Hands Off Parents

119: Hands Off Hands Off Parents Mar 07, 2019

Probably best if you hear for yourselves. We love you, Steph and Abby

118: Momma Strong! Jan 28, 2019

This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome guru and founder of MommaStrong, Courtney Wyckoff. Courtney single-handedly developed MommaStrong as a result of being completely lost in postpartum haze and severe depression following the birth of her second child (sounds about right!). What came out of her own personal need is something that has resonated with thousands of other mommas, new mommas, and soon-to-be-mommas: a strength-training, community-oriented, wellness-focused, and all-out amazing fitness program! Her story is legit inspiring and she also curses. We love her. Pssst: Dads! She also has a PapaStrong program, so have no fear. You are loved and valued, too.

117: Go the F**k to Sleep Jan 15, 2019

This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome sleep guru, Nikou McCarra. Because Stephanie has seen so much improvement in her own baby’s sleep schedule, the ladies wanted to share some helpful tips to get your child sleeping through the night, too. Check out Nikou’s website for more information: https://www.thebabysleepacademy.com/

116: 2018 Wrap-Up Jan 02, 2019

This week, Steph and Abby reminisce over the 2018 Hands Off season. Which episodes had the most listens, which episodes were most enjoyable, and remember that whole summer Steph was gone? What was that all about? (Lazy.) They also go off on several tangents about the holidays and probably television and/or the Internet WHICH THEY NEVER DO. Happy New Year, love Steph and Abby! Thanks for sticking with us in 2019.

115: Your Most Burning Questions... Dec 19, 2018

This week Steph and Abby answer your parenting questions posted to the Hands Off Facebook page, and they answer them very poorly with little to know supporting evidence. What to do with kids who won’t play alone? How do you handle other parents that you hate? How do you handle other kids that you hate? And probably the Instant Pot comes up at least twice. Tune in and then post your questions!

114: Holiday Stress Nov 29, 2018

With the holiday season officially in full swing, Steph and Abby discuss some of their holiday stressors, buying the right gift, being the most merry, and over-spending/worrying/justifying/thenmorespending. They decide that their own best approach is to identify the things that get them worried, and do their best to avoid those things. Much easier said than done, but when all else fails, eat chocolate! What are you worried about this holiday season?

113: Having Hope Nov 12, 2018

This week, the ladies are thrilled to welcome back Rabbi Josh Fixler to the show! After a particularly tough few weeks living on this planet and parenting small children, Steph and Abby are in need of some serious hope, and Josh has some serious words of wisdom. Of course there are lots of laughs too and Steph really does her best to earn that EXPLICIT rating.

112: Is Something Wrong With My Kid? Oct 29, 2018

112: Is Something Wrong With My Kid? This week, Abby and Steph discuss what to do when you are worried that there is something wrong with your kid, behaviorally. Abby has had some concerns and Steph talks her off the ledge (What? Stephanie is the positive one here?) They decide that the best thing you can do for your kids is to be informed.

111: Mindfulness In Parenting Oct 08, 2018

This week Steph and Abby are Thrilled (with a capital T) to welcome Marlon Hall to the show. Marlon is a renaissance man with a zillion jobs and talents: anthropologist, yoga teacher, lecturer, director of an arts nonprofit, AND he is a father. He also happens to have an amazing outlook on life and a tuned-in approach to parenting and being mindful. The ladies have been in a bad place of late, and they welcome his refreshing approach to seeing the world and parenting for what it is: a really crappy, hard, upsetting place but with so many silver-linings. Be ready to want to make Marlon your new BFF. And then go rate and review us on iTunes.

110: Trash or Treasure? Sep 24, 2018

This week Steph and Abby discuss a recent Atlantic essay about throwing away your child’s art work. There’s just too much of it! But the question always remains: What to keep and what to toss? And are we keeping certain things in an attempt to hold onto the ephemeral nature of childhood or do we really want to preserve yet another picture of a stick figure with over-sized ears? What does it all mean on a deeper level? Is it really about a fear of our own mortality??? OH YES THEY DIVE DEEP TODAY, FRIENDS! They also talk about what we trash and treasure in our own lives. How do we as parents make room for what really matters? Let us know what you trash and treasure in the comments. And then go over to iTunes and write us a glowing review so we can treasure you. We also have a new Facebook group for "hands off parents." Find us and join today!

109: Dis-cipline Sep 14, 2018

This week, Abby breaks down a bit in her frustrations with disciplining her kids. What should you do to channel all of that kid rage? Why do you feel like you're being held hostage in your own home? How do you get kids to listen when you don’t even know how to talk to them? If only there was a book! Steph reminds her that there is and Abby should listen to this podcast named Hands Off Parents. So should you!

108: Back to School Part Deux Sep 03, 2018

Are your kids back to school yet? Did you breathe a sigh of relief or is the back to school craziness making you...er... crazy? This week, Steph and Abby are joined by mother of 25 and all around amazing parent, Annie Stein. The three women share their first week of school successes and failures, among other back to school topics (make lunch the night before or...?) Share your own back to school stories on their Facebook page.

107: Back to School (Again!) Aug 27, 2018

In honor of the fact that it's the first day of school here in Houston, and Steph and Abby are having all kinds of trouble getting their s**t together, we present a rebroadcast of an episode from TWO years ago! It's the Hands Off Parents Back to School Throwback episode! On this episode, Steph and Abby are joined by a very special guest: elementary school teacher and parent of two, Brooke Smith! Brooke shares with the ladies all of the darkest secrets from the depths of the teachers' lounge: What makes parents really, really annoying? How can we form better relationships with teachers? And seriously, how much are the teachers talking smack when we forget things like book covers and dressing our kids in matching socks? Brooke gives the ladies some very practical and hilarious insights on life as a teacher and parent, including what we can all do to make the back to school transition as neat as the hair on our kids' heads that we didn't comb at all. Back with a brand new episode next week! xoxo

106: Parenting Through Fear (or Shame?) Aug 15, 2018

This week Steph and Abby chat about a New York Times piece that's been making the rounds about parenting in a time of fear. This kicks off a lively and scattered conversation about leaving your kids in the car, shaming moms into thinking that they are not good enough and feeling bad about yourself in general. And organizational systems or the lack thereof. Oh, you forgot that Steph and Abby meander in their conversations? Well, welcome back! Meander at them on their Facebook page!

105: The PTO: Tales From the Dark Side Aug 08, 2018

This week Steph and Abby welcome Tish Ochoa, mom, business owner and PTO officer. With Abby entering "real school" she has many questions about the PTO, starting with, "So... what's the PTA then?" Tish shares some horror stories but also some of the reasons she feels it's worth being an active school parent. Are you in the PTO? PTA? Do you know the difference? Share in the comments!

104: We Got Stephanie! Aug 02, 2018

The summer of mat... JK! Stephanie returns!! Huzzah! Yay! Stephanie returns!! Abby and Steph discuss all the things you might not want to hear: maternity, quitting dairy as a nursing mother, postpartum blood, "wait, you also have a toddler?!" and Ugh you are still wetting the bed? It's a classic Hands Off episode if you ever knew one!

103: NO! Your Kids Are Going to Big Kid School (who will wipe their butts?) Jul 25, 2018

This week Abby welcomes back Maryocéane Guy, a now regular guest on the show. Both women are facing a crisis: Their kids are starting real school in the fall and it's frightening. But more than that, Mary has realized that she needs to let go of some things to make this transition smooth for her daughter but also herself. Boundaries are tough! You know what else is tough, audio recording- Forgive Abby for the low volume. Turn your headphones up.

102: That Time They Took My Baby Away Jul 18, 2018

This week Abby and Dennis (yep!) welcome Roxanne Werner, a mother and foster parent, whose story is not uncommon. Roxanne and her family welcomed a 4-day old baby into their home and ... we're not going to spoil it. You gotta listen.

101: Summer: The Best of Times; The Worst of Times Jul 11, 2018

The summer of maternity rolls on! This week, Abby welcomes back the lovely Annie Stein. Annie is an old-pro at how to deal with a crew of kids over the summer, and she shares her tips. As helpful as this, Abby has way more questions for Annie that deal with control—of your kids, your life, your friendships? The ladies decide that summer is tough with kids, and, oh yeah, life with kids in general. What are you doing this summer?! Maybe writing a review on iTunes? That sounds awesome.

100: Parenting Through Mental Health Jul 04, 2018

The summer of maternity continues! This week Abby welcomes back Dennis Draper, a foster parent to a troubled teen. Dennis shares his touching story about the challenges to raising a teen, a foster, and a child that has mental health issues. These are all tough topics but so important to discuss. Mental Health issues are no joke. If you have any that you would like to share, post to the @handsoffparents Facebook page.

99: Extreme Aunt Love Jun 27, 2018

The "Summer of Maternity" continues on Hands Off Parents, and Abby is thrilled to welcome back previous guest, and hilarious person, Stacey Daniels. Stacey is a loving aunt and takes the job very seriously. Coincidentally, she and Abby are both going through some aunt challenges, and they discuss the extreme love you can feel for your siblings' kids. Also, Stacey definitely tells Abby about what makes a cute kid and what doesn't. Is your kid cute? Of course they are! All kids are cute. Post pics of your cute kids on the Hands Off Facebook page @handsoffparents.

98: Hands Off, Eyes On Jun 20, 2018

Holy Crap We're Back... but not officially because Steph is being lazy "breastfeeding" and "not sleeping" and "raising a baby" (Whatev!). So, Abby is spending this summer of maternity leave having co-hosts and special guests. This week, she welcomes back the amazing Nancy Wozny, mom of two babies who are both pushing 30. Abby has been very freaked out after binge watching the teen drama "13 Reasons Why" and asks Nancy how you raise teens who talk and don't hate you. Nancy is a pro on both fronts and offers some solid advice on when to hover and when to leave well enough alone. Stay tuned for a Summer of Hands Off Guests, and if you want to be one, shoot us an email at handsoffparents@gmail.com.

97: The Rabbi Is In the House! May 08, 2018

This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Joshua Fixler, who just happens to be a new dad AND an amazing human being. Don't worry! This is not a religious conversation, but rather one about how a rabbi dad does it all (HINT: His wife is amazing). But then, yeah, they spiral into the meaning of life and explore how to MAKE meaning in your own family. At the end of the day, it seems like marking the good moments in your life and simply being grateful for them is what makes for good parenting - and just good human-ing. ALSO: OMG! Steph is having a baby this week! Hands Off Parents will be back after a brief maternity leave (Abby is just being lazy). Stay tuned for pics of the new baby!

96: Do What You Love... May 02, 2018

This week, the ladies are lucky to have Jill Jarvis on the show. Jill is a mom of four and runs the very popular blog BigKidSmallCity.com, which is every parent in Houston's go-to list for fun family activities. Jill was working as an engineer and one day realized something needed to change. She also wanted to get out more with her kids, so she began her blog. Several years later, she's loving what she does...AND getting paid to do it! She gives the ladies some of her fun summer tips, too. Tell us what you are excited to do this summer in the comments.

95: A Culture of Appreciation Apr 23, 2018

This week Steph and Abby welcome author and mother of two teens (12 is teen-ish), Katherine Center! Katherine's sixth novel, How to Walk Away, will be released on May 15th but she's already hard at work on her 8th book right now. Yes, she is human. Maybe. Katherine imparts some wisdom to the ladies on how to juggle it all and have fun at the same time. Raising young adults is much different than dealing with toddler tantrums and Katherine assures the ladies that their goals of raising nice people is a good approach. Finally, some validation! Speaking of, write us a review!

94: Making and Taking Space Apr 16, 2018

This week Abby shares some highlights from a recent road trip that her family took to Marfa, Texas. Sixteen total hours in the car with two kiddos, and she lives to tell the tale! Steph spent the weekend stuck in the house, making space for her new baby. Together, the ladies figure out that parents regularly need to take AND make space to keep our sanity. How do you make and take space? Let us know in the comments!

93: Down the Google Rabbit Hole Apr 09, 2018

Steph had a rough week: kid challenges, pregnancy challenges, and she needs to put a bunch of Ikea furniture together before she has this baby! She found herself traveling down an all too familiar Google rabbit hole of worry and anxiety. Abby remembers the pregnancy Googling well and wonders if this is just a byproduct of being pregnant in this day and age. People say, "don't Google your symptoms," but perhaps it's more empowering to be in the know then in the dark? Did you Google everything about your new baby or no? They also ramble on about a variety of other topics including screen time, four year old independence, and West Side Story. Apologies in advance for the children in the background. Comment below! Write a review! Share with your friends!

92: Gaining My Religion? Apr 02, 2018

With the conclusion of two major holidays, Steph and Abby get into a discussion of how religion plays a role in parenting. Steph grew up with one religion, but Abby grew up with none really--just a lot of holidays that overlapped and contradicted. How do you raise your own kids when you are unsure of where you stand? What do parents coming from multiple religious backgrounds do? How do you instill religious traditions without the religion part? Lots of questions! Give the ladies some answers on their Facebook page,

91: Mean Girls Mar 28, 2018

This week, Steph and Abby address a listener's request to chat about what to do with (little) mean girls. To help them, they have brought back the lovely Maryocéane Guy, an educator and mom of four-year old Margo. Mary tells the ladies about how she wants to handle mean girls as a mom, but what to actually do from an educated (READ: rational) perspective. This leads the women to talk more about bullies and how to address negative labeling in general. Overall, the three decide the best moves as parents is to talk, talk, talk! Talk to Steph and Abby in the iTunes reviews! But don't be mean, please. Especially about the technical difficulties today. The pregnant woman should never be the one in charge of the sound board.

90: The Hardest Decision I’ve Ever Made Mar 19, 2018

They're back, and boy are they back with a doozy! This week Steph and Abby talk with Bev Caplan about the most difficult decision she ever had to make: terminating her pregnancy. Once Bev found out that her baby had a chromosomal abnormality that would ultimately end the baby's life within the first year, or even the first hours, she made the toughest choice of her life. It's one of those stories that will take your breath away but needs to be shared. Share your own stories on the Hands Off Parents Facebook page @handsoffparents!

89: Scheduling Time for Yourself Feb 19, 2018

This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to welcome mom, business owner, amazing person, and good smeller, Aimee Woodall to the show. Aimee owns and runs a highly successful cause-driven branding and strategy agency (Black Sheep Agency) that has serviced the likes of the Obamas! (Yes, the real ones). Aimee is also a mom of a 16-month old, a wife, and a human being with a lot going on. She imparts some sage advice that she got from Michelle (yeah, Obama) on managing your time as a whole and making time for yourself, which Aimee now lives by. Send yourself an iCal reminder to listen to her eye-opening advice!

88: The Problem With Our Schools Feb 12, 2018

This week, Steph and Abby welcome parent, advocate, and activist, Sarah Becker. A former school psychologist, Sarah and her husband founded HISD Parent Advocates, a local organization that keeps parents in the loop on issues related to our school district, board, and policies that directly affect our kids. Sarah discusses many of the recent (and dare we say, controversial) proposals to reorganize Houston's public school system. She also describes the choice her own family made to move their children out of a highly coveted, disproportionately white (relative to HISD as a whole) magnet school and into an under-enrolled school with a primarily brown and black student population in a neighborhood with lots of poverty. For those not in Houston, the conversation is equally important as they discuss larger implications of living in a diverse country, where racial lines are still drawn when it comes to our schools. Sarah educates the ladies on the works of Nikole Hannah-Jones and the movement to integrate America's schools. It's both an important and eye-opening conversation. Join us!

87: How To Talk So Kids Will Listen (JK!) Feb 06, 2018

This week, Steph and Abby dive further in the topic of getting kids to listen. They delve into the (often frustrating) world of kid emotions...and tantrums and meltdowns and whining and crying and screaming and irrational behavior and how you deal with it. (Wine.) Steph has been reading a book on the subject and shares this with Abby and their listeners. The idea is to have several approaches in your parenting toolbox, some more direct than others, but in the hopes that one of them will get your kids to do what you want them to. Do they work? Probably not, but definitely worth a try. Tell them how you get your kids to listen in the comments!

86: Passing Down Anxiety Jan 29, 2018

This week Steph and Abby discuss anxiety, what it is, how it manifests, and all the ways parents pass it down to their children. Is it inevitable that our kids will get all the crazies that we have? Or is it possible to be mindful of the anxieties we are fostering in our children? Or maybe they are just being anxious over anxieties? Share your own anxieties on their Facebook page!

85: Fine, We'll Weigh In Jan 23, 2018

Despite their better judgement, Steph and Abby decided to weigh in on the Aziz Ansari media storm. (Cue thunder) The ladies discuss why this particular case resonated so much with so many different voices and how they might think about this from a parenting perspective. It's a challenging conversation but an important one to have, they decide. And they also decide they are old, like "get off our lawns" old. Tell them how you might use this event in your parenting.

84: No Year's Resolution Jan 09, 2018

Before the new year, Steph and Abby vowed to have a more cohesive approach to the podcast and they immediately broke this resolution. Instead of cohesion, they discuss lice. Yup, lice. These pesky buggers will outlive us all! To address their lack of resolutions, they cover CNN's 2018 Parenting Resolution list, which is just completely ridiculous. Mock it along with them. Did you make any resolutions? Parenting or otherwise? Share in the comments!

83: Let Your Garden Grow Jan 02, 2018

This week the ladies discuss a recently published parenting book that advocates that parents act like gardeners -- plant the seeds and then let your kids grow! It is about creating the right environment and letting kids be themselves, as opposed to trying to build your kids into what you want them to be (like a carpenter). The ladies wonder if they think they are gardeners but really they are more like the carpenters. Is any parent a true gardener? They also discuss two other books they've been reading, Steph's is about how to talk to difficult children; Abby's is about the robots taking over the world! Naturally, they are both doomed.

82: Holidayz Dec 19, 2017

Oh it's the obligatory holiday episode, where Steph and Abby discuss how many teachers they need to buy presents for, what their kids want and what they won't get for them, and the Alabama election results! Also Steph shares some BIG news. It's the most wonderful time of the year. Spread the joy and write them a review on iTunes.

81: Parenting Through Transitions Dec 12, 2017

This week Steph and Abby are honored to welcome Lisa Stanton, mother to a transgender daughter named Maya. Lisa's story is heartwarming and heartbreaking, as she details the struggles that Maya had with being born a boy. Lisa and her husband realized that Maya knew who she was better than anyone else, and that they would support her in becoming the person she wanted to be. Get your tissues out because this episode will definitely make you cry (Steph and Abby were hysterical half the conversation).

80: Thanks...oh and giving. Nov 21, 2017

This week Steph and Abby describe all the things they are thankful for: Their fear of impending doom, death, the break down of social civility... wait, that doesn't make sense. They are thankful for all their listeners and pie. Lots of pie. They wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving; let your kids eat all the junk food, watch all the TV and be thankful that distractions exist!

79: How Does She Do It? Nov 16, 2017

This week, Steph and Abby welcome the lovely Monica Danna to the show to discuss how she does it all (be a mom, a wife, juggle many jobs, community organizer, showering), and they are pleased to find out that she doesn't! Monica shares her absolutes and the things that she's dropped to the waste side (like laundry). It's refreshing to say the least. Drop the ladies some reviews on iTunes!

78: Sticking to Your Principles Nov 06, 2017

This week Steph and Abby try very hard to discuss a podcast sent to them by a listener, in which a couple raise their daughter without conforming to gender norms. It's a great story which makes the ladies consider how far they go in support of their own principles. As much as this topic demands discussion, it become very difficult because Steph's daughter is with them and she also demands a lot. She adheres to her own set of principles, which prohibits cohesive conversation.

77: “Men”tal Load Oct 31, 2017

After a in-depth discussion last week about the mental load of moms, Steph and Abby are thrilled to have Aaron Reese (back!), super-dad of twins, who emailed the ladies about his own take on the mental load. Aaron shares his load and how he and his wife have (attempted) to share the burden. According to Aaron, it kinda works-ish. Email handsoffparents@gmail.com to share your load!

76: The Mental Load Oct 23, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss a topic that's been making its way around the internet: The Mental Load of parents (mom specifically). The mental load is that never-ending to-do list that runs through your brain daily that no one really knows about but you. Is it draining the life out of you or what!? And how about the mental load of fathers? What's that list look like? Share your absurd mental load list with them by liking them on Facebook, and then you can cross that off your list of things to do today.

75: Kids as Guinea Pigs Oct 18, 2017

This week Abby shares a story of her current experiences with the public school system. Her neighborhood school has some growing pains, and the activist in her wants to support by enrolling her kids but is also worried about being a guinea pig. Steph offers some sage advice, as always, filled with sarcasm. Then they share some good things that have happened with their kids lately and they struggle to think of any! How does your school system work? Share in the comments.

74: Having the Second Kid Oct 03, 2017

Because of a recent email the ladies received about having a second child. Steph and Abby are stoked to welcome back a friend and previous guest, Nyala Wright Nolen. Nyala has a three-year-old and an 8-month old baby. The three ladies discuss "how that's all going," as it may seem like a nightmare to some. Nyala has some great tips about dealing with a toddler and a baby and some things she didn't anticipate (the three year old wants to sit in the baby's car seat!). It's a fun conversation and might just help you decide if you should have another one... you know if you were debating that or something.

73: Girls Can Be Pretty AND Smart Sep 25, 2017

This week, Steph and Abby discuss a recent article arguing that we should not call our daughters pretty. Instead, they should be smart and brave and hardworking. The ladies wonder, well, can girls be all of those things and be told they are pretty too? This leads them down a path of their own childhoods and what those labels may have done or not done for them. Do you call your daughters pretty and your sons handsome? Email them about it at handsoffparents@gmail.com. And please share if the spirit moves you!

72: My Two Dads Sep 18, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome Jay and Joe Bostick, an amazing couple, who share their stories of fostering, adopting, and parenting children who don't look like they do. Their stories are heroic, to say the least, but also funny and heartbreaking. They squash some of the misconceptions about the foster-care system, too. Steph and Abby ultimately wish these guys would adopt them. Or maybe you will? Or just rate them on iTunes.

71: Let's Talk Adoption Sep 06, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome the incomparable Dennis Draper, an amazing person and father of adopted teenage son, Blue. Dennis shares his story, a sad and heartwarming one, of how he came to adopt his cousin's son, a young man in and out of foster homes for most of his life. It has been a struggle but so worth it. Dennis is a plethora of heart and knowledge about being a single gay man who is learning how to thrive in his new role.

70: Weathering the Storm Aug 28, 2017

Steph and Abby, currently in the middle of the nightmare that is Hurricane Harvey, wanted to discuss just that via Skype. The city of Houston is in crisis mode, and while they have fared pretty well, their hearts hurt for other parents who are in unimaginable situations. How do you do this with kids? How do you sit on your roof in the rain with small children waiting for a rescue boat? They are having a tough enough time dealing with toddlers trapped in-doors! Their love goes out to all those dealing with this catastrophe! Please give a shout and let them know how you are all fairing.

69: Happy Endings (JK!) Aug 21, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss an article published in the @lenny blog about infertility. True, they've discussed this before, but this article was different: It doesn't end with a baby. Certainly, not getting what you want is a topic they've gone over but finding your own happy ending is personal. How do others do it? The ladies cover this among (yup) other ramblings ("what is the name of that show about your mother?") and have some laughs at the same time.

68: Save Your iGeneration Aug 14, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss a startling new piece from The Atlantic about the iGeneration -- those kids who grew up with social media. some of the statistics on their levels of depression and anxiety are shocking. The ladies ponder what this means for them as parents. Do they hide their kids away from social media in bunkers underground? Is the next generation doomed? Will everyone become obese and live in pods like in WALL-E? Probably, yes. Oh, right, and now can you like them on all the social medias?

67: All The Things You Do Bother Me Aug 02, 2017

This week Abby shares a story about a wonderful visit from her sister that was overshadowed by her mother's attempt to thwart their connection. This is nothing new, but it made Abby question at what point a family member becomes so destructive you want them out of your life. Steph shares her wisdom, and the two think about it as parents, who may one day have to deal with angry children themselves. It's a big question with few answers. To quote the wise-beyond-her-years Iris: "I know that you're my family, but all the time you do things that bother me." Also, Steph did an adult thing for once in her life! Listen to find out more.

66: Mommy Juice Jul 26, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss a Medium post that's been floating around for a while about a woman writing about her summer of sobriety and being a woman in a drunk world. Abby wants to chat about the parent angle to this story --- being a mom or dad in an alcohol-fueled world. Do we "need" to drink to make our lives better as parents? Are we trying to fit into some sort of cultural model of parenthood (moms drink wine, dads drink beer) or do some of us just want a drink? Is that OK? You tell us - handsoffparents@gmail.com

65: Magic Movie Moment Jul 18, 2017

This week Steph and Abby are joined by mother of one and all-around awesome lady, Lauren Friedman - AKA Steph's Soap Opera Friend. Lauren's got a pretty unique story about how her marriage took a turn for the worse after her daughter was born and life was not the magic movie moment she'd imagined. Divorce ensued. A year or so later, after co-parenting, Lauren and her husband realized they wanted back in, so they got remarried. Have a listen and share your own crazy marriage stories with us on Facebook @handsoffparents!

64: You Too Can Live in Ecuador (Or Not) Jul 11, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss a recent article by a mother who up and moved her family to Ecuador to live their #bestlife. At first the ladies are intrigued, then pissed, then ashamed, then pissed again, then ultimately, they turn it into a conversation about themselves (as they are wont to do). How does a family, with children, plan so well to make a goal such as "move to Ecuador" a reality? Are Steph and Abby just bad planners? Could you all do such a good job of executing a plan? Let them know on Facebook at @handsoffparents

63: Back After Babies Jul 03, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome two PTs, Ingrid and Hallie, who have recently launched a new online service for moms, Back After Baby! They developed back after baby to give women easy access to rehabilitation before and after having a baby. Steph and Abby have some serious questions about what these dang kids do to our bodies and, also, how these busy working moms have jobs and lives and kids and then launch a new business! Got any back after baby questions for them? Tweet at @handsoffparents

62: Advocating For Your Kids Jun 27, 2017

This week Abby shares a story of what could have potentially been a parenting disaster and how the whole situation has encouraged her to become a better advocate for her kids. And herself? To Steph, fighting is second nature. Is there a good balance between the two? When their health is on the line, do parents just step in the ring and fight? Tell them about your battles at handsoffparents@gmail.com.

61: Self Care (Not Like That Kind!) Jun 19, 2017

This week, Steph and Abby discuss a recent article about trying to have it all, failing miserably and then coming back from it. They focus on the idea of taking care of yourself -- moms and dads, we need to do this better! But maybe, they aren't sure of what that even means. They also decide self care is a terrible word that implies masturbation. If you want to show them some love, rate them on iTunes!

60: Hands On Life (Before Kids) Jun 12, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome the two ladies in the world who are funnier than them to the show, comedians Stacey Daniels and Hoja Lopez. And guess what: they have no kids! Huh? No kids? Why have them on the show? For exactly that reason. Remember life before children? Remember the "Do I want kids?" endless list that ran through your head? These ladies share some of their fears of potential parenting (you can't just up and go to Paris on a whim) and fears of not having kids (who will take care of you in old age?). The conversation is fun and funny but also pretty deep and explicit, as usual! Have fun!

59: Twin Dad Jun 04, 2017

This week, Steph and Abby got lucky enough to welcome a living, breathing listener of the show as a guest: Aaron Reese -- and he's a dad! Of Twins! The three chatted about everything from sleeping issues, to international travel with two babies in tow, to the sainthood of his wife. What Steph and Abby learned (kinda happily, though not to be jerks) is that dads have lots of guilt too! Any dads who want to dump some guilt down, post on any of their various social pages @handsoffparents.

58: Messing Up Two Kids At Once May 23, 2017

This week, Abby wanted to get some advice from Steph about whether or not she's messing up two kids at once. How do you encourage one kid to make good choices while not making the other feel bad because he's already making them? Do you scold the one and praise the other, praise the one and then reward the other or do you reward the one and... dah!!! Steph offers some good thoughts on the topic--this is not just about twins but siblings as well. What do you think about this? Send them an email at handsoffparents@gmail.com or leave a comment on their FB page!

57: Do You Have Any Rules In Your House? May 14, 2017

This week, in between the rambles, Staph and Abby try and figure out what it means to "have rules." When implementing them and setting boundaries--such as no TV--who is really being punished? What is a strict rule anyway? Like no eating food from the garbage can or... is that OK to break sometimes when no one is looking? Also, it's Mother's Day and the ladies chat about the things they want most. Sleep. That's all they want. They also want you to share Hands Off Parents with the other parents in your life!

56: Dance Moms May 08, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcomed Lydia Hance to the show! Lydia is the mother of a one-year-old and also runs a dance company (and dances often in shows), and the ladies were wondering, so like, how does that all happen? Lydia's approach: incorporate the kid into your craft! Check it out, share with your friends, and rate us on iTunes!

55: She's Having a Baby (Tomorrow) Apr 30, 2017

Not only were Steph and Abby lucky enough to get the very pregnant Katy Hamor Cartland on the show, but they got her on LITERALLY the day before she was to give birth to her new baby girl. As you are reading this, she is no longer pregnant and chugging that bottle of wine she told the ladies she was planning to bring in her hospital overnight bag. The three ladies talk all about the excitement and fear of new motherhood, having a second child with a toddler in the house, and that time Katy moved to France with a 6 month old. Congratulations to her!!!

54: Single Moms (and Dads!) Rock Apr 23, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome Maryocéane Guy (AKA Mary) to the show to discuss a number of crucial topics. For one, Mary is a single mom with an adorable 3-year old. She is also an amazing person, with an absurdly-leveled head about it all and a great approach to parenting. She chats about what it's like to be a single mom and how you date with a child (not go out on dates with your child, obvs). Do you put your kids on your Tinder profile or leave that bit of info until later? Also, the three talk about posting images of your kid online in general and then Abby gets all sci-fi/doomsday on everyone. It's a lovely conversation that Steph and Abby wished could have gone on forever! Hopefully you do too. And then you can write that on iTunes.

53: Everything Zen Apr 14, 2017

When thinking about this week's topic of conversation, Steph and Abby decided that no topic was to be their topic, as this is true to parenthood. As such, they cover a wide variety of parenthood dilemmas: Pooping on the floor and stepping in it (the kids, not them), the meaning of Easter (which they both get very, very wrong), kids eating parsley, and '90s alternative music. In the end they decide: "Everything Zen" is a horrible song but a great motto in life.

52: Miss Carriage Apr 10, 2017

Hey, so sometimes bad things happen: Like miscarriages. This week Stephanie bravely discusses her (very) recent miscarriage. It's sad, but she's OK (kinda). She and Abby discuss the societal taboos with this topic, and this launches them into a conversation on trolling websites, Hillary Clinton, and that HBO show about rich white ladies. It all makes sense, sort of. Or not. They want your stories too! Send them to handsoffparents@gmail.com.

51: Getting Involved? Apr 02, 2017

This week Steph and Abby tried to have some semblance of a conversation about boundaries: how do you handle when kids are mean to yours, when should you call a teacher, when your child tells you something happened, do you take it as gospel and get involved? But during this highly important topic, they keep getting interrupted by their kids. Talk about boundaries! This conversation is all over the place just like parenthood. Oh, and, Abby is trying to potty train two 3-year old boys and it's the worst ever. Like them on Facebook and make them feel better about life @handsoffparents.

50: Bomb Threat Mar 24, 2017

This week Steph and abby are joined by mom and all-around superstar, Jill Patir. Jill chats with the ladies about her bouts with anxiety and OCD, and how they manifested after her first child. To add insult to everything, Jill also recently dealt with a horrific bomb scare situation in her son's daycare and shares her harrowing experience. All of this is serious and they don't laugh or make jokes about their kids at all (JK!)

49: #Adulting #Sucks Mar 17, 2017

This week Steph and Abby talk about the pains of being an adult. Yes, it's taking care of a family, but it's also those pesky things like paying bills and making doctor's appointments. Don't parents have enough to deal with already? Why do we also have to do things like fold clothing and open mail? Is it a problem with organization? Time management? Abby suggests making unrealistic lists and Steph thinks we need to take it 15 minutes at a time. How about we just go back to being kids...? Here is something very adult that Steph and Abby have done: They are now available on the Mockingbird Network! http://www.mockingbirdnetwork.com/

48: Structured Time or Down Time? Mar 12, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss that viral video that's been making the rounds - "dad interrupted" - the BBC interviewee who gets an uninvited visit from his kids. This leads them to a conversation on structuring children's time. Is more better? Do kids need to be entertained all the time or can we give them their down time? Is down time TV time (like it is for grown ups!), though, and is that so bad? Despite this conversation being about structure, take note at how completely unstructured it is.

47: Live From The Secret Group Mar 03, 2017

This week Steph and Abby were thrilled to be invited to tape before a live audience at Houston's downtown hotspot and comedy club, The Secret Group. It was so weird. People were staring at them as they rambled on about ten reasons to have or not have kids. Most of them stuck around for the whole conversation and some even laughed! In the end, they acknowledge that the whole thing is a wash - so just have the kids! The best part was that the proceeds of the evening were donated to Gulf Coast Planned Parenthood! The worst part was that after the podcast, we all had to watch "What Women Want" starring Mel Gibson. Spoilers: Mel Gibson has no idea what women want! But you know what these women want. That's right: head over to iTunes and give us that glowing five star review!

46: Stop Yelling!!!! Feb 24, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss the topic of yelling. Nope, not about their kids yelling, but them yelling at their kids. They don't like that they do it, but they've been having a hard time NOT yelling. They chat about being yelled at by their own parents, being scolded by their children for it, and when yelling can turn into something worse (like washing out mouths with liquid soap). Yell at them on iTunes (but nicely and with your inside voices).

45: MOMS Club Feb 18, 2017

This week Steph and Abby are joined by a very special guest, food writer and mom of an adorable 18 month old, Joanna Prisco. Joanna is a listener who thought the ladies needed some schooling on the value of mom's clubs. Joanna recently moved to a new town and found solace and friendship in an official "MOMS clubs," which happens to be a national organization (Right? Who knew?). Finding other moms to hang with and get support from and talk about pooping and (potentially) drinking some wine afterwards? Sounds like Handsoffparents! Are you a member of any mom/parent clubs? Tell us more on our Facebook page @handsoffparents.

44: To Judge or Not to Judge (Giving Advice) Feb 10, 2017

This week Steph and Abby discuss when it's OK to give and get advice on parenting, and when you should just STFU. Is it cool to tell new moms that they are doing it wrong? Why do we always feel the need to compare our parenting to that of others? And moreover, is every parent sitting around judging each other all the time, wishing they could give advice? We know we are! JK we aren't judging you. Judge us on iTunes with only positive feedback.

43: SAHM (Stay At Home Momming) Feb 02, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome special guest Rosie McGregor to the show, who just happens to be a fabulous person and a stay at home mom. The ladies ask Rosie the ins and outs of what it takes to be a SAHM (because they certainly couldn't hack it) and how it feels to spend all day dealing with your own child! Rosie gives some great advice about keeping sane and reaffirms what we all already know: Parenting is freakin' hard.

42: Parenting Through Setbacks Jan 25, 2017

Once again, we tried, we really really tried... to not get into a discussion about the inevitable downfall of society. So Steph and Abby start off on an important topic: how to talk with children about set backs and from what perspective should a parent offer. But then the setback turned into the world and life and oh no there was some wine involved! We love you for listening.

41: Stop Hitting! Stop Whining! (Please?) Jan 14, 2017

This week Steph and Abby welcome a special guest parenting expert - Annie Stein - to discuss tactics top stop hitting and whining. What makes her an expert? Well, she has three kids and they're all still alive. Annie offers the ladies some great suggestions on taking action to combat aggression, as well as her own hands off/hands on approach to raising a good human being. Plus, hear all about Steph's ovaries!

40: This is 40 Jan 05, 2017

Hands Off Parents 40th episode! Steph and Abby are as shocked as anyone that they have kept at it. They have continued because they've been getting some fantastic and helpful emails/messages, so this week they discuss YOU! Just kidding, they discuss themselves. But the topics are directly sourced from messages you sent including: using a treasure chest to get your kid to sleep, boring mom clothing, and Pinterest craziness. Send them more messages. They love it so much! Thank you for listening for 40 episodes! Share if you want them to keep at it.

39: The Big D (as in Divorce) Dec 30, 2016

This week Steph and Abby welcome a very special guest, Abby's sister Rachael. She joins the ladies to discuss the tough topic of parenting through divorce and then as a step parent. Rachael gives her honest take on the challenges and how she has found success as a parent with children from two different marriages, as well as a step child adding to the mix. It's an insightful and eye opening conversation, with only one Brady Bunch joke.

38: Holiday Traditions (Keep 'em or Ditch 'em) Dec 23, 2016

Back by the popular demand of three people, Steph and Abby welcome their husbands again to the show to talk about holiday traditions. For four people, of which 3/4 are Jewish, they spend a lot of time talking about Christmas. We all discover some fun traditions that each family had and some that we want to incorporate into our new families. Some surprises: Surprise, Steph's husband, you guys are really celebrating Christmas. And some confessions: Eww, husband used to get so excited about Christmas he would throw up the night before. Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday whatever it may be. Shalom Y'all!

37: The World Is A Mess, Oh Look, Shiny Stuff! Dec 16, 2016

This week the ladies can't help but complain about the state of the world and the feeling that inevitable doom is upon them. But then, wait, it's the holidays and fun stuff is going on and presents! But then no, let's not forget that the world is ending and there's nothing to do about it. Oh, but daycare and work and life and dance lessons and... oh no, everything is terrible! But what are you getting your kids for the holidays?

36: Strongly Worded Email Dec 09, 2016

This week, the ladies address a strongly worded email they received telling them to get their butts back into shape. They tackle this order with the strength of two moms, on little to no sleep, with crazed toddlers and the holiday season quickly approaching; which is to say, they ramble on about whatever the hell comes into their sleep-deprived brains. Mostly, they discuss this awesome email and what the hell people do for their children around the holidays. Send more emails. They work!

35: A Type-A Determined Mother Can Do Anything Dec 01, 2016

This week, Steph and Abby tried to take a Parenting Magazine quiz about discipline styles, but they weren't disciplined enough to deal with the results. Instead, they chat about day care nightmares, dog park disasters and ... well... disciplining their children. If you want to take the quiz, share your results with them on Facebook or Twitter.

34: Hands Off Parents Obligatory Election Special Nov 07, 2016

Well, they tried. They tried to pretend that all was normal in the country and their biggest issues were with their kids eating nothing but pasta and cookies together in one bowl, but they just had to talk about it. Unlike most things in this world, they couldn't just pull a Frozen and "let it go." Yep. The election. It's tomorrow. Steph and Abby are scared. What's going to happen to the country? What have we all lost in the process? What have we gained? And furthermore, how do we discuss it with our children? How have you all been discussing this with your kids? Have you? Write them and tell them on Facebook.

33: A Disturbance In the Force (AKA Parenthood Is Hard) Nov 02, 2016

Holy crap where have we been?! Steph and Abby return after a brief hiatus (illnesses, weddings, general disturbances in the force) to chat about helping each other, helping other parents, helping the country get past this election, and, mostly, helping their kids stop acting like psychos. It all comes back to the concept of the village--all parents need one, but they are few and far between. Speaking of help, the whole episode is filled with their kids acting like psychos! They need a good pat on the back, which you can do by Liking them on Facebook.

32: Regret Oct 05, 2016

This week Steph and Abby discuss a growing trend of parents voicing their regrets about becoming parents. The trend has been featured in several national publications, recently in a Marie Claire article. Steph and Abby discuss how hard parenting is but can't honestly say they've ever felt regret about having kids. Having a second piece of cake the other night, yeah, they regret that. What about you? Any parenting regrets? Don't regret not liking them on Facebook.

31: It's Your Party and I'll Cry Sep 22, 2016

This week Steph and Abby discuss the ever-dreaded birthday party! The season is upon them, as Abby has two within a week's time. So what's the deal with birthday parties? Do you need to invite the entire class? What happens if you don't and someone finds out? Are you a terrible parent? And (Abby wonders) what about when you have twins? Two presents? Ugh for everyone involved. Lastly, the ladies decide that if we are stuck dealing with all these birthday parties, at the very least let's all decide to do away with the goodie bag (unless it has beer in it).

30: I Love My Spouse, Part 2 Sep 15, 2016

This week, Steph and Abby welcome back (with open arms) their respective husbands! With so much parenting going on all the time, the two couples take a moment to try and reconnect (on a podcast with children screaming in the background). They challenge themselves by taking the very popular NY Times "The 36 Questions That Lead to Love" quiz and the results are ... well... listen and let them know! At the very least, you'll get a good laugh and at the very best, they hope, you might become motivated to reconnect with your own significant other.

29: Family First Sep 07, 2016

Fresh from visits with their respective families, Steph and Abby discuss the pros and cons of having family nearby. Both ladies loved having their kids hang with family and watching all the cousins play, but how important is being around family, really? Is the desire to have family around a necessity for happy kids or not having them around a necessity for their sanity? It can go either way! They both love their respective families, BTW. Oh, and at some point Steph's kid poops in the potty all by herself.

28: Picky Eaters Sep 01, 2016

This week Steph and Abby are thrilled to have special guest, personal trainer, author, and #DietAbolitionist, Sarah Hays Coomer. Sarah chats with the ladies about how to deal with picky-eating children by introducing everyday, small changes. The ladies throw a "mac and cheese only" diet at Sarah and she comes back swinging, with alternative pastas, sneak-in-healthy-stuff recipes and an all-around better approach to eating. Sarah also offers insights into how parents can incorporate these same types of changes into their own diets to get healthy without (really) trying. Steph and Abby walked away converts. Check out Sarah's new book, Lightness of Body and Mind: A Radical Approach to Weight and Wellness and her website www.strengthoutsidein.com.

27: #$%ing Cursing Aug 24, 2016

Do you curse in front of your children? Steph and Abby do (natch), but they worry about the implications. This week they discuss a recent article that argues people who are a little sloppier and foul-mouthed are not all that bad, and, in fact, it indicates higher intelligence! So being messy and saying %#$ means you're smarter? But what does that say about your parenting style or how your children will grow up? Is allowing your kids to swear a part of a trend towards hands off parenting? The ladies chat about these topics with many four letter words sprinkled in. #$%ing like us on Facebook, will ya'? @handsoffparents

26: Back to School Aug 17, 2016

Is it that time already? It's the Hands Off Parents Back to School episode! Steph and Abby are joined by a very special guest: elementary school teacher and parent of two, Brooke Smith! Brooke shares with the ladies all of the darkest secrets from the depths of the teachers' lounge: What makes parents really, really annoying? How can we form better relationships with teachers? And seriously, how much are the teachers talking smack when we forget things like book covers and dressing our kids in matching socks? Brooke gives the ladies some very practical and hilarious insights on life as a teacher and parent, including what we can all do to make the back to school transition as neat as the hair on our kids' heads that we didn't comb at all.

25: Guilt Tripping Aug 10, 2016

This week Steph expresses a recent surge in her "mom-guilt." Is it because of her new business or because she's happy about her new business? The ladies discuss the contemporary concept of selfless parenting vs. selfish parenting: Does being a modern parent mean when you are doing your own thing, you are being selfish? Parent guilt is wide-spread, though, and after the break the ladies give (Lifehacker's) tips for getting rid of it and using it productively. Here's something that YOU should feel guilty about - not writing a (positive) review on iTunes. Just kidding, not really, no really, they love you. Write a review.

24: Are We Having Any Fun Yet? Aug 03, 2016

This week Steph and Abby talk about having fun. What does fun mean to them as parents and how was it different when they were young and carefree and out all night drinking shots of tequila with strangers at bars (because that was really fun!? Can parents even have fun anymore (without involving a babysitter) or do we all need to redefine what the word "fun" means, perhaps? It's possible to have a good time with your kids, right? Right? Research says that we all need to play - parents and children - and we all know laughing is good for the soul. But is parenthood "all joy and no fun?" They know, they know, this sounds soooo depressing - it's not - it's actually a very fun conversation (so they think).

23: Time Out! (or Time In?) Jul 27, 2016

This week Steph and Abby talk about the age-old question of whether or not to send your kid to Time Out. When your kid is being an a-hole, what else can you do? Abby's in, Steph's out. But is Time Out really bad for your child's development? Are "Time Ins" better in the long run? After the break, they consult the "experts" who argue in both directions. Some docs say a good old Time Out for age appropriate kids is fine, while others say that Time Outs might be screwing with your kid's brain elasticity? What?! Take a drink before you freak out about that, and let Abby and Steph know what you do to discipline your kids. And feel free to also discipline the ladies on iTunes but only with positive reinforcement.

22: To Kiss or Not To Kiss: That Is (Apparently) the Question Jul 20, 2016

This week Steph and Abby discuss a recent controversial photo of Victoria Beckham kissing her five-year-old daughter on the lips. Why is this controversial? Because the internet! The ladies love kissing their kids, so it’s hard to objectively weigh both sides of this debate. Are there any real emotional implications - for or against - this practice? Find out on today’s episode. And if you like kissing your kids as much as they do, post a photo on the Hands Off Parents Facebook wall of you kissing your kiddo right smack dab on the lips! Then, head over to iTunes and write a review of the podcast…please.

21: Let's Talk About Race Jul 13, 2016

Feeling sad and hopeless about the devastating news of this past week, Steph and Abby talk candidly about race and raising race-conscious children with the lovely Nyala Wright Nolen, a black parent who offers up some encouraging advice on how ALL parents can take a more proactive approach to combating racism. They discuss how fear and anxiety around the topic actually perpetuates the issue and, as parents, we need to go into this battle head-on: in our schools, in our homes and in our daily lives. In the end, the three ladies decide that the "golden rule" is still the best one to follow and that it's our job as parents to raise kids who are not jerks. Cue Whitney Houston!!!

20: Are American Parents Miserable? Jul 06, 2016

This week Steph and Abby discuss a new study that argues that American parents are the most miserable in the world. The ladies kinda get why this might be, and they discuss how workplace constraints take a toll. But is this a new phenomenon or are U.S. 'rents just particularly miserable people? In the second half of the show, Steph is joined by her amazing mother who is filling in for a sick Abby to continue discussing how parenting has changed over the years (mostly because of the INTERNET!). They discuss when the happiest times of parenthood occur and why. Abby might argue that the happiest times are when you are laid up sick in bed, forced to watch 5 hours of Orange Is the New Black while your kids are at school. Like us on Facebook!

19: Empathy Jun 29, 2016

This week Steph and Abby discuss how to be more empathetic as both parents and human beings. How does one raise an empathetic child when the world is filled with horrible people? Can we just stop criticizing each other all the time? Paradoxically, why do we hate on each other but desire approval, too? They also discuss the implications of cyber-bullying, and how to combat this sort of bad behavior in their children. A listener suggests that internet-trolling is mostly fear-based (we love hearing from listeners!). The ladies agree. This sounds really serious but don't worry: They also talk about their evil jerk children. Oh, they are evil, evil children. "Let's stop finding a new witch of the week and stop burning them at the stake. We're all horrible and wonderful and figuring it out." - Harris Wittels GIVE US YOUR APPROVAL: LIKE US ON ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA!

18: Body Image Ugh Jun 21, 2016

This week, a very tired and loopy Steph and Abby try to tackle body image (somewhat unsuccessfully.) Should parents care about their own body image? How do we talk about body image to our children? Is it okay to just love our bodies as they are? We really want to be healthy, but we are also very lazy. We also talk about where all of this body image stuff comes from - and naturally we wind up back at the internet. The internet! Steph and Abby decide the root of all evil is the body shaming on social media, but it's also the shaming of body shamers and their shamers are terrible too, BTW. Ultimately, they decide it's the fault of open letters. The ladies encourage you to write them an open letter and tell them to stop complaining at handsoffparents@gmail.com.

17: Spectrums of Parenting: Autism and a Rad SAHD Jun 14, 2016

Father’s Day is upon us! In honor of dads, we talk this week to Jon Harvey about his life as a SAHD (Stay At Home Dad). Jon explains why his family made this decision and how it all works for them. Then, the conversation takes an unexpected turn into a candid discussion about raising a child with autism and how to navigate the world through that lens. Steph adds some stuff about her daughter's hearing loss, and she and Jon compare notes on raising a kid with additional needs. It's a good one!

16: Family Vacay Jun 07, 2016

On this week’s episode, Steph chats with a special guest star (her husband) about the family vacation they are currently on. What are the highs and lows of traveling with kids? Is any of this worth it? Will we ever do it again? Do we still love each other and our child? Find out all of this along with great places to eat near the Grand Canyon on this week's special, on-location episode of Hands Off Parents.

15: Dude, Where's My Kids? May 31, 2016

Today’s episode kicks off summer break with a Skype convo between Abby and Steph. Abby is currently away from her children for TWO WEEKS! More importantly, she’s away from Steph for two weeks, which is the real tragedy here. Abby describes the highs and lows, ups and downs of life without kids. She misses them terribly but also enjoys being able to park a car and run into a corner store for gum. It’s the little things. But, mostly, there’s guilt - lots of guilt. Steph spends much of the call distracted by Iris and wishing she was able to switch places with Abby. Enjoy!

14: All Your Kids Need Is A Pulse...And Love May 24, 2016

On today’s episode, special guest Nancy Wozny schools Steph and Abby on how to someday launch our kids into adulthood. She describes how your relationship changes and your family evolves as your kids grow up and gives expert advice about why parents shouldn’t be friends with their kids and how we all need to back off during “threshold times.” She also extols the virtues of finding your mom tribe and debunks the myth of “doing it all.” At the end of the day, if everyone has a pulse, there’s food in the fridge, marginally good wine on the counter, and love between you, it’s all gonna be okay. Phew!

13: This Is Only A Test (Schooled on School, pt. 2) May 17, 2016

This week Steph and Abby continue to learn about the ins and outs of public education from guest Tamarie Cooper. Can your parenting style ever match the school you send your kids to? And what the hell is up with all the testing going on these days? Are we all just forced to deal or perhaps you can be a rebel and fight the system? After the break, Abby chats with professor and anti-STAAR test advocate Sam Brower, whose daughter opted out of taking standardized tests this year. He talks about why his family made this choice and how your kid can, too. For the highlight reel, Iris pees on the floor.

12: Potty Break May 10, 2016

In this episode, we talk potty-training: pooping, peeing, potty products, readiness, accidents, methods, nap time, night time, fears, triumphs, fails, frustrations, boys vs. girls, etc. IT’S ALL HERE, GUYS. Then, the potty talk leads to real talk. Steph seriously injured herself in the potty-training process, steroids are the magic beans of the prescription world, and all of this has made her realize it’s time to make self-care a priority like Abby does. Basically, everyone in the world should be like Abby. And, then we talk about Lena Dunham.

11: Schooled On School May 03, 2016

In this week’s episode, Abby and Steph are schooled by Houston celebrity Tamarie Cooper who recently survived the complicated process of getting her kid into Kindergarten. Tamarie answers all of our burning school-related questions. Like, how do you get your kid into a “good" school? What makes a school “good”? Will our zoned school suffice? What’s a magnet school? What’s a vanguard school? What’s a lottery? Do we need to get a tutor from Dubai for our two-year-olds? Does any of this really matter? If our kids don't get into the school of Mommy's dreams, will they wind up broke and living in a dumpster? Find out all this and more on today’s episode. While the examples provided are mostly Houston-centric, we believe this stuff is happening everywhere and is relevant to any parent. Time to get schooled!

10: Go the Eff To Sleep (Please) Apr 26, 2016

In this week's episode, Steph and Abby talk about the horrors of what happens when the lights go out - your kids not sleeping. How do parents deal with sleep challenges? Should we let our kids cry it out? Attend to their every whimper? Get a yoga mat and sleep on the floor next to their cribs? Should you just take an Ambien, go meet the Ambien Walrus and sleep through the cries? Steph and Abby discuss all of this and how you make mimosas from Orange Fanta. Zzzzzz

09: Safety First Apr 19, 2016

In this week's episode, Steph and Abby get (sorta) serious about guns - in the grocery store, in the classroom and on college campuses. Is there really more danger now than there was when we roamed free as kids or does online hysteria perpetuate anxiety? How far we should go to protect our kids from things like razor blades in delicious Halloween candy? What are the true facts behind mass shootings and gun violence? We actually search for real statistics. We find very little. We will likely never try that again. On a more serious note, please go to iTunes and rate our show! But only if you like it.

08: Losing Our Religion Apr 12, 2016

Today, on the show, we discuss the ever so popular dinner party topic: RELIGION. Steph’s family is dipping their toes in Judaism, while Abby wonders if her family is blowing it by raising her kids atheist. A ton of questions come up this week. Can you set your own family rituals or do you need the umbrella of religion? Can you join a religion with your family in adulthood if you weren't raised that way? What's the point of religion in child rearing anyway? Tradition? Community? Morality? Can TV be a religion? What TV shows teach morality to kids? Are we being offensive? We don’t mean to be. We really do accept whatever it is that you believe (or don’t believe.) Bottom line, we want our kids to be good people. So, is religion a necessary means to that end?

07: I Love My Spouse (80% Of The Time) Apr 05, 2016

In this week's episode Steph and Abby's husband's join the podcast to explore some of marriage and parenting's deepest, darkest questions: How do you rediscover your marriage post kids? Can you blame your children for making you just want to watch TV at night instead of having deep, philosophical conversations? Are married couples still happy and should they love their spouses more than their children? Or is it just a different type of love? What do dads worry about? Do dads have feelings even? Finally, Steph, Abby, Mike and Rob get to the heart of marriage, which just might be: Now that we have kids, do we love our spouses only 80% of the time? And if so, is that OK?

06: One and Done Mar 29, 2016

In this week’s episode, we talk to YA author, Jennifer Mathieu, about her family's conscious decision to only have one child. Stephanie is on the fence, so Jennifer debunks many popular one-child myths and we pro/con the one-child choice. We also talk candidly about the dark days of early motherhood and the transition back to yourself. Jennifer explains how motherhood actually made her more productive and gives us tips on how to be a super human who is able to write four novels, hold down a full-time job, and raise a bad-ass 5 year old at the same time. We love her. Enjoy! P.S. If you guys love us, please follow us on Twitter. We have 14 followers. It’s pathetic.

05: When Are You Having Another One? Mar 22, 2016

In today’s episode, we candidly discuss all things infertility related (shame, sadness, self-loathing, desperation, price tag, twins, causes, etc.), suddenly becoming “geriatric” and “high risk" at age 35, and the fear of having another baby after having a difficult time the first go round.

04: Be Who You Are Mar 15, 2016

On this week’s episode, Steph and Abby are blessed to have pro-parent Ty Mahany on the show to discuss gender norms, giving kids choices (and beer), nature vs. nurture, and the inevitability of becoming our parents. Warning: our kids are particularly loud and annoying this week. If you take a shot every time you hear a toddler scream “NO” in the background, you will be druuuunk. Also, guys, go to iTunes and review us if you like the show. If you don’t, um, don’t.

03: In sickness. Mar 06, 2016

In this episode, we discuss SO MANY THINGS including the pros and cons of sending your kid to school sick (1:00), daycare correspondence (5:45), the endless sick loop (7:30), wanting to quit life (13:00) how to parent through grief/sadness/depression/etc. (15:00) and freezing your kids poop (25:00).

02: Ugh, Toddlers. Feb 29, 2016

In this week's episode, Steph and Abby discuss sharing (:40), tantrums (7:48), pediatricians (16:30), and the ethics of talking s**t about our kids in public (17:45). New theme song courtesy of Kevin Schneider (twitter.com/kmschneid), who composed it at a stoplight. Talent!

01: Your Kids Are Fine Feb 23, 2016

In our inaugural episode, we talk about parenting styles (1:50), television consumption (9:00), the drama of dinner (13:00), and crafts (27:50).

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