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
751
The Back-To-School Hell (Pandemic Edition)
Back-to-school 2020 was not the finish line we imagined; it’s a reminder that a Return To Normal is nowhere in sight. But the anticipatory anxiety we have about what might happen could be worse than what does. Can we separate uncertainty from threat?
45 min
752
Ask Margaret -My Daughter Says She Thinks She L...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who is concerned about her daughter's self-image.
6 min
753
Fresh Take: Tina Payne Bryson on "The Bottom L...
Amy and Margaret interview Tina Payne Bryson, author of THE BOTTOM LINE FOR BABY: From Sleep Training to Screens, Thumb Suck to Tummy Time—What the Science Says, an A-Z guide for childcare controversies– and the science (or lack thereof) behind them.
35 min
754
The Constant Negativity Is Getting Old
Negativity is contagious (no duh). We can set limits on the whining and the “No!”, but maybe detaching our emotional states from those of our cranky children is the best place to start. A neutral response makes negativity less interesting sooner.
44 min
755
Ask Margaret - My Two-Year-Old's Tantrums Are B...
A listener is getting worn down by her toddler's frequent tantrums.
6 min
756
We Did Not Sign Up For Being With Our Spouses 2...
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Which may explain some of the domestic tension that’s coming from being with our spouses 24/7. We used to have to plan date nights to reconnect- should we now schedule time apart? Guest: Damona Hoffman.
51 min
757
Ask Amy- I Feel Guilty Not Playing With My Only...
A listener dreads “playing pretend” with her 3-year-old. But her child is an only child, and right now she is that child’s only playmate. How can she put limits on it without disappointing her child? How can she enjoy the playtime they do have more?
6 min
758
Okay, We Might Have Overthought That One
All mothers overthink sometimes. Isn’t that the exact assignment the world gives us? Only to then mock us relentlessly for having done so? But yes, we admit: here are a few of the parenting topics that, looking back, we just MAY have overthought.
43 min
759
Ask Amy- Why Does My Kid Always Want To Pretend...
A listener asks: “Does anyone else have a kid that always wants to play the “mean” guy? My almost 3-year-old son always wants to play the villain, and hardly ever the hero or “nice guy”. Is this normal? Or am I raising a future bad boy?
4 min
760
Ditching What Doesn't Matter (With Guest "The L...
Momming is hard. Whether we’re stressed perfectionists or hot messes, our homes and relationships get happier when we do what matters, skip what doesn’t– and clarify what goes in what pile FOR US. Guest: Kendra Adachi, author of THE LAZY GENIUS WAY.
48 min
761
Ask Margaret - How Can I Get My Kid to Be Inter...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried that her son does not have a wide range of interests.
7 min
762
Our Family Had Covid! Here's How It Went For Us...
Amy’s family of 5 had Covid-19 back in March– all “mild” cases, but even in a single household that has meant different things. Here’s how it went down, what Amy has learned, what recovery has looked like, and what to have ready before you need it.
33 min
763
Should I Send My Kids Back To School?
Our kids’ schools have sent plans. And revised them. And reversed them. Now parents have to make our own decisions. Here are the factors driving our own plans– knowing this can’t be one-solution-fits-all, and that the ‘right’ answer does not exist.
48 min
764
Ask Amy - My Kid Is a Know-It-All!
A listener asks whether her daughter's know-it-all tendencies need to be nipped in the bud.
6 min
765
Asking For What We Want, And Teaching Our Daugh...
Our daughters need to be taught to ask and negotiate–because girls aren’t taught those things as well as boys, but also because the world doesn’t always reward women (including grownups) who speak out. Guest: Marisa Porges, author of WHAT GIRLS NEED.
46 min
766
Ask Margaret - Is There Any Way to Get My Kid t...
Margaret answers question from a mom who is scaring her by constantly throwing things.
6 min
767
Advice We Totally Hate
As soon as you become a mother unsolicited advice-givers are everywhere, telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Or “it gets easier.” Or “enjoy every moment.” Out of all the advice that we and our listeners have received, here is the very worst.
44 min
768
Ask Amy - How Can a New Mom Make Friends Right ...
Amy answers a question from a listener who is having trouble connecting with other moms during coronavirus.
6 min
769
Two Kinds of People- Which Are You?
We asked our listeners to divide the world into two kinds of people. Summer or winter? Sleep cuddlers or stop-breathing-on-mes? Many of you responded with slightly judgmental “there’s me, and the crazy people” responses that we are totally here for.
45 min
770
Ask Margaret - When Does This Get Easier?
This week Margaret answers a question from a listener who wants to know if life with her two young kids is ever going to get better!
6 min
771
Hitting the Wall: Get Us Off This Coronacoaster!
We are so done with life on the coronacoaster, but we can’t get off this ride yet. We’ve moved past denial to bargaining, hung out in depression- and now we’re doubling back to anger, not feeling the acceptance part so much. We’re hitting the wall.
42 min
772
Bad Mom Moments (with guest Arianna Bradford)
We tend to hold our Bad Mom Moments close, deeply certain no other mother has ever temporarily forgotten her baby in the Target LEGO aisle. Spoiler alert– you’re not alone. Guest: Arianna Bradford, author of SHAME ON YOU: BIG TRUTHS FROM A BAD MOM.
46 min
773
Ask Margaret - I'm So Worried About Being Away ...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried about leaving her three year old for a few nights.
7 min
774
What This Has Taught Us About Our Kids
This extended pause has been really hard for some of our kids, and actually sort of good for others. We discuss the things we’ve learned and will take forward as parents, both for kids who have weirdly thrived and for kids who have really struggled.
44 min
775
Ask Amy - How Do I Get My 8-Year-Old to Read a ...
Amy answers a question from a reader who wonders how she can encourage reading in her child.
8 min