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!
201
Fresh Take: Dr. Linnea Passaler on Healing Your...
When our nervous systems are continuously dysregulated, it leads to unwanted phsyical and emotional symptoms. Dr. Linnea Passaler, author of HEAL YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, discusses how to address the root causes of dysregulation, especially for mothers.
32 min
202
We Just Don't Get It: Stuff That Everyone Likes...
We asked our mom friends what trends, average daily occurrences, and certain superstars they just don't get—don't understand the hype around. Here is all the funny stuff that everyone likes but us.
40 min
203
Ask Margaret: What Should I Do When Friends Exc...
How do we handle it when our kids are excluded from social circles? Ostracization when you're a kid stinks, but it's part of life. Margaret shares her own parenting tips for when kid social dynamics go sour.
5 min
204
Fresh Take: Jessica McCabe on How to ADHD
How do we effectively parent kids with ADHD—and how do we effectively parent when we're the ones with ADHD? Jessica McCabe, author of the new book HOW TO ADHD, details day-to-day strategies for those with ADHD, whether it's you or someone you love.
33 min
205
Why Do Moms Get All The Blame?
Whatever goes wrong, experts have traditionally agreed: it's all mom's fault. Why do moms get all the blame? Who and what else do we give a pass when we stop looking for other causes (and solutions)?
40 min
206
Ask Amy: My Kid Is Always Saying "That's Mine!"
Do your toddlers and preschoolers love to shout "That's mine!" We explain why that's a phase, and offer some parenting tips for promoting sharing between little kids.
6 min
207
Fresh Take: Andrea Owen of "Make Some Noise"
Women are told to stay strong—but that advice can make us afraid to ask for the help we need. Life coach Andrea Owen gives us strategies and tools that push back on traditional self-help.
33 min
208
Why Kids Need More Time To Play
Kids today spend 11 more hours a week on school and homework than we did. That means a lot less time to play. A new study theorizes that this decline is directly related to the decline in kids' mental health.
40 min
209
Ask Margaret: How Do I Get My Baby Sleeping Thr...
When are babies ready to sleep through the night? When they're old enough and big enough, how can we encourage longer nighttime stretches of sleep—for everyone?
8 min
210
Fresh Take: Dr. Camilo Ortiz on How to Help Kid...
How can we best protect kids from anxiety? We need to balance our desire to keep our children safe with letting them learn and grow on their own. Psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz explains how to let kids explore and learn without our oversight.
33 min
211
What We're Taking Into The New Year (with Life ...
How can we enter the new year with a confidence in what we already have and do well, rather than a list of things we have to fix? Life coach Ann Imig shares strategies for discovering and cultivating our existing personality strengths.
41 min
212
Ask Amy: All My Kids Do Is Fight!
Constant sibling fighting doesn’t last forever. It just feels that way. Let go of feeling guilty your kids aren’t living in perfect harmony. Pretend you’re parent to a dog and a rooster– who expects them to share? Sometimes it’s easiest to separate.
5 min
213
BEST OF: Ryan Wexelblatt on How To Help Kids Wi...
Ryan Wexelblatt, aka the “ADHD Dude,” coaches kids and parents about executive dysfunction. Ryan offers helpful perspectives and useful tips for creating scaffolding for our kids with ADHD, without becoming overly accommodating.
36 min
214
BEST OF: Things Change, and That's OK! How Pare...
Our kids get older, and so do we. That’s Just Facts. And that our relationships with our kids will therefore change as they grow? Truth. But does that mean you have to therefore cherish every moment, because it’s all less wonderful each day? Nope.
45 min
215
BEST OF: Lisa Damour Tells Us How To Deal With ...
Powerful emotions in teenagers are a feature, not a bug. But when kids are dysregulated it can feel like something parents are supposed to fix. Dr. Lisa Damour, author of THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF TEENAGERS, tells us how to become "safe containers."
33 min
216
BEST OF: The Smallest Hills We'd Die On
The book is always better than the movie. Brunch is dumb. And wind chimes are mean. We asked you about the smallest hills you have died on—the petty grudges you just won’t wave the white flag for no matter what. And we came across some fightin’ words.
41 min
217
BEST OF: Family Holiday Traditions: The Good, T...
There are some holiday traditions families really treasure. There are others moms dread but feel obligated to continue. Here’s how to create a holiday season that works for everyone- including the default parents who do most of Santa’s heavy lifting.
41 min
218
Fresh Take: Amy Palanjian of Yummy Toddler Food
When our picky eaters turn up their noses at dinner, we're not failures as parents. Amy Palanjian, author of DINNERTIME SOS, explains how to take judgment and anxiety out of the dinnertime equation when feeding toddlers and kids.
34 min
219
The Most Useful Parenting Tips We Learned in 2023
Here are some of our favorite parenting tips and takeaways we learned in 2023, from experts and listeners and mom friends everywhere.
42 min
220
HOLIDAY BEST OF: Handling the Holiday Craziness...
Each December 25th, most moms look at a living room full of scattered wrapping paper and vow to do less next year. But can you really downshift on how much Santa brings once a baseline has been established?
39 min
221
Fresh Take: Ed Center of Village Well Parenting
How does the wisdom of our cultural traditions inform the way we parent, for better and worse? Ed Center, founder of Village Well Parenting, explains how generational trauma informs parenting and how we can navigate it.
32 min
222
Decision Fatigue- And Why It's Especially Bad F...
The more decisions you have to make, the more difficult it can become to make them. Decision fatigue is cumulative, and when it happens, we get frustrated more easily. Here's how to make fewer, better decisions.
44 min
223
HOLIDAY BEST OF: Susan Katz Miller on Interfait...
The holidays are already intense, but if your family is interfaith, it can ratchet up the pressure for perfection times two. Guest Susan Katz Miller, author of THE INTERFAITH FAMILY JOURNAL, tells us how to draw a “sacred circle” around what matters.
38 min
224
Fresh Take: Amanda Montei on "Touched Out"
Is being "touched out" just par for the course when you're a mom, or is there something deeper at work here? Amanda Montei, author of the new book TOUCHED OUT, discusses this concept in a broader cultural context.
30 min
225
What Fresh Hell Is the Holiday Season?
The holiday season has unpleasant surprises around every corner. The Christmas gift we forgot to buy! The too-short wrapping paper! The three parties in one night! Here are our best worsts of this time of year.
39 min