episodes

Welcome to What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood! Here's a quick intro to us and to our podcast.

Many kids are exhibiting regressive behavior right now. Lots of adults too: Zoom with your summer camp friends much? It’s normal to seek the security of the past in times of stress.Here’s how to let regression be, and how to …

After 2 months of this new normal our to-do lists are running away from us. How do we get to what matters in the extremely limited bursts of kid-free time we might have? Guests: Laura Vanderkam and Sarah Hart-Unger, co-hosts …

Margaret answers a question from a mom who is trying to decide whether or not to sleep train her 7-month-old while quarantined.

We asked all of you to tell us your “mom wins” since quarantine life began. Whether it’s synchronized napping, picky eaters trying meatballs, or a 5-year-old who finally slept past 7 a.m., we salute all these miniscule victories. Happy Mother’s …

Amy answers a question from a listener whose daughter is struggling with nightmares.

A body in motion stays in motion; once at rest, it’s hard to regain momentum. But is continuous momentum possible during this very strange limbo? How can we keep running this marathon when we don’t even know what mile we’re …

Margaret answers a questions who is struggling to get her toddler to perform when relatives call.

What kind of monster decides to go keto during a pandemic? Trades away toilet paper for sourdough starter? Finishes Mom’s chocolate stash? Slices an avocado horizontally? Our listeners weigh in with the straws that will break their quarantine backs.

Amy answers a question from a listener whose teenagers are really, really over being stuck at home.

As we round the curve into what’s been a full month of Uno, math worksheets, and never going anywhere, we’ve all learned a few things. Here are our stay-at-home revelations about our homes, our cooking, our relationships, our kids, and …

Margaret answers a question from a listener whose kid always wants mom to play with him.

Here’s what’s actually working right now- for our anxiety, our family chore buy-in, our kitchen ennui, and our senses of hope. (Our number one tip: try never to interrupt a happy quarantined family while they’re doing whatever is making them …

This week Amy answers a question from a listener whose child is missing a big milestone event.

Homeschooling feels doable when it’s a snow-day novelty. It feels different when you’re relearning middle-school math while also conference-calling from home and running a kitchen serving three meals a day. Here's how we're coping & keeping it going.

Margaret answers a question from a listener who is trying to decide how much to homeschool her kids.

Most of us have a new reality: we have to keep our kids busy. Here are ideas for keeping kids of all ages occupied, both inside and outside, using materials you probably already have around the house— and preferably, without …

This week Amy answers a question from a mom who wants her school-aged kids to do their part in the kitchen.

Studies show our kids’ gaming doesn’t necessarily correlate with lower grades, hyperactivity, or aggressiveness. But ask any parent: Fortnite, Super Smash Bros, or Xbox can make one cranky zombie. Here’s how to set gaming rules for your household.

Margaret answers a question from a listener who wants to know how to encourage her kids to keep their rooms and the playroom clean.

Is “self-care” a facial? A mammogram? A big glass of wine? All of the above- provided they’re things that protect you, or relax you. But for self-care to work, you have to practice it all the time, not just on …

Amy answers a question from a listener who wants her own mom to stop relying on screens when she's babysitting.

In-law relationships are close by design, not by choice. No wonder conflicts can arise. But a good in-law relationship, if it’s possible, is worth investing in. Here’s how to have difficult conversations- and more importantly, when to let things go.

Margaret answers a question from a listener who is worried about taking her young child to a funeral.