Toddler Purgatory

Are you someone who is always “happy to help” others, to the point where you don't have time to be YOUR best creative self? You need the new book, Happy to Help by Amy Wilson. In this episode, Amy gives us some hot tips on how we can prioritize our own creative pursuits while setting some boundaries around our compulsive need to “be there” for everyone around us. Between chairing the bake sale committee and writing a book, Amy breaks down how to re-prioritize our time and our energy, and teach our families how to start the dishwasher themselves, for crying out loud! Links and Resources: Amy's Instagram Amy's Website happy-to-help-free-audiobook-preview-from-librofm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it feels like it's roadblock after roadblock, moving on can seem impossible. But what if we focused on the silver linings? The lessons and motivation we could gain from those struggles? And what if we went further and shared them with our community to foster growth and connection? Actor Julia Kelly brings her own personal brand of positivity to the podcast, inspiring Blaire & Molly AND YOU to find the good in the hard times.  Links and Resources: Julia's Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why wouldn't we take care of our goals and dreams like we do our kids or pets? Why don't we run to protect what we strive for the most in life? Finding the deep love and energy for specific goals can be tough, but maybe it's all about rethinking how we go about doing it. Alex's has some beautiful insights on how to not let our goals go hungry. Links and Resources: Instagram: @alexmalaos Website: alexmalaos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Fallout actor Rod Luzzi, a degree in kinesiology leading to a career in acting was not on his proverbial vision board in college. But after taking an acting class at the suggestion of a restaurant co-worker, he was hooked. He reminds us that each of our creative journeys is our own, and the way we talk to OURSELVES is perhaps the loudest voice of all, so be kind.  Links and Resources: Instagram Facebook Fallout Season 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Glitter! Taking the leap from being a creative in the corporate world to starting your own company can be intimidating, but it can light you up in amazing ways. Sizemore Color Studios' Nick Sizemore joins Molly & Blaire “in the studio” to talk all things creative, from daily practices to bringing his bold, aggressive creativity to his projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this encore episode, we revisit our deeply inspiring conversation with coach and mentor Robyn Ivy. Robyn helps us explore how to break free from our inner barriers and step boldly into a creative, curious, and fulfilling artistic life. True to form, she moves us to tears as she passionately reminds us of the revolutionary power of embracing our creativity and claiming our place in the artistic world. Robyn also shares practical tools you can start using today to reconnect with your bold and authentic artistic self. Whether you're feeling stuck or seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice for artists at every stage of their journey. Links and Resources: Website: www.robynivy.com Podcast: The Robyn Ivy Show (available wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.robynivy.com/podcast) Social Media: Find her under her name on all platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real, tangible actions we can take NOW to bring our best creative selves into 2025? Don't mind if we do! Coach Ann Imig teaches us how to identify & build on the lessons and high points of 2024, to make 2025 our best year ever.  Links and Resources: List of questions  Ann's Instagram Listen Life Coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amaya Gurpide is a contemporary artist and the co-artistic director of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. She shares stories from her adventurous life, from growing up in Pamplona Spain to Brooklyn NY to Old Lyme CT, and the importance of hearing and heeding your inner drums.  Links and Resources: Amaya's Website Art Instagram Photography Instagram Lyme Academy of Fine Arts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She's your favorite drag queen's favorite drag queen math teacher. She's Carrie the One! Blaire & Molly chat with Carrie about how she went from playing video games to pass the time during lock down, to teaching math concepts to the masses via her popular Tik Tok channel, Math is a Drag.  Links and Resources: Instagram: @mathisadrag TikTok: @mathisadrag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Carney, a podcast host and stand-up comedian from North Carolina, joins Blaire & Molly to discuss how his ADHD diagnosis shifted his life path. Scott shares how he balanced the challenges of lockdown with staying true to his creative impulses, offering insight into the real-life impact of the pandemic on both mental health and creativity. Grab a coffee and tune in to this inspiring conversation! Links and Resources: Listen on Spotify: Scott Carney Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The awesome Dierdre Friel (New Amsterdam, Apple TV's Physical) joins us to share her journey and discuss the space that saying “no!” creates in your life, leaving room for all the beautiful opportunities to enter. Dierdre is dropping the gems and we are gobbling them up!  Links and Resources: Instagram: @dierdre_friel Physical on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/physical/umc.cmc.6gdc6v4vwyaab7klocftv2s10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when your desperation and muse show up simultaneously to invigorate your creative process? Well according to this week's guest, Shamikah Chrsitina Martinez, it's all about staying ready and true to your own voice. Shamika shares with us her tireless and bountiful journey from a TRL gofer to future writer/producer/star of her very own Netflix short film. A hilarious and inspiring conversation to just do your THANG! Links and Resources: Website: Shamikah Martinez Spotify: Fiona Apple - Shamikah Instagram: @shamikahchristina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blaire & Molly welcome writer-director Claire Ayoub to discuss her new film, Empire Waist, hitting theaters on September 27, 2024! Claire shares her incredible journey from hiding her script in her hall closet to watching it come to life on the ol' silver screen. Links and resources: Instagram: @claireayoub, @empirewaistfilm Film Info: Empire Waist Claire's Website: claireayoub.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deep connection that people can have with horses is well known, but did you know they can help humans get unstuck? Today's guest Judy Wellfare isn't just a Creative Director and Foresight Strategist; she is an Equine-Facilitated Coach, helping people through their challenges with the aid of horses. Listen in as Blaire & Molly learn more about Judy's journey, and what led her to dive deep into her love of horses to help others.  Links and Resources: Judy's LinkedIn: Judy Wellfare PLUS website: weareplus.com If Then Futures website: If Then Futures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever find yourself struggling to be creative, feeling like you're forcing it? And after a success, how do you stay motivated to keep creating? Connor Ratliff, actor, improviser, and host of the popular podcast Dead Eyes, joins M&B to discuss life beyond his podcast, his new friendship with Tom Hanks, and how taking a break might be exactly what you need to reignite your creativity. Links and Resources: Instagram: @connorratliff Listen to Dead Eyes: Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever been curious about why you are the way you are, maybe human design is for you! Nadia Quinn is an actor and singer and creative who Shares her love of human design with viewers on her TikTok channel as well as doing personalized sessions. Blaire & Molly are lucky enough to get a taste of their own human design charts and come away with another tool to remove blocks on their journey to living their most fulfilled, creative life.  LINKS: Cometeer coffee: cometeer.com Www.mybodygraph.com Tik Tok: Nadiaquinn44 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to have success in your artistry… and still not believe YOU are an artist? M&B talk with their friend Johnathan Fernandez about the power of believing in yourself, not looking to outside sources for validation, and fully embracing your inner “woo.” Xoxo! Links and Resources: Follow Johnathan on Instagram: @jthanprime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CBS recently announced they are renewing the TV show “Ghosts” for an amazing 4th season! To celebrate, we are revisiting our chat with Richie Moriarty (who plays Pete on “Ghosts”), and getting inspired to find and foster a creative community of our own.  Links and Resources: You can find Richie on Instagram and TikTok: @Richietown His Kindergarten talent show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r5XcJo2sSE His Hamilton sketch: https://www.instagram.com/richietown/reel/CtKt3ndpsDY/ Shoutouts from the show: Danielle Pinnock @bodycourage Capes Coaching www.capesco.com Joanna Hausmann @johaus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The author Ruth Whippman joins Blaire & Molly in a lively discussion of her new book BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity. Learn about Ruth's journey to becoming an author and the highs and lows of being an expat mom taking big risks. Embrace life with the mindset of moving to a new country and having nothing to lose! Links and Resources: Ruth Whippman Website: www.Ruthwhippman.com Instagram: @ruthwhippman Featured Books: BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity Bookshop Link America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks Macmillan Link Additional Resources: “America the Anxious” article in NY Times Read the Article Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Capes Coaching has been an invaluable source of inspiration and guidance for both Blaire and Molly over the years. Today they chat with founder Betsy Capes about her journey to coaching and how to stay creative day to day. Take a listen, get inspired, and find out if coaching is a tool that's right for you.  Links and Resources: Website: www.capesco.com Instagram: @capescoaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are many ways to access and grow our creativity, vulnerability, and best selves. Transformational coach Lauren Hoffman discusses with Blaire & Molly some of those ways in, from plant medicine to breath work, to making friends with our own egos.  Links and Resources: Lauren's coaching website: www.goldenlair.com Instagram: @itslaurenhoffman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blaire & Molly are thrilled to chat with historical biographer Sarah Gristwood (author of such books as Arbella: England's Lost Queen, and Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses, amongst many others) about her new book Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries (we loved it). They marvel at how the similarities between the inner lives of women of all eras connect us, as well as how keeping a diary might be just the tool we've been looking for to help sustain our creative flow. So pour yourself a detective novel-themed cocktail and enjoy this episode of “Unsticking It!” Links and Resources: Secret Voices:  https://a.co/d/8pDRzLP X, Instagram: @sarahgristwood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visual artist Jess Hurley Scott joins Blaire and Molly to talk about her artistic process (she paints in reverse, y'all!), her journey to life as a painter (she and Molly worked at a fashion company together and now look at them!), and how her dyslexia diagnosis in college informs her process as an artist. Links and Resources: Insta and Facebook: @jesshurleyscottart Website: www.jesshurleyscott.com Jess's favorite coffee shop: www.seabirdcoffee.com Jess's favorite at-home coffee: www.marylous.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a customer says no, how can we turn that into a yes?  In sales, the goal is always to convince customers to choose your product or service over others, and the key to successful sales is understanding why people say no in the first place. Today, we share a crucial strategy to shift your customer from a no to a yes. We look at this process specifically within the context of medical devices, which requires knowledge, a deep base of understanding, clear thinking, and resilience, explaining how to identify what drives your customers' decision-making and how to guide them toward a positive response. Links and Resources: Website: www.jvmercanti.com JV's Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jv+mercanti&crid=39GBCQ2EKXFA8&sprefix=jv+mercan%2Caps%2C93&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_9 “Toxic” performed by Jennifer Simard in Once Upon a One More Time: https://youtu.be/EI2R9eW_bp8?si=sne9AesllDyrg2Mi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest Ana Breton is a producer and director currently living the dream working with Eugenio Derbez-founded 3Pas Studios. While she is so grateful to be thrice-Emmy-nominated, she teaches us, “You just have to keep making the things that you like and lifting other people to do the same, and that's truly the rewarding moment.” Links and Resources: Instagram: @bretonana, @goldcomedy 3Pas Studios:  https://www.3pas-studios.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedy writer and performer Joe Schiappa joins Blaire & Molly for a talk about always following your instincts to do the thing, even if that thing is an elementary school remake of the movie Annie, a solid five years after the movie itself came out. The collective love for Aileen Quinn aside, this episode reminds us all to never let the should-a's get in your way.  Shout outs Insta: @melrobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everyone deserves that TIME. That carved out section of your day that isn't given to anyone, to NO ONE, but yourself.” Mary Giattino isn't just the owner/ teacher at Stage Door School of Dance in Patchogue NY, she's also a professional dancer and perhaps most importantly, Blaire's best friend! And on today's podcast, she shares the importance of “getting in the space,” and acknowledges that while none of us are fans of the negative voices in our heads… you can use them to push you to be your creative best. LINKS: Instagram: at marygiattino Website: www.marygiattino.com, www.stagedoordancer.com The Paramounts: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo1MsUw4As5BV0Pw_ddKNrQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking the leap can save you. We learn this and more from our guest, creative director John Lorelli, who reminds us that innate curiosity is what makes you creative, NOT just being labeled as “a creative,” and that fear and curiosity are not polar opposites. In fact, they can be besties! Enjoy this episode with our new bestie, John. You can find John at www.johnlorelli.com, and on Instagram @johnlorelli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richie Moriarty is an actor, writer, and comedian who you may have seen as Pete on the CBS show Ghosts. Richie shares with us how important community and accountability are to his creative process, and reminds us “people want to help you.” We were so inspired to build our creative community after talking to Richie, and you will be too. You can find Richie on Instagram and TikTok: @Richietown His Kindergarten talent show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r5XcJo2sSE His Hamilton sketch: https://www.instagram.com/richietown/reel/CtKt3ndpsDY/ Shoutouts from the show: Danielle Pinnock @bodycourage Capes Coaching www.capesco.com Joanna Hausmann @johaus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Unsticking It! with Blaire & Molly. For our first foray into getting unstuck creatively, we talk to coach and mentor Robyn Ivy about how to free ourselves from our own obstacles in order to live a curious and excited artistic life. Robyn brings us to tears (very on brand for us) as she encourages us to stand in our creativity (“it's revolutionary!”) and believe we belong there. It is, in fact, necessary for our survival and growth as the artists we know we are. Robyn gives us some necessary tools we can use TODAY to connect to our bold artistic selves. You can find out more about Robyn Ivy on social media under her name, on her website, www.robynivy.com, and on her podcast “The Robyn Ivy Show”, wherever you listen to podcasts, or at www.robynivy.com/podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Break free from your creative rut and reignite your artistic flow with 'Unsticking It!' With each episode, we delve into the world of overcoming creative blocks, offering practical strategies, skilled insights, and inspiring stories to help you reclaim your creative soul-spark and find your way back to YOU! Blaire and Molly are two busy moms/ actors (Mactors? Momtors? Exhausted?) who somewhere between potty training and the pandemic seemed to have lost their creative kaboom. They're now enlisting the help of fellow imaginative minds to unstick themselves (and you) from the muck they're stuck in! Unsticking It! With Blaire & Molly. Because sometimes... life stucks!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you look in your bank account and wonder where all your money has gone? We asked our listeners for the small ways they save and and budget every month to make money less of a mystery. Molly and Blaire discuss: Blaire's amazing Poshmark selling skills Why it's important to pay yourself first Sinking funds Investing a little bit of time in some of these solutions reaps big rewards budget-wise, so seriously, start eensy teensy tiny. Look in your fridge to see what you need to use up before going to the store. Join Facebook Marketplace or your local "Buy Nothing" group. Budgeting is a muscle that you have to exercise consistently in order to get good at it, so give yourself some grace! Here are all the resources we mentioned in the episode! Here's the original thread in the What Fresh Hell Facebook group Flipp Fetch Rewards Receipt Hog ibotta YNAB (You need a budget) Mint eMeals FB Marketplace or your local "buy nothing" groups Mercari Poshmark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to have "happy motherhood?" And is it even a realistic goal to have, given the ups and downs of being a parent? We asked our listeners about their tips to help new parents have a "happier" first year. Molly and Blaire discuss: The perils of Mom Instagram Ways to make extra room for joy in your early motherhood How to sit in discomfort Managing your expectations was a key theme in the answers we got - so many moms want everything to be perfect, so they are inevitably disappointed when they don't get their twins out the door in matching outfits every single morning! But guess what? No one is perfect, even though it may seem every other mom on Earth has it more together than you. Join our Facebook group for more advice, laughs, and support: www.facebook.com/groups/whatfreshhellcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we get our kids away from screens without breaking the bank or planning elaborate outings? Erica Domesek's new book "P.S. - We Made This!" has plenty of ideas for kids' crafts that require zero shopping, zero traveling, and zero (okay, minimal) stress. Erica Domesek is a social media maven, and an extremely cool + crafty parent! She is the founder of the innovative DIY lifestyle brand P.S.–I Made This, which launched in 2009. She has been a distinguished expert in the areas of design and style as well as a leader in brand marketing for 15 years. PS.–We Made This: Super Fun Crafts that Grow Smarter and Healthier Kids follows in the footsteps of her first two books, offering similarly creative and colorful at-home projects– but now invites the whole family to join in the fun!  Molly, Blaire, and Erica discuss: Being artistic vs. being crafty How to use what you have around the house for crafts rather than buying materials Here's where you can find Erica: https://psimadethis.com/about @psimadethis @abramsbooks Buy Erica's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781419756108 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're all muddling through right now, and while we are definitely Team Lowered Standards at this time, there's only so many viewings of Encanto a parent can withstand. Here are some easy, fun ways to change things up around the house and keep things fun. From cleanup races to "spooky baths," our listeners have some great ideas, and in this episode we discuss them all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So is it cool to drop off your kid at his friend's house for a playdate and then go home for an hour and take a nap? No? That's bad playdate etiquette? Ok, just checking. Here are some playdate do's and don'ts for when your little one finds a friend. In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: How playdates help your child develop How to find possible playmates in suburban versus urban areas Good practices for both hosting and visiting someone else's house for a playdate Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: Nicole Yezzi for First Things First: "Four things to consider when setting up a playdate" Maureen Ryan for Verywell Family: "Attending or Hosting a Play Date for Toddlers" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-care can sound like another chore. Seriously, who has time for a bubble bath? And is that really the best use of 20 free minutes, assuming we had them?  But as Haley Jena points out in this article for What To Expect, self-care isn't selfish. It's what we need in order to keep going as parents. It's not optional. In this episode, we discuss what definitely doesn't work for us, what kind of does, and what we're going to start (like reading actual books and not just our phones).  Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:  Moira Lawler for Everyday Health: What Is Self-Care and Why Is It So Important To Your Health?  Forbes: Practicing Self-Care Is Important: 10 Easy Habits To Get You Started Haley Jena for What To Expect: 19 Self-Care Ideas for Moms That Aren't Just 'Take a Shower' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Help a new podcast out! Hit "Follow" or "Subscribe" wherever you listen to Toddler Purgatory! Why are little kids obsessed with the most random things? If your little one has ever insisted on sleeping with a hairbrush, or going to preschool every morning with the same tiny school bus clenched in her fist, you know exactly what we're talking about. Turns out, kids' brains at this age are wired for what psychologists call "extremely intense interests." These obsessions offer dependability; order and control ,in a world where our kids don't have much of either; and even social icebreaking, since that other 3-year-old playing with dinosaurs is probably just as interested in a deep-dive discussion of their many types as your kid is. In the case of construction vehicles and garbage trucks, there's also "cathartic destruction," and who can't use a little of that when they're having a bad day? In this episode, Blaire and Molly discuss their own kids' extremely intense interests and why they make their little ones tick. They also refer to the "Dinosaurs and Trains and Superheroes and Nerf Guns: Boy Obsessions" episode of What Fresh Hell, which you can find here: https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/dinosaurs-and-trains-and-superheroes-and-nerf-guns-boy-obsessions/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's easy to blame and shame ourselves when we make parenting mistakes, no matter how big or how small, especially as moms. Here's how to break the blame/shame/guilt cycle for yourself and how to model self-forgiveness for your kids. Molly and Blaire discuss: Santa's naughty kid hotline How to sincerely apologize What our childhood patterns around mistake-making can teach us How you treat yourself after your own mistakes becomes how your kid treats himself when he makes mistakes. And showing honesty and compassion to yourself in front of your kid when you make a mistake can actually build a stronger bond with your child. Links! (they all come in threes today!) Kate Kripke for Postpartum Women's Center of Boulder: "3 Steps That Turn Your Mistakes in Motherhood into Wins" Lisa Appelo for iMom: "3 Steps When You Make Mom Mistakes" Brandi Michel for MomLifeHappyLife blog: "3 Things To Do Immediately After a Making a Major Mommy Mistake!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Blaire and Molly pal around with their comedian friends Kate Zelensky and Cody Lindquist. They exchange knock-knock jokes, lament about times they bombed with their kids, and discuss a certain compelling performance of "Memory." Kate Zelensky started a career in comedy in 2006 at The Upright Citizens Brigade having finally figured out that she wasn't so good at musical theatre (though Molly disagrees, as we discuss in the episode!). Kate taught, performed, wrote and directed all around that joint for a dozen years. She dabbled in TV and Internet humor content but is best known for a Chuck E. Cheese commercial in which she played a mother of two pre teens - one of whom barfed pepperoni pizza all over the place because he refused to use the spit bucket. Kate got married and had two babies and now works full time as a vending machine for them.  Cody Lindquist is an actress, voiceover actress, and comedian. She is the co-host of the podcast Two Beers In: A Tipsy Political Roundtable and the mom of two tiny New Yorkers.  Links to resources mentioned in the episode: Dru Sefton for The Washington Post: "How Families Share a Sense of Humor" Kate's heart-wrenching rendition of "Memory" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharing is caring, right? We were all raised to believe that sharing is an important part of polite social interactions. But as adults, we would be taken aback if abruptly asked to share something we were using, like our phone. So why do we insist that our kids share toys with complete strangers at a moment's notice? Here's when– and why– it's ok NOT to share. Molly and Blaire discuss: The difference between making kids share and encouraging them to share What forced sharing teaches kids What to say to turn-giving kids and to waiting kids when encouraging sharing Role-playing with your child to practice polite yet assertive behavior is a great way to start the conversation about when and why it's appropriate to share. Links! Positive Parenting Solutions: "It's OK Not to Share" Heather Shumaker's book It's OK NOT to share…and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids Positive Parenting Solutions: "Why a Feelings Wheel Supports Your Positive Parenting Journey" Little Timer app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked the #todpurgs listeners: what are the things your parents said that you SWORE you'd never say to your own kids– and yet still do? You all brought the answers... and here are some of our faves. #parentingonrepeat #YouGotMcDonaldsMoney Here is the link to the article Molly and Blaire reference in the episode: Charlotte Hilton Andersen for Redbook Magazine: "21 Things Parents Used to Say That Would Shock Millennial Parents" Special thanks to our sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Any one who has had a toddler knows the terror that surfaces whenever a lovey (let's say Mr. Bunny) goes missing. About 60% of babies adopt some sort of transitional object at around 9 months old. This is when little ones start to separate from parents (and, in fact, when they begin to understand that their parent is a separate person). Once a kid bonds with "Mr. Bunny", you may worry they'll be taking him to college. But there are ways to gently wean your child off comfort items in time. In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: Why comfort items are a sign of healthy growth How to start the weaning process Why there will be ups and downs as kids learn to live without their comfort items Here are links to some of the resources referenced in this episode: Alice Allan for La Leche League International: "Comfort Items and Attachment Parenting" Lindsey Konkel for What to Expect: Why Do Some Babies Need Comfort Items (Or "Transitional Objects")? Marnell Jameson for Parents.com: "6 Tips for Weaning Your Child's Comfort Object" Special thanks to our sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked our listeners what they would pay good money for if it made their lives just a touch easier. The answers....will probably not surprise you. In this episode, Molly and Blaire plot to patent: Self-buckling seatbelts Eyeball cameras Toddler volume buttons Thanks to everyone who wrote in with their excellent ideas for these inventions! Special thanks to our sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're enjoying listening to Toddler Purgatory, we'd love for you to take our listener survey. One page, two minutes. We promise! http://bit.ly/ToddlerPurgatorySurvey “Making memories” with our kids is always a fraught proposition, but when they're checking for the elf every morning and whipped into a general holiday frenzy, the tears and tantrums are often pretty close to the surface.  Child specialist Merete Kropp says we can reset the “gimme gimmes” by teaching our kids that giving and receiving are reciprocal actions. By explain the gifts you're giving to others, and the intentions behind them, kids can focus more on the joy of giving than their own expectations. At least sometimes.  It's always worth doing what we can to soften into the joys of karaoke Christmas carols and driving around looking at the lights. When we create memories with our children, the true gifts we are giving them are the tools to become who they are. There is so much fun and joy in the surrender of being just a little bit silly. Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:  Merete Kropp for Washington Post On Parenting: What children need even more than presents this holiday season Samantha Parent Walravens for HuffPost: 8 Ways To Teach Your Kids An Attitude Of Gratitude This Holiday Season @busytoddler on Instagram Special thanks to our sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is it that kids are so darn honest? Turns out the "filter" that the rest of us try to apply to our everyday interactions just doesn't exist in our young ones. Their little brains aren't capable of fabricating lies like older kids and adults. And, as we all know, the constant honesty of little kids is a double-edged sword. Listeners wrote in with some of the most ruthless truths their toddlers have voiced, and man oh man, kids really can be frank! In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: How little toddler brains are wired for truth How to model honesty for kids 'Good and bad' versus 'truth and lies' Here are some of the resources mentioned in today's episode: Lizzy Francis for Fatherly: "How to Raise an Honest Kid (But Not a Narc)" Brook Bolen for Vice: "Behind the Brutal Honesty of Drunks and Toddlers" Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Hungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They've got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place To get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies, go to Hungryroot.com/TODDLER. Magnetic Me was created to make dressing easier with magnetic closures. No snaps, no buttons…no fuss You can try Magnetic Me for yourself by visiting magneticme.com and using code TODDLER for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mom tribes and parent posses: do we need friends who are also fellow parents? If we don't have a group of those, how do we set about finding or creating one?  70% of moms agree that their “inner mom circle” is their primary means of daily support. Some of us find that soft place to fall really quickly, and some of us struggle, for reasons that are in and/or out of our control.  In this episode we discuss how to create our own mom tribe– or parent posse– and what expanding our friend circle beyond just female parents can bring our own bumpy experiences finding mom friends, and why it was hard at first how the pandemic has made it harder how text and Facebook connections can be really helpful too Speaking of virtual mom groups and parent posses– join us in the What Fresh Hell Facebook group! and tag us: #toddlerpurgatory Here are links to some of the writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:  Dr. Sarah Blaffer Hrdy: Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding Coffee and Carpool: 10 Easy Steps For Introverts To Find New Mom Friends  Jenna Autuori Dedic for Parents: How to Make New Mom Friends During the Pandemic Special thanks to our sponsors: Calm is the # 1 mental wellness app that gives you the tools to improve the way you feel. Go to calm.com/toddler to get 40% off a CalmPremium Subscription! Choose Lovevery and take the guesswork out of your child's play! Get free shipping when you sign up to receive your play kits at lovevery.com/laughing. Betterhelp Start taking charge of your mental health– no matter where you live! Go to betterhelp.com/laughing to get 10% off your first month of counseling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we creating unrealistic expectations when we praise our kid just for waking up in the morning? Turns out there is too much of a good thing, but we can also reframe how, when, and why we praise our kids. Molly and Blaire discuss: Praising process over achievements The three s's of praise Praise inflation Kids can sense when praise isn't genuine. Instead of congratulating them on their every action and creating an unrealistic standard for praise in the future, focus on encouragement without value judgement or "I" statements. Links! Paul L. Underwood for The New York Times: "Are You Overpraising Your Child?" Ashley Cullins for Big Life Journal: "The Ultimate Guide to Praising Your Kids" Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Hungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They've got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place To get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies, go to Hungryroot.com/TODDLER. Magnetic Me was created to make dressing easier with magnetic closures. No snaps, no buttons…no fuss You can try Magnetic Me for yourself by visiting magneticme.com and using code TODDLER for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we protect our kids from negative images about bodies, diet culture, and food without locking them in a Rapunzel tower? The truth is, we can't. But we CAN start nonjudgmental conversations about body positivity, food, and and self-esteem with our kids at home. In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: how to pay attention to your thoughts and beliefs around food and body image how to praise your child for things other than their appearance the R.E.A.L. acronym Links to the resources mentioned in the episode: Sumner Brooks for Good Housekeeping: "How to Raise a Kid Who Is Satisfied With Their Body, According to a Registered Dietitian" Carolina Public Health Magazine: "Survey finds disordered eating behaviors among three out of four American women" Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Hungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They've got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place To get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies, go to Hungryroot.com/TODDLER. Magnetic Me was created to make dressing easier with magnetic closures. No snaps, no buttons…no fuss You can try Magnetic Me for yourself by visiting magneticme.com and using code TODDLER for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are kids so weird about washing hands and brushing teeth and taking baths? How often do kids really need to bathe, anyway? Is hygiene a battle worth fighting? Yes. Sometimes. In this episode we discuss the expert advice on how often kids need to get clean, plus our own tips for making it fun or interesting enough that our kids will go along with it. Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode: Susan Stiffelman for HuffPost: My 5-Year-Old Won't Wash His Hands! What To Expect: Resisting Bathtime Dr. Claire McCarthy for Harvard Health: Does your child need to bathe every day? Colgate: How To Help a Child Who Won't Brush Their Teeth Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Hungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They've got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place To get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies, go to Hungryroot.com/TODDLER. Magnetic Me was created to make dressing easier with magnetic closures. No snaps, no buttons…no fuss You can try Magnetic Me for yourself by visiting magneticme.com and using code TODDLER for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we hear our kids say something negative about themselves, sometimes we freak out a little. Where did they hear this? Where is this coming from? Who is messing with my baby? ! Most often, if a kid calls herself “stupid” because she's frustrated with homework, she might just be venting. Or joking. She might be showing us that she has a little rigidity around perfection.  But when negative self-talk is insistent, consistent, and persistent, it can also be a sign of stress or anxiety.  In this episode we discuss how to better understand our kids' negative self-talk, and the most productive ways of responding. There's a bonus: turns out most of those strategies also work for our own “No, are you kidding? I look horrible, the pandemic has aged me a decade!” moments. Here are links to two resources we discuss in this episode:  Andrew M.I. Lee for Understood: Why Kids Say Negative Things About Themselves  https://www.understood.org/articles/en/child-negative-self-talk @transformingtoddlerhood on Instagram Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Masimo Stork provides continuous & accurate tracking of your baby's health data. Go to MasimoStork.com for more info. Skylight Frames is a touchscreen photo frame you can send photos to, straight from your phone, and they appear in seconds! Get $15 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go SkylightFrame.com/TODDLER.   KiwiCo - Unwrap super fun science, technology, and art projects for kids with KiwiCo. Get your first month FREE on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/TODDLER. Hungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They've got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place To get 30% off your first delivery and free veggies, go to Hungryroot.com/TODDLER. Magnetic Me was created to make dressing easier with magnetic closures. No snaps, no buttons…no fuss You can try Magnetic Me for yourself by visiting magneticme.com and using code TODDLER for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices