What Fresh Hell

episodes

June 27, 2018

Should Dads Get Graded on a Curve?

While we grade our husbands’ household contributions against our own, the world grades them against Don Draper— which means any guy with a Baby Bjorn gets a ticker tape parade. But guest Kevin Madsen of HeyDad says that’s not as …

Episode page
June 20, 2018

Vacationing With Kids- What Works

Successful travel as a family doesn’t mean your choice of destination needs to revolve around your kids. But you may need to keep your expectations flexible. This episode is full of ideas for creating family vacations with appeal for all …

Episode page
June 13, 2018

Stuff Our Spouses Do Way Better Than We Do

The best partnerships are symbiotic, so in this episode we give a shout-out to all the things our spouses handle way better than we do, such as: broken dishwashers. Broken bones. Successful repurposing of leftovers. Pancake-making. Thanks guys!

Episode page
June 6, 2018

Princesses (If You Must)

The princess phase feels pretty inescapable. But does every Royal Sparkle tutu a Honey Boo Boo make? Or is our princess paranoia a bit misguided? Here’s why we say you can ease up and let your kids be anything they …

Episode page
May 30, 2018

Kid Friend Breakups

Our kids have been left behind by once-best friends. They’ve also struggled with creating space between themselves and playmates they have simply outgrown. Whatever side they’re on, here’s how to make it a little less painful for all concerned.

Episode page
May 23, 2018

When Mom Leaves Town

Sometimes it feels like as much work to leave town without our kids as to not go in the first place. But guilt trips are no fun. Here’s why traveling without our kids is worth it- for everyone- plus some …

Episode page
May 16, 2018

Small Changes, Big Difference- Part Two

So many good ideas, we made a Part Two! Here’s dozens of small changes parents have made that turned out to make a big difference in their lives— thanks to our listeners plus some of the top content creators for …

Episode page
May 8, 2018

Summer Plans

It takes a lot of juggling to schedule 10 weeks of summer freedom- not to mention cash. America spends about $18 billion dollars on “summer enrichment” every year. Here’s how to keep your kids the right amount of occupied without …

Episode page
May 2, 2018

Tweens

We always figured “tween” was marketing speak for stuff with glitter on it. But 9-12 year olds actually have different brains than younger kids. And then sometimes they like stuffed animals still. Here’s how parents can deal with the whiplash.

Episode page
April 25, 2018

Small Changes, Big Difference

We asked our listeners to tell us the small changes you've made in your lives (as parents and as people) that have turned out to make a big difference. This episode is full of game-changing ideas for your home, your …

Episode page
April 18, 2018

Let’s Not Care About What We Weigh

We won’t lie to you- we probably spend more time than we should thinking about what we weigh. Which is, admittedly, variable. But while we think about what we weigh plenty when we’re unhappy with what the scale says,

Episode page
April 11, 2018

Bickering

Why do our kids bicker so incessantly? Are they actually intending to drive us batty, or is there more at work? If parents are supposed to “ignore it” until just before the face-scratching starts, how can we sense the perfect …

Episode page
March 28, 2018

Did We Really Do That?

We’ve all done things as parents that, looking back, we can’t believe. Breastfeeding twins. Writing thank you notes in the baby’s voice. Here’s some of our (and our listeners’) supermom accomplishments— and more than a few super-foolish notions.

Episode page
March 21, 2018

Managing Our Schedules

It's the battle of the calendars! Margaret loves her paper planner but tends to forget stuff. Amy swears by digital, until her phone switches all the events to Greenwich Mean Time. We talk best strategies for managing our families’ busy …

Episode page
March 14, 2018

Getting Your Kids To Talk To You

Getting our kids to talk to us is never easy (unless we’re 15 minutes late for an appointment, car keys in hand). Since “How was school today?” is apparently the worst thing Mom can ask, here’s what actually works to …

Episode page
March 7, 2018

The Best Mom Advice We Ever Got

From touching perspective-givers to why-didn’t-I-think-of-that timesavers, our listeners told us the best mom advice they ever received for parenting babies, toddlers, kids and teens. Example: wash *all* the clothes in the baby detergent. Genius!

Episode page
Feb. 28, 2018

Musical Instruments- If You Must

Must our children either be tied to a piano bench or forgo their dreams of the Ivy League? Must we battle with our children daily to make them practice and then have to listen to 15 minutes of what sounds …

Episode page
Feb. 21, 2018

Reluctant Readers

Are audio books cheating? Must every kids’ book feature Poopy Man and The Toilet King? Are reluctant readers doomed to fall behind their peers? We’ve got ideas to get everyone in your family reading, plus books your kids will drop …

Episode page
Feb. 14, 2018

Morning Madness

We’d all love a school morning where everyone gets out the door without Mom yelling or feeling stressed. And by “all” we mean all mothers. Our children seem blithely indifferent to all the hollering and pleading and bargaining we do …

Episode page
Feb. 7, 2018

What To Do When They’re Just Like You

Are your child’s most annoying personality traits super-familiar, because they are also yours? And is there anything to be done? We discuss whether those qualities are baked in the cake- or whether our kids learn how to be impossible by …

Episode page
Jan. 31, 2018

Mean Girls (with guest author Katie Hurley)

Why are today’s girls exhibiting “relational aggression” in pre-K? How can you help a daughter who’s being bullied? And what do you do when your daughter’s the one doing the bullying? Guest: Katie Hurley, author of the new book No …

Episode page
Jan. 24, 2018

Go-To Dinners

What’s a “go-to dinner”? One pot is good. 30 minutes or less is better. But we’ll use every cookie sheet and pot in the house if it’s 1) not pizza and 2) all of our kids will actually eat it. …

Episode page
Jan. 16, 2018

Sick Day Hacks

One sick day? Fine, here’s the remote. But by day 4 of a low-grade fever most of us are desperate for ideas. Here’s what to have ready for such moments, what keeps sick kids happily busy, and how to tell …

Episode page
Jan. 10, 2018

What is Up With Toddlers?

Have you a short fat dictator in your home? Do you cower before a 24-pound child demanding pizza– no, not THAT kind of pizza! the other kind, the kind she likes NOW, which apparently has neither sauce nor cheese? What …

Episode page