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!
876
Live Show Bonus! Chappaqua, NY 12/1/18
This episode was recorded live at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Dec 1, 2018. We book live shows into theaters around the country as well as smaller custom events for PTAs and moms’ groups. To find out more: info@whatfreshhellpodcast.com
40 min
877
Holiday Traditions: The Good, The Bad, The Wish...
What are the holiday traditions that work great for your family? What are the things you kind of dread but can't stop now? Here’s how to create a holiday season that works for everyone- including those of us who do most of Santa’s heavy lifting.
41 min
878
How Not To Go Insane in the Winter
Everyone’s energy levels get depleted during the winter. But parents with low batteries also have to deal with cranky kids who’ve watched way too many YouTube videos and who probably should have gotten outside but it’s 4:35 pm and dark as deep space.
39 min
879
Sometimes We Lose It (with guests Heather Turge...
Sometimes we lose it. And while yelling kinda feels good in the moment, afterwards? Not so much. But studies show that trying to clamp down on anger actually makes us MORE angry. Here’s how to recognize our parental triggers in time to control them.
42 min
880
Saying No When Other Parents are Saying Yes
How should we handle group situations where we have different parenting styles? When our particular rules around bedtimes, screens, curfews, or sugar are up against more lax rules (or none at all)? Here’s how to talk it out with everyone beforehand.
38 min
881
Are We Oversharing On Social Media?
We all know parents who chronicle their baby’s every bathtime, give their toddlers hashtags, and air their tween’s hurt feelings on social media. We don’t do *that*…but what are the long-term ramifications for our kids’ privacy when we press SHARE?
38 min
882
Listener Questions: Fussy Babies, Toddlers, and...
We answer a few of our listeners’ most pressing questions: on comforting a really fussy baby, preparing a toddler for a new arrival, and dealing with siblings who squabble constantly. Send us your questions! info@whatfreshhellpodcast.com
34 min
883
Dinosaurs and Trains and Superheroes and Nerf G...
Why are some little boys so obsessed with trains or dinosaurs? Psychologists call these preschool preoccupations “extremely intense interests,” and they’re much more common among boys than girls. Here’s why boys love the things they love so dearly.
44 min
884
How To Be The Teacher’s Favorite Parent
We have more direct relationships with our children’s teachers than our parents could ever have imagined. But the homework, online portals, and conferences aren’t always uncomplicated topics. Here’s how teachers say we can best support what they do.
43 min
885
Self-Regulation for Kids: Helping Them (And You...
Tantrums seem to come out of nowhere. But getting curious about what lies beneath the meltdown in Aisle Six can go a long way towards taming our kids’ meltdowns in the future. Here’s how to help our kids self-regulate without losing our own cool.
41 min
886
How To Get It All Done: Time Management For Mom...
Every mom struggles with the juggle. We discuss strategies to work smarter and get more done. The best time management secret? Be more gentle with ourselves, not more demanding. Guest: Jessica N. Turner, author of the new book Stretched Too Thin.
45 min
887
Why 5 to 8 p.m. Is The Worst: How To Handle the...
5 to 8 p.m. is the worst. Nap-skipping toddlers melting down, babies in “witching hour” mode, 6th graders crying over homework— just when we’re also exhausted from our own very full days. Here’s how to make pickup-to-bedtime a little bit easier.
46 min
888
The Right Number of Kids Is…
For most of us, the right number of kids is the number of kids we have. (At least most of the time.) But there are proven, distinct benefits to each family size, from one kid to a minivan’s worth. Our listeners tell us what works for them and why.
46 min
889
Hand-Me-Downs, Keepsakes, and Too Much Stuff
The toys, keepsakes, hand-me-downs, and art projects our kids create could fill a dumpster. Weekly. Whether you’re a sentimentalist who keeps every finger-painted masterpiece or a ruthless minimalist, here’s how to create systems to tame the stuff.
43 min
890
Raising Grateful Kids
Most of us would like our kids to express — and feel— more gratitude. So how do we get our kids to say thank you like they mean it? Maybe even remember to do so unprompted? Here’s how to build a practice of gratitude with (and for) kids of all ages.
39 min
891
When Mom Struggles (with guest Janelle Hanchett)
Moms aren't supposed to struggle; we're meant to be benevolent goddesses of wisdom and Hamburger Helper. But when things get really tough, should we tell our kids? Or is that burdening them? And what happens when there's things we really can’t share?
47 min
892
Why Are Our Kids Such Total Opposites?
It’s not your imagination: kids raised in the same family push in opposite directions. Why do siblings, especially closely-spaced or same-sex ones, deidentify? We discuss the three theories out there, and whether parents need to do anything about it.
42 min
893
How To Be a Happier Parent (with KJ Dell’Antonia)
Is a mother only as happy as her unhappiest child? Kind of, yeah. How do we find happiness in the daily slog? Our guest KJ Dell’Antonia, author of How To Be a Happier Parent, says the key is finding simple, concrete solutions for what isn’t working.
45 min
894
When Kids Talk Back
How should we respond when our kids talk back? Some experts say it’s normal child behavior; we should take a deep breath and ignore it. We say no way. But yelling “How dare you!” isn’t getting us anywhere either. Here’s what actually works.
41 min
895
Friends Without Kids
Once we become parents there’s a great divide (of perspectives, bedtimes, and tolerance of baby videos) between us and our friends without kids. Here’s how to stay connected. Guest: Candace Feit, documentary photographer, kid-free leisurely bruncher.
38 min
896
The Random Things We Can’t Live Without
The randomer the thing, the greater the love. From grapefruit LaCroix to Target bathing suits, here’s the beverages, websites, and brands that we (and our listeners) can’t live without, both for our parenting and for our daily sanity.
45 min
897
Are We Too Hard On Our Boys?
At school our sons manage to keep it together. At home, flushing the toilet is well beyond their capability. This leads to a litany of "hurry up, put that down, stop doing that, start doing this" from their mothers. But are we too hard on our boys?
46 min
898
Helping Kids Through Transitions
Whether it's moving to the big boy bed or heading off to high school - transitions are hard. We discuss ways to help kids transition and how to get underneath tough behaviors to figure out what's really going on.
52 min
899
How Not To Live Through Our Kids
Psychologists say we parents transfer our own unfulfilled ambitions onto our children. (Sing out, Louise!) Are we living through our kids? Is that bad? How do we stop? Here’s how to take a step back if you find yourself a little too over-invested.
49 min
900
The Mothers We Swore We’d Never Be
Before our kids were born we had an idea of the mothers we would be— and definitely knew the mothers we would NEVER be. (And then we became parents.) We asked our listeners to tell us the mothers they swore they’d never be— and yet somehow are.
46 min