Manic Rambling Spiral

Talking to kids about your ex's new relationship. Introducing a new relationship is one thing, talking to your kids about this new person is something else entirely. From the high road and the cheap seats, we're talking about what to say and not say when kids ask questions, apply labels, and hurl insults (that make you laugh).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Because self care definitely doesn't come naturally to kids. We both have 12-year-olds, and that means hygiene is becoming a topic of interest. From shaving legs, to applying deodorant, to a discussion regarding the delicacy of John's nipples, this week is all about physical self care. Oh, and school lunch. But don't worry, it comes full circle.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

School is back in session and we're back in the corner whimpering quietly. Another school year already? How many two pocket poly folders? How about a nice Trapper Keeper? Is this really be happening? What grade? All this and more will be left unanswered in this week's back-to-school spiral. Grab a Lunchable and enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Religion is a personal choice. How parents approach it with their kids should be as well. Amen. Heather is an atheist, John is an agnostic and their kids are little horned heathens. Just kidding. The kids are doing fine. So how do they raise kind, balanced humans without religion at the center of everything? Carefully, respectfully, and with the memory of funeral potatoes and Dan Quayle.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We rambled again and somehow this is where we ended up. It's funny how time away from our kids lets us step back a bit to reflect on past relationships, homework strategies, and being promiscuously Mormon. Even more amusing is how it all spirals into a lament about student loans (Heather doesn't have any and John isn't AT ALL bitter about that).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Co-parents usually enjoy a regular download of information, but  single parents aren't as lucky. This week we're happy to be joined by Assistant Professor Hillary Hyde. As a single - or, rather, solo - parent with considerable professional experience working with children and families, she's got a lot to add to our ongoing conversation. And she's got a theory as to why some of this is so difficult. But just some of it. Photo Credit: Matthew Kulisch Photography  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Yes, we're white. And yes, we're probably wrong about a lot of this. But we need to be talking about race and we need to be talking to our kids about race and we need to try to do be better. To say things better. To be better.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tackling our own mental health with openness, honesty, and kids at our sides. Mental health is important, but it's difficult to maintain and "easy" to ignore (for a while). From deeply entrenched social stigmas to concerns regarding how to address things like anxiety and depression with our kids, it's a lot to juggle. But mental health is one ball we won't drop beca--oh hell. We dropped it. Five second rule!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Discussing that special feeling you get when you resent the wrong people (your children) for the right reasons (maybe?) Is there difficulty and contentment? Yep! But there's also a whole slew of misplaced frustration, resentment, and GUILT when you're trying to do "what's best" - whatever the hell that means - for your kids. Maybe that's what happens when life is a bit like trial and error and error and error and "UGH! Why do you have to work!?"  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Deciding what we share about our kids has some complications now that we're single parents. Deciding what to share in the social space (blogs, social media, PODCASTS) can be a big decision. When you have kids, that decision grows. When you get divorced or separated, it grows again. We've crossed our share of hurdles - and, ahem, mediators - to get to our current sharing state, but it still isn't necessarily easy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Looking forward, looking back, and looking a bit pruney. Burnout is real and so it summer break. This week we're talking about how to tackle the day to day with our kids home for summer, lamenting the "good ol' days" of being an unrestricted kid, and teaching Heather how to use the "Do Not Disturb" function on her iPhone.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The logistics, lamentations, and laughable ideals of traveling with kids. As our kids have gotten older, it's become easier to travel with them but, in some ways, harder to travel without them. This week we talk about passports, travel permission letters, trashed hotel rooms, and when to remove - or NOT remove - your shoes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes this podcast is the only way we manage to catch up between travel, kid chaos, and texting random bits of insanity back and forth. This is one of those times. But mostly we just talked about cleaning, Tinder, the simple sexual expectations of men, and banana “ice cream.”  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We separated because we just wanted to be friends with our exes. Okay, that's not entirely true, but we both think that staying on the best possible terms with them is in the best interest of our kids. So how do we make it work? Well, it's gotten better, but we're still figuring that out (one glass of bourbon at a time).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is a bit of a rambling spiral about Heather's experience in Boston (one hell of an experience!), John's decision to run the Chicago Marathon because Heather suckered him into it, and what these sort of endeavors mean to us as people and parents. Yeah, they mean we're crazy, but it's more than that.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're finally sorting listener emails and directly addressing the “Pain Olympics."  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What to say - or NOT say - to people who are trying to decide if they want to have kids.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Exploring contentment as a single parent. (as an aside, the cover art does not believe us)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Outlines be damned! Time to let the conversation flow!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dealing with loneliness when you’re (almost) never alone  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.