Our last Q&A became our MOST-LISTENED-TO episode, so Besties: WE’RE BACK. You sent us your hardest parenting questions, and once again, we’re answering them all. Your kid was doing GREAT, and then school started and suddenly they’re melting down, fighting everything, and acting like a completely different person. Your three-year-old has turned absolutely feral since the new baby arrived. And what do you do when you KNOW you need therapy, but adding one more thing to your schedule feels literally impossible?

We cover:

Back-to-school meltdowns and why your kid suddenly seems like a completely different person

What’s actually happening when kids hold it together all day at school and completely fall apart at home

How to make the back-to-school transition easier (and why now might be the time to LOWER demands)

Why three-year-olds can feel absolutely feral, and the small shifts that can prevent some of the biggest daily power struggles

New sibling jealousy, meltdowns, and helping your older child adjust to a new baby

What to do when YOU are completely at capacity

How to make time for therapy when you literally do not have one more hour to give

The mindset shift that can completely change how you think about taking care of your own mental health

Plus:

Kristin is in an anxiety spiral, Deena is officially having a midlife crisis, we reveal what we’re watching right now (or why Kristin is watching absolutely fucking nothing), and somehow we land on spa baths as a legitimate mental health intervention. Basically: feral toddlers, back-to-school chaos, nervous systems, therapy, and the real-life strategies that will help your whole family get through this season with a little more ease.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more

Egglife - Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.

Jones Road Beauty - Use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a FREE FULL-SIZE MASCARA with your first purchase! #jonesroadbeauty #ad

Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family.

Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your kid has ever looked you directly in the eyes and lied, even when you KNOW they know that you know the truth…you probably know the immediate panic spiral:

Why are they lying to me? Is this normal? Can I trust them? If they're doing this at five, what happens when they're FIFTEEN?!

And suddenly, this isn't about who ate the cookie or knocked over the toy, you're imagining your teenager lying about where they are, who they're with, what happened at the party, or something much, much bigger.

But here's what most of us get wrong: If we want to raise kids who tell us the truth when it really matters, we have to be careful that our reaction to lying doesn't accidentally teach them that telling us the truth is dangerous.

In this episode, Deena puts on her child therapist hat and breaks down what's actually happening when kids lie and why lying doesn't automatically mean you're raising a dishonest kid. In fact, there are several completely different reasons kids lie, and each one needs a different response.

You'll leave this episode knowing why your kid is lying, what their lie is actually trying to accomplish, and exactly how to respond in the moment plus:

- What to say when you know they're lying

- When to use consequences

- Why you don't need to force a confession

- How to hold your boundary without making your kid afraid to tell you the truth next time.

Most importantly, you'll learn exactly what to say and do when your kid lies to your face, without being permissive, letting them "get away with it," shaming them, or turning the whole thing into a 45-minute interrogation.

Someday, the mistake won't be a stolen cookie, an iPad after bedtime, or marker on the table. It'll be something bigger. And in that moment, we want the thought that's louder than I'm going to be in so much trouble to be:

I need to tell my mom.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more

Egglife - Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Superpower -  Head over to superpower.com and use code BLF for $20 off your $199 SuperPower membership. 

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever worried that loving your kid too much, supporting them too much, or NOT giving them enough "tough love" is going to leave them completely unprepared for the real world, you need to hear this episode.

Because Billy Eichner’s story might be the best evidence I've ever seen that the opposite of "tough love" is what actually makes a kid strong.

Billy's parents loved the absolute hell out of him. They celebrated exactly who he was, and when he grew up and faced more than a decade of rejection, that endless love from his parents didn't make him soft, it gave him the audacity to keep believing in himself. He went from not being able to get an agent to creating Billy on the Street, earning four Emmy nominations, and making history with the film Bros.

And THAT is where this conversation completely changed something for me. What if the way we prepare our kids for a hard world isn't by toughening them up, but by loving them so deeply that the world can't convince them to abandon themselves?

We talk about rejection, resilience, success, why even wildly successful people still fixate on the people who don't like them, and what Billy believes his parents gave him that made everything else possible. And then Billy says something every parent needs to hear: there is enough tough love waiting for our kids in the world. We don't have to be the ones who give it to them.

Whether you already love Billy Eichner or have no idea who he is, you will walk away from this episode knowing exactly how to raise an emotionally healthy, resilient, “strong” kid, and what they need most from us.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more

Egglife -  Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.

Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family.

Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com.

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Yoto -  Head to yotoplay.com and use my code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS  to save 10% off all eligible items.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

File this under: things we genuinely did not realize we needed to know as parents. 🙃

Our kids spend SO MUCH of their lives sleeping, but… have you ever actually thought about what their mattress is made of? Yeah. Neither had we.

Today we’re joined by Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic and dad of four, to pull back the curtain on mattresses: what can actually be inside them, why certain materials are worth knowing about, what all those certifications and “organic” labels actually mean, and what parents should look for when they’re shopping.


Most importantly: this is information, not another parenting assignment. Deena gets very real about how easily learning this stuff can tip from “good to know” into “OH GOD NOW I’M WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING,” and why none of us need to live our lives trying to eliminate every potentially questionable thing our kids will ever encounter.

And because this is After Bedtime, we obviously do not stay on mattresses. 😂 We somehow end up debating whether sharing a drink with your own child is absolutely disgusting, hearing what it’s REALLY like to raise four boys, and, perhaps most importantly, adding Arin to the growing list of podcast guests Deena has recruited to help make her case for baby #4.


You’ll leave knowing a little more about something your kids spend a huge chunk of their lives on, what’s actually worth looking for, and a few realistic options for making a change if and when it makes sense for your family. No throwing your entire house away required.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Naturepedic - Visit www.naturepedic.com and use code FEELINGS to get 20% off safer, healthier sleep products for the whole family.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the most important thing you ever teach your child isn't a parenting strategy... it's a belief they'll carry for the rest of their life?

Someday our children are going to get their heart broken, they'll fail, They'll wonder if they're enough, they'll navigate in tricky relationships, they'll be choosing career paths. And in those moments, they won't remember your lecture about cleaning their room, but they will remember what they believe about themselves.

In this episode, fan favorite VP Hype Squad (my husband) is back, and we share the five beliefs we're intentionally trying to pass on to our kids, the things that will shape every friendship, relationship, career, and decision our kids make for the rest of their lives.

You'll leave this episode knowing:

The belief that protects kids from becoming lifelong people-pleasers.

How to raise a child who doesn't spend their life trying to earn love or approval.

The one mindset shift that completely changes what you focus on as a parent.

Five core beliefs that will outlast every parenting hack, consequence, and script.

This ended up becoming one of my favorite conversations we've ever had. It's about parenting, yes. But it's also about us. The beliefs we inherited, the ones we're still trying to unlearn, and the ones worth passing on instead. I have a feeling this is going to be one you'll think about long after it ends.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more.

Egglife -  Find Egg Life wraps chilling in the fridge at Aldi, Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Walmart, and more. Visit egglifefoods.com to find a retailer near you.

Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. 

Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. 

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Zocdoc - Head to zocdoc.com/BLF to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list!

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BESTIES. STASSI SCHROEDER IS HERE.

The woman. The icon. The mother of reality television. The person many of us have watched, quoted, defended, occasionally screamed at through our televisions, and essentially grown up alongside is sitting down with us for one of our biggest episodes ever.

And she tells us EVERYTHING.

In this exclusive conversation, Stassi takes us behind the scenes of her highly anticipated new show, House of Stassi, including what really happens between her and Beau, why filming became the most effective form of therapy she has ever had, and the finale she says is absolutely insane.

She opens up about rebuilding her entire life after leaving Vanderpump Rules, the unexpected way her reality television comeback came together, filming with her mom despite their deeply complicated history, and why Beau took her request for “complete honesty” on camera much further than she anticipated.

We also talk about the side of motherhood people rarely admit out loud: dreading the weekends, feeling bored during the baby stage, going back to work two weeks postpartum because she was terrified of feeling isolated again, and the guilt she carried when Beau became the primary parent.

Plus: her Sports Illustrated runway era, the cosmetic procedure she got at 17, the beauty trend she refuses to participate in, her current Bravo-adjacent obsession, and the surprising truth about what Stassi is actually like when the cameras stop rolling.

This is Stassi at her funniest, most honest, and most unfiltered, and she gives us an exclusive look at the marriage, family dynamics, friendships, and behind-the-scenes reality TV moments everyone is about to be talking about.

Cancel your plans. Put the kids to bed. We are transcending today.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF. 

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping. 

Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've been watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, this is the conversation you've been waiting for. Amanda Frances joins us fresh off her first season on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to pull back the curtain on what it was really like stepping into one of the biggest reality shows on TV with no strategy, no Bravo game plan, and honestly... no idea what she was getting herself into.

We talk about what filming is actually like, what surprised her most, the moments that never made sense until she was living them, and how she learned to find her voice in a room where everyone else seemed to know the rules except her. But this episode goes way beyond Housewives. Amanda opens up about motherhood, building a wildly successful business, hiring help without guilt, navigating internet hate, and the neurodivergence journey that completely changed how she understands herself.

It's one of those conversations that starts with Bravo and somehow ends up being about motherhood, identity, success, and staying true to yourself. In this episode, we cover:

- What it's really like filming The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

- The behind-the-scenes moments Bravo fans never get to see

- The surprising moment Amanda finally found her voice on the show

- Mom guilt, childcare, and why asking for help feels so hard

- Building a successful business while raising young kids

- The truth about internet criticism, and how she protects her peace

- ADHD, masking, neurodivergence, and the identity shift that changed everything

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more.

Jones Road Beauty - Use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free FULL-SIZE MASCARA with your first purchase! #jonesroadbeauty #ad

Magnetic Me - Get 15% off sitewide at magneticme.com.

Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com.

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some seasons of parenting just ask more of you. Maybe your partner travels or works nights. Maybe you’re simply carrying more than your fair share right now and navigating a period where you're parenting solo. Whatever your reality is, this episode is for you!

Deena, who is in this season of life right now, gets real about what it's actually like parenting three kids while her husband is away nearly half the month. There’s guilt, overwhelm, panic, and even resentment creeping in…but there’s also routines that have made it feel more manageable. She walks through EVERYTHING that has helped her surivive parenting while her husband is away and Kristin helps to unpack that guilt that so she (and so many parents) carries.

We cover:

- Why lowering your standards during hard seasons isn't "giving up”, it's actually helping you show up as a calmer and more present parent.

- Simple ways to eliminate decision fatigue (including the meal routines that Kristin and Deena swear by).

- How to make bedtime, housework, and everyday life feel a little less overwhelming when you’re solo parenting.

- Why movie nights and “”no pressure” parenting deserve way less guilt than we've been taught.

- The small mindset shifts that help you protect your own energy, stay regulated, and make solo parenting feel more sustainable over time.

You'll walk away knowing how to make every part of solo parenting feel just a little bit lighter, learn wh lowering the bar can actually make you a more present parent, and which small routines take the pressure off when you're carrying so much on your own. And we can almost guarantee you'll find yourself giving yourself permission to let something go this week….and feeling better because of it.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Aquaphor Baby - Find the new Aquaphor Baby Sensitive Lotion now at Walmart, Amazon andTarget. Visit aquaphorus.com to learn more

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS for up to 20% off!

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping. 

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Ross - Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com

Superpower -  Head over to superpower.com and use code BLF for $20 off your $199 SuperPower membership. 

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why does your child completely shut down anytime you bring up feelings? Should you actually ignore tantrums... or is that some of the worst parenting advice we've been given? And if your child is potty trained during the day but still having accidents at night... is something wrong?

In this Q&A episode, we're answering the parenting questions we hear over and over again—the ones that leave even thoughtful, loving parents second-guessing themselves and wondering if they're getting it all wrong.

We cover:

- Nighttime potty training (and what's actually developmentally normal)

- Whether you should ignore tantrums (spoiler: we have thoughts)

- What to do when your child refuses to talk about their feelings

- Why some kids completely shut down when emotions come up

- Healthy ways to help kids express anger instead of stuffing it down

- How to build emotional intelligence without making your child feel pressured or overwhelmed

- The science behind why connection, not punishment, is what actually helps kids learn emotional regulation

You'll walk away knowing exactly what actually helps kids build emotional regulation, why anger deserves a complete rebrand, and how the way many of us were raised is still shaping the way we parent today. And we can almost guarantee there's one idea in this episode that you'll think about during your child's very next meltdown, and it'll change how you respond.

Plus:

Kristin and Deena discover they are complete opposites when it comes to movie theaters, sleepovers, and basically existing as humans, Deena explains why she'd happily skip every girls' trip forever, and Kristin has a surprisingly emotional realization about anger that might just change the way you think about your own emotions, too.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Hiya Health - Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya’s best selling children’s vitamin. Head to hiyahealth.com/BLF. 

Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. 

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Rythm Health - Rythm is offering our listeners 15% off your first month and free shipping at rythm.health/blf. 

Zocdoc - Head to zocdoc.com/BLF to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list!

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're feeling like summer has somehow become another thing you have to nail” or do perfectly"... this episode is your reminder that you don't have to.

Our feeds are full of magical summer moments, bucket lists, and family vacations that look effortless and picture perfect so it's easy to feel like we're not doing enough.

In this hilarious episode, Kristin and Deena are playing “F*ck Yeah or F*ck No" to all of this summer's biggest trends—from hotel pool passes and reading romance novels to Labubus, camping chairs, creatine, pickleball, backyard movie nights, and everything in between.

Along the way, they accidentally stumble into some surprisingly important conversations about motherhood, boundaries, partnership, body image, and why your kids don't actually need a Pinterest-perfect summer.

In this episode, you'll hear:

* The summer trends Kristin and Deena are fully embracing (and the ones they're absolutely not).

* Why staying home might actually create better family memories than chasing the "perfect" vacation.

* The simple mindset shift that takes the pressure off creating the "best summer ever."

* Why saying no might be the healthiest trend of all this year.

* What your kids will ACTUALLY remember from the summer, rather than what you think they will

Whether you're planning a huge vacation, hanging out in your own backyard, or trying to make it to September with your sanity intact, this conversations is your reminder that your kids don’t need a perfect summer!

So lower the pressure, laugh along with us, and tell us which summer trends you're saying "F*ck Yeah" to... and which ones you're leaving behind.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/BLF with code BLF. 

First Day - Clinically absorbable. Family-safe. Actually effective. For a limited time only, our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code BLF to get up to 57% Off at First Day dot com. That’s up to 57% Off and a Free Gift with code BLF at FirstDay.com. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you.

Magnetic Me - Get 15% off sitewide at magneticme.com.

Nutrafol - Head to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code FEELINGS for $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping. 

Osea - Get 10% off your order sitewide with code BLF at oseamalibu.com

Our Place - Stop cooking with toxic cookware and upgrade to Our Place today! Visit fromourplace.com/BLF and use code BLF for 10% off sitewide. 

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If every family vacation somehow ends with you and your partner bickering... snapping at each other... feeling guilty because your kids are watching... and wondering why you spent thousands of dollars to argue somewhere prettier...Stop.

Listen to this episode before you pack your bags.

Kristin is pulling back the curtain on the exact couples therapy tools that completely transformed the way they travel as a family. These simple conversations changed everything - from constant vacation bickering to actually feeling like teammates again.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The 5 questions every couple should answer before leaving for vacation that prevent fights before they even start.
• Why even the happiest couples end up fighting on family vacations (and what to do instead).
• How to stop resentment before it builds, so you don't spend the whole trip quietly keeping score.
• Exactly what to do when a vacation fight starts... so one bad moment doesn't ruin the entire vacation.
• The simple repair strategy that helps you reconnect faster, and models healthy relationships for your kids.

If you've ever come home from vacation feeling like you need another vacation... if you've ever looked at your partner and thought, Can we please not do this again next year? This episode is for you.

Send it to your partner before you leave.

Your kids won't remember whether the vacation was perfect. They'll remember how it felt to be there. This episode will transform the memories you come home with.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use code BIGLITTLEFEELINGS for up to 20% off!

Quince - Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to quince.com/BLF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. 

ResortPass - Visit resortpass.com/BLF to get $20 off your first booking of $100 or more.

Unreal Snacks - Visit unrealsnacks.com/BLF to get $2 off a bag of Unreal. Terms and conditions apply.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.