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
176
DEEP DIVE: Teaching Kids Patience
If patience is a virtue, it’s not one often practiced by preschoolers. There are reasons why very small children have a hard time waiting. Sometimes very big kids as well. As in grownups. Here’s why being patient matters, and how to introduce it.
39 min
177
Fresh Take: Kelley Coleman on Parenting a Disab...
Kelley Coleman, author of the new book EVERYTHING NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT PARENTING A DISABLED CHILD, offers perspective and reassurance for families on this journey—1 in 6 families, according to the CDC.
35 min
178
When One Family Member's Moods Are Running the ...
How do we cope when one family member's irritability, tantrums, or anxietiesa take over the household? When one person's moods become the family's weather, it's important to acknowledge what's happening.
41 min
179
DEEP DIVE: Getting Your Kids To Talk To You
Getting your kid to talk to you is never easy (unless you're 15 minutes late for an appointment, car keys in hand). Since “How was school today?” is apparently the worst thing parents can ask, here are some parenting strategies that actually work to get kids talking- at every age.
48 min
180
Fresh Take: Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike o...
How can we raise independent and empowered kids? Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike, authors of THE MONTESSORI CHILD, discuss the core principles of the Montessori parenting style and how it fosters independence in children.
29 min
181
Getting Unstuck (with Blaire and Molly from "Un...
When we're overwhelmed with the busyness of life, how do we find space to reclaim our creative joy? Blaire Brooks and Molly Lloyd, hosts of the new podcast "Unsticking It," tell us how to get unstuck and reignite our creative sparks.
38 min
182
DEEP DIVE: Getting Kids to Cooperate
Getting kids to cooperate is a challenge at all ages and stages. Here are some parenting strategies for determining when kids are old enough to pitch in and for asking for help in a kid-friendly way.
39 min
183
Fresh Take: Gwenna Laithland, "Momma Cusses"
Gwenna Laithland, creator of @mommacusses and author of MOMMA CUSSES, explains how responsive parenting works for her.
37 min
184
Two Things Can Be True
When we are in a disagreement, it feels like only one person can be in the right (and it's definitely you). But two things can be true. Here's how understanding that can change your partnership and your parenting.
40 min
185
DEEP DIVE: Is Comparing Our Kids Ever Useful?
It’s hard not to compare kids to their siblings, particularly when their personalities can seem so diametrically opposed. If we notice those differences as parents– and compare our kids, implicitly or explicitly– is that a good thing or a bad thing?
39 min
186
Fresh Take: Ginny Yurich of "1000 Hours Outside"
Ginny Yurich, founder of the 1000 Hours Outside movement, tells us how prioritizing unstructured outdoor play for her entire family has actually made parenting easier.
39 min
187
The Parents Had a Point
Have you ever gone back to watch your favorite TV shows and movies from when you were a kid, only to discover that they hit pretty differently? Here are some pop culture touchstones that, upon rewatching, make us think the parents might have had a point.
42 min
188
DEEP DIVE: 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
189
Fresh Take: Charles Duhigg on Supercommunicators
Why do we sometimes feel like people have heard what we've said but they haven't really listened? Charles Duhigg, author of the new book SUPERCOMMUNICATORS, explains how parents can have truly productive and meaningful conversations with their spouses, children, and friends.
29 min
190
The Power of "Not Yet"
If our children don't reach milestones at the "correct" time, are we failing as parents? Here's how the power of "not yet" can transform our outlook and empower our kids.
37 min
191
DEEP DIVE: Middle Kids
Most of us assume middle kids get the short end of the parenting stick. But some experts believe their place in the birth order makes them uniquely poised to succeed. Are there lifelong benefits for kids who grow up with a little benign neglect?
40 min
192
Fresh Take: Dr. Kevin Simon on What Parents Nee...
What makes some adolescents and teens more susceptible to substance use disorders? What do parents misunderstand about how kids use alcohol and drugs, and how can we better protect our kids from those dangers? Dr. Kevin Simon explains.
44 min
193
I Love My Family But...
Mothers would do anything for their families, but they would also like them to stop saying and doing some things that drive them absolutely bonkers. Here are some of the things our mom friends can't stand.
42 min
194
DEEP DIVE: Birth Order: Can We Fight It?
Based on our own families and our families of origin, we're calling it: birth order is a thing. But is it a problem? Does it matter if our own birth order has shaped who we are and how we parent?
40 min
195
Fresh Take: Kelly Corrigan on Letting Big Kids Go
Kelly Corrigan, host of "Kelly Corrigan Wonders", discusses with Amy how she has navigated the emptying nest and her continually changing relationships with her older children.
40 min
196
How Is It Still Winter? Stuff for Kids to Do Wh...
Winter isn't over, no matter what the groundhog said, and we've got bored and noisy kids stuck inside on long and gray afternoons. Here are some fun ways to keep kids busy during any stretch of cold or rainy weather.
45 min
197
Ask Margaret: How Do I Help My Kids Through a B...
How can we prep our kids for a cross-country move? Here's what worked for Margaret to establish connections for herself and her kids in a new town.
8 min
198
Fresh Take: Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket of "...
Why is it rare for men to discuss parenthood when they're together? What's the difference between being a "dad" and being a "father"? Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket, co-hosts of the podcast "Modern Dadhood," discuss gendered perceptions of parenting.
35 min
199
Why Is It Easier to Solve Other People's Problems?
Why is it so much easier to solve other people's problems than our own? How do we transfer that clarity to others—and how do we gain that clarity when it's our own problems we're struggling with?
39 min
200
Ask Amy: How Do I Get My 8-Year-Old to Read a R...
How can we encourage kids to read REAL books, not the gross-out books they prefer? And does it really matter as long as they're reading something? Here are some tips to get reluctant readers turning the pages.
6 min