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!
101
DEEP DIVE: Which Parenting Rules Can We Break?
Pacifiers in the crib. Juice in the sippy cup. Popsicles in the bathtub. We all have exceptions that we make to the so-called parenting “rules” in the interest of our own sanity. Our listeners share which parenting rules they break and why.
41 min
102
Fresh Take: Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein on Raising R...
How should we prepare our daughters for the sexism and bias they will encounter out there in the world? Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein, author of SEXISM AND SENSIBILITY, tells us how to give our girls a sense of agency.
27 min
103
What Happened to My Sweet Child?
What happened to your formerly sweet and agreeable child, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed one day and never stopped whining? How does one try to restore equilibrium?
40 min
104
BEST OF: Back to School Back-to-Ones
It's back to school, back to morning insanity, back to seventeen different after-school activities per kid! We asked our listeners for their best back-to-school tips - or their biggest complaints.
42 min
105
You Might Also Like: In It: Raising Kids who Le...
Today we’re sharing an episode from another parenting podcast called “In It: Raising Kids who Learn Differently.” This podcast offers perspective, stories, and useful takeaways for parents of kids with learning differences like ADHD and dyslexia.
30 min
106
BEST OF: Esau McCaulley, "How Far To The Promis...
What does it mean to “escape poverty” in the U.S.? In his new book HOW FAR TO THE PROMISED LAND, Esau McCaulley questions the narrative of exceptionalism that he, and other Black survivors, are conditioned to give when they “make it” in America.
31 min
107
When Kids Ask Tough Questions
Kids have a knack for asking questions that are tricky, painful, or impossible to answer. How can we answer our kids' tough questions effectively, especially when the answers are hard—or don't exist?
40 min
108
DEEP DIVE: Might Seem Crazy. Works for Me.
From packing the laundry to eating the same lunch every day for five years to toothbrushes in the kitchen, these are our listeners' ideas that don't sound so crazy, come to think of it.
45 min
109
Fresh Take: Jill Castle, "Kids Thrive at Every ...
How do we set our kids up to have a healthy relationship with food and with their bodies, no matter what they look like? Jill Castle, author of KIDS THRIVE AT EVERY SIZE, tells us how to raise kids that eat healthy and love who they are.
39 min
110
Randomest Claims to Fame
What celebrity-in-waiting did you once hang out with at summer camp? What state fair championships did you achieve as a 10-year-old? We asked our audience about their various claims to minor fame—here's what they said.
42 min
111
DEEP DIVE: Rule Breaker Or Rule Follower: Which...
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.
41 min
112
BEST OF: Judith Warner on What Grownups Get Wro...
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
113
Helping Kids Face Their Fears
Fear is an uncomfortable, but healthy—and necessary—human emotion. How can we help our kids face their fears in healthy and age-appropriate ways?
41 min
114
DEEP DIVE: 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
115
Fresh Take: Amy Betters-Midtvedt on What No One...
How do we stay close to our teens as they grow more independent? Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of the new book YOU'LL MAKE IT (AND THEY WILL TOO), offers some practical parenting tips for navigating our relationships with our adolescents.
29 min
116
Comparing Without Despairing
Competitive parenting is a trap—and one it can be hard to avoid. But if "mompetition" isn't the answer, and comparing is despairing, are there ways we can compare our parenting and our kids' progress that are actually useful?
42 min
117
DEEP DIVE: Admitting Things Aren't Perfect
It's hard to admit things aren't perfect. It's especially hard for moms. "Socially mediated" perfectionism happens when a culture has unrealistic demands for a person or group, then punishes them when they fall short. Sound familiar? Here’s what to do.
39 min
118
Fresh Take: Debra Hendrickson on What We Can Do...
Climate change is affecting our children's health and our future. But what can we as individuals do about it? Debra Hendrickson, author of THE AIR THEY BREATHE, explains why it matters and what steps we can take.
24 min
119
Sibling Spacing: Close Together or Far Apart?
It's not always—or even often—in our control, but what is the ideal spacing for siblings? Our listeners who had kids close together—and far apart—explain why it's worked for their families.
42 min
120
DEEP DIVE: How To Stop Having The Same Fight
Having the same fight doesn’t mean your relationship is broken. But it is totally annoying. Here are the modes of negativity that are at work when we repeat the same conflicts- and what we can do to break the cycle, whether it’s our partners or kids.
44 min
121
Fresh Take: Erin and Stephen Mitchell, "Too Tir...
Why are we so bad at asking for what we need? How do small disagreements somehow turn into big blowouts? Erin and Stephen Mitchell, authors of TOO TIRED TO FIGHT, offer practical tips for communicating with your partner without escalating conflict.
40 min
122
Are We Helping or Are We Helicoptering?
No one wants to be a helicopter parent. Every parent needs to be helpful. But how much, how often, and how can we find the best overall balance?
38 min
123
DEEP DIVE: Let's Stop Caring What People Think
Why do we care so much what other people think? Does anyone truly possess the magical ability to ignore the judgments of others? How do we tell the difference between whose opinions matter and whose definitely do not?
38 min
124
Fresh Take: Emily Cherkin on Tech-Intentional P...
We all know our kids should have less screen time. Achieving that is easier said than done. Emily Cherkin, author of THE SCREENTIME SOLUTION, offers tips for becoming "tech-intentional" as a family.
43 min
125
When Mom Leaves Town
Does the thought of leaving your kids for a few days terrify you? Here are some parenting tips to prepare for all of the eventualities that may occur if you leave town, from interpreting the toddler's babble to handling your feelings of mom guilt.
41 min