Mom Tips
1,186 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsWelcome to Mom Tips, your 60-second dose of positive parenting content from the team at Mom.com. Created with your busy morning routine in mind, these hacks and motherhood anecdotes are perfect to listen to while you're scrambling to get your family up and out of the house!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
5 Tips for Hosting a Last-Minute New Year’s Eve Party That Won’t Break the Bank (12/30/2019)
December 30, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 906 KBEveryone wants to ring in the new decade in style, but no one wants to break the bank on a fancy party that guests won't even remember by Valentine's Day — thanks to all those powerful and pricey cocktails you’re planning to serve, of course! So this year, even if one of your New Year's resolutions isn't to stay within a budget, consider some ways to cut costs and still have an amazing, last-minute bash. 1.
How to Make New Year’s Resolutions You'll Actually Keep
December 27, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.05 MBIt’s that time of year again, when everyone starts looking forward to a new, fresh year, and a new, fresh start. And with clean slates come the lists of New Year's resolutions. It’s a good time to look back at the past year, think about what you’ve accomplished, and make plans for what you want to do in 2020.
Why I Embraced Being a Minivan Mom
December 26, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 923 KBWhen I was a teenager, I swore I’d never become a minivan mom. When I had my first child at 20, and my second at 25, and was a hip, young mom (in my own opinion, at least), I swore I’d never drive a minivan. Even into my 30s, when I became a single mom and a bona-fide member of the divorce club, I still swore I’d never own one of those mom-mobiles. Give me my SUV, or give me a bus pass, because a minivan was never going to happen.
Holiday Tips for Busy Moms
December 25, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 817 KBMerry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and happy (almost) New Year! We know this is a busy time of year, and one of the busiest days at that. Here are a few tips that will help get you through the holidays without the added stress. 1. Cook and bake in bulk Why spend all that time making just one log of cookie dough when you can make four at the same time? Same with a lasagne or anything else you’re already making.
4 Ways to Lower Holiday Stress
December 24, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 850 KB‘Tis the season for us moms to start running ourselves into the ground with the millions of things we feel like we have to do. Here are just a few ways to start easing the burden and actually enjoying the holidays: 1. Don’t overschedule Yes, it’s totally fine to RSVP “no” to that Evite about a gingerbread-house-making party at a neighbor’s house and to not drive half a day to visit a not-so-close relative for a few hours.
My Son Is the 'Bad' Kid That People Love to Judge
December 23, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.26 MBMy husband and I were so excited when we got pregnant with Mason. We were over the moon to have a boy after having twin daughters. I had a normal pregnancy and delivery, and he was an extremely healthy, but fussy, baby. Mason was a much harder toddler than his sisters were, but we just figured that he was a “rough and tumble” boy, you know? But things started to get really hard when he hit preschool.
7 Gift-Wrapping Hacks
December 20, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 758 KBIf wrapping a million Christmas presents isn’t your thing, we’ve got you covered! These clever hacks will make wrapping presents a breeze and really up your presentation game at the same time. 1. Use empty toilet paper rolls to keep your gift wrap in place There’s nothing more annoying than having a roll of wrapping paper constantly unspooling while you’re trying to get through the pile of gifts to be wrapped.
My Husband Isn't the 'Man of My Dreams,' and I'm Fine With That
December 19, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.29 MBIt was a Friday night, and my husband and I were having a super sexy evening. Dinner, dancing, wild romance — just kidding. I’ve been married for 13 years. We were watching TV and cleaning out storage boxes from the basement, which is how I found the list. The list was tucked into a box filled with pictures and papers from college. It was three pages long and contained the 44 characteristics I thought were most critical to have in my future husband.
I Never Knew Being an 'Older Mom' Would Be So Lonely
December 18, 2019 11:19 - 2 minutes - 1.2 MBI had desperately wanted kids since I was about 12 and puberty kicked in. I worked as a nanny and even got a master's degree in elementary education because it felt as close as I could to being a mother. But I didn't meet my husband until I was 33, so becoming an older mom wasn't really a choice I made. It was just life circumstances. When I got pregnant at 35, my midwife wanted me to get a thumbs-up from an OB/GYN saying that I was low-risk before she would take me on. ...
3 Things to Tell Your Kids When You're Getting a Divorce
December 17, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1000 KBDivorce with kids is rough, man, and trying to decide what to tell them, how much to tell them, when to tell them, etc., is no easy decision. Everyone has an opinion, and make no mistake, you will be judged for whatever you decide to do. Because you didn’t stay married “for the kids,” you’re now supposed to be an extra-perfect parent. You know, to make up for your inability to stay married. Anyway.
Real Moms Share Tried-and-True Home Remedies for the Flu
December 16, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 778 KBIf your most dreaded nightmare has come true this winter season and someone in your family is struck with the flu, fear not. We’ve gathered some tried-and-true home remedies from some of our favorite moms to help keep you from getting sick, too: Chicken soup is a familiar remedy, but you won’t get the health benefits from a can. “The important thing is the homemade broth,” says Jamie Gillies, a mom of three.
Dear Family: I Will Always Choose My Kids Over You
December 13, 2019 11:02 - 3 minutes - 1.45 MBAs someone who is on a computer all day, I love social media. My Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat accounts have been key to keeping me connected to friends and family all over the country. In my adult life, I’ve lived in two countries, four states, and 10 cities, so I have friends and family who’ve never met my kids in real life. I’ve appreciated that social media has given family in far-away places a chance to get to know the two little people who mean the mos...
5 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System
December 12, 2019 11:06 - 1 minute - 872 KBIt’s the most dreaded time of year for many moms — cold and flu season. Follow these simple tips to help keep your defenses up: 1. Invest in a neti pot Nasal irrigation consists of pouring saline water through one nostril and letting it come out through the other. This practice can alleviate cold, allergy, and sinus symptoms. Although doing it might look and feel weird, the results are worth it.
How I Broke My 2-Year-Old's Addiction to Her iPad
December 11, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.08 MBI first noticed the problem when it was in every picture and video I was taking of my toddler. And considering that I always have my camera ready, aka my iPhone, I take a lot of photos and videos of my adorably precocious toddler. And it was in every single picture — the iPad. My husband and I both work from home, so rather than shell out more than we pay in rent for daycare for our toddler and baby, we keep them home with us while we work away on our laptops.
I Have Bipolar Disorder and Am Just as Good of a Mom as Anyone Else
December 10, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.29 MBMy bipolar disorder actually led me to having my first child, Ivy, now 10. I wasn't being careful. I was manic, and while I thought I was taking precautions, I'm sure I wasn't. I had a surprise pregnancy from a casual relationship. I was 28 at the time, and I absolutely had doubts about my ability to parent. Even though I was relatively stable, I was afraid that if something happened and things went haywire, the baby would be taken away from me.
5 Life Hacks for New Parents
December 09, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 706 KBSure, sure, you’ve read the parenting books and blogs, but there are a lot of parenting tips you might not know. Here are five parenting hacks to help you out: 1. Instead of buying nighttime diapers, buy diapers one size up. They’ll catch any nighttime accidents, plus they are cheaper and more cost-effective, since you’ll need them eventually. 2. Once kids start solids, freeze berries or applesauce in an ice cube tray and use them to cool down hot foods like oatmeal. ...
Why I'd Rather Be the Mom of the Bitten Kid Than the Biter
December 06, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1020 KBWe all want our kids to grow up to be amazing. We want them to be smart, determined, brave, ethical, wise — the list goes on and on. We also want our kids to grow up to be successful, and honestly, sometimes kindness gets pushed down the list. Even the Hufflepuff house from the Harry Potter series gets a bad rap as “less than” the other houses, and Hufflepuffs are defined by loyalty and kindness.
The Minute I Became a Mother, I Stopped Existing
December 05, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.33 MBBefore I gave birth to my son, I was going to the OB’s office twice a week. Every doctor was concerned about every part of my daily life. It meant I was getting great care, which would ultimately mean my son had the best possible shot at arriving unscathed. Even socially, everywhere I went people took notice of my changing body and, for the most part, did what they could to accommodate it, whether it was getting me water or offering a seat.
Dear Men: There's Nothing Sexual About My Son Sleeping on my Big Boobs
December 04, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.05 MBFor as long as I can remember, I've always had big breasts. They developed early and increased in size all the way up to an F cup in my adult life. They've always been sort of a running joke in my close-knit group of friends — jokes I absolutely participate in. I am aware of their size. This is nothing new to me. I absolutely see the attraction to breasts and even believe sexualizing them is appropriate in the correct consenting settings.
A Sneaky Way to Avoid the Stomach Flu
December 03, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 654 KBIt’s that time of year again — the one all parents dread: cold and flu season! Is there anything that sounds worse than a stomach flu making its way through the entire family? Um, no. But here’s a sneaky mom hack that just might help you and your loved ones avoid catching the norovirus this year: Stock up on grape juice. That’s right, that dark purple beverage you probably already have in your fridge can also be a miracle stomach bug worker.
4 Ways to Get Holiday Shopping Done Now!
December 02, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 663 KBHoliday season is officially here, which means it’s time to start stocking up on gifts. Instead of waiting until the very last minute this year, here are some tips to help you knock all that holiday shopping out of the way ASAP! 1. Make a list Yes, it sounds basic, but it’s so necessary to stay on top of it this time of year. Write down everyone who will get gifts — and how many — from you this year: kids, in-laws, office Secret Santa, kids' teachers.
4 Tips for Black Friday Shopping
November 29, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 928 KBShopping on Black Friday is essential for holiday penny-pinching. But navigating malls and department stores can be a living nightmare. To help you survive the day, we’ve rounded up our best tips to help you be a savvy shopper this Black Friday. 1. Check the ads Instead of just hitting your favorite stores, make sure you know which discounts are available on Black Friday, and plan your excursion in advance. Decide which deals are most important for you to score, and hit...
Here's What Really Happens When You Take Over the Thanksgiving Feast
November 28, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.21 MBAnyone who has a partner will tell you that balancing the holidays is an art form. Keeping both sides of the family satisfied, even before you have children, can be challenging. For Mother's Day and Father's Day, one gets breakfast and the other gets dinner. Christmas is even easy in our house: The eve of the holiday is spent with one family, while Christmas Day is spent with the other. But then there’s the one holiday you can’t evenly divide: Thanksgiving.
5 Things I Thought My Teen Would Be Doing by Now
November 27, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 947 KBMore than 16 years ago, I met my first child for the first time. She was gorgeous, of course, and I said, “Hello, you,” like probably every mother all the way back to Eve. In those early baby days, I wondered what she would be like as she grew up, but I could never imagine her as practically an adult at 16. She’s far exceeded my expectations in many ways, but I don’t think I’m in too much trouble of her adulting anytime too soon.
5 Kids’ Drinks From the Secret Starbucks Menu
November 26, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 714 KBIn case you missed it, Starbucks has an entire range of off-the-menu items that are the perfect treats for kids. 1. You may have already known about this one, but you can order a kid’s hot cocoa. The hot drink comes in a small, child-sized cup and is priced way less than the adult version. The baristas also make sure it’s not as hot as regular hot cocoas. 2. Same goes for their steamers.
9 Tips for Surviving 3 (or more) Kids
November 25, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 703 KBIf you have three or more kids, you may be wondering what the secret is for not only surviving, but also thriving, as a mom of many. So here it is, advice from the sage ones who have gone before us: 1. "Laying out clothes the night before helps so much! Then the big [kids] can start getting ready on their own in the morning." 2. "The family calendar is real. I keep it on my iPhone, and it's also on a whiteboard in the house complete with color-coding for each person." 3....
I Had So Much Body Confidence — Until I Got Pregnant
November 22, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.04 MBAs an undeniably fat woman, I carried a weight that was inarguably worse than the number on the scale. I had spent the first 28 years of my life shouldering the burden of being ashamed of my body, hiding it behind ill-fitting clothes and punishing it for existing the way it did. That was until 2015, when I decided that I’d finally had enough. Not enough of being fat — enough of hating myself for the way I looked. So, I started taking selfies and posting them on Instagra...
7 Thanksgiving Hacks to Keep You Sane
November 21, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 638 KBThanksgiving is right around the corner, which means lots of cooking, cleaning, and, if we’re being honest, stress. So to help keep you more sane this holiday season, we’ve got some clever hacks for you. 1. Print out and tape recipes to kitchen cabinets so you don’t have to fumble for your phone or computer with food-covered hands or shuffle through tons of paper recipes all over the counters. 2.
Dear Future Parents: Remember This From Day One
November 20, 2019 11:01 - 2 minutes - 949 KBOn my second day in the hospital after giving birth, a pediatrician came around to check on my son, which happened frequently during my stay. And like most people who entered the room, she immediately complimented me on just how beautiful he was. I won't even pretend to be humble — that kid has been gorgeous since day one. She then followed up the compliment with an innocuous "What a little prince! I bet you're going to break lots of princesses' hearts.
The Laundry Hack That Changed My Life
November 19, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 833 KBIs there anything worse than laundry? It’s honestly been one of my least favorite chores from the time I was old enough to figure out what a “white load” was. It’s socks and underwear, that’s what it is, and it’s horrible. And it’s not as if the laundry is ever done, either, unless you live in a nudist colony. And, if that’s the case, you probably don’t really have that much laundry to worry about anyway.
4 Potty-Training Tips From ‘Been There, Done That’ Moms
November 18, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 748 KBIt’s finally time to ditch the diapers … but how? Which potty-training method is best? Do reward systems work? And how long will it all take? We’ve reached out to “been there, done that” moms for their best tips, and here’s what they had to say. 1. Sometimes you have to wait If your toddler isn’t showing clear signs of being ready, WAIT. That’s Brandy W.s No. 1 tip. She said: “Wait until they’re 3 years old.
The 'Struggle Olympics' Between Moms Needs to Stop Now
November 15, 2019 11:02 - 2 minutes - 1.2 MBDid you grow up with or — let’s be real — do you currently know a “one-upper?” You know the type: You ran a 5-mile race. They ran 10. You baked cookies for your kid’s bake sale. They whipped up cookies and brownies. The concept isn’t a new one. People’s natural competitiveness comes out to play in any situation involving a power dynamic. But since I became a mother, I feel as if the one-upping has taken a weird and dark turn.
Moms, Can We Please Just Be Real With Each Other?
November 14, 2019 11:02 - 3 minutes - 1.55 MBBefore I became a mother myself, I’d often ask the courteous questions one is supposed to ask, including the one about how it was all going. The answers were all relatively the same: “She’s great! I’m so in love! We love being parents! The sun shines out of her sweet, little butt!” Because the truth is, when people ask that question, it’s sort of what they expect to hear. And it’s what you feel obligated to tell them.
2 Things I'm Teaching My Daughters
November 13, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 872 KBThe other day, I was scrolling through Facebook and one of my friends asked people to comment on which two character attributes they’d wish for their children. The first was easy for me — kindness. First and foremost, I want my children to be kind. But what else? Humor? Intelligence? Drive? Of course, I want my four daughters to be funny, smart, motivated, and a host of other things, but right after kind, I want my girls to be brave.
3 Things That Let Me Know I Was 100% Done Having Kids
November 12, 2019 11:01 - 1 minute - 647 KBSomeone once told me that I would know when I was done having kids. After each pregnancy, I still felt as if there were more to come. That is, until my fourth and last child was born. I held him in my arms in the hospital and looked at my husband. “That’s it! Can’t do that again!” Here are three things that helped me come to that realization: 1. Feeling outnumbered Being so outnumbered makes me often feel overwhelmed and out of control.
3 Ways We Tightened Our Budget When We Thought There Was Nowhere Else to Save
November 11, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 766 KBA few months ago, my husband and I did some research to save in ways that we hadn’t previously considered. It took a little legwork, but the outcome was amazing. Here are three tips. 1. Save on your mortgage Is your mortgage your biggest expense each month? It is for us, and I assumed that without doing a refinance, we were locked into our monthly payment. But our lender advised us to check out something called a rate modification.
4 Tips for Surviving Postpartum Depression
November 08, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 728 KBNew motherhood is supposed to be a sacred time. But when postpartum depression hits, it can feel like something you might not survive. Here are four tips for getting through the dark days: 1. Find a support group Online resources are wonderful, but in-person support can be even more helpful. Hearing other women share similar feelings can help you feel as if you aren’t alone.
6 Cool Things You Can Do With Dryer Sheets
November 07, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 551 KBAh, dryer sheets. They’re awesome at keeping clothes soft and static-free, but what else are they good for? Let us count the ways: 1. Use dryer sheets to easily pick up pet hair. 2. Rub deodorant stains out of clothes with a dryer sheet for a quick fix. 3. You can also use them to rub crayon marks from walls and other surfaces. 4. If you have a pair of scissors that seem dull, try rubbing a dryer sheet on the blades. The residue from the sheet will act as a lubricant and...
Can We Stop Pretending That Being a Working Mom Is So Great?
November 06, 2019 11:02 - 3 minutes - 1.52 MBA super-popular opinion floating around the mommy-sphere is that being a stay-at-home mom is much, much harder than being a working one. After all, stay-at-home moms sacrifice a lot in order to take care of their kids. I've seen (and edited) countless essays extolling the hardships of SAH motherhood, where moms remind working mothers that they actually don't have countless hours to get housework done, cook dinner, and wrangle kids into preplanned playdates. And of course...
The No. 1 Tip for Surviving Co-Parenting With Your Toxic Ex
November 05, 2019 11:02 - 1 minute - 925 KBNo one ever starts out a marriage thinking they’ll get divorced, but it happens. The thing is, if you have kids, you’re never really done with that person, because you still have these children to raise together. And it’s so incredibly painful to co-parent with someone who made you so crazy that you tore your life apart to not have to live with them anymore.
Why ‘Cherish Every Moment’ Is the Rudest Thing You Can Say to a New Mom
November 04, 2019 11:02 - 3 minutes - 1.7 MBSitting in the doctor's office with my 18-month-old baby, I felt a sense of defeat wash over me. By this point, my son had been crying for about four hours straight, refused to take the last few bottles, and the doctor was about a half-hour late for our appointment. My son was inconsolable for two days over the weekend, thanks to a case of thrush he developed, and couldn’t be seen until Monday at 8 a.m. It was a long weekend to say the least.
When People Ask If We’re Going to Try for a Boy
November 01, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 954 KBI have four kids, and they are all girls. And let me tell you, when you have a lot of kids of all one gender, you get a lot of comments, and there’s one in particular that pops up again and again: Are you going to try again for a boy? I mean, come on, everyone wonders, and some people actually say it out loud. But it’s a question I never mind answering, because the truth is we do want to try for No. 5 someday, and I do have a gender preference.
This Is What I’ll Do If a Teen Shows Up At My Door to Trick or Treat
October 31, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 1 MBThere has never been a time in my life when I didn't love Halloween. As a small child, I loved everything about the season. I relished the autumnal walks my mother would take me on to our local 5 & 10 store, where it was appropriately decked out in witch window clings, stuffed black cats, and pumpkins galore. I loved picking out a costume each year, and I especially loved trick-or-treating. I'll never forget the last year I went.
Having My Son Taught Me That 'Treating Yourself' Has Nothing to Do With Money
October 30, 2019 10:12 - 3 minutes - 1.52 MBBeing confined to the house when I first had my son was one of the hardest things about having a newborn. He was born in April, right on the cusp of gorgeous weather after a brutal winter, and all I wanted was to be outside. I live for the outdoors, for beaches and parks and even my backyard. I had grand plans in my head — us lounging around the firepit, our little family walking around cute small towns with him strapped to my chest. Boy, was I wrong.
4 Tips for Moving With Small Children
October 29, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 912 KBWhen we recently moved with two kids under 4 years old, it was a doozy. I’ve learned so much these past two weeks, and I’ve made so many mistakes. In an effort to save you time and sanity, here’s a list of four life-saving tips that I wish I’d known before I started this whole process: 1. Ask for help. So many people offered to help us. Let us take the kids while you pack, some said. I can come over and help you sort out your closet, others offered.
4 Super-Easy Halloween Foods to Pack in Your Kid’s Lunch
October 28, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 610 KBHalloween is almost here, which means it’s time to start upping the creepy crawly-themed foods in the kids’ lunchboxes. Here are some super-easy and creative foods to pack in their lunch this week: 1. Make cheese spiders by breaking pretzel rounds in half and using them as legs to stick into the wax of circle cheese. Use a marker to draw on two eyes, and voila! Spider cheese! 2. Make a coffin sandwich by cutting the bread out into the general shape of a coffin. ...
The Truth About Having Kids With a Big Age Gap
October 25, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 978 KBWhen people find out that I have kids with big age gaps, they almost always have the same reaction. “The older ones must be so much help,” they tell me.
I'm 30, a Mom, a Wife, and I Still Wish I Was 'Cool Enough'
October 24, 2019 11:29 - 3 minutes - 1.65 MBI grew up as a nerd. I don't mean the "I like trendy sci-fi movies and don't care about anything" kind of nerd. I mean a fat, awkward, desperately wanted-to-be-liked kind of nerd. The kind who was constantly reminded of her place in the social hierarchy nerd. I spent a lot of time clinging to that identity and strategizing about how to get away from it. I was obsessed with being "cool.
5 Reasons Your Grocery Bill Is Killing Your Budget
October 23, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 878 KBIf you, like most of us, wish you were spending less on groceries, here are a few things that are probably pushing that number higher than you want it to be: 1. You buy too many snacks and fun foods I know this isn’t a fun answer, because who doesn’t love snacks, but if you're really serious about bringing down your grocery bill, the sodas, packaged foods and treats will make a huge dent in your bill right away. 2.
3 Tips for Never Losing Socks in the Laundry Again
October 22, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 594 KBIt’s the bane of every mom’s existence: lost socks. Why does it feel as if we’re constantly buying new packs of socks only to be left with just one of each a few weeks later? Where did they go? How did they get there? The mysteries are endless. The most obvious hack is to toss all of your socks into a small mesh laundry bag before running the washer so that they all stay together.