
Are You a "Sad Beige” Parent?: What Parenting Trends Say About Us with Hayley DeRoche
Modern Mom ProbsShow Notes
What happens when a joke about beige baby clothes turns into a cultural phenomenon? In this episode, Tara sits down with content creator, satirist, and author Hayley DeRoche, the internet's beloved voice behind the viral "Sad Beige" commentary. What began as playful observations about muted nursery décor and monochromatic baby wardrobes quickly evolved into a deeper conversation about modern motherhood, social status, consumer culture, and the pressures parents face online. Hayley shares the inspiration behind her book, Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe, and explains why the "Sad Beige" aesthetic resonated with millions of parents. Together, Tara and Hayley explore how social media algorithms shape parenting trends, the ways capitalism influences the choices we make for our families, and why certain parenting aesthetics can function as subtle markers of class and identity. With equal parts humor and insight, this conversation unpacks the performative nature of parenting in the digital age and challenges listeners to think critically about the messages they're consuming and buying into. Whether you've laughed at a Sad Beige video or found yourself wondering why parenting feels like a competition sometimes, this episode offers a fascinating look at the intersection of internet culture, motherhood, and modern society. Links: https://www.hayleyderoche.com/ https://amzn.to/3SaRvGa https://www.tiktok.com/@sadbeige https://www.instagram.com/officialsadbeige
More from Modern Mom Probs
In this episode, Tara sits down with Keesha Scott, mother of three, podcaster, certified parenting coach, and author of the new memoir Cake for Dinner, for a refreshingly honest conversation about dismantling the pressure to be a perfect mother. Drawing from her own experiences with addiction recovery, high-achieving environments, and raising teenagers, Keesha opens up about why modern mom culture often feels impossibly harsh. Together, they tackle the competitive nature of modern childhood and the pitfalls of overparenting, highlighting how stepping back from the "must do everything" mindset can actually build greater resilience, confidence, and independence in our kids.
In this conversation, Tara chats with Emily Feret, the self-proclaimed "anti-mommy influencer," for a refreshingly candid conversation about stripping away the pressure of perfection in motherhood. Emily shares the story of how her "normalizing normal" movement was accidentally born out of pandemic boredom on TikTok, quickly growing into a massive community built on unfiltered honesty, messy homes, and finding humor in the chaos of everyday life. They discuss the profound impact of seeing real, uncurated lives online, and how sharing the unvarnished truth, from dealing with mom guilt over toddler cavities to embracing the actual bodies we have, can instantly make motherhood feel less isolating.
In this enlightening episode, Tara welcomes back author and podcast host Cory Allen to discuss his new book The Quiet Age: Creating a Calm Life in a Chaotic World, and explore why slowing down feels more urgent now than ever. Their conversation dives into how digital overload, reactive living, and a culture of constant urgency can disconnect individuals from their own bodies and inner sense of direction. Tailored especially for busy parents feeling stretched thin by the demands of modern life, Tara and Cory examine how to step off the "freight train" of the mental load, noting that while cell phones often carry the effects of our disconnection, they are not the entire root of the problem.
In this hilarious episode, Tara sits down with Stephanie Drake and Arthur Meyer, the creative minds and co-hosts behind the hit satire series ABC Parenting. The trio dives deep into how the show brilliantly parodies the overwhelming, contradictory flood of online parenting advice that leaves so many parents feeling like they are failing. Stephanie (an actress and writer, known for her role as Meredith in Mad Men) and Arthur (a veteran comedy writer whose credits include The Tonight Show) share how their own real-life anxieties shape their sharpest sketches. The conversation highlights how ABC Parenting turns the fear-based messaging of modern parenting into comedy gold.
In this episode, Tara sits down with author, artist, and Emmy-winning animator Loryn Brantz for an honest conversation on creativity, modern parenting, and what’s really going on behind the scenes in children’s media. Loryn opens up about shifting from traditional animation on classic shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sesame Street to writing children’s books, sharing how a very relatable toddler meltdown inspired her new book, I Am a Spicy Nugget. She and Tara unpack practical strategies for co-regulation and handling big emotions, explaining why doing the inner self-work and reparenting ourselves beats relying on cookie-cutter parenting scripts every time. They also tackle the changing landscape of creative content, diving into Loryn’s advocacy for artist protection against AI after her public battle over The Good Advice Cupcake. From the rise of AI-generated slop in children’s shows to her behind-the-scenes work, Loryn reminds us that human connection is at the heart of storytelling. This conversation is a candid look at the emotional work of raising good humans while fighting to protect genuine creative integrity for the next generation. Links: https://lorynbrantz.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lorynbrantz/