Parenting Roundabout
2,380 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsJoin parenting writers Terri Mauro and Catherine Holecko for a weekly look at the things parents are talking about, complaining about, and obsessing about right now.
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Episodes
Here We Go Again: Technology Disappointments
March 22, 2023 04:00 - 5 minutes - 5.47 MBWith Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from way back in September, 2017. On this speed round, we asked: Why do Facebook Messenger, Fitbit, and autocorrect hate us so?
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Moving Forward” and Brothers and Sisters “Bad News”
March 21, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We continue to enjoy hanging out with the Shrinking folks, who do seem to be moving forward as this episode's title promises. We'll be sad to see them go after next week's season finale, "Closure." (But we can listen to the show's playlist on Apple Music, and look forward to season 2 at some undisclosed time in the future.) We do not, however, enjoy hanging out with the Walkers, Harpers, and other Brothers and Sisters characters who are really qui...
Here We Go Again: Technical Difficulties
March 20, 2023 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBWith Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from January 2020. New phone frustration has us wondering if we're too old to be technically savvy, or if it's technology that needs to do a better job meeting our needs.
Speed-Round Sunday: Pet Peeves with Kids' Activities
March 19, 2023 13:00 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Having built up a good head of steam on our first topic, we keep it up with some complaints about kids' activities. Can no one plan ahead anymore?!
Second-Listen Saturday: Entrepreneurial Kids
March 18, 2023 13:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. This article on young people starting businesses led us to ask whether our kids could capitalize on their obsessions. Either we don't have enough imagination, or the market hasn't caught up to their passions just yet.
Roundabout Roundup: Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time,” King Koil Mattress, and Suet Log Bird Feeder
March 17, 2023 04:00 - 8 minutes - 8 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's Country Music Minute brings us Morgan Wallen's latest, "One Thing at a Time." Nicole's resting easy on a new King Koil mattress, and Catherine's becoming a bird-watcher thanks to her suet log bird feeder (although hers is made from an actual log, not a log-like resin like the one linked). Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Baby, What’s Your Sign?
March 16, 2023 04:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBAn article about kids' astrological signs got us obsessing about whether they matched our own kids' temperaments and behaviors. First, we had to figure out what their signs even were. Mentioned: Starscroll horoscopes.
Clickbait Complaint
March 15, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBWhen we're casting about for something to inspire a rant, an article about "fill-in-the-blank parenting" is usually a safe bet. This week, it's "lazy parenting." Surprise! It's not lazy at all!
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Boop” and Brothers and Sisters “Game Night”
March 14, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking gave us some fun new combinations of characters (and a great business idea) in "Boop." Next: S1 E9, "Moving Forward." The combinations on Brothers and Sisters were far less fun, as Kevin made a fool of himself on a blind date with Senator Handsome's brother (thanks to Kitty) and Joe made a pass at Sarah's half-sister. Not cool, guys. Next: S1 E20, "Bad News."
Learn From Our Experiences
March 13, 2023 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBWe're late to the TikTok party of sharing inside info from our professional experiences--as parents. But we have plenty of stories and "it worked for me" advice, so we're talking about it today. Mentioned: Terri's toy-store hangouts.
Speed-Round Sunday: Clothing Injustices
March 12, 2023 13:00 - 10 minutes - 9.22 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Inspired by the viral "I Swimsuit So Hard" video, we gripe about all the uncomfortable and impractical clothes women are expected to wear.
Second-Listen Saturday: The Indignities of Aging
March 11, 2023 14:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019. Terri may have just had a milestone birthday, but today Nicole is complaining about the little annoyances of aging. This is our reward for 20+ years of raising kids?!
Roundabout Roundup: TRU Hotels, Animals Doing Things on Instagram, and Universalis
March 10, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.21 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, hip young traveler Nicole recommends TRU by Hilton hotels. Today's Instagram Minute is from Catherine, who suggests Animals Doing Things (cute and funny things). And Terri's Catholic Minute returns, this time with the Universalis app (mentioned: a past Catholic Minute pick, the Liturgy of the Hours from Word on Fire.) Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Parental Peace Offerings
March 09, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBAn article about parents of a newborn who buttered up their neighbors with free booze prompted us to obsess about what peace offerings we'd provide, and when (and whether they're needed at all).
Mistakes Were Made
March 08, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBTerri confessed to an error she would've yelled at her kids for making, so Nicole and Catherine had to chime in with their own goofs to make her feel better. Plus, we all complained about the frustrations of aging. Mentioned: A laptop cleaning kit that Nicole recommended and Catherine has already ordered.
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Apology Tour” and Brothers and Sisters “Three Parties”
March 07, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it's parties everywhere. The Shrinking gang, in the episode titled "Apology Tour," deals with post-party consequences (and still manages to have another party by the end of the ep). Next: S1 E8, "Boop." Various Walkers are of course partying in various ways in "Three Parties," an episode that felt like treading water in many ways--but with artichoke-themed cocktails. Next: S1 E19, "Game Night."
There’s a Subscription for That
March 06, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBA roundup of the best shampoo subscriptions got us talking about all the things we'd like to see delivered regularly to our doorsteps, from the practical (kitty litter) to the treat-yoself (Diet Dr Pepper and beauty products). Mentioned: Overnight Oats, Blackout Coffee Co., Black Rifle Coffee, Grounds and Hounds Coffee, Ipsy.
Speed-Round Sunday: Parenting App Ideas
March 05, 2023 14:00 - 5 minutes - 5.19 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Attention, app developers: We have some ideas for you, because we need help scheduling, nagging, and shopping. Mentioned: Mom-matchmaking app Peanut.
Second-Listen Saturday: The Things Only Mom Knows
March 04, 2023 14:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019 (and it's a coincidence that it's our second Walker Hayes mention this week. What can we say--we've got a superfan in our midst). Inspired by "Don't Let Her," a sweet song from Walker Hayes, we obsess over all those details and quirks about our kids (and pets) that are important, but known only to us.
Roundabout Roundup: The Dumb Dads on Instagram, Jodsone Gel Nail Polish Kit, and This Is How It Always Is
March 03, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.68 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, It's Terri's turn for an Instagram Minute: She's passing along a recommendation from her ENT (hi, Dr. Lee from Summit Health) for The Dumb Dads on Instagram. Nicole is taking manicures into her own hands with a gel nail polish kit, and Catherine suggests a book called This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Family Secrets and Lies
March 02, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.76 MBThere will always be some family issues that we want to keep within the immediate family, or maybe we want to keep from the kids just a little longer. On today's episode, we obsessed about what and how and when and why (or why not) to spill to our kids as they get older, when it's OK to lie to protect them, and whether that even works.
In Defense of Helicopter Parenting
March 01, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 11 MBA report on a study of helicopter parenting, which you'd think we would be cheering, somehow gave us fodder for complaints: One of us isn't buying it, and another thinks its definition of helicoptering might be wrong. (And speaking of Substacks, the report is on Bruce Feiler's newsletter, which was recommended by Asha Dornfest's, Parent of Adults).
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Imposter Syndrome” and Brothers and Sisters “All in the Family”
February 28, 2023 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking managed to out-cringe Brothers and Sisters (not easy), thanks to terrible decisions by just about everyone. It's no wonder that next week's episode, S1 E7, is called "Apology Tour." There were still bad decisions on Brothers and Sisters, of course--finally, Senator McCallister puts a foot wrong--along with some bad writing, just for fun. Next: S1 E18, "Three Parties." The Walkers do love a party!
Modern Sales Strategies
February 27, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 11 MBA cute video claiming to use AI to help sell Walker Hayes's home got us talking about what we'd like to put up for sale, and how we could use the latest tech tools to help close the deal.
Speed-Round Sunday: Our Kids' Best Qualities
February 26, 2023 14:00 - 7 minutes - 6.44 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. From fantastic memory to nerves of steel, we celebrate the qualities we admire in our kids.
Second-Listen Saturday: Boundaries for Boomerang Kids
February 25, 2023 14:00 - 10 minutes - 9.7 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019. An unwelcome visit from a live frog got Nicole thinking about setting boundaries and making rules. She has some complaints about what happens when your adult kids are your roommates.
Roundabout Roundup: 2s Company Specialty Crisps, I’ve Had It Podcast, and Substack Newsletters
February 24, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 8.06 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's snacking on flavorful, virtuous crackers from 2s Company, while Nicole's laughing with the ladies of the I've Had It podcast and Terri's enjoying Substack newsletters from Alan Sepinwall and the Fug Girls (also mentioned: R. Eric Thomas's newsletter, which is non-Substack, but still very fun). Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Ghostwriting for Our Kids
February 23, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBA Wall Street Journal article about parents ghostwriting their kids' texts got us obsessing: Our ghostwriting services extend well beyond texts. We are professionals!
We Just Don’t Get It
February 22, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBWhether it's due to a generation gap or a kid's need to "figure it out" themselves, we can complain about plenty of occasions when we just don't understand what our kids are doing. And we don't think we're alone.
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Woof” and Brothers and Sisters “The Other Walker”
February 21, 2023 05:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Shrinking folks are doing things they can't face, or at least trying to, while the Walkers, on Brothers and Sisters, are facing the fact that there's another one of them (and making some truly bad decisions about her). Next: Shrinking S1E6, "Imposter Syndrome," and Brothers and Sisters S1 E 17, "All in the Family."
Family Activities of Yesterday and Today
February 20, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBInspired by TikTok, we chatted about what activities our families like to share, starting with watching TikToks together.
Speed-Round Sunday: Kids and Coffee
February 19, 2023 14:00 - 6 minutes - 6.03 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Find out which one of us bans coffee for kids and teens, and which one fed it to her young child by accident.
Second-Listen Saturday: 18 Summers
February 18, 2023 14:00 - 10 minutes - 9.64 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. After reading yet another article about how parents only have 18 summers with their kids (they show up every year), we respond with a hearty "So what?" We can come up with at least 18 things about summer with kids that we're glad to be done with.
Roundabout Roundup: Brinks Door Security Bar, Omron Blood Pressure Monitor, and Singer Claire Kelly
February 17, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.86 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's fortifying her home with a heavy-duty door security bar from Brinks. Terri is keeping tabs on her health with her very own home blood pressure monitor, and Catherine's soothing them both with a pretty tune from singer-songwriter Claire Kelly called "The Land that Time Forgot." Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Marie Kondo’s Change of Heart
February 16, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBOn today's episode, we obsess about the news that Marie Kondo has backtracked a bit on her tidiness crusade (and of course, has written a new book about it). Mentioned: Silk long underwear, tea organizer.
The Medical Test Gauntlet
February 15, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBTerri's been through a lot of medical tests recently, which gives us the opportunity to complain about all that entails--from the discomfort to the claustrophobia to the too-long (or sometimes too short?) wait for results. Mentioned: Summit Health on Roundabout Roundup.
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Fifteen Minutes” and “Potatoes” and Brothers and Sisters “Love Is Difficult”
February 14, 2023 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we see two views of psychotherapy. On Shrinking, Jimmy is having mixed results with his unorthodox methods, while also trying to juggle his relationships with his daughter, co-workers, and neighbors. Next: Season 1, episode 5, "Woof." On Brothers and Sisters, episode 15, "Love Is Difficult," was perfectly timed for Valentine's Day. And it looks like love is going to get even more difficult for the Walkers, now that their half-sister has arrived in...
Real-Life Conversation Hearts
February 13, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 7.8 MBAfter our friend Mike shared a meme on the topic of "if moms made candy hearts," we decided to devote this almost-Valentine's Day episode to talking about our candy conversation heart ideas. What would yours say?
Speed-Round Sunday: Mom Jewelry
February 12, 2023 14:00 - 5 minutes - 4.75 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Turns out we're not big jewelry people, but we do each have a sentimental piece or two.
Second-Listen Saturday: Fake Life Deadlines
February 11, 2023 14:00 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. As if birthdays weren't enough pressure, Terri's facing one that feels like New Year's Day times 60: What should she do to celebrate? And what should she do to make it count and change her life for the better? She needs ideas.
Roundabout Roundup: Round 2 Archives and The Traitors
February 10, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.69 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her own efforts and imploring you to check out the index she's creating of everything we've covered on Round 2: TV shows, movies, books, live theatre, and more. Meanwhile, Catherine adds to Terri's workload by mentioning the Peacock reality show The Traitors, hosted by Alan Cumming. Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Second Thoughts: Our Lives As TV Shows
February 09, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 8.61 MBThis week, we are bringing you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. Today, we revisit and update an episode from August 2017, "Our Lives Are Like a Bad TV Show." Spoiler: Terri's moved from a procedural to a sitcom, while Catherine left Sitcom Land for some light suspense.
Second Thoughts: What Our Kids Are Watching
February 08, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBThis week, we are bringing you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. Today, an episode from August 2017 on what our kids were watching. Some things have changed, and some have stayed very much the same, even all these years later.
What We’re Watching: Shrinking “Coin Flip” and “Fortress of Solitude” and Brothers and Sisters “Valentine’s Day Massacre”
February 07, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBOn this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked out the first two episodes of Shrinking, a new Bill Lawrence/Brett Goldstein comedy on Apple TV+. It's a very funny, if F-bomb-heavy, show with some wonderful performances, so we'll be back for more. Next: Episodes 3 and 4, “Fifteen Minutes” and “Potatoes.” On Brothers and Sisters, the Walkers are up to their usual shenanigans: Sex with exes (mentioned: this Cougar Town song, speaking of Bill Lawrence)! Getting busted for smoking pot! F...
Second Thoughts: Our Most Memorable Years
February 06, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBThis week, we are drawing on our Round 2 themes to bring you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. First up, in October 2017, we jumped off of our Dancing with the Stars watch to talk about our most memorable years. Today, we're checking in to see what's changed and how we'd choreograph some of the highlights and lowlights of our lives.
Speed-Round Sunday: Watching Sports
February 05, 2023 14:00 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MBOn Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Today's question: What sports do you find the most boring to watch? The most exciting?
Second-Listen Saturday: Saying Too Much
February 04, 2023 14:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBOn Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019. Sometimes it's tough to balance our kids' right to privacy with our own need to fill a conversational void. Or our ability to think on our feet when we're caught off-guard.
Roundabout Roundup: Summit Health, Computer Cleaning Kit, and BeReal
February 03, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MBOn this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her local mega-medical practice, Summit Health (coming to a location near you soon, probably). Nicole's being proactive with a laptop cleaning kit, and Catherine's having fun with the social photo app BeReal. Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.
Support Without Smothering
February 02, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 9.64 MBAn article titled "12 Ways to Help Your Young Adult When Life Knocks Them Down" got us obsessing about how and when it's appropriate to step in when kids have problems, and how hard it is to step back.
Are You a Jellyfish or a Piranha?
February 01, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 9.1 MBThe latest "insert-animal-here" parenting style is apparently jellyfish parenting. But instead of complaining about that, we decided to pick our own sea creatures to identify with. (Watch out for Terri's sharp teeth.)