episodes

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Which may explain some of the domestic tension that’s coming from being with our …

A listener dreads “playing pretend” with her 3-year-old. But her child is an only child, and right now she is that child’s only p…

All mothers overthink sometimes. Isn’t that the exact assignment the world gives us? Only to then mock us relentlessly for having…

A listener asks: “Does anyone else have a kid that always wants to play the “mean” guy? My almost 3-year-old son always wants to …

Momming is hard. Whether we’re stressed perfectionists or hot messes, our homes and relationships get happier when we do what mat…

Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried that her son does not have a wide range of interests.

Amy’s family of 5 had Covid-19 back in March– all “mild” cases, but even in a single household that has meant different things. H…

Our kids’ schools have sent plans. And revised them. And reversed them. Now parents have to make our own decisions. Here are the …

A listener asks whether her daughter's know-it-all tendencies need to be nipped in the bud.

Our daughters need to be taught to ask and negotiate–because girls aren’t taught those things as well as boys, but also because t…

Margaret answers question from a mom who is scaring her by constantly throwing things.

As soon as you become a mother unsolicited advice-givers are everywhere, telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Or “it gets…

Amy answers a question from a listener who is having trouble connecting with other moms during coronavirus.

We asked our listeners to divide the world into two kinds of people. Summer or winter? Sleep cuddlers or stop-breathing-on-mes? …

This week Margaret answers a question from a listener who wants to know if life with her two young kids is ever going to get bett…

We are so done with life on the coronacoaster, but we can’t get off this ride yet. We’ve moved past denial to bargaining, hung ou…

At what point should a parent get involved in a conflict between her 8-year-old son and his (former) friend?

We tend to hold our Bad Mom Moments close, deeply certain no other mother has ever temporarily forgotten her baby in the Target L…

Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried about leaving her three year old for a few nights.

This extended pause has been really hard for some of our kids, and actually sort of good for others. We discuss the things we’ve …

Amy answers a question from a reader who wonders how she can encourage reading in her child.

We’re in an anxiety-provoking moment. But parents don’t need to present our kids with solutions to the things that scare them. We…

Margaret answers a question from a listener who is frustrated by her husband's extremely poor gift-giving skills.

Shutting it all down was hard, but the assignment was extremely clear. Reopening is more like: do what you want when we think you…