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!
1
Fresh Take: Tamron Hall
Where kids grow up, whether it's in the countryside or in the big city, has a huge impact on their sense of self. Tamron Hall, author of the new NYT-bestselling book HARLEM HONEY, discusses how kids can learn about the world at large by first exploring their own neighborhood.
37 min
2
I Wish I'd Done This Sooner
Most people have at least one habit or hack that they wish they had started long ago. We asked our listeners what they wish they'd done sooner, and they had a whole host of excellent ideas.
38 min
3
DEEP DIVE: 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
4
Fresh Take: Jessica Slice on Parenting While Di...
Most people have at least one habit or hack that they wish they had started long ago. We asked our listeners what they wish they'd done sooner, and they had a whole host of excellent ideas.
36 min
5
Is Gentle Parenting "Too" Gentle?
Gentle parenting may strike some people as too permissive. But part of that stems from the fact that its definition has been warped by social media. Here's what gentle parenting originally meant and some useful parenting tips we can take away from it.
37 min
6
DEEP DIVE: Things That Should Be Fun... But Aren't
Nerf guns. Beach vacations. Corn mazes. Parades. What do these things have in common? They really should be fun—but aren't.
37 min
7
Fresh Take: Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson on the Heal...
How can women feel empowered in sharing their stories of pregnancy complication and loss? Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson, author of the new book HELD TOGETHER, discusses how her own experiences led her to seek out others with similar stories and discover the power of storytelling to heal.
24 min
8
Should Your Family Get a Pet?
Are you on the fence about getting a family pet? Do your kids swear they'll do all the caretaking once it arrives? Here are some factors to take into consideration before pulling the trigger on this big decision.
43 min
9
DEEP DIVE: When Is This Going to Be Fun Again? ...
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
10
Fresh Take: Kate Swenson, Carrie Cariello, and ...
What does successfully parenting a child with autism look like? Kate Swenson, Carrie Cariello, and Adrian Wood, authors of the new book AUTISM OUT LOUD, discuss their own struggles and small victories parenting children with autism.
40 min
11
Extremely Achievable Self-Care
Self-care can take the form of spa days or expensive treats, but what if we only have five minutes before our toddler wakes up? Our audience came up with plenty of easy, no-cost/low cost forms of self-care that can be done with very little effort.
43 min
12
DEEP DIVE: Is This Supposed to Be More Fun?
Pinterest promised us picturesque family photos at golden hour and meaningful conversations around the dinner table every night. No one told us parenting would be easy, but is it supposed to be this hard? Here’s how to inject more fun into parenting.
32 min
13
Fresh Take: Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenbe...
What do we do if we're consistently the planner/admin/organizer in our friend group—and we're tired of it? Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, hosts of the podcast "How to Be Fine," discuss how to navigate tricky friendship dynamics.
40 min
14
How to Be Connected (But Not Too Connected) wit...
How can we create close relationships with our kids without becoming an "enmeshed" family? Here's what enmeshment looks like, how it happens, and how to keep appropriate boundaries in your parent/child dynamic.
39 min
15
DEEP DIVE: Does Having Kids Make Us Happy?
Studies show an uncertain connection between becoming a parent and increased pleasure, so asking whether having kids makes us happy is complicated– and might not be the point. What are parenting’s rewards? What can we do to raise happiness levels?
40 min
16
Fresh Take: Jenny Wood
As moms, it can be hard to express our needs and prioritize ourselves. Jenny Wood, author of the new book WILD COURAGE, gives tips for finding small ways to be brave and get out of our comfort zones when it comes to going after what we want.
41 min
17
Family Meetings (and Why You Should Do Them)
Do you find that conversations about family logistics seep into quality time with your partner? Here's how weekly family meetings can help draw boundaries between time spent relaxing together and time spent planning together.
41 min
18
DEEP DIVE: Is There Just Too Much Information?
A recent study found many parents report consulting the internet for parenting advice every single day. But how much information is too much? And is it the same for everyone?
31 min
19
Fresh Take: Mary Catherine Starr on Truly Shari...
How can couples redistribute the mental load of housework and parenting equally once it's become incredibly one-sided? (Read: Mom-sided.) Mary Catherine Starr, author of the new book MAMA NEEDS A MINUTE, explains how couples can even out the mental load.
33 min
20
How to Feel Less Starved for Time
There is a way to get more “time affluence” in your life—and it’s not by being more productive and getting your to-do list done more quickly! Margaret and Amy discuss how to organize your time such that you can do more of what you enjoy, no time turner needed.
40 min
21
DEEP DIVE: Dealing With Uncertainty as a Parent
As parents we can feel like uncertainty is something we have to solve, especially where our kids are concerned. We’re supposed to have the answers. But how do we reassure them when we’re not certain either? How do we manage “uncertainty distress”?
39 min
22
Fresh Take: Nicole Graev Lipson
In a patriarchal society, how can woman divorce themselves from unreal expectations around motherhood and find satisfaction in themselves as they are? Nicole Graev Lipson, author of the new book MOTHERS AND OTHER FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, shares her insights on how women often find themselves performing fictionalized versions of motherhood.
34 min
23
BEST OF: So What Do You Do All Day?
Tired of people assuming stay-at-home moms have nothing to do? Well, there's not a lot we can do about what other people perceive about stay-at-home-moms, but we can change how we think about our labor as SAHMs to validate ourselves and how hard we really do work.
43 min
24
DEEP DIVE: Brave Parenting in a Scary World
Brave parenting doesn’t mean acting like what’s happening in our world isn’t scary, or that we must present our kids with perfect solutions. It means meeting our kids where they are, discussing their feelings, then deciding together what to do next.
36 min
25
Fresh Take: Melanie Shankle
How can we try to get out from under our family's generational trauma? Melanie Shankle, author of the new book HERE BE DRAGONS, discusses how her upbringing influenced her parenting decisions and how to parent well when you weren't shown how.
35 min