Episodes

July 27, 2023

Little Kid Rules

Our kids are tiny dictators who rule our lives with extreme arbitrariness. Whether it's demanding that "only Daddy" strap them into their car seats, or dictates about how toilet paper should be ripped, Toddler Purgatory has …
July 20, 2023

How to Make Mornings Less Morning-y

Whether or not you consider yourself a "morning person” getting your household on the move and out the door in the mornings can be really rough. We discuss some strategies for making mornings just a little less, you know, mo…
July 13, 2023

The Baby, Toddler, and Everyday Stuff We Can't Live Without

When you have little ones, there’s a lot of stuff you probably didn’t need to buy– and a few things that are total sanity-savers. Here are all the things that got us through, and still do! Check out our website for complete …
July 6, 2023

Separation Anxiety (and How to Help Your Kids Cope)

It's natural for kids to cling to their parents and caretakers - and both parents and children can experience separation anxiety when it’s time to go to work or daycare. In this episode we're talking about how to cope when i…
June 29, 2023

Sports: Which Ones, What Ages, and Why

Molly and Blaire discuss healthy ways to introduce all kinds of sports to young kids, what’s important to remember when getting kids to move their bodies, and why theater should be considered a competitive sport too.
June 22, 2023

What Would You Do With a Week Off From Parenting?

Let’s fly, let’s fly away! We may not all dream of going down to Acapulco Bay, but most of us imagine getting away for a day or even a few hours. Should we feel guilty about it? And which snacks would we bring? Molly and Bla…
June 15, 2023

Celebrating Our Dads (Happy Father's Day!)

Get out your ties, your tool belts, and your grilling aprons, because it's time to celebrate our dads and all the father figures in our lives! Molly and Blaire get their dads to spill the beans about all of their parenting s…
June 8, 2023

Parents Behaving Badly (Do We Say Something?)

If we see parents behaving badly, do we say something? It’s not always clear whether– or how– to involve ourselves as bystanders. We discuss how we can discern when we need to speak up, plus how to defuse the situation rathe…
June 1, 2023

Raising "Spirited" Kids

Spirited kids are charismatic, intelligent, determined, and curious. They can also be fidgety, fearful, demanding, and emotionally intense. In this episode we discuss how to tell if you have a “spirited” kid, and how to love…
May 25, 2023

Talking to Your Kids About Racism (with guest Britt Hawthorne)

Our kids see race. When we avoid talking about it, we can inadvertently underline the differences we are hoping to minimize. Britt Hawthorne, author of the new book RAISING ANTIRACIST CHILDREN, tells us how to bring the work…
May 18, 2023

How Not to Go Crazy During the Lazy Days of Summer

Ah, the lazy days of summer…turn out to be not so lazy when you have a toddler who insists on being entertained all. the. time. Blaire and Molly have ideas for keeping your kids busy when school is out--while also not going …
May 10, 2023

Holding onto Our Friends with No Kids

How do we maintain relationships with friends who don’t have kids? Especially when it means we have to have to put on a bra and “hard pants” to leave the house? Molly and Blaire asked listeners how they tackle this issue, an…
May 4, 2023

The Most Stressful Place On Earth: The Disney Conundrum

Hot and muggy weather + farting bugs + unavailable lightning lanes = happiest place on Earth? For some people (Blaire, it's Blaire) Disney World is not a fantasy land. Are we ruining our kids’ childhoods by not taking them t…
April 27, 2023

A Little Help Here! Kids And Chores

It can be counterproductive to the cleanliness of our homes to have our little ones “help,” but setting expectations early is worth the trouble. Here’s how to right-size the task for each age, plus how to deal with all the w…
April 20, 2023

Picky Eaters

Most kids are somewhat finicky. Some are full-blown picky eaters. People who say those kids will “eat when they're hungry enough!" mean well. They are also incorrect. So should a parent keep feeding the picky eater the three…
April 13, 2023

Gentle Parenting

A lot of people hear “gentle parent” and think doormat. But when we remember that our kids really are just kids, and get curious about the developmental reasons they’re working our last nerve, parenting them peacefully becom…
April 6, 2023

Way Down In Tantrum Town

Temper tantrums are developmentally appropriate for little ones. That doesn't make them easier to deal with. Here's what works.
March 28, 2023

Best of: Talking to Your Kids About Racism (with guest Britt Hawthorne)

Our kids see race. When we avoid talking about it, we can inadvertently underline the differences we are hoping to minimize. Britt Hawthorne, author of RAISING ANTIRACIST CHILDREN, tells us how to bring the work of antiracis…
March 21, 2023

Why "Mom Groups" Are Everything (with guest Helena Andrews-Dyer)

Do you feel lonely as a mom of littles but unsure about how to go about making other mom friends - and how to know when you've found ones that click? Helena Andrews-Dyer discusses her experience charting these waters in her …
March 14, 2023

Date Night Ideas

Has it been too long since you and your partner had an uninterrupted conversation, let alone a date night? Here's how to bring regular - or at least semi-regular - blocks of time for yourselves back into the mix.
March 7, 2023

All the Reasons Babies Cry

Is it possible to diagnose what our babies are crying about from the sounds they make? Molly and Blaire discuss the different cries that occur when our babies are hungry, tired, bored, and more.
Feb. 28, 2023

Maya Smart on Why Literacy Matters

Wondering how to build your child's language development skills? Maya Smart, author of "Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six," discusses ways to develop young kids' language processing skills that …
Feb. 21, 2023

Is Play-Fighting Okay?

What do we do when we see our kids shooting each other with fake guns and slicing each other with fake swords? Violence in play is normal– but here's how to know when it's time to intervene.
Feb. 14, 2023

Mom Burnout

Juggling parenthood, womanhood, marriage, and your career got you overwhelmed? You may have a case of mom burnout. Here's how to light the fire again – or get a new candle, depending on where you’re at.