Show Notes
Thursday May 21 2026: Welcome back to The Mom Room! In today’s solo episode, I’m diving into one of the most misunderstood topics online: parenting “data.” After seeing endless debates and ignorant comments surrounding Tuesday's episode with Emily Oster, I wanted to explain what people actually mean when they reference “the data.” Spoiler alert: it’s not one magical study that tells parents how to raise their kids. I break down how research typically works, why the public gets flooded with misleading clickbait headlines from single studies, and how nuance completely disappears once parenting conversations hit the internet. I also talk about why certain parenting topics trigger such intense emotional reactions, and why I think so much of it is connected to identity, guilt, societal pressure, and the impossible standards placed on mothers. Then we switch gears into a very personal rant about perimenopause symptoms that completely blindsided me. Sensitive skin? Perioral dermatitis? Melasma? Apparently hormones can wreak havoc in ways I had absolutely no idea about. If you’ve been feeling like your body is suddenly doing strange things for no apparent reason… this conversation might make you feel a little less alone. As always, this episode is honest, unfiltered, educational, and sprinkled with a healthy amount of ranting. Enjoy! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from The Mom Room
October 22nd, 2026: Think Disney World is just another theme park with characters walking around? I used to think that, too. Then I went, and now I’m the person obsessing over everything from the gift shops to the bathroom placement. 😂 In this solo episode of The Mom Room, I’m recapping our recent hosted family trip to Walt Disney World and sharing the things first-time visitors might not expect. We’re talking surprisingly good food, entertainment that goes way beyond the rides, easy transportation, mobile food ordering, and the little details that make the experience fun for adults, too. I also answer your questions about adding a park visit before a Disney cruise, character dining, and our favourite moments, including the ride that left Milo and me absolutely soaking wet. Whether you’re planning your first Disney World vacation or wondering why people are so obsessed, this episode will help you understand the hype. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! AquaOmega: For your daily dose of Omega-3's, go to myaquaomega.com/MOMROOM and use code MOMROOM for 20% off. Cozy Earth: Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code MOMROOM for an exclusive 20% off home and sleepwear. Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/MOMROOM with code MOMROOM. That's a full month of premium diapers delivered to your door for just $49/month for your first 3 months. HIYA: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/MOMROOM. Oak Essentials: Use code MOMROOM at oakessentials.com to get 15% OFF your first purchase! Quince: Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/MOMROOM. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Skims Undergarments: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at http://www.skims.com/momroom #skimspartner Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com or shop the Wayfair app for all things home. Zenni: Go to zenni.com/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 for 15% OFF your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65.
Sam Kelly shares how to stop carrying the entire mental load of motherhood by teaching your children to notice and do. Sam Kelly, creator and author of Notice and Do, joins Renee to dismantle the cycle of unequal domestic labor. They discuss the frustration of acting as the family's default manager and why waiting for a partner to notice needs is not a sustainable long-term solution. Instead of continuing to carry the invisible workload, Sam outlines a practical framework for empowering children to own their household responsibilities. From noticing garbage on the floor to managing laundry cycles, Sam explains how even young toddlers can learn to see what needs to be done. They discuss why this is a direct path to raising empathetic, capable children and how to initiate these shifts when you are already feeling burned out and overwhelmed.
Listener Favourite Replay: Mom Rage, Parenting Guilt, and Repair Have you ever completely lost your patience with your kids, reacted in a way you immediately regretted, and then spent the rest of the day feeling like the worst mom in the world? You're definitely not alone. In this listener favourite episode of The Mom Room, Renee revisits one of the most relatable and least talked about experiences in motherhood: mom rage. Inspired by the book Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood by Minna Dubin, Renee breaks down the five phases of the mom rage cycle, from the slow buildup of frustration and overwhelm to the emotional explosion, the shame that follows, and the importance of repairing with our children. She also shares a very personal experience involving a bedtime battle with Milo that left her feeling overwhelmed, angry, and incredibly guilty the following morning. Why do moms sometimes feel an anger they've never experienced before having children? Why can we handle the exact same parenting situation calmly one day and completely lose it the next? And why are we so quick to focus on the moments we lose our patience while forgetting the hundreds of times we managed to keep it together? This episode is an honest conversation about the mental load of motherhood, emotional regulation, parenting triggers, maternal anger, mom guilt, and why repairing with our children matters so much. Because being a good mom doesn't mean never getting angry. It means recognizing our emotions, taking responsibility for our reactions, and continuing to learn and grow. If you've ever lost your temper with your kids and felt terrible afterward, this episode is for you. Listen, share it with a mom who needs to hear it, and remember that these are conversations worth having. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Craig Conover, Southern Charm star and now children’s book author, joins The Mom Room this week to talk about his new book Patch Work! Craig was bullied pretty horribly as a kid, and his book follows little Craig, who just wants to sew for the school talent show. Renee and Craig discuss why so many kids carry bullying alone instead of telling their parents, how to be the safe space your child actually opens up to, and what to teach the kids who see bullying happen and aren’t sure what to do. Craig also shares how being bullied shaped him as an adult, from feeling misunderstood to dealing with online hate as a reality TV star, and why he believes happy people don’t write mean things on the internet.
October 8th, 2026: Why are we measuring a good family vacation by how many nights we get for our money? And why did nobody warn us about the itchy ears?! In this solo episode of The Mom Room, Renee shares the symptoms she’s been experiencing that she associates with perimenopause, from dry eyes and itchy ears to ringing ears, night sweats, and increasingly sensitive skin. She also chats about her struggles with dermatitis around her mouth, the skincare product she’s been loving, and why switching up her shampoo has left her regretting her choices. Then, Renee gets into an epiphany that’s changing how she thinks about family travel. When a short trip to New York costs as much as several nights at an all-inclusive, it’s easy to choose the longer vacation. But are more nights away always more valuable than a new experience your family is genuinely excited about? From wanting to take Milo to see Aladdin on Broadway to planning a tennis-filled trip to Palm Springs, Renee talks about choosing vacations around your family’s interests, making meaningful memories, and looking beyond the usual “more bang for your buck” calculation. Plus, the desert discovery that quickly made her rethink an Airbnb. A candid conversation about perimenopause, life at 41, and figuring out what we actually want from our time away. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.