The Family Lab: Experiments in Parenting and Home Management

Latest Episodes:

Encore: How She Travels Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

This week, we navigate the challenges of traveling with kids, discussing the joys that come with family travel, and various strategies that make it more enjoyable.

At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts @thefamilylabpodcast, and find us on Instagram @familylabpodcast. You can also find us at familylabpodcast.com.

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2020 Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

A recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2020, including meal planning, cooking, chores, screen time, music lessons and read alouds.

At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts @thefamilylabpodcast, and find us on Instagram @familylabpodcast. You can also find us at familylabpodcast.com.

Encore: How Andrea Davis Manages Technology Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Andrea Davis shares how her family has learned to navigate technology within her home, from phones to TV usage.

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2021 Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2021 when my kids were 5-15. We talk about developing interests and talents, cooking class, chores, screentime, and a neighborhood concert.

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2022 Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Throwback to the experiments we did at the Archibald home in the Summer of 2022--with each of my kids as special guests. They talk about what they tried that summer and how it all went, including summer jobs, hosting Lego Camp, fighting boredom, facing fears, family vacations, screen time, and setting goals.

Encore: How Donna (Whitney's Grandma) Mommed Back in the Day May 22, 2025

Show notes

Happy 95th birthday Grandma! In honor of this delightful, hilarious, loving woman, I'm re-releasing this episode where my grandma talks about motherhood (and life) in the 50s and 60s.

If you can't get enough Donna, here are a couple of YouTube links:

Home:

A beautiful video my cousins made, interviewing my Grandma in her home

Grandmas Say the Darndest Things:

A video of Donna's great grandchildren repeating some of her famous sayings. I made this video for her 95th birthday party.

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself Part 2 May 13, 2025

Show notes

Three moms share self-care tactics beyond spa days and manicures. KaeCee Reed focuses on sleep and hobbies, and works with her husband to make sure both of their needs are met. Brittney Smart got out of a mothering slump by spending one-on-one time to get to know her kids bettter. And Andrea Quimby deliberately schedules down time.

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself May 06, 2025

Show notes

Myth: Moms are bad at self care. Truth: Moms are bad at prioritizing self care. In fact, moms have honed their caregiving skills caring for others; now all they have to do is apply those same skills to themselves. This episode is chock full of experiments you can try to figure out what fills you up and then carve out the time for it.

Top 5 Summer Reads for Kids May 01, 2025

Show notes

Nothing like curling up under a tree with a good book! This episode is full of summer reading recommendations from kids for kids--with a good mix of avid and reluctant readers ages 8-16 with interests spanning all the genres.

Here's a list of all the recommendations:

(I'm an Amazon affiliate, so buying from these links helps support my podcast!)

Hudson (14):

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz

Jacob (15):

Magic Treehouse Series, by Mary Pope Osborne

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

Slacker series by Gordon Korman

Katie (13):

Resistance by Jennifer A Nielson

A Night Divided by Jennifer A Nielson

The False Prince and the rest of the Ascendant series by Jennifer A Nielson

Abel (15):

Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans

Aiden (16):

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

Percy Jackson Series, by Rick Riordan

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss

The House of Months and Years

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Claire (12):

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Anything by Gordon Korman

Lydia (8):

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Heidi (10):

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Wayside School Series by Louis Sachar

Catwad by Jim Benton

The Odd 1s Out by James Rallison

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Ezra (9):

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

Holes, by Louis Sachar

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Whitney:

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Masterminds, by Gordon Korman

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Anne of Green Gables Series by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Re-entering the Workforce with Heather Nemelka Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Ready for a career change? Wondering what to do in the next stage of your life? Heather Nemelka to the rescue! In this episode we talk about how to transition back to a traditional job after focusing on caregiving and home management, how to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, and how to gain the confidence to make big changes.

For more from Heather, check out elavare.com or watch her podcast on YouTube

Past episodes about motherhood and work:

How She Dismantles the Mommy Wars

What She Calls Herself

How She Transitions To Motherhood: Work

How Ashley Freehan Works from Home

How She Outsources

How She Identifies Her Passions

How Wendy and Alex Pursue Their Passions (Flamenco and Podcasting)

How Leslie Graff Pursues Her Passions (Artist, Child Life Specialist, Mother)

How Nancy Maldonado Pursues Her Passions (helping underserved communities)

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