We’ve heard from so many listeners who say that The Mom Hour helped you through your early years of parenting. Your notes of gratitude got us thinking (and feeling all the feels) about what a uniquely intense and tender season “active mothering” really is—and why it inspires a certain nostalgia when viewed later from a distance. Join us as we share some of your own words as well as memories of our own, reflecting on the pop-cultural, sensory, emotional, and unexpectedly specific things that instantly transport us back. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes Mentioned In This One:
• The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363
• Giving Ourselves Credit & Compassion: Episode 506
• Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes): Episode 96
• Last Firsts & First Lasts (Milestones We Notice, And A Bunch We Miss): Episode 166

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

This week, we’re talking about busy-ness—that always-running hamster wheel we either can’t get off… or can’t seem to climb onto. Meagan and Sarah each look back on times in our lives when our relationship with productivity felt off—whether we were drowning in to-dos or floating in a weird limbo of not-enough-to-dos. Where are we at now on the busy scale? How do our personalities lend themselves to being busy – or not? And is there even such a thing as the perfect balance? Join us!

This is Part 1 of a three-part series about Time running this spring. Check back next month for Part 2!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• The Fall Sarah Quit Everything: Episode 233
• Episodes From The Archives On Time Management:
• The Lazy Genius Helps Fix Our Time Management Troubles: Episode 485
• Time Management For The Season You’re In: Episode 483
• Time Management & Productivity Tips For Savvy Working Moms: Voices 54 With Whitnee Hawthorne
• Productivity & Time Management Tips For Moms: Episode 169

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

From sandbox maintenance and the endless cycle of outgrown kids’ clothes to the rise of sourdough starters and evolving gardening ambitions, today's episode is about how our home management tasks have shifted as our kids have grown. We each share a few “then vs. now” snapshots, offering little insights into what domestic work looks like during different seasons of family life. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Meagan wrote the blog post Organizing Kids' Clothes: Seasonal And Hand-Me-Down Storage Made Simple back in 2014 about the storage and swap-out of seasonal clothes and handmedowns that she used for her four boys for a decade.
• Meagan mentioned the book The Domestic Revolution by Ruth Goodman (affiliate link) 
• Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy On Home/Life/Time Management.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan and Sarah catch up on our latest reading adventures. We share some books we’ve been loving lately, our TBR lists and check in on our library habits. We also discuss how reading habits change when we’re on vacation or just shaking up our routines. Oh, and with Meagan’s book launch on the horizon, we’re giving you a peek into how she’s keeping up with all the new releases and buzz in the book world. So grab a cup of your fav beverage and let’s dive into this bookish catch-up!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes From The Archives On Reading & Libraries:
• 7 Habits Of Moms Who Make Time For Reading: Episode 492
• More Than Mom: For The Love Of Libraries
• Meagan and Sarah both use the Libby App to borrow books from the local library.
• Sarah subscribed to The New Yorker
• Meagan’s Books (book links are affiliate links)
• The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series
• The Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal into Victorian Homes Changed Everything by Ruth Goodman
• A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
• Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is on Meagan’s TBR list
• The Tea Planter’s Wife by Dinah Jefferies is on Meagan’s TBR List
• Sarah’s Books(book links are affiliate links)
• Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes by Jessica Pan
• Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
• Jedidiah Jenkins, author of Mother Nature, was featured on Armchair Expert.
• Meagan wrote about her current relationship with the library in a new Substack post.
• Meagan interviews Gretchen Rubin on her podcast The Kettle on April 15

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

No April Foolery from us today, but we ARE talking about family culture around jokes and funny stuff. We touch on Sarah’s very strong feelings about pranks and jump scares, the joy of watching our kids’ unique senses of humor evolve as they grow, whether teasing and ribbing fit in our our families’ culture, comedy styles in pop culture that catch on with our teens, and more. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Speaking Our Kids’ Love Languages (And Knowing Our Own): Episode 296
• Staying Connected With Tweens, Teens & Beyond: Episode 482

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Living near other families with kids is a blessing and, occasionally, a challenge. In today’s episode of House Rules, Meagan and Sarah share tips from The Mom Hour community—consider this your go-to guide for making those impromptu playdates a little smoother! From setting boundaries, providing snacks, staying safe, and keeping the peace, we've got you covered. Enjoy!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• House Rules For Neighbor Play ideas from our Facebook Community.
• Did you enjoy this House Rules episode? Here are a few more from the archives:
• House Rules For Messy Fun: Episode 468
• House Rules For Easier Bedtimes: Episode 443
• House Rules For Tidying Up: Episode 413
• House Rules For Gifting & Giving: Episode 393
• House Rules For After School: Episode 380
• House Rules for Playdates: Episode 340

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Today we celebrate a decade of The Mom Hour! We asked listeners to tell us the phrases we say all the time – MomHour-isms, if you will – and wow, did you deliver. We own up to our quirks and vocal tics, give backstory to oft-repeated phrases we utter, and share behind-the-scenes details about making and editing the podcast. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Did you miss our news about the future of The Mom Hour? Listen to How Do You Know What’s Next?: Episode 503
• Episodes from the archives mentioned in this episode:
• Mom Milestones (By Popular Request!): Episode 257
• We Hate Fun: Episode 109
• We Hate Fun! (Okay, Not ALL Fun): Episode 10
• The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Let’s talk travel habits! How do you settle into a rental property? Do you unpack in a hotel room? Are you a fan of rental cars, or do you rely on ride-sharing apps? These are just a few of the things Meagan and Sarah discuss in today’s episode on traveling without kids and the unique habits that come with it. Join us as we share our personal quirks (and strong feelings) on things like rental cars, tech use while on vacation, our use (or non-use) of navigation apps, and how we make accommodations feel more like home. Enjoy!

This is Part 3 of a three-part travel series running this winter! You can listen to Part 1 here, and listen to Part 2 here.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Check out our Family Travel Hub for episodes and blog posts to help with all your traveling-with-kids needs!
• Traveling As Business Besties (Meagan & Sarah From Dallas Together!)
• We mentioned this episode, where we deep-dive on our airport personalities: Getting There Is Half The Fun (Especially When You’re Flying Solo)

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Mornings set the tone for the day, so how are we spending ours lately? Today we define – and debate! – a “successful” start to the day, and dig into some of the mythology surrounding morning routines. From quiet time to busy school morning routines, we’ll share how different environments shape our mornings and talk about the little habits that help us feel grounded and ready to take on the day. Join us!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Last week’s episode Evening Routines Lately: Episode 507 and Morning Routines & Morning Makeovers: Episode 222 pair nicely with this one.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

Does a peaceful evening beget a better morning? Let's find out. Today Meagan and Sarah talk about our evening routines lately, and next week we'll do the same with mornings. Now that our kids are older, we try to make time for the little things that make winding down feel calm and intentional. Plus, we share how we shut down our homes and families for the night, and how our loved ones—both human and animal—fit into the mix. Nighty-night!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Episodes from the archives on routines:
• Morning Routines & Morning Makeovers: Episode 222
• Routines, Rituals, and Traditions (Part 2): Episode 129
• Routines, Rituals, and Traditions (Part 1): Episode 128
• Bedtime Routines at Every Stage: Episode 80
• Realistic Hair & Skincare Routines: Episode 48
• Routines For A Happy Mom-Life: Episode 20
• Interested in gua sha (which Meagan talked about having an at-home routine similar to)? We learned a lot from this Good Housekeeping article
• Sarah uses DRMTLGY retinol and neck cream
• Sarah keeps this cuter version of your grandma's pill box on her bedside table (h/t Erica Ladd for that rec!)
• Clevr blend sleeptime latte is Sarah's drink of choice in the evening
• We both use weighted blankets in a twin size, like this one
• Meagan uses her Hatch Clock (affiliate link) to dim the lights before bed, helping to cue her to get sleepy

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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

“I wish I’d yelled less,” “I should’ve tidied up more”—sound familiar? We’re pretty hard on ourselves as moms, especially when we’re deep in the thick of parenting. With a little distance it’s a bit easier to recognize how much we’ve actually done for our families. Today Meagan and Sarah reflect on our early parenting years and give credit where credit is due and offer compassion to our younger selves. Turns out, we were doing the best we could with what we had – just like you!

HELPFUL LINKS:

• We mentioned an episode looking back on regrets: Regrets, We’ve Had A Few: Episode 440
• Episodes from the archives you may enjoy:
• Nurturing Grandparent-Grandkid Relationships: Episode 390
• Kinkeeping: Episode 488
• Motherly Love In Theory & Practice: Episode 451
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Back To School: Episode 377
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Tech And Devices: Episode 368
• Glad I Did / Wish I’d Done: Summer Planning: Episode 359

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next
• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

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