What Fresh Hell

episodes

Helping Kids Deal with Disappointment
March 15, 2017

Helping Kids Deal with Disappointment

We don’t want to coddle our kids. We know we can’t protect them from every moment of sadness and regret. But what’s the best way to help them through such moments?

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Do Manners Still Matter?
March 1, 2017

Do Manners Still Matter?

Manners have been around since at least 2300 BC, when Ptah-Hotep wrote on papyrus that one should refrain from “speaking evilly” and from staring at people. And as parents, we say manners still matter— to quote Margaret’s mother,

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What To Say To Your Kids When You Don’t Have a Clue
Feb. 15, 2017

What To Say To Your Kids When You Don’t Have a Clue

We average about one conversation a week, with one or other of our children, during which we are suddenly at a total loss as to what to say. Perhaps you too have had a few Tough Questions like these: Is …

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Dividing the Workload
Feb. 1, 2017

Dividing the Workload

In any home, there’s the workload everyone can see: the dirty dishes, the broken crayons under the dining room table, the laundry to be folded. And in most of our homes, that workload is divided more equitably than it was …

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Are Our Kids Overscheduled?
Jan. 18, 2017

Are Our Kids Overscheduled?

Are our kids overscheduled? Compared to our own childhoods, definitely. But is that necessarily a problem? And how are we, as parents, supposed to tell? According to Dr. Michael Thompson, author of The Pressured Child: There is a line between …

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Mom Goals
Jan. 4, 2017

Mom Goals

New year, new leaf! In this episode we’re talking “mom goals” for the coming year.

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Chores
Dec. 21, 2016

Chores

This week we’re talking about chores: do you make your kids do them? If so– how much, how frequently, and do they get paid for their troubles?

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Handling the Holiday Craziness
Dec. 6, 2016

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?

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Do Our Kids Have Too Much Homework? (Yes)
Nov. 16, 2016

Do Our Kids Have Too Much Homework? (Yes)

Our kids have more homework than we did at their age. And more stress. And more projects. Here's when to help- and how much.

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Screen Time
Oct. 27, 2016

Screen Time

Given: Unlimited screen time is bad. But how much is okay? How do you handle the nightly battles of “But PLEASE, Mom! Just one more level!”

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Helping or Helicoptering
Oct. 24, 2016

Helping or Helicoptering

You just brought your kid’s forgotten lunch to school. Again. Is that helping or helicoptering?

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Your Picky Eater
Oct. 24, 2016

Your Picky Eater

Whether you call it “picky eating,” “restricted eating,” or as some pediatricians like to call it, “avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder” (ARFID)— here's how to deal.

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