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New recipes can shake up cooking routines, but there’s something to be said for the tried-and-true meals, too. Today Meagan and Sarah share the family dinners that always make it into our current cooking rotations. They’re the meals we know how to shop for, prepare, and that the kids are comfortable eating as is (or know how to put their own twist on it). We also touch on “always in rotation” dinners from bygone eras, and what new recipes we’re hoping to try this year. Join us! LINKS MENTIONED:We both have this rice cookerMeagan’s Pulled Pork, 5 Ways blog postSarah’s family loves this Trader Joe’s Microwavable Spanish RiceMeagan mentioned her word of the year is “Beans” which is explained in this Substack postMeagan has her own personal take on this Moo Shu Pork Bowl recipe from Hello FreshEpisodes From The Archives On Feeding A Family:A Week Of Real-Life Dinners: Episode 336A Week of Real-Life Dinners: (Vol. 4) Episode 305A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 3): Episode 254A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 2): Episode 196A Week of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 1): Episode 72OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Whether you have puppy fever or are overwhelmed by the idea of getting a dog, this episode will meet you where you are. Join regular contributors Joanna and Joanne as they check in about recent adventures adding furry family members to their homes. They offer advice for things to consider before getting a dog, chat about how a dog can impact your lifestyle, your budget, and your mental load, and offer tips for introducing a dog to a new baby and getting kids involved in pet care. Enjoy! HELPFUL LINKS:Follow Joanna Martin on InstagramFollow Joanne Ruelos Diaz on InstagramJoanna trained her new dog at The Dog WizardHere is a helpful article, Should I Get A Dog from the American Kennel ClubJoanne’s custom dog bookmark from EtsyJoanne rescued her dog from Heavenly Angel’s Animal RescueJoanna received this custom, search-and-find your dog bookJoanna mentioned this rescue organization in Dallas, TexasEpisodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:More Than Mom: Pets!All About Family Pets: Episode 71Pandemic Puppies, Foster Kittens & A Small Animal Pet Debate: Episode 286Lessons In Motherhood From Chickens & Kittens: Episode 379OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

The kids are sick. Your spouse is traveling. The laundry is piling up. Motherhood can be A LOT, even in the best of times, but when normalcy is thrown off, the stakes get even higher. Today Meagan and Sarah share our best tips for surviving the day – and getting the bare minimum done – when it all just feels like too much. Join us! HELPFUL LINKS:Sarah referenced this classic replay: How Do I Make Time For It All?Sarah uses Todoist to manage not just her work, but her chores and daily checklists.Episodes that pair nicely with this one:When Will This Get Easier?: Episode 435On “Taking A Break” As A Mom (And Human!): Episode 423Emotional Labor, Burnout & Completing The Stress Cycle: Episode 285 MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

What does loving your children actually feel like? Is it a split-second, life-altering love like we hear about, or is it a deep background hum that builds over time? Is there a difference between loving our kids and loving the motherhood experience? Today Meagan and Sarah unpack motherly love, including our specific styles of showing love to – and receiving it from – our kids. Enjoy! HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes From The Archives That Pair Well With This One:Speaking Our Kids’ Love Languages (And Knowing Our Own): Episode 29610 Things We Love About Teenagers: Episode 449Have an episode idea? Email us!OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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 check in about clothes! As work-from-home moms in our forties, winter “fashion” is mostly about cozy comfort. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share what we’re wearing lately, including a surprising headache-related accessory, a total 180 on long-sleeved pajamas, and a bralette misfire. We also look to you, dear listener, to help us source some wardrobe pieces we’re in need of. Help us out! HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan mentioned…the Bliss Triangle Bralette from Harper Wilde (we both have this bra, as well as the original Bliss)Wool leggings from WoolxLands’ End Pajama SetsSarah mentioned…Cloudsurfer shoes from On RunningTheraICE Headache Relief Cap paired with a heat neck wrap for headachesleaning into secondhand cashmere and wool sweaters (we discussed Quince as a source for affordable cashmere)Sarah’s looking for sleep tank recommendations and a quick-dry sporty hat. Meagan wants a whole new look. Email us to help us out!More episodes on style and product recommendationsCozy Winter Style Inspiration: Episode 397More Than Mom: Fall Style Update OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

You’ve been warned: raising teens can actually be…sort of wonderful. And also hard (but what season of motherhood isn’t?). Today Meagan and Sarah share what specific things we love about teenagers, from their thoughtful conversations to their little-kid-selves peeking out around every corner of their nearly-adult bodies. Along the way we share some recent stories about our own teenagers and what makes them great. Join us! HELPFUL LINKS:10 Things We Love…Episodes from the archives!10 Things We Love About The 4th Trimester: Episode 28010 Things We Love About Raising Siblings: Episode 24810 Things We Love About Toddlers: Episode 243You can view the many reasons our listeners love teenagers in this post on our Mom Hour Listener Facebook Page. OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Overwhelmed? Tired of people suggesting you “just relax!” or “go easy on yourself!”? Wondering if you should be playing with your kids more? This episode is for you. In this classic replay from 2016, Meagan and Sarah answer a question from Sheena (mom to a four-year-old, a two-year-old, and an infant!) about how to make time for things that need to be done around the house AND still connect with her kids. We normalize feeling overwhelmed, offer concrete tips for staying reasonably caught up, and share our experience balancing expectations, reality, and good-enough productivity. Join us! “Hi Sarah and Meagan, this is Sheena from Oregon, and I have two questions that both relate to time management. I have a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old and I’m finding that I’m always behind, and I’m wondering if you have any tips for how to get ahead? Also, how do you find time in the day to play? I find that I’m always just trying to get the kids busy so I can get on to my next task, and I never have time to just sit down and play. Thanks for your advice!” HELPFUL LINKS:Do you listen to The Mom Hour on the Apple Podcasts app? Apple had an update and unsubscribed people (argh!), so please make sure to click the (+) sign follow and subscribeDo you have an idea for an episode topic? Email Meagan and Sarah directly! We love to hear from you.We referenced Episode 10: We Hate Fun!Sarah still loves The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey (this is an affiliate link)Other articles and episodes about time management and productivity OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Sarah’s family (with kids ages 15, 13, and 10) recently returned from their first big overseas travel adventure, and today we’re reflecting on her lessons learned. Taking the family across multiple time zones and out of the comforts of routine comes with challenges, to be sure, but also with opportunities for clarifying and crystalizing family culture in a way that’s harder to do at home. Join us to get all of Meagan’s questions answered and hear Sarah’s takeaways on the parenting lessons she’ll carry forward even after returning home. HELPFUL LINKS:Call for Listener Questions! Do you have a question you’d like answered on the podcast? Email us or leave us a voicemail!Episodes That Pair Nicely With This One:Tips For Traveling With Teens (Meagan’s Florida Family Vacation)Family Travel Mishaps & Why We Go Anyway: Voices 76Real Moms Share Their Best Family Travel Advice: Episode 356House Rules For Travel And Vacation: Episode 319 OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Keeping schedules aligned, staying on top of basic tidying, and managing endless loads of laundry are just a few of the household systems facing modern parents. In today’s episode, regular contributors Joanna and Sarah share their best hacks for keeping the household afloat during the little years. They talk everything from calendar systems to smart speakers, laundry shortcuts to robot vacuums – plus how to get kids to help around the house and where their systems could use a New Year reset. Enjoy! HELPFUL LINKSFollow Joanna Martin on InstagramFollow Sarah Limberg on InstagramKate Strickler, The Home Reset is a 14-part audio course to help guide you to reset different spaces in your home.Sarah and Joanna both love their Roborock vacuum.Sarah uses Todoist to organize tasks and reminders.A few episodes that pair nicely with this one:A Week Of Real-Life Housework (Part One): Episode 370A Week Of Real-Life Housework (Part Two): Episode 371Chores & Household Responsibilities: Episode 434House Rules For Tidying Up: Episode 413Podcasts Joanna and Sarah enjoy for household hack inspirationThe Lazy GeniusThe Girl Next Door OTHER HELPFUL LINKSVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

It’s a buzzword, and it’s not going anywhere, but what does “sustainability” even MEAN? Meagan and Sarah are here to discuss their personal interpretations, as well as the ways in which we’ve each moved toward more mindful consumption. We talk shopping, cleaner cleaning products, reducing consumables, simplifying how we eat, and more. We’re also very honest about the many ways we’re just not that sustainable – yet (or ever!). Happy New Year! HELPFUL LINKS:Shout-out to Sarah’s local zero-waste boutique, Sunkissed Pantry!Meagan uses Beeswax Cloth in lieu of plastic wrapSarah loves ThredUp and Lululemon Like New for online secondhand shoppingYou can find a Zero Waste Shop near you for household and personal items.We’d love to hear from you, on ways you plan to be sustainable in 2024 OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Grab a warm beverage and settle in for an end-of-year books chat! Meagan and Sarah look back over our reading in 2023 to share what we’ve read, what stuck with us, and how our reading habits have continued to evolve. Meagan also shares an update about Paper Mill Books, the independent bookstore in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan that she helped open earlier this year. Join us – you may just find a new book or two to throw on your TBR pile for 2024! HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan opened a bookstore in July 2023.Episodes from the archives about books and readingSarah uses Goodreads to keep track of the books she reads (we hear great things about and The StoryGraph, too!)Sarah mentioned:Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (highly recommend this interview with Kingsolver on The Ezra Klein Show after you finish the book!)Honor by Thrity Umrigar (Sarah previously loved The Space Between Us by the same author)We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman (whose writing on Substack is delightful and who IS, technically, our friend)The Emotional Lives Of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour (catch Dr. Damour’s chat with Meagan in this episode, and check out her podcast here)Meagan’s List of Books:Once Upon A River by Bonnie Jo CampbellUnraveling What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy OrensteinHey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy And The Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily PaulsonMajor Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen SimonsonBooks We Have On Deck for 2024:The Art Of Gathering by Priya ParkerTomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Sharma VikesTom Lake by Ann PatchetMeagan’s hosting a book club in her private community The Tea Circle. In 2024, they are reading The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.

Is new parenthood better or worse today than it was 10 years ago? Meagan and Sarah dive deep into this question today, unpacking nuanced issues like tech solutions for age-old problems, the availability of information and solutions for every struggle, and the benefits and drawbacks of connecting online. The consensus? It’s complicted. Join us! HELPFUL LINKSWe referenced your comments in this Facebook Post throughout the episodeSarah mentioned The Girl Next Door Podcast episode Online Behavior For Grown UpsYou might also like What’s New In Baby Gear & Baby Shower Registries: Voices 77 with Kia Hammond and Katherine DeVriesEpisodes from the archives about New Motherhood:Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (As New Moms): Episode 19When Will This Get Easier?: Episode 435Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Breastfeeding Edition): Episode 114 OTHER HELPFUL LINKSVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin 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.