A For Effort

Latest Episodes:

How to Travel Anywhere with Kids: Interview with Megan Chung Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the chaos and charm of international family travel with the savvy Megan Chung from @megtravelswithkids. Megan shares why traveling with kids is worth the effort, how it builds empathy, and why you shouldn’t wait until retirement to see the world—because who knows if your knees will hold up? Megan also spills her secrets on using credit card points like a travel ninja—think $1,200 hotel nights for free thanks to points! Whether you're dreaming of travel, already packing, or just here for the relatable parenting stories, this episode will inspire you to pack the kids, grab the snacks, and book that flight!

Follow Megan Chung on Instagram @MegTravelsWithKids for all her travel tips and tricks!

The families with ALL girls or ALL boys! Mar 10, 2025

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We all know those families with 4+ girls or 9 sons. And we can't help but wonder, what is that like??? Well the parents have finally spoken and they are not wrong! They are reiterating things we already know and validating the vast amount of rocks boys must bring into the home.

Things we would never miss if they were to disappear tomorrow... Mar 03, 2025

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In this short episode, we share some of the things that no one would miss if they were to fall off the face of the earth tomorrow. If we got something wrong and you feel you would miss one of the mentioned things. Then let us know so we can make a correction, because if you'd miss it, then we want it to stay!

No Shoes, No Screens, No Mercy: The House Rules Episode Feb 24, 2025

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What are the unspoken (or very explicitly stated) rules that govern your home? In this episode, we dive into the house rules that shape daily life—from the universally accepted “no shoes inside” policy to more unique ones like keeping a “gunny sack” for misplaced items. We share listener-submitted rules, childhood house rules that have stuck (or been abandoned), and whether Megan should keep responding on the phone with “This is she.”

Tune in for a relatable conversation on boundaries, manners, and the tiny laws that keep homes running smoothly. Do you enforce screen-free weekdays? Require “one polite bite” at dinner? Let’s talk house rules!

Jury is in: everyone misses Training Table. Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Is it just us or do we miss all things that remind us of our youth? Whether that be pushing our kids in the stroller, to birthday parties at McDonald's or simply studying for a test in the campus library, turns out we all miss things.

Messes kids make, and how to (mostly) make it look like it never actually happened. Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we spill the tea on parenting’s greatest truth: kids are walking chaos machines. From pretzel salt explosions to the infamous kitchen strainer puke bucket (yes, it’s as bad as it sounds), we share tales of epic messes with listeners who’ve battled Vaseline carpets, bean bag guts, and toddlers armed with paint and raspberries. Their advice? Stock up on magic erasers, bleach, and baby wipes. Embrace the mess, and remember: if you haven't cleaned up at least 4.5 messes today, are you even parenting?

Strict Parenting. You think we're strict?? Oh, we'll show you strict. Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

It's worth a wonder if we are more or less strict than our parents were, or maybe even about the same! In our humble opinions, we're just as strict just in different ways. And it kinda sounds like we're all in similar boats!

What was once banned, is now welcome! Or not... Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

What started out as a simple cleaning up of games, turned into this very long episode of us dissecting all the things you were all banned from growing up. But apparently not only were you deprived, but the tables have turned and now you're depriving your kids of DIFFERENT THINGS! We all do it. It's just how we parents roll. But from bikinis to Cheetos to The Simpsons, we're here to listen and validate.

References we make in this episode that might be helpful to have here:
- Food rating app: Yuka
- Album your kids might like: Safety Kids by Janeen Brady

Podcast Origin Story Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

We ring in the new year by spilling our origin story—two moms, eight kids, 40 chickens, and one fateful park playdate that led to podcasting glory. From recording under a freeway to a basement filled with kid chaos, we let you in on our journey of balancing parenting and podcasting. We dish on favorite episodes, awkward beginnings, and crowd-sourcing parenting wisdom on Instagram—all while PROVING that raising kids is messy, hilarious, and very much worth podcasting about. As Amanda says, proof is in the pudding.

First Rodeo vs. Last. What does your bag look like rn? Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

It all started with a hockey bench chuck full of every item you might need in case of an emergency. Because if you have to hunker down at the hockey game for 3 days, you need to be prepared!!! Unless this is your 1000th hockey game, and your kid is much older, in which case you bring a drink just for yourself and settle into your empty bench. And honestly, there's no shame if you bring the Mary Poppins bag because guess what?? We all did it!!!!

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