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When we see parents absolutely losing it at their children– and maybe even laying hands on them–are we obligated to act? Prevent Child Abuse America is clear that if you see something, you say something. The harder part is knowing what it is we've seen. We don't always know whether we're witnessing a regrettable but isolated incident or something that’s part of a pattern. We want to make sure we're not making that child less safe by publicly calling the parent out.  And knowing that actually making a phone call to enlist the police or CPS might trigger a series of events that can separate parent and child, we want to be “very confident,” as philosophy professor Kwame Appiah explains, “that such recourse is justified.”  In this episode we discuss how we've handled these moments in our own lives– and going forward, how we'll discern when need to speak up, with the knowledge of how to defuse the situation rather than further inflame it. If you feel a child is in real/imminent danger, please call 1-800-4-A-CHILD. We discuss this article in this episode: Christopher Mele for The New York Times: Should You Intervene When a Parent Harshly Disciplines a Child in Public? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The term “spirited child” was coined by parent educator Mary Sheedy Kurcinka when she was looking for information regarding her own strong-willed son and only found words like “difficult”and “high-strung.” She believed that framing her son’s personality positively would help her focus on his strengths. And there’s no question spirited children bring us tons of joy– while also being emotionally intense, demanding, and extra sensitive.  In this episode we discuss How to know if you have an officially “spirited” child How best to support them (spoiler alert: advanced notice on transitions) How we can learn lessons from our own spirited kids, like determination and curiosity  Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode: Cheryl Maguire for parent.com: 4 Traits I Learned From My Spirited Child California Childcare Health Program, "Caring for the Spirited Child" Mary Sheedy Kurcinka: Raising Your Spirited Child, Third Edition: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Britt Hawthorne is a mother, teacher, author, and anti-bias/antiracist facilitator. Britt partners with caregivers, educators, and families to raise the next generation of antiracist children. Her forthcoming book, Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide, which comes out June 7th, is for families ready to take action that'll bring change at home. In this episode, Molly, Blaire, and Britt discuss: How kids under the age of 6 perceive race How to create racially diverse experiences for toddlers Conversations we can have with our parenting partners Here's where you can find Britt: www.britthawthorne.com @britthawthorne on IG  @britthawthorne_ on Twitter  @tashaxandra (Britt's coauthor) on IG  Buy Britt's book, Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beach days. Pool days. Soccer camp. River days. Creek days. (Pick your preferred body of water, is what we're saying.) Are you exhausted yet? When the lazy days of summer start, we may feel pressure to entertain our toddlers every day. But that's not possible, since we're mere mortals. Molly and Blaire share their ideas for staying active with your kids during the summer months without getting overwhelmed. In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: What to pack in your summertime Go Bag Activity ideas for all types of weather How to introduce some healthy boredom into the schedule Here are links to the resources mentioned in the episode: Robin Westen for Parents.com: "24 Cheap Summer Activities for Kids" Crafty Kids at Home busytoddler.com Special thanks to our sponsors: Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We asked those in our Facebook group how they maintain friendships with childless friends. The answers ranged from hilarious to heartbreaking. Keeping childless friends in our lives involves self-reflection, perspective taking, FaceTime, texting, and roller skating. Oh, and, unfortunately, "hard pants." In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: How maintaining friendships with childless friends is an act of self care How to take on the perspective of childless friends How to let go of and mourn friendships that have run their course Here is the link to the article mentioned in the episode: Rachel Bertsche for The New York Times: "Staying Close to Your Friends Without Kids" Special thanks to our sponsors: Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Disney World a childhood mecca or a cruel and unusual punishment? Rite of passage or consumerist hellscape? For some families, Disney is NOT the happiest place on Earth. Blaire and Molly discuss the pros and cons of taking their kids to Disney and why it maybe doesn't define their worth as parents. In this episode, Molly and Blaire discuss: The pros and cons of taking kids of different ages to Disney World How your relationship with Disney content affects your experience at the park The infamous bug show at the Animal Kingdom Links to resources mentioned in today's episode: James Brockbank for The Family Vacation Guide: "What Is The Best Age To Take Kids To Disney World?" Blaire's awesome floral gown Kingdom stroller rental Special thanks to our sponsors: Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are chores an age-appropriate expectation for little ones? It’s not easy to get buy-in from them, but it’s definitely worth it. One study showed that the single best predictor of young adults’ success in their mid-20s was whether they participated in household tasks when they were three or four. So the best approach is to have our kids start "helping" early and often. In this episode we talk about  ways to right-size the task and the expectation for each age rewards and motivations that work (and why you don’t need to start these too early) how to deal with all the whining that will probably result when you present chore-related expectations Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:  Sarah Aguirre for The Spruce: Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids Ages 2 to 18 The Center For Parenting Education: The Benefits of Chores Barbara Coloroso: Kids Are Worth It! : Giving Your Child The Gift Of Inner Discipline No-Guilt Mom: Get Kids to do Chores: 5 Ways to Respond When They Don’t Want To Special thanks to our sponsors: Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most kids are somewhat finicky about what they'll eat. Some are full-blown picky eaters, who won't eat chicken nuggets unless they're dinosaur-shaped. And even then only if the ketchup isn't touching them on the plate. People who say "Your kids will eat when they're hungry enough!" mean well. They are also incorrect. So what's a parent to do? Keep feeding the picky eater the three foods she'll eat, or keep offering her other foods she won't? In this episode, we discuss why kids are so often picky in their eating, what parents can do to encourage eating new things without causing huge battles, and how to recruit our picky eaters in that process. Enjoying our podcast? Please give us a rating/review on Apple Podcasts! https://www.podpage.com/toddler-purgatory/rate/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever find yourself saying the same thing over and over to your kids? The answer isn’t to yell louder, as tempting as that can be. It might be more effective to consider the true capabilities of our kids at the stages they are at, and look at whether it might be our expectations that need a slight adjustment. Once you’ve done that? You’re a “gentle parent.” Sarah Ockwell-Smith, parenting expert and author of The Gentle Parenting Book, sums up gentle parenting in three words: empathy, understanding, and respect. But gentle parenting isn’t pushover parenting. Discipline is still possible– it’s just focused on lessons to be learned more than on punishments. It’s about shutting off our autopilot as parents and beginning a practice of remembering that a child is a child. In this episode we discuss How to set boundaries in this new paradigm (yes, still possible) How to model the behavior we want our kids to learn How gentle parenting helps our kids learn emotional maturity sooner. Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:  Sarah Ockwell-Smith: Five Steps To Effective Discipline Renee Plant for Very Well Family: What Is Gentle Parenting?  Natalia Oliver for Guidepost Montessori: A Beginner’s Guide To Gentle Parenting Vicky McKeever for CNBC: This ‘gentle parenting’ guru gives her tips for raising confident kids Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Temper tantrums are the way that young children express emotions they are not developmentally able to express in other ways. Does knowing that the kicking and screaming is completely developmentally appropriate make it any easier for parents to deal with? Sometimes.  In this episode, we discuss the differences between tantrums and meltdowns, what the most common tantrum triggers are, and the most helpful ways for us to react when our little ones are going Full Ham Freakout.  Here are links to some writing on the topic that we mention in this episode:  Stanford Children’s Health: Temper Tantrums Sarah and Larry Nannery for Psychology Today: What Is the Difference Between a Meltdown and a Tantrum? Shaun Dreisbach for Parents: How to Deal with Toddler Temper Tantrums Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Britt Hawthorne is a mother, teacher, author, and anti-bias/antiracist facilitator. Britt partners with caregivers, educators, and families to raise the next generation of antiracist children. Her book Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide is for families ready to take action that'll bring change at home. In this episode, Molly, Blaire, and Britt discuss: How kids under the age of 6 perceive race How to create racially diverse experiences for toddlers Conversations we can have with our parenting partners Here's where you can find Britt: www.britthawthorne.com @britthawthorne on IG  @britthawthorne_ on Twitter  @tashaxandra (Britt's coauthor) on IG  Buy Britt's book, Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you find an authentic mom group that lets you be yourself, especially when you're the only mother of color there? Helena Andrews-Dyer discusses learnings from mothers with different lived experiences with Molly and Blaire. Helena Andrews-Dyer is an award-winning culture reporter for The Washington Post, covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art in the nation’s capital. Her third book, “The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class and Race From Moms Not Like Me,” was published by Crown in August 2022.  Helena, Blaire, and Molly discuss: The "second knowing" that mothers of color have When motherhood is not a universal experience How to make mom friendships that are authentic When your mom friends are willing to sit in discomfort with their own biases, and when you feel you can be around them without stepping on eggshells or withholding parts of yourself, those are the mom friendships that are healthy and beneficial to maintain long-term. Here's where you can find Helena: www.helenaandrews.com @helena_andrews on IG and Twitter Buy Helena's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593240311 Listen to the What Fresh Hell interview with Helena Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we make time for our partners when all of our time is taken up with work and kids? We asked our listeners for date night ideas ranging from fancy to simple - and how to work those special times into your regular schedule. Molly and Blaire discuss: How to schedule and stick with regular date nights Why regular dates are beneficial for you, your partner, and your kids Cheddar Bay biscuits The secret to date night is it doesn't have to be fancy - it can be anything from a walk around the block to a night out on the town hopping from restaurant to restaurant - or you can stay home and roast up a nice moose - whatever you prefer. Links! Kristi Pahr for Parents Magazine: "Most Parents Haven't Been on a Romantic Date in More Than 3 Years" Anisa Arsenault for The Bump: "Date Night: How Many Parents Are Actually Taking One?" Train of Thought game Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we tell what our babies need from the sound of their cries? Here's how to play detective when your baby is upset - and how to try and problem-solve when it seems like nothing is working. Molly and Blaire discuss: The different sounds babies make when they are hungry, tired/uncomfortable, bored, or sick Crying spells Jetsons thermometers Sometimes your baby is hungry, sometimes they have a hair wrapped around their toe, and sometimes they just need a good cry - so do adults! But just because it's normal for babies to cry for no reason doesn't make it any easier for us to hear it. Sometimes all we can do is take a deep breath, maybe a bath, and remind ourselves that no baby ever hurt themselves from crying too much. Links! Catherine Donaldson-Evans for What to Expect: "What Do Your Baby's Cries Mean?" Stephanie Grassullo for The Bump: "Most Parents Feel Like Failures During Baby’s First Year, Survey Reveals" Our episode with sleep expert Becca Campbell Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an intuitive online grocery shopping platform. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory and use code LAUGHING25 to get $25 off your first order by June 30, 2023. Terms and conditions apply.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we instill a love of reading in our kids from a young age? Author and educator Maya Smart shares simple strategies for developing language skills in young kids. Maya Payne Smart is a parent educator, literacy advocate, and the author of Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six. Her website, MayaSmart.com, publishes new book lists, literacy activities, and other free family resources weekly to help parents play their dual roles as first teachers and educational advocates. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in social studies with honors from Harvard University. She serves as affiliated faculty in Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at Marquette University. Blaire, Molly, and Maya discuss: How to build your child's language skills from a very early age The role of technology in kids' reading journeys How to personalize your child's reading experience A light touch of language development every day - mentioning how a certain letter sounds or looks on the page, for example - is a great way to foster your child's reading skills, rather than spending hours drilling phonics flashcards one rainy weekend. Just keep engaging with them in a consistent way - that's a great start! Here's where you can find Maya: @mayasmarty on IG @MayaSmart on Twitter www.mayasmart.com Buy Maya's book: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593332177 Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This just in: violence in play is normal behavior. But today parents tend to take it more seriously. Here's why it's natural for kids to incorporate play-fighting with guns and swords into their games– and when to let it go versus intervene. If something doesn't sit right with you, it's good to check in with kids about it later – but remember that kids use play as a way of processing the world. Links!  Virginia Sole-Smith for Parents Magazine: "Should Parents Be Concerned About Violent Play?" Dan Shapiro for CHADD: "Children and Violent Behavior: Where it Comes From and What to Do" Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon, Ph.D. & Michael Thompson, Ph.D. Under Deadman's Skin: Discovering the Meaning of Children's Violent Play by Jane Katch Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling exhausted from keeping up with all of your responsibilities as a mother, partner, and professional? You may be experiencing mom burnout. Here's how to spot the signs and take baby steps towards climbing back out of the emotional, physical, and mental pit we sometimes find ourselves in. Blaire and Molly discuss: The differences between depression and burnout The right way to make garlic bread Key symptoms of burnout The resources available to moms in this situation vary greatly, but if you can, asking for help - from your partner, your boss, your friends, your relatives - is a great place to start. Burnout happens to so many moms and is nothing to be ashamed of, so give yourself a break, first and foremost. Links! Donna Freydkin for Today: "Stop the yelling: How to know if you have mommy burnout, and what to do about it" UCI Health blog: "Coping with mommy burnout" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. 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!" Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Ritual’s Essential for Women 18 and up is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Visit ritual.com/toddler for 10% off during your first 3 months. Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wish someone would give you a pat on the back for keeping track of all the water bottles or knowing which dishes are dishwasher-safe? Grace Farris, author of "Mom Milestones," is here to give us moms the credit we deserve for the little things that no one else notices. Grace Farris is a mom, doctor, and illustrator. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, BuzzFeed, and Cup of Jo. The New York Times' Wirecutter called her book Mom Milestones “an affirming read for new moms in particular, a literary road map of the very-hard-but-very-good path that lies ahead.” Grace, Molly, and Blaire discuss: Why times of change are great for creativity Reasonable dessert policies How to be less lonely as new moms Here's where you can find Grace: Buy Grace's book Mom Milestones: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781523511471 @coupdegracefarris on Instagram @gracefarris on Twitter  farrisgrace.com Buy Grace's mom calendar! cupofjo.com Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. 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 Special thanks to our sponsors for this month: If you’re looking for self-care that’s quick and easy, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/LAUGHING.  Misfits Market is an affordable online grocery service that makes shopping easy, quick, and fun. Visit get.misfitsmarket.com/toddlerpurgatory50 to get 50% off your first two orders when you use code LAUGHING50 by February 28, 2023.  Try Peloton Tread Risk-Free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial.  Ready, Set, Food! helps prevent food allergies in children. Go to readysetfood.com/todpurgs & use code TODPURGS for 15% off your first order.  Zocdoc is the only FREE app that lets you find AND book doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance, and are available when you need them. Go to Zocdoc.com/TODDLER and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices