Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Solo Travel Without Kids - Ep. 420

Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Show Notes

In the special segment “Mom Wins,” Laura and Shanna share recent parenting successes, including a meltdown intervention 6,000 miles from home and a wardrobe sacrifice that saved the day. Also, Laura reports on her child-free trip to Italy, and Shanna recaps a birthday that didn't go as planned. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode: • What to do when your birthday doesn't go as planned • Travelling solo as a mom • A jet lag hack when travelling abroad with kids • Using sensory awareness to help a dysregulated child • The value of having a parenting village • Why parenting techniques sometimes work better when coming from someone other than the parent • What happens when you forget to clean up a spill in your car • Gateway breakfast foods • The best items to pack for a trip abroad

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode: • Annenberg Beach House, Santa Monica • Armstrong Nursery • Little Bites by Entenmann's • Nano Bag • Salt-Water Sandals Sun-San Boardwalk • Paper fans on Amazon

Connect with Us: • Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! • 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] • Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

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)

Oct 19, 2026

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.

Oct 16, 2026

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.

Oct 12, 2026

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.

Oct 5, 2026

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.

Sep 28, 2026

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.

See all episodes →