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
801
How Are We Going to Keep These Kids Busy?
Most of us have a new reality: we have to keep our kids busy. Here are ideas for keeping kids of all ages occupied, both inside and outside, using materials you probably already have around the house— and preferably, without parental oversight.
40 min
802
Ask Amy - How Can I Get My Big Kids to Pitch In...
This week Amy answers a question from a mom who wants her school-aged kids to do their part in the kitchen.
5 min
803
Gaming: Not All Bad! (Thank Goodness)
Studies show our kids’ gaming doesn’t necessarily correlate with lower grades, hyperactivity, or aggressiveness. But ask any parent: Fortnite, Super Smash Bros, or Xbox can make one cranky zombie. Here’s how to set gaming rules for your household.
45 min
804
Ask Margaret - How Do I Get My Kids to Help Kee...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who wants to know how to encourage her kids to keep their rooms and the playroom clean.
5 min
805
Real Self-Care for Moms
Is “self-care” a facial? A mammogram? A big glass of wine? All of the above- provided they’re things that protect you, or relax you. But for self-care to work, you have to practice it all the time, not just on the bad days. Here’s what works for us.
45 min
806
Ask Amy - How Do I Get Grandma to Limit Screen ...
Amy answers a question from a listener who wants her own mom to stop relying on screens when she's babysitting.
5 min
807
Do In-Laws Get a Bad Rap?
In-law relationships are close by design, not by choice. No wonder conflicts can arise. But a good in-law relationship, if it’s possible, is worth investing in. Here’s how to have difficult conversations- and more importantly, when to let things go.
46 min
808
Ask Margaret - Should I Take My Child to a Fune...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried about taking her young child to a funeral.
4 min
809
Where Did This Kid Come From? When Our Kids Are...
Our kids can make us the craziest when their behavior is the most baffling to us. But unfamiliar doesn’t mean wrong. That our kid is different from us— even in ways we think might make their lives harder— is not necessarily something we need to fix.
43 min
810
Ask Amy - Helping Kids Deal With a Move
Amy answers a question from a mom who is getting her worried four-year-old ready for a big move.
5 min
811
Letting Kids Be Little
In a world where kids get big praise for hitting their milestones ahead of schedule, there are still times and places to let kids be little. Here’s how we create that safe space in our homes, and how it makes our kids’ lives (and ours) more fun.
43 min
812
Ask Margaret - How Should I Deal With Potty Talk?
Margaret answers a question from a listener whose kids are driving her crazy with their potty talk.
5 min
813
Letting People Into Our Mess (with guest Kristi...
Why is it so hard to talk about our struggles? How can opening up about our “mess” make it better? Does online count? How can we be better friends to the mom who lets us in to her mess? Guest: Kristina Kuzmic, author of HOLD ON BUT DON’T HOLD STILL.
47 min
814
Ask Amy- Help! There's a Biter at My Kid's Daycare
Amy answers a question from a mom whose 2-year-old is getting bitten at daycare.
5 min
815
When to Go With Your Gut: Doing What's Right Fo...
From potty-training to red-shirting to homeschooling, these are some of the times our listeners made hard or unconventional choices to do what was right for their kids. If you’ve got that nagging feeling, we talk about when and how you should listen.
43 min
816
Ask Margaret - How Can I Increase My Child's Se...
Margaret answers a question from a listener worried that her tween is suffering from low self-esteem.
5 min
817
When Is This Going to Be Fun Again? Lighthearte...
There really are ways to make our lives as parents more fun and lighthearted, even on a regular Tuesday. Memories aren’t only made at Disney. But it’s okay not to love every moment. Getting rid of the shame around that is the first step to more fun.
45 min
818
Ask Amy - How Can I Get My Child to Do More for...
Amy answers a question from a listener whose daughter is a little too dependent on her.
5 min
819
What Kind of Monster?
What kind of monster listens to videos on speaker? Or keeps the keyboard clicks on their phone? What kind of monster takes up two parking spots? Puts empty cereal boxes back in the cabinet? (Disclaimer: we may have been just a few of these monsters.)
46 min
820
Toddlers: The Great Equalizer (with guest Clint...
Toddlers are the great equalizer. No matter how strong you think you are, a short fat dictator who suddenly doesn’t like that kind of ketchup will break you. We commiserate and troubleshoot with Clint Edwards, author of SILENCE IS A SCARY SOUND.
47 min
821
Ask Amy - How Can I Deal With This Fussy Baby?
This week Amy tackles a question from a listening who has a fussy second baby.
4 min
822
Anger Management for Kids
The best way to handle our children’s anger is to equip them with the tools to handle it themselves. Whether your kid is 4 or 14, here’s how to stand outside the storm and get your calm back a little sooner. Get the full transcript: bit.ly/WFHanger.
46 min
823
Ask Margaret - How Can I Help My Kids Care Abou...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who is trying to get her child to care about punctuality and hygiene.
5 min
824
Back to One: Things We're Starting Over This Year
On a film set, going “back to one” means resetting all of a shot’s elements before doing another take. It’s a continual process. This year, we’re framing our new year’s goal-setting the same way: a reset is not a failure. It’s just what happens next.
47 min
825
Ask Amy- How Early Should Kids Learn How To Sha...
Amy answers a question from a listener seeks advice on getting a preschooler to share his toys with his little sister.
5 min