Embracing "Mom Mode" in Unusual Circumstances - Ep. 398
Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)Show Notes
In the special segment “Mom Wins,” Laura and Shanna celebrate their recent parenting achievements, including a clever chemistry-based solution that saved bath time and a surprising moment of jumping into action to help a stranger. Also, Shanna checks in about adjusting to a new chapter now that the kids are back at school and she must figure out what’s next after leaving her job, while Laura shares an unexpected weekend saga that took a sharp turn. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a full agenda “mommy camp” day and a new hobby that’s quickly becoming a kid’s entire personality. Shanna’s kids are 7 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 7 years old and 4.5 years old.
Topics discussed in this episode: Adjusting to life after leaving your job and figuring out what's next Giving yourself permission to have a “fallow period” after a big work/life shift Handling your kid's sudden and mysterious medical symptoms while far from home Solving kid “fairness” problems before they become full-blown meltdowns Citric acid: what it is, how to use it and why Laura swears by it When motherhood changes how you respond in an urgent situation Planning an all-day outing with kids to avoid a wide-open day at home Watching your kid fall in love with a new hobby
Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode: Piccle P street artist Chuck E. Cheese Fun Pass Bath Bomb Potion Kit Citric Acid Trails Cafe Jesse Owens Park Zootopia 2 Guitar Ninjas Fender Squier 3/4-size electric guitar Guitar strings mnemonics
Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode: Ep. 397 - Where Laura talks about the bath potions as her BFP for the week Ep. 384 - Where Sebastian wonders why Laura didn't marry Tom York of Radiohead
Connect with Us Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com Email us: [email protected]
If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!
Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)
In this week's "Out of Context" segment, Shanna and Laura trade screenshots of text messages that need some explaining, including an emoji mix-up from an unexpected sender and a running joke about husbands who can’t see what’s right in front of them. Also, Laura finds out what it takes to get approved as a school volunteer these days, and a lottery win at school takes a real bite out of homework stress at Shanna’s house. They also share this week’s BFPs and BFNs.
Shanna and Laura answer listener questions about lying down with kids at bedtime, how to handle a child’s sleep anxiety, and the systems they use to keep track of every story they want to tell on the show. Shanna describes her bedtime routine now that her kids are older, Laura makes peace with the kid who lands in her bed at 2 a.m. every night, and both share the apps and docs holding this podcast together.
In this week’s “Internet Insanity” segment, Shanna breaks down the NeeDoh squishy toy craze that’s led to store fights, police involvement and a 243% spike in poison control calls, and Laura finally solves a months-long mystery about the bot-like comments appearing on the show's Spotify episodes. Also, fall activities ramp up for Shanna’s family, while Laura rides an unexpected wave of productivity around the house. They also share this week’s BFPs and BFNs.
Homework season starts and goes about as badly as Laura feared, leaving her looking for a way to get it done somewhere other than the kitchen table. Shanna's brutal mornings turn around after an unexpected discovery at urgent care. In this week's "Loose Ends" segment, Shanna and Laura revisit the stories they left dangling: whether a months-long screen time ban is still holding up, where a nine-month-overdue front tooth finally landed, and whether a head wound is going to leave a scar. They also share this week's BFPs and BFNs.
Shanna's drop-off struggles with her youngest escalate, so she lands on an unconventional solution to improve her family's morning routines. Laura scrambles to find last-minute babysitter coverage so she can attend an all-day music festival without the kids. In this week's "Throwback" segment, Shanna confesses to a split-second decision in fifth-grade band class that hurt a friendship, and shares what she hopes for her own fifth grader, who's navigating similar terrain. They also share this week's BFPs and BFNs.