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!
651
Fresh Take: Future Focused Parenting With Kira ...
Kira Dorrian and Deana Thayer are the co-founders of Future Focused Parenting, the philosophy that starts with the end in mind. They explain how future-focused parenting can make daily parenting decisions clearer, both for ourselves and for our kids.
35 min
652
Reestablishing Friendships After This Weird Time
These days we're both alternating periods of social-butterfly celebration with times we’re still hiding under the covers. Reemergence is a process. Here's how we’re getting more intentional about reestablishing the friendships we’ve missed the most.
43 min
653
Ask Margaret: How Do I Talk to My Kids About Co...
When do we begin difficult conversations with our kids about consent? We can do it early and often, when it’s in an age-appropriate manner. Here’s how to introduce the topic of consent to kids and how to keep those conversations going as they grow.
7 min
654
Fresh Take: Radha Agrawal on Creating Community
Feeling disconnected from your community after this hard year? Never had a great support system in the first place? Radha Agrawal explains how to build a joy practice, and the possibilities that exist to get intentional about finding our people.
31 min
655
So What Are We Doing This Summer?
Our kids’ summer plans keep evolving, for the better and the more confusing. We’re excited by the possibilities for a real summer this year, but figuring out the new rules seems to be once again kind of up to us. Here’s how we (might) make our plans.
38 min
656
Ask Margaret - My Kid Wants All the Things
Whether it's Pokémon cards, LEGOs or LOL Surprise Dolls, kids want stuff. It doesn't help that some collectibles are designed and marketed to make our kids crave more and more. Here’s how to help our kids control their urges to have all the things.
7 min
657
Fresh Take: Carla Naumburg Tells Us How To Stop...
Kids are hardwired to push our buttons. We’re hardwired to freak out when they do. Carla Naumburg, social worker, mother, and author of HOW TO STOP LOSING YOUR SH*T WITH YOUR KIDS, explains how managing our triggers can help us stop the meltdowns.
38 min
658
Useless Metrics For Life
Behaviorist James Clear says one should "measure to see if you're actually spending time on the things that are important to you." We agree– as long as we remember that 9,000 steps is great, inbox 1000 is totally fine, and "perfect" is always a lie.
41 min
659
BONUS: Toddler Purgatory
On this first episode of our sister podcast, Toddler Purgatory, Blaire and Molly discuss the challenges of life with their tiny, ruthlessly honest, tantrum-having, often stinky carbon copies.Subscribe/follow TODDLER PURGATORY where you listen or at toddlerpurgatory.com.
44 min
660
Ask Amy- I Can't Take The Noise!
Some of us are more affected by our environments. We don't habituate to noise exposure like others do. And when our nervous systems are already amped up for other reasons, the noise can just be too much. Here’s how to control what you can control.
5 min
661
Fresh Take: Ilyse DiMarco on "Mom Brain"
Dr. Ilyse DiMarco’s new book MOM BRAIN explores the profound cognitive and emotional changes that occur when we become mothers, the anxiety that can often result, and the evidence-based strategies that work best to keep us present-moment-focused.
32 min
662
Let It Go? Or No?
Still mad about that thing from that time? This week we're reviewing listener grudges large and small and deciding once and for all if those listeners should let it go or no. Which is not the same question as whether they have a right to be annoyed.
40 min
663
Ask Amy- Company's Coming. How Am I Going To Fe...
Find yourself stuck in the kitchen 24/7 when family comes to visit? You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed and even a little resentful, even if you’re really happy they came. Here’s how to reset expectations so you can truly enjoy your visitors.
5 min
664
Fresh Take: Judith Warner on What Grownups Get ...
Judith Warner’s book AND THEN THEY STOPPED TALKING TO ME: MAKING SENSE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL investigates what can be a truly painful period. Our parenting of tweens can also be affected by our memories of that time, and Warner explains why that matters.
32 min
665
When Your Kid Doesn't Fit The Mold
When kids don’t fit the mold, it can be even harder on us than it is on them. While they’re lying down on second base instead of paying attention, we’re up at night worrying about the year 2035. The good news: the world is wider than it used to be.
39 min
666
Ask Margaret - My Son Can't Keep His Hands to H...
Roughhousing and physical play between kids– especially boys– is natural, but that doesn't mean it doesn't drive parents crazy. Here's how to put sane parameters around it.
6 min
667
Fresh Take: Michaeleen Doucleff on Raising Happ...
Michaeleen Doucleff is the author of Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. Turns out Western parenting isn’t the way things need to be–the key to happy kids is doing less.
30 min
668
Wait, We're Not Ready
We thought we were ready. We were in fact quite excited for all of this to be over, white-knuckling it until we could run outside and hug everyone we saw. But as freedom comes nearer, we’re less sure we want things to go back to how they used to be.
41 min
669
Ask Amy- My 4-Year-Old Hates Transitions
Returning to non-Covid routines can be really hard for little ones. For a 4-year-old who’s spent a full quarter of her life hanging out at home with Mom, that WAS regular life! Here’s how to smooth the return to transitions, at home and at school.
7 min
670
Fresh Take: Christina Martin on How Children Le...
Christina Martin, head of The Children's School, tells us how children learn through play, and why the concept of play is central to the tenets of progressive education. Christina explains the power of play and how to make it a practice in your home.
34 min
671
Are You the 'Good Parent' or the 'Bad Parent' I...
Are you the “bad parent” in your home? The enforcer of bedtimes, the stern shusher in the church pew? Or are you the “good parent,” more likely to agree that time is a construct and that ice cream not only can, but should, be what’s for dinner?
40 min
672
Ask Margaret - My Spouse and I Disagree About D...
How should we handle differences of opinion with our spouse? The "number system" is one way to make sure you're choosing your battles.
6 min
673
Fresh Take: Julie Lythcott-Haims on Becoming An...
Julie Lythcott-Haims’ latest book is Your Turn: How To Be An Adult. Many of us old enough to be “grown-ups” don't feel ready to be in charge of anything. But trying and failing doesn't mean we’re not adults; it’s at the core of what adulting means.
39 min
674
Asking For Big Help (And The Best Ways To Give It)
Why is it so hard to ask for big help, especially when we’re usually grateful to be able to assist a friend in need? How can we become “askable friends” and better helpers? How can we prepare for the big help times in our own lives before they arrive?
41 min
675
Ask Margaret - Should I Ever Let My Kids Use "B...
How much to control "bad" language at home is a parenting dilemma people can have very different opinions about. Margaret advises a mom wondering how to handle this issue with her 4 and 6-year-olds.
6 min