plot holes, these husband (and wife) crimes deserve justice.
52 min
616
Rule Breaker Or Rule Follower: Which Are You?
Are you a rule breaker or a rule follower? Are you married to your opposite? In this episode we discuss how these two kinds of people bump up against each other– especially in our own families– and how we try to find a little balance.
42 min
617
Ask Amy- Is My Kid *Trying* To Be This Difficult?
Is your kid *trying* to make you hate her? More likely, she’s in a developmentally appropriate “disequilibrium” phase. Knowing your formerly calm, happy, loving child will come back soon can really help.
5 min
618
Fresh Take: Christina Hillsberg on How Being a ...
Christina Hillsberg is a former CIA spy. She’s also a mom of five. Her book LICENSE TO PARENT: How My Career as a Spy Helped Me Raise Resourceful, Self-Sufficient Kids is a practical guide for using key spy tactics to teach kids important life skills.
32 min
619
The Best Mom Lies Ever
Here are the mom lies that totally worked on our kids– or worked on us *as* kids. Whether it's the ice cream truck's “all gone” jingle, the "just sleeping” goldfish, or the broccoli factory field trip for kids who act up, these are our favorite fibs.
42 min
620
Ask Margaret - Handling Tough School Drop-Offs
Many of us have peeled shrieking children’s arms from around our necks, handed them off to preschool teachers, then headed back to our cars for a good cry. Here’s how to make dropoffs a little easier– while taking comfort that this phase won't last.
6 min
621
Fresh Take: Annie Murphy Paul on The Extended Mind
Annie Murphy Paul is the author of "The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain.” In this interview, Annie explains how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains– in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships.
29 min
622
Competition: How Much Is Good For Our Kids?
Most of us think the dad yelling through the fence at T-Ball is taking things too seriously. Others say participation trophies teach our kids that achievement is optional. How do we balance the eye of the tiger with just letting our kids play?
41 min
623
Fresh Take: Ashley Brown on Routines That Work
Ashley Brown is the founder of Routine and Things, a business equipping women to live their happiest lives one routine at a time. We discuss Ashley's five areas of focus for routines, why planning routines *is* a routine, and how we can create our own pathways to happier, less stressful lives as moms.
28 min
624
We Thought This Would Be Over By Now
As the *third* school year affected by the pandemic begins, yep, we are frustrated. We thought this would be over by now. But the Delta variant had other plans. Here's how we're currently managing risk for the unvaccinated kids– and vaccinated teens and grownups– in our lives. The enemy is the virus.
35 min
625
Ask Margaret - Can I Say "No Gifts" For My Kid'...
Kids love their birthdays for lots of reasons, but let’s be honest: it’s mostly the gifts. Parents love the gifts a lot less. Buying presents for other kids' parties is a hassle, and having your own kids get a pile of plastic for each birthday isn't great either. Is there a polite way to say “no gifts”?
7 min