Parenting Roundabout: Recent Episodes

Parenting Roundabout

Join parenting writers Terri Mauro, Catherine Holecko, and Nicole Eredics for a daily look at the things parents are talking about, complaining about, and obsessing about right now.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week, in the final episode EVER of this podcast.

Catherine's library find is Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers, published in 2021 by The Lonely Planet. There's also a second volume of even more travel tales.

Terri's random recommendation is all the ways you can keep up with us when we're no longer blabbing in your ears three times a week. Also mentioned: Bookmory and Authory.
* Terri's Substack, Too Old for Cool; any future TV chats will live here * Catherine's Instagram * Terri on Twitter @mamatude * Terri's website * The podcast on Instagram and Twitter; subscribe to see if Terri follows through on her eight-year replay plan

In the archives, we talked about a couple of specific episodes while recalling the many permutations of the podcast over the past dozen years: Parenting Investigations and Are You a Soggy Mom?.

While we won't be publishing new episodes, our archives will remain available. Thank you for listening!

Each Wednesday, we've been discussing an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. We stay on the island for this entire episode, but jump between two timelines just to keep things interesting. To Terri's dismay, the love quadrangle of Sawyer/Kate/Jack/Juliet is back in action. Mentioned: Call the Midwife and a pertinent scene from The Princess Bride.

We're wrapping up our recaps of Lost here, but we may not be quite done blathering about TV in general (and Lost in particular; Catherine can't stop watching now!). Keep an eye on our social media and Terri's Substack for updates. We'll be back tomorrow with our final weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Fittingly, for our last Tuesday episode, we're finishing season 3 of Shrinking. In a three-season arc of grief, forgiveness, and moving on, it turns out "moving on" is the least dynamic part of the story, as the season ends with the characters scattered around the globe.

Still, we enjoy these characters and will come back to see how the creators handle season 4. We just won't be here to discuss it, because we're moving on from the podcast. We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost, though! Mentioned: Mike Nelson, the actor who plays Jimmy's patient Dan, on Facebook.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a resource for kids who love history: Honest History, which has magazines, books, and a blog, all with fun facts and appealing illustrations.

Terri's random recommendation is, first, to stay out of Twitter jail if you can. And second, we have some important news about this podcast to share.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023, in which we asked what makes a young adult.

Next week's lineup:
Shrinking S3 E11, "And That's Our Time," on Tuesday, April 7 * Lost* S5 E9, "Namaste," on Wednesday, April 8 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 9

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode, telling the story of what Sawyer's been up to since the Oceanic Six took off, gives us another example of how things can be going just fine (in your kids' world, in your own life, and so on), and then it's all upended in a moment.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 9, "Namaste." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Whoever the "bodyguard of sadness" was, they did a terrible job with this episode, because every one of Jimmy's friends and family members is leaving him: temporarily, permanently, metaphorically. It all required a great deal of face acting from Jason Segel.

Next week, we'll finish season 3 with episode 12, "And That's Our Time." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is the joy of putting items on hold. It's like ordering yourself a gift: It will arrive at some undetermined future date (surprise!), you'll get something you know you want, and it's completely free.

Terri's random recommendation is a handy piece of technology that she recently discovered: Mirroring her iPhone to her new Apple laptop.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 in which we recalled those rare good mom moments.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E10, "The Bodyguard of Sadness," on Tuesday, April 7 * Lost* S5 E8, "LaFleur," on Wednesday, April 8 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 9

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, it's the tale of one John Locke, and how he journeys from the island to the North African desert, then to Los Angeles and finally back to the island, with a few side quests along the way. He's up, he's down; he's in a wheelchair, he's walking; he's dead, he's alive. It's a lot.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 8, "LaFleur." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This time, Jimmy's dad (played by Jeff Daniels) arrives to give all the bad dads of Lost a real run for their money. While he doesn't actually murder anyone, he does contribute to the demise of Jimmy's fledgling relationship with Sofi, and show us that he won't have a problem breaking Alice's heart.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E10, "The Bodyguard of Sadness." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is the misleadingly titled Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Lives of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn. It's not, in fact, about the servants, but about the people they serve, and who cares about them?

Terri's random recommendation is a rather lukewarm one, more of a curiosity than a gung-ho endorsement: the new Scrubs season, which brings back all the actors from the show's original run (2001-2010). Mentioned: thirtysomething, Once and Again.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 that asked whether oversharing is bad parenting.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues," on Tuesday, March 31 * Lost* S5 E7, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham," on Wednesday, April 1 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 2

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six have (mostly) reassembled, and we (sorta) find out how they ended up on a plane together, flying back to the island. And we receive what might be the strongest piece of parenting wisdom the show has ever given us: "The results will be unpredictable."

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 6, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Alas, Terri's fervent hope that Maya was simply lost in the crowd at Disneyland was dashed. That sad outcome was only one of several disappointments in this episode, but it did yield some parenting advice that everyone can (and should) follow. Mentioned: "Don't Be Suspicious" on Parks and Recreation.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is the first in a new kids' chapter book series. It's called You're a Winner, Gracie Wei, and the author is Kristen Mei Chase. This is another fun case of "Hey, I know that writer!"

Terri's random recommendation is also a book, another in her series of Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent memoirs: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. This one's more about Dunne's early life and family, vs. his acting career, but it was still worth a listen.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 about how messy moms are good moms (that's our story and we're sticking to it).

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet," on Tuesday, March 24 * Lost* S5 E6, "316," on Wednesday, March 25 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben is still busy assembling his group of island departees, and Sun has to choose between her kid and her is-he-dead-or-alive husband. On the island, that husband is having a pretty bad day, and Charlotte learns the hard way that she should've listened to her mother.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "316." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This is sometimes a happy fun show and sometimes a sad scary one, and this one tipped the balance a little too far toward sad (at least at the end). However, Candice Bergen knows our podcast motto, so we appreciate that.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a novel that had many blurbs that appealed to her, so she wants to check it out: Like Family by Erin O. White. She also has a follow-up to last week's history of Victorian parenting. It's Hot Victorians: Meet Your Dream Man From the Past by Aaron Radford-Wattley (inspired by an Instagram account of the same name). Mentioned: True Biz by Sara Novic.

Terri's random recommendation is Duolingo, where you can learn not just languages used in the real world, but those from the past (Latin) and fictitious worlds (Klingon, High Valyrian). Mentioned: Duolingo French podcast and a Game of Thrones scene that demonstrates the power of knowing your enemy's language: Part 1, part 2.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on the warning labels we need as parents. Mentioned: AIM away messages.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape," on Tuesday, March 17 * Lost* S5 E5, "This Place Is Death," on Wednesday, March 18 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 19

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben continues his manipulative efforts to return the gang to the island. On the island, time jumps plague the Sawyer/Locke/Juliet team, and guess who wasn't killed in the freighter explosion? Mentioned: Tom Irwin, who plays Ben's lawyer and also Angela's dad on My So-Called Life.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "This Place Is Death." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Be reassured that no Dereks die in this episode, thankfully. And both parents and kids step up when it matters, but we've got just enough worrying moments to keep us concerned about what's to come.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book of nonfiction that may sound like a parenting book, but doesn't, in fact, contain useful advice for the modern parent. It's Ungovernable: The Victorian Parent's Guide to Raising Flawless Children by Therese ONeill.

Terri's random recommendation is a pair of documentaries that are helping her justify her streaming subscriptions: Still, on Michael J. Fox and his life with Parkinson's disease, and BRATS, a look at the Brat Pack from one of its... aggrieved members. Mentioned: "Murder Show" on SNL.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on parenting mantras.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E6, "Dereks Don't Die," on Tuesday, March 10 * Lost* S5 E4, "The Little Prince," on Wednesday, March 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six took a back seat in this episode, so we could follow the island residents as they jumped through time, and Desmond as he walked directly into the path of Charles Widmore. Mentioned: Klingon vs. Ubbi Dubbi on The Big Bang Theory, the '70s kids' show Zoom.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "The Little Prince." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This season is supposed to be about moving on, but our characters are really moving in a one-step-forward, two-steps-back manner. Mentioned: Jason Segel singing "Nightswimming," the Les Mis car karaoke scene from this episode, an earlier rendition of the song by Jason Segel and his How I Met Your Mother castmate Neil Patrick Harris, and the apropos songs "Letting Go" (about making mistakes) and "Bad Decisions."

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E6, "Dereks Don't Die." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book by Caroline Dooner with a title that appeals: The Fk-It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy. Terri might be skeptical of the advice, but she salutes anyone who's figured out how to make money with their writing.

Terri's random recommendation is our old pal Zoom, which allows us to record together from different time zones and even helps us with transcripts.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on one-star reviews of parenting experiences.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E5, "Hold Your Horsies," on Tuesday, March 3 * Lost* S5 E3, "Jughead," on Wednesday, March 4 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 5

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode continued the theme of fallout from the Oceanic Six's departure, as Hurley struggles with maintaining the lie that the group told. Back on the island, Daniel's trying to figure out what timeline they're all in, and Frogurt becomes Fried-gurt.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 3, "Jughead." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This time, Liz tried to extend her mom powers by surveilling Brian and Charlie, but crashed and burned with her actual offspring at a critical moment. And Derek learned a lesson about taking candy from children.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E5, "Hold Your Horsies." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book to read to your dog (probably while your child is listening): The Bedtime Book for Dogs by Bruce Littlefield. She also made the happy discovery of a fourth title in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mysteries series: The Rushworth Family Plot. Mentioned: The Book with No Pictures, The Monster at the End of This Book.

Terri's random recommendation is the music video for Taylor Swift's "Opalite," which is a charming little rom-com that got its start when Taylor appeared on The Graham Norton Show.

In the archives, we checked in on episodes on the Winter Olympic Games from 2014 and 2018. Mentioned: Canadian Olympic athletes wearing Lululemon capes, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier's “Vincent” free skate, U.S. curler Aidan Oldenburg.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E4, "The Field," on Tuesday, February 24 * Lost* S5 E2, "The Lie," on Wednesday, February 25 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. We kick off season 5 with a check-in on the Oceanic 6. How are they doing? Not that well, as Kate has to flee from a pushy lawyer, Hurley's going viral in a compromising photo, and Ben's popping up to be menacing.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 2, "The Lie." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This episode brings us that old sitcom standard: A new baby! And a huge crowd of people hanging around nervously (Brian) and bossily (Liz). Mentioned: Childbirth scenes on thirtysomething and ER.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E4, "The Field." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a cozy mystery inspired by the Bernie Sanders mittens meme. It's called Feel the Bern (of course), and the author is Andrew Schaffer.

Terri's random recommendation is a browser add-on called Wakeout, which prompts you to do a minute or two of exercises every time you open a new tab. (It's also available as an app.)

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on real-life conversation hearts.

Next week's lineup: Shrinking S3 E3, "D-Day," on Tuesday, February 17 * Lost* S5 E1, "Because You Left," on Wednesday, February 18 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 19

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In the final two hours of season 4, the Oceanic Six finally, officially, leave the island. The island also leaves its former location, and Ben beats it, too, leaving Locke in charge. But we also know that that won't last forever. So, a lot to come in seasons 5 and 6.

Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 1, "Because You Left." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This week, Paul was sidelined from his job, but still managed to provide some therapeutic and parenting advice to Derek. And Gabby vented her anger at Louis, but also nudged him to live his life instead of staying stuck in place.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E3, "D-Day." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is the universe of graphic novels for kids. In addition to mainstays such as Pokémon, Captain Underpants, and Dog Man, you can find beloved series like Magic Tree House and Baby-Sitters Club in graphic novel format, along with classics including Pride and Prejudice. Also mentioned: Cobble Street Cousins series, Nancy Drew: Girl Detective.

Terri's random recommendation is geological (and meteorological) entities on social media, because they're a lot more fun than humans are. She suggests: the San Andreas Fault, Mt. St. Helens, the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Tahoe, Karl the Fog from San Francisco. Mentioned: Library humor on Instagram, like a game of James Patterson Go Fish.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on parenting points challenges.

Next week's lineup:
Shrinking S3 E2, "Happiness Mission," on Tuesday, February 10 * Lost* S4 E13/14, "There's No Place Like Home," parts 2 and 3, on Wednesday, February 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode kicks off the three-part season finale. The Oceanic Six are scattered from beach to jungle to freighter, with a very quiet baby in tow. However will they manage to get off the island?

Next week, we'll endeavor to find out in season 4, episodes 13 and 14, "There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 and 3." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday (formerly Wednesdays, but we've made a shift), we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, we're happy to be back with our friends from Shrinking. They're facing both new and evolving issues: an emptying nest, a refilling nest, a difficult diagnosis, and more. But they're doing it together.

Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E2, "Happiness Mission." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a parenting book. Its title caught her eye, but it's not necessarily what it seems (who woulda thought?). That title is Just Do Nothing (for Parents): How to Parent Better By Doing Less by Joanna Hardis.

Terri's random recommendation is not to do nothing, but instead to pray regularly. The Prayminder app is helping her do that. Like an Apple Watch for the soul, it issues reminders to keep you on track.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on snow days, which are themselves becoming a thing of the past.

Next week's lineup:
Shrinking S3 E1, "My Bad," on Tuesday, February 3 * Lost* S4 E12, "There's No Place Like Home," on Wednesday, February 4 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 5

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and for this week, we binged A Man on the Inside's season 2. As with last season, we enjoyed the gentle, loving Mike Schur sitcom of it all and the many wonderful actors, even if the mystery wasn't especially strong. Mentioned: a You've Got Mail scene and manic pixie dream girls.

For next week, we'll switch up our order and discuss Lost on our Wednesday episode, and switch our newer series watch to Tuesdays with the return of Shrinking (season 3). We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. What made Locke the way he is, you ask? Well, you'll find out in this episode, and encounter some creepy characters from the island and its orbit along the way.

Next week, we'll adjust our schedule a bit and continue with season 4, episode 12, "There's No Place Like Home, Part 1" on Wednesday. Tomorrow, we'll discuss a newer show, season 2 of A Man on the Inside.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a nonfiction series for kids that starts with What If You Had Animal Teeth? and moves on through animal hair, scales, feet, eyes, and more. The author is Sandra Markle and the illustrator is Howard McWilliam, and we congratulate them on finding a hook and running with it.

Terri's random recommendation is twofold: First, the Big A## Calendar, which is currently organizing her life from its place on her office wall. But her second recommendation is to be more cautious with Facebook ads than she was. Think, and verify, before you buy!

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on monetary motivation for kids.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E11, "Cabin Fever" on Tuesday, January 27 * A Man on the Inside*, season 2, on Wednesday, January 28 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 29

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. The season finale wrapped everything up in a fairly tidy bow, even including a wedding (for Francis's mom). Overall, we enjoyed this show, even as it swung from silly to serious and back.

For next week, we'll binge all of season 2 of A Man on the Inside and discuss it on our Wednesday episode. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This was another Jack-is-a-mess episode, even though there was a brief period of things going well for him. But his bad dad came around to ruin it all, as he frequently does.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 11, "Cabin Fever." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book that made her chuckle and got us talking about the kids and pets we've named: The Terrible Meanings of Names: Or Why You Shouldn't Poke Your Giselle with a Barry, by Justin Cord Hayes.

Terri's random recommendation is the UPS app, because if you have an iPhone, you get a nifty widget that alerts you to the imminent arrival of all your packages.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on daily leaps of faith.

Next week's lineup: Lost S4 E10, "Something Nice Back Home" on Tuesday, January 20 * The Lowdown* S1 E8, "The Sensitive Kind," on Wednesday, January 21 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 22

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. As we might expect from the penultimate episode of the season, things are looking very bad for Lee, as he makes the very poor decision to confront Pastor Mark in his own church (right after messing things up with Francis). Mentioned: TV critic Alan Sepinwall, who announced that the show will be back for a second season.

Next Wednesday, we'll finish the season with season 1, episode 8, "The Sensitive Kind." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This Ben-centric episode gave us a face-to-face meeting of bad dads, as Ben paid Charles Widmore a visit. On the island, Locke's flock worked together to take care of Claire and Aaron, and Bernard showed off a new skill.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 10, "Something Nice Back Home." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a title from our former podcast pal from the About.com years, Kathy Ceceri. Her book The Silk Road: Explore the World's Most Famous Trade Route is one of her earlier publications, but it's still on library shelves. Catherine's also encountered other books from authors she knows at the library: My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula Freedman and My Neighbor Saw Me Naked: And Other Reasons You Need Drapesby Annie Elliott.

Terri's random recommendation is Taylor Swift: The End of an Era, the docuseries on Disney+. Watch if you're a Swiftie, or if you're curious about what happens behind the scenes of a production like the Eras tour. Mentioned: Shrinking season 3, coming soon.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on making New Year's resolutions for our families.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E9, "The Shape of Things to Come" on Tuesday, January 13 * The Lowdown* S1 E7, "Tulsa Turnaround," on Wednesday, January 14 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 15

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Like the previous episode, this one featured an amazing performance from a beloved actor, Graham Greene, but no Francis. Also like many previous episodes, it featured Lee making some very dumb decisions. We need him to shape up, soon! Mentioned: Paul Sparks as Pastor Mark.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 7, "Tulsa Turnaround." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Despite having seen this episode before, Terri had no recollection of it. It dropped a lot of exposition about what happened to Michael and Walt when they left the island (uh, nothing good), and ended with a tragedy for Alex, which we're guessing was all part of Ben's evil master plan.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 9, "The Shape of Things to Come." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is from the children's department, and introduces Terri to a current kid obsession, axolotls, with a picture book called Axolotl and Axolittle. It's a sibling tale by Jess Hitchman, with illustrations by Sarah Rebar.

Terri's random recommendation is also for your eyes and ears: a book, Future Boy, and an Audible series, The Film Makers. Mentioned: My Beloved: A Mitford Novel by Jan Karon.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022, Keeping Score on Family Squabbles.

We will be off for the next two weeks for the holidays, but walking down memory lane on our social media. When we return: Lost S4 E8, "Meet Kevin Johnson," on Tuesday, January 6 * The Lowdown* S1 E6, "Old Indian Trick," on Wednesday, January 7 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 8

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Lee's reprieve from beatings and fights was short-lived, as this episode brought an old frenemy back into his life and they quickly came to blows. We didn't see much of Francis in this episode (Lee finally listened to our advice to leave her out of his dangerous life), but in return, we got a wonderful performance from Peter Dinklage. Mentioned: The Station Agent, also starring Dinklage.

We're taking the next two weeks off for the holidays, so we'll continue with season 1, episode 6, "Old Indian Trick," on Wednesday, January 7. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode's format kept us fooled until the end: One character's story was told in flash-forwards, while another's was in flashbacks. Tricky! We also got more of Kate acting like a sassy teen, and a big reveal on the freighter.

We're taking a few weeks off for the holidays, so we'll continue with season 4, episode 8, "Meet Kevin Johnson," on Tuesday, January 6. Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a couple of titles that take inspiration from literary classics: Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Daniel M. Lavery (from 2014) and Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters, a recently published anthology of nine tales. Mentioned: The Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series.

Terri's random recommendation is Mystic Monk Coffee. Her shipment finally arrived, after taking a detour from New Jersey to New Hampshire and back again, and she's pleased with the flavors. (But also, someone stop her before she orders more coffee.)

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 on making kids' issues our own. Mentioned: "I Miss My Ex's Dad" from Saturday Night Live.

Next week's lineup: Lost S4 E7, "Ji Yeon," on Tuesday, December 16 * The Lowdown S1* E5, "This Land?," on Wednesday, December 17 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 18

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Lee makes it through this episode with no new bruises or broken bones, which is a first. And while Allen Murphy seems not to be a threat any longer, his yet-to-be-revealed boss certainly is. Mentioned: Ty Mitchell as Jimmy.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 5, "This Land?." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The previous episode, "The Constant," is a hard act to follow, and this one isn't really up to the job. It's best to look at it as an info dump to get us an inch or two closer to what we need to know. Sorry, Juliet, we know it's hard to be an Other! Mentioned: The Hoberman Sphere (the toy Terri likened to the ever-expanding romantic tanglements among the castaways and island-dwellers).

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 7, "Ji Yeon." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a pair of children's books for insect-lovers: Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs and Bugs by master balloon artist Masayoshi Matsumoto (who you can also check out on Instagram).

Terri's random recommendation is the flavored coffee sampler from Grounds & Hounds. If you hate flavored coffee, skip this one. But if you don't, you'll find the flavors tasty and the presentation gift-worthy.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on holiday requirements (hint: we have very few).

Next week's lineup: Lost S4 E6, "The Other Woman," on Tuesday, December 9 * The Lowdown* S1 E4, "Short on Cowboys," on Wednesday, December 10 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 11

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Per usual, Lee gets himself beaten up and captured by some bad guys, but this time, he charms them with his storytelling skills. Mentioned: Duster, another show where a precocious daughter tags along on dangerous missions.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 4, "Short on Cowboys." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. We've actually discussed this well-known and beloved episode before, in 2017, when Terri challenged Catherine to watch it. She liked it then and now, because you can appreciate the romance (and the need for a constant) even without having seen all that comes before.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 6, "The Other Woman." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2015. Enjoy!

Was your Thanksgiving happy? Did you eat a lot of traditional family foods? Did many of them involve cream-of-mushroom soup, marshmallows, or Jello? To start off this week's group chat, we run through the many possibilities for turkey-day cuisine and draw the line at the things we will not eat. Or will, enthusiastically! It's like the battle of the Tootsie Rolls all over again.

Next, we move on to the other big activity of this holiday weekend: trying to find good deals on holiday gifts. Do we rush out and elbow folks at the Walmart for the best deal on a big-screen TV, or do we hide at home with our computers and cybershop? We discuss the merits of online versus standing-on-line shopping, strategies for holiday cards and gift cards, how early in the year it's acceptable to care about this stuff, and the impossibility of shopping for spouses.

Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week: Catherine suggests consulting her Round 3 podcast with grandparenting expert Susan Adcox on gift-giving issues; Terri mentioned our episode of Libsyn's Thanks, Podcasting! podcast; Amanda recommended an article on 8 Ways to Help Your Child With Food Sensitivities Enjoy the Holidays; and Nicole enjoyed reading about how sweet-potato casserole came to be.

Thanks to Jon Morin for producing this episode and to Kristen Eredics for our happy in-and-out music.

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2017. Enjoy!

Cyber Monday Shopping: Will we be proactive about replacing things that are about to break or just keep clinging to them because we fear change?

Make It a Habit: We have a checkered history when it comes to habit-forming. Does it count if we're good at creating the same good habits over and over again?

Speed Round: We Can't Remember: What was it we were going to talk about? It must be written down here somewhere. (Mentioned: Google Inbox's snooze feature.)

Roundabout Roundup: Catherine is using dinner prep kits from her local supermarket, while Nicole is using Instacart to have the market come to her. And Terri's feeling productive with the Tide app.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Preschoolers' Fears Explained; pre-order Nicole's book at Brookes Publishing and save 10% with the code Eredics; fun and shareable quotes from the podcast on Facebook.

Thanks to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music.

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 25, 2016. Enjoy!
On this week's group chat, we talk about special-occasion pressure, discuss the start of the holiday shopping season on our Friday speed round, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, take a quiz about table manners, and do some shameless self-promotion. Here's your road map to the episode:

Holiday Downsizing — Extended family all loving and rosy-cheeked around a food-stacked table is a heartwarming image, but the fact of it sometimes gives us heartburn. We talk about the pressure — external and internal — to have a portrait-worthy holiday and our attempts to bring expectations down to snapshot size.

Speed Round: Do You Shop on Black Friday? — Some folks can't wait to hit the stores for bargains, some would rather jump off a cliff than go fight strangers for sales items, and some find the whole idea of making Thanksgiving weekend all about commerce offensive. Turns out, we're not quite any of those.

Parenting Roundabout Roundup — Terri enjoys just looking at the homepage loop for the time-tracking site toggl (click on the little speaker in the corner for the perfect accompanying music); Catherine enjoyed a roundup of Fitness Marshall dance videos on Buzzfeed; and Nicole appreciated an article about coaches.

A Well-Mannered Quiz — In place of our usual interview segment, Catherine came up with a quiz about etiquette rules for children that may have you using your napkin in a whole new way.

Shameless Self-Promotion — Terri shared a special-needs version of the "Would You Rather" meme; Catherine offered some help on dealing with sports parent burnout; and Nicole will have an article up on the Friendship Circle blog any time now.

Thanks to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a series of picture books by Helen Lester starring the disheveled but lovable Tacky the Penguin. Plus, a middle-grade read called The Curse of the Werepenguin by Allan Woodrow.

Terri's random recommendation has come, once again, from the Facebook Reels algorithm. It's the That Was Us podcast, a This Is Us rewatch podcast hosted by actors Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan.

Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode (week 10, the semi-finals).

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019, Parenting Let-Downs.

Next week, we'll be off for Thanksgiving, but will be sharing some of our past turkey-themed chats on social media. After that, we'll return to our regular lineup:
Lost S4 E5, "The Constant," on Tuesday, December 2 * The Lowdown* S1 E3, "Dinosaur Memories" on Wednesday, December 3 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 4

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. The show has great casting and writing, even if the plot is a bit hard to follow (that's why Lee needs a big ol' murder board to keep track of it all). Mentioned: Scott Shepherd as menacing, fleece vest-wearing Allen Murphy.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 3, "Dinosaur Memories." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode was a great big fakeout leading to the reveal of another member of the Oceanic Six. Also, Ben's facial trauma makeup artist is back, and Ben still knows how to get Locke's goat. Mentioned: "You gotta see the baby!" on Seinfeld.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 5, "The Constant." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is Seriously Good Chili Cookbook: 177 of the Best Recipes in the World, which prompted a look at other celebrities who've published cookbooks (and a shout-out to their savvy publicists and unsung ghostwriters). Mentioned: Kevin spills the chili on The Office and the 2010 Primetime Emmys opening number.

Terri's random recommendation is her daughter's new employer, Chick-fil-A! Get yourself some waffle fries to celebrate. Mentioned: "Chick-fil-A (...But It's Sunday)" from Bobby Bones.

Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode (week 9, celebrating the show's 20th birthday).

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019, Parenting Do-Overs. Mentioned: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E4, "Eggtown," on Tuesday, November 18 * The Lowdown* S1 E2, "The Devil's Mama" on Wednesday, November 19 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 20

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and as of this week, that's The Lowdown. It stars Ethan Hawke as the kind of person whose mouth (and pen; he's a journalist of sorts) often gets him punched in the face. He does have a smart and savvy daughter who, so far, doesn't want to injure him. Mentioned: Duster, Perry Mason, Alan Sepinwall's review of this episode.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 2, "The Devil's Mama." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This mostly flash-forward episode identified another one of the Oceanic Six and showed us yet another way that Ben has found to torture the castaways. On the island: Love triangle! Sneaky deal-making! A secret room full of passports and cash!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 4, "Eggtown." Tomorrow, we'll kick off our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a pair of twisty, plot-filled novels. She recommends them both: A Very Inconvenient Scandal by Jacquelyn Mitchard and All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman.

Terri's random recommendation is another book: A memoir by TV and film producer Ed Zwick called Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood.

Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. Mentioned: Mournful covers of "Hey Ya," "Take on Me," and "Love Shack."

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In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021, Parent Saving Time.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E3, "The Economist," on Tuesday, November 11 * The Lowdown S1* E1, "Pilot" on Wednesday, November 12 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 13

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This was the season finale, so per usual, the murders were solved, and another body was discovered. While the show has drifted from its original focus, it's still an enjoyable watch, as long as you don't care about logic or a plot that hangs together.

Next Wednesday, we'll kick off a new watch:The Lowdown on Hulu. It comes from Sterlin Harjo, who also created Reservation Dogs, another show we enjoyed very much.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we get four new characters (there have been some deaths; it was time to restock), along with flashbacks for all of them. Plus, the brief and somewhat triumphant return of Vincent the dog.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 3, "The Economist." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is an important addition in the field of Teaching Children Through Scatological Humor: It's the third Butt or Face book, Butt or Face 3: Super Gross Butts.

Terri's random recommendation is on vacation this week as Catherine reports on her recent trip to Venice, Italy!

Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's Halloween episode.
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In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021, Feelings About Fundraisers.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E2, "Confirmed Dead," on Tuesday, November 4 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E10, "The House Always..." on Wednesday, November 5 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 6

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. Since we missed discussing the show last week, we doubled up this time and covered E8, "Cuckoo Chicks," and E9, "LESTR." These featured some fun scenes, but we're still scratching our heads over the mystery itself. Best to just enjoy the actors and let the plot wash over you. Mentioned: The official OMITB podcast, hosted by Michael Cyril Creighton.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss the season 5 finale of Only Murders in the Building. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we're flashing forward with Hurley, whose post-island life seems pretty similar to his pre-island life, in several meaningful ways. Meanwhile, on the island, the castaways are splitting into factions, making for some interesting combinations. Mentioned: Lance Reddick as newly introduced baddie (? unconfirmed, seems like a safe assumption) Matthew Abaddon.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 2, "Confirmed Dead." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is what her library calls "Boomerang Books." These are titles that aren't cataloged and can't be checked out. You can just borrow them for as long as you need them, then bring them back for the next person to enjoy. Mentioned: Beach Read by Emily Henry, Little Free Libraries.

Terri's random recommendation is Dancing with the Stars-themed this week. She suggests checking out the DWTS episodes of celebrity contestant Danielle Fishel's podcast, Pod Meets World, as well as the official DWTS podcast, hosted by last season's winner, Joey Graziadei. And of course, you can hear our thoughts every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's Wicked-themed episode.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 that asked, Should Teens Trick-or-Treat?.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S4 E1, "The Beginning of the End," on Tuesday, October 28 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E8 and E9 on Wednesday, October 29 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 30

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Usually on Wednesdays, we discuss a newer entertainment property. But since yesterday's Lost episode was tantalizingly close to the end of season 3, we decided to bump Only Murders in the Building and devote today's chat to the two-hour season 3 finale, "Through the Looking Glass." People die, people almost die, people seem to be dead but aren't really dead. People seem to be in the past when they're in the future. People seem to be on Team Ben or Team Jack or Team Anyone But Those Two. We're still waiting to untangle this web of motivation and allegiances, so on to season 4!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 1, "The Beginning of the End." And next Wednesday, we'll return to Only Murders in the Building for season 5, episodes 8 and 9. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we actually get a series of pretty happy flashbacks to the "greatest hits" of Charlie's life. Of course, this is because he's resigned himself to his fate, which is to die to save Claire, Aaron, and the rest of his friends. Plus: Complicated plans are put in place for the big season finale.

Tomorrow, we'll finish season 3 with episode 22, "Through the Looking Glass." Next Tuesday, we'll kick off season 4 with "The Beginning of the End," and return to Only Murders in the Building the following day (Wednesday, 10/29).

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a fun, funny, and punny spooky season pick: Stompie the Zombie by Margery Cuyler, with adorable illustrations by Binny Talib.

Terri's random recommendation is a little album you may have heard about called The Life of a Showgirl. Once you realize it's all about snappy, poppy, danceable tunes, you'll fall in love.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on old moms learning new tricks.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E21, "Greatest Hits," on Tuesday, October 21 * Lost S3 E22, "Through the Looking Glass," on Wednesday, October 22 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 23

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. While we have mostly lost patience with the mystery here, there are still some entertaining moments, such as a payoff for Oliver's years of name-dropping. Mentioned: Actors Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker and the movie Trading Places.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss Lost's season 3 finale. We'll return to Only Murders in the Building in two weeks with S5, E8 and E9. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we get our first look at Ben's backstory. Would you be surprised to learn that he, too, had a Bad Dad? Mentioned: Actors Carrie Preston (as Ben's mom, Emily; she's Michael Emerson's wife in real life) and John Gries as that bad dad.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 21, "Greatest Hits," and we'll follow that up with the season finale, "Through the Looking Glass," next Wednesday. Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a podcast, recommended to her by a library coworker, called If Books Could Kill. Mentioned: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, The Anxious Generation, Blink, He's Just Not That Into You (and its movie version).

Terri's random recommendation, speaking of books, is the Barnes & Noble premium membership, which gets you lots of discounts and the all-important tote bag.

Bonus content: Dancing with the Stars week 4, "Disney Night."

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on future planning for young adults.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E20, "The Man Behind the Curtain," on Tuesday, October 14 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E7 on Wednesday, October 15 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 16

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This week's episode took a Lost turn by showing us flashbacks from Oliver's formative years in Brooklyn. Plus, Meryl Streep returns, after a fire in Loretta's apartment that is hand-waved away much too quickly. We're sure it will be back.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 5, episode 7. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we finally find out how Locke's dad got to the island, and what's going to happen to him there. Since he's one of Lost's many Bad Dads, it's not going to go well.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 20, "The Man Behind the Curtain." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a parenting book that at least acknowledges how tough a road some of us have. It's called Advanced Parenting, by pediatrician Kelly Fradin, MD. Mentioned: Library patron reviews of Deadpool vs. Wolverine; the 2005 movie Just Like Heaven.

Terri's random recommendation is Solitaired, your source for a quick, brain-building game whenever you need a little break from your work. Mentioned: one sec.

Bonus content: Dancing with the Stars week 4, "TikTok Night."

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on parenting independent kids (titled "Grow Up! No, Don't!").

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E19, "The Brig" (and DWTS chat on YouTube after the show airs) on Tuesday, October 7 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E6, "Flatbush," on Wednesday, October 8 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 9

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This episode gave us the (brief) return of Da'Vine Joy Randolph's Detective Williams, and a further justification for tracking family members on their phones. Mentioned: The official OMITB podcast.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 5, episode 6, "Flatbush." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this episode, we question the healthcare facilities available on the island, as well as the need for yet another hour of TV reminding us that people keep lying to Jin.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 19, "The Brig." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find, Carrot Creatures: Make Your Own, came from the children's department, but we have concerns. Mentioned: So You Want to Be a Chef and The Jazzy Vegetarian.

Terri's random recommendation is our coverage of the current season of Dancing with the Stars, recorded immediately after the episodes air on Tuesdays and available on YouTube. Here's week 2, "One-Hit Wonders Night."

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on parenting hotlines we could use.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E18, "D.O.C." (and DWTS chat on YouTube after the show airs) on Tuesday, September 30 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E5, "Tongue Tied," on Wednesday, October 1 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 2

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. Last week, we complained about the schtick level, and now we have issues with the plausibility level, as the trio laughably escapes the billionaires' attention in the Velvet Room and then falls for an obviously bad business deal without a second thought. Mentioned: "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?" (the patter song from season 3).

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "Tongue Tied." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this episode, we identify with Desmond's struggles to both predict the outcomes of his actions and bear the responsibility of keeping Charlie alive.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 18, "D.O.C." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building, season 5, episode 4, "Dirty Birds."

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find has a title that got her fuming: The Joy of Half a Cookie by Jean Keristeller with Alisa Bowman. It's meant to be a diet book that uses mindfulness and meditation techniques to promote weight loss. We think it would be much more joyful to just eat an entire cookie.

Terri's random recommendation is a return to a previous pick, the one sec app. It's now added a website-blocker feature to its previous offering, a website-delayer, which turned out to be not enough to deter Terri from her Facebook video clips.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 on raising our canine kids. Mentioned: Bluey, the cartoon dog, who is a blue heeler.

Bonus content!: Check out our 15-minute recap of Dancing with the Stars, recorded immediately after the season premiere on Tuesday.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E17, "Catch-22," on Tuesday, September 23 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E4, "Dirty Birds," on Wednesday, September 24 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 25

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. The start of season 5 was uneven: The shtick dial was turned up way too high in episodes 1 and 3, but episode 2 was a lovely look at Lester's life at the Arconia. Mentioned: Tony Plana (playing the doorman who mentored Lester) as grandfather Berto on the 2017 remake of One Day at a Time.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "Dirty Birds." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode continues to ask the same questions that have been brought up frequently already: Is Juliet "one of us," the castaways? Is she a victim or a victimizer? Might she be both?!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 17, "Catch-22." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of a newer show, Only Murders in the Building, season 5, episode 4, "Dirty Birds."

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a new nonfiction release that sounds like a novel, with a cranky, quirky female protagonist solving crimes. It's The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.

Terri's random recommendation is Dancing with the Stars season 34, which premieres on September 16. Every season, she decides whether or not to tune in based on who the "stars" are, and she's interested in a few this time. We won't be covering all the episodes here on the podcast as we have in the past, but check our social media for quick reactions.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on what happens when Mama Bear comes out of hibernation.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E16, "One of Us," on Tuesday, September 16 * Only Murders in the Building* S5 E1 on Wednesday, September 17 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 18

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. The season wrapped up with a plot-packed episode: Emergency, anesthetic-free surgery; two balls; a marriage proposal; a pregnancy reveal; and two Russell men tanking their relationships for questionable reasons. Mentioned: "It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton.

Next Wednesday, we'll return to another of our Manhattan-based faves. Only Murders in the Building returns for season 5! We'll watch the first three episodes (thereafter, we'll watch one a week). We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Did we need more details about Kate's backstory and how it tangentially intersected with Sawyer's? Not really, but that's what we got, plus a hint of Juliet's duplicity.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 16, "One of Us." Tomorrow, we'll wrap up our discussion of a newer show, The Gilded Age.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a (negative) patron review of Deadpool vs. Wolverine, which was seconded by another patron. While you shouldn't leave bookmarks, personal items, garbage, or messages in your returned library materials, your library workers do secretly love the messages.

Terri's random recommendation is a little piece of news that maybe you missed: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged, following her delightful appearance on the Kelce brothers' New Heights podcast.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on quiet quitting as a parent.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E15, "Left Behind," on Tuesday, September 9 * The Gilded Age S3 E8, "My Mind Is Made Up," on Wednesday, September 10 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 11

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. In this episode, some people are learning that gossip doesn't pay, and others that enemies can be lurking behind every door. Mentioned: HBO's Gilded Age podcast.

Next Wednesday, we'll finish season 3 with episode 8, "My Mind Is Made Up." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this entirely pointless episode, we got the backstory (and the current story) of Nikki and Paulo, two characters we only met a few weeks ago and don't care about in the slightest. Watching it was an exercise in practicing patience, as parents have to do a lot.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 15, "Left Behind." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Gilded Age.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is for all you Janeites who are also fiber artists. It's called Austentatious Crochet: 36 Contemporary Designs from the World of Jane Austen by Melissa Horozewski. Mentioned: The Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series.

Terri's random recommendation is graciously stepping aside this week so Catherine can report on her trip to Scotland and England (speaking of the world of Jane Austen!). She visited London, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, where she attended performances at both the International Festival and the Fringe Festival—including one from Laura Benanti, of The Gilded Age and Broadway fame.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on parenting through the (kids') ages. It's hard all the time!

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E14, "Exposé," on Tuesday, September 2 * The Gilded Age* S3 E7, "Ex-Communicated," on Wednesday, September 3 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 4

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. In this episode, Bertha crosses an ocean to help her daughter. She wisely does so by coaching Gladys to taste victory, knowing that's all her girl needs. Peggy should take notes, because she's going to need these techniques soon.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 7, "Ex-Communicated." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, Ben's manipulative skills and Locke's sad-sackery and poor decisions were on full display. The result: A submarine blew up. Oops!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 14, "Exposé." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Gilded Age.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. And Duchess Gladys isn't the only one in a different world. Jack's navigating the milieu of the newly rich, Ada's visiting the spirit realm, and Larry's lighting out for the wild west.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 6, "If You Want to Cook an Omelette." The weekly roundup is on vacation this week, so we'll be back next Tuesday with Lost (season 3, episode 13, "The Man from Tallahassee").

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode showed us that some castaways have not just daddy issues, but also mommy issues. Poor Claire! We also draw a parallel between Desmond's ability to see the future and the worries that come with being a parent. Mentioned: Lostpedia.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 13, "The Man From Tallahassee." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Gilded Age.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently that's The Gilded Age. This episode's crisis was the will-they-or-won't-they wedding of Gladys to the Duke of Buckingham. But if you know Bertha, we think you know how this turns out. Mentioned: Recaps at the Drinks with Broads Substack.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 5, "A Different World." Our weekly roundup is off this week, so join us back here next Tuesday for Lost (season 3, episode 12, "Par Avion").

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, Locke makes some bad decisions (no surprise here), Sayid is tortured by his past (again, familiar), and we predict, correctly, that Sawyer's bravado will come back to bite him.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 12, "Par Avion." Tomorrow, we'll continue with our discussion of The Gilded Age.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is her response to Terri's challenge: Are there etiquette books for children? You better believe there are, with options from dinosaurs and SpongeBob to Clifford and American Girl; and of course, there's a book specifically about manners related to passing gas. Also mentioned: 365 Manners Kids Should Know and Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf.

Terri's random recommendation is Rhythm and Beat, a shop selling fun music-themed t-shirts including the Things We Did shirt and the My Brain Is Like 80% Song Lyrics shirt (see last week's roundup for a demonstration of how accurate that is). Mentioned: Ridiculously cheap Fountains of Wayne t-shirts, Summerfest.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2018 called Pet Patrol. Mentioned: ChuckIt! ball launcher.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E11, "Enter 77," on Tuesday, August 12 * The Gilded Age S3 E4, "Marriage Is a Gamble," on Wednesday, August 13 * Weekly roundup: On vacation until August 28

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. It's true that love is never easy (for Larry/Marian, Peggy/Hot Doctor, and more), but of course, Bertha gets her way when it comes to her daughter's marriage plans. Mentioned: Actor Andrew Garman, who played the father of another potential duchess and was also in The Holdovers.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 4, "Marriage Is a Gamble." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. And this episode, for everyone except Tricia Tanaka, was a lot of fun (which we sorely needed). While we did learn that Hurley has daddy issues—who doesn't, on this island?—we also got to see the power of a joyride to make life feel a little less heavy.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 11, "Enter 77." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of The Gilded Age.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is another of the parenting books we love to hate (or at least find fault with). It's called Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff. Mentioned: Similar "other cultures have this figured out" books on French, Danish, and broadly Scandinavian parenting.

Terri's random recommendation is a few earworms she generously shares with us: First, a song about pronouncing Rob McElhenney's name (mentioned on our Lost recap two weeks ago), for which we can thank Ryan Reynolds; "Ben Franklin's Song," by the Decembrists from Hamildrops; and "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road," by Loudon Wainwright III. Mentioned: A New York Times article about McElhenney's show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on life's many pressures.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E 10, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead,” on Tuesday, August 5 * The Gilded Age S3 E3, "Love Is Never Easy," on Wednesday, August 6 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 7

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Gilded Age. "What the Papers Say" is that Gladys is going to marry the duke, so her attempted elopement with Billy Carlton comes to a very abrupt end. No one is going to cross Bertha on this topic, not even railroad tycoon George. Thankfully, it seems that Peggy's illness and Oscar's poverty will also be coming to a quick end, although no one in their home will be able to celebrate with an adult beverage. Mentioned: Recaps at Drinks with Broads, the newsletter from the Fug Girls.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 3, "Love Is Never Easy." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode, we learn from Lostpedia, is considered one of the worst of the series, and was inspired by actor Matthew Fox's own tattoos. The creators admitted that this was because they were "desperate for flashback stories." We could tell. But we did manage to wring some parenting advice out of it!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 10, "Tricia Tanaka Is Dead." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Gilded Age.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a Lucky Day pick called West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. It's based-on-a-true-story historical fiction, which is right up her alley, and maybe yours too. Mentioned: The audiobook version, the history of the San Diego Zoo (toward which the giraffes of the title are traveling).

Terri's random recommendation is an audiobook enhanced by its narrator's performance: Life's Work by TV creator David Milch (of John from Cincinnati, NYPD Blue, Deadwood, and others), narrated by Michael Harney. Mentioned: Butler by Salena Zito, audiobooks narrated by Simon Jones of The Gilded Age.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on iffy etiquette.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E9, "Stranger in a Strange Land," on Tuesday, July 29 * The Gilded Age* S3 E1, "What the Papers Say," on Wednesday, July 30 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 31

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and we've now traveled back in time to The Gilded Age with the first episode of season 3. The battles for control of the title refer to the Ada/Agnes household, the Fane marriage, the Russell marriage, and of course the Russell mother and daughter, as we set up the game pieces for the season. We're ready!

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 3, episode 2, "What the Papers Say." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, we're mostly off the island, learning more about Desmond--who is both flashing back and flashing forward. It's confusing. Plus, Bad Dad Charles Widmore makes another appearance.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 9, "Stranger in a Strange Land." Tomorrow, The Gilded Age is back, and we'll discuss season 3, episode 1, "Who Is in Charge Here?"

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is another for our scatology shelf: It combines farts (hilarious) with Where's Waldo-style search and find illustrations. She encountered Who Farted?, but reports that Find the Farter is also an option, should you need more than one of these titles.

Terri's random recommendation is a shout-out to central air conditioning. After living without it for several days, she's appreciating it now and wants to make sure we all do, if we're lucky enough to have it.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on the emptying nest.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E8, "Flashes Before Your Eyes," on Tuesday, July 22 * The Gilded Age S3 E1, "Who Is in Charge Here?," on Wednesday, July 23 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 24

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. This episode was nothing but parenting, with kids trying to avenge their parents, parents sacrificing for their kids, and everybody using those family relationships against everybody else. And, of course, a couple of shoot-outs. This was far from a perfect show, and we're not too put out that it won't be back for a second season. But it was a good time and an enjoyable reunion with Josh Holloway. Mentioned: A past (really past--2015) episode where we talked about parenting in a health crisis, such as cancer.

Next Wednesday, we'll return to The Gilded Age with season 3, episode 1, "Who Is in Charge Here?" We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, we finally get some variety in our flashbacks: We're checking in with the Juliet of a few years ago and finding out how she ended up on Other Island (which is not, in fact, Portland or anywhere near it). Not mentioned, but relevant: This video Ryan Reynolds made to explain how to pronounce Rob McElhenney's name; McElhenney shows up briefly in this episode.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 8, "Flashes Before Your Eyes." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Duster.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a novel by Elinor Lipman: Every Tom, Dick & Harry. She picked it up because she remembered enjoying the author's previous works... and then didn't recognize a single thing on her website. No matter. because she enjoyed this one! Mentioned: Books by Linda Holmes.

Terri's random recommendation is a new Peanuts datebook that's going to transform her life and make her organized and productive. Or if not, it will at least look cute. Mentioned: Artful Agenda, Trello, the Ugmonk Analog System, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and The Gospel According to Peanuts.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on telling parenting like it is.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E7, "Not in Portland," on Tuesday, July 15 * Duster* S1 E8, "'66 Reno Split, on Wednesday, July 16 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 17

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. And what's a show set in the '70s without both Watergate and Howard Hughes? Terri's having flashbacks as if she were on Lost. We also discover here that Luna is both subject to TV trope (kid stowing away in trunk of car) and actually kind of a good partner to Jim.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 8, "'66 Reno Split." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Here, we found out some of the lengths people will go to for love (or passion): They'll marry a cop even though they're a fugitive, for example, or withhold very crucial pieces of information, or purposely nick a patient's kidney with a scalpel.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 7, "Not in Portland." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Duster.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is another nonfiction series about animals for kids. But this time, instead of arguing about which animal would win in a fight, we are arguing about which baby animal is the cutest.

Terri's random recommendation is your local small parking-lot carnival. She can't vouch for the safety of the rides, but the people-watching and bad-for-you food are sure to be top-notch.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on supporting stressed-out kids.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E6, "I Do," on Tuesday, July 8 * Duster S1 E7, "K-129, on Wednesday, July 9 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 10

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. Highly recognizable FBI agent Nina is now undercover, and that goes about as well as you'd expect. Plus, this week's TV trope: A character who's been told that he must avoid alcohol is forced to drink vodka with some scary Russians.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 7, "K-129." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this Eko-flashback episode, it was another day on the island, another goodbye to a cast member, and another round of mind games. So, about what we've come to expect from Lost.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 6, "I Do." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Duster.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is an introduction to a longstanding, popular series: The Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries by Louise Penny. She checked out the first one, Still Life, and found it to be a good balance of "cozy" and "mystery."

Terri's random recommendation is Waffle, a time-wasting daily word game that doesn't waste too much time, making it a nice little mid-day break.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on whether, as parents, we should have known better.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S3 E5, "The Cost of Living," on Tuesday, July 1 * Duster* S1 E6, "Meet by the Clothes, on Wednesday, July 2 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 3

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. The tension is ratcheting up as Nina meets with Sax in person, Jim drags his dad (hi, Corbin Bernsen) into the mix, and Nixon shows up (it's 1972, in case you forgot). Plus, the old TV chestnut: Jim makes, and then breaks, a promise to a kid.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 6, "Meet by the Clothes." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we return once again to a Sawyer flashback, which tells us that "con men gonna con." What a shock! On the island (or islands!), we get another introduction to Paulo (theoretically here all along) and whaddya know, Desmond can see into the future.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 5, "The Cost of Living." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Duster.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a series of non-fiction books for kids that finds new and clever ways to teach history and science. We agree that You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy and You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Gravity, but we're living just fine without video games, thank you very much.

Terri's random recommendation is a report from her annual trip to the New Jersey State Special Olympics, which featured good times and very good dogs.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on anti-dopamine parenting.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E4, "Every Man for Himself," on Tuesday, June 24 * Duster S1 E5, "Ravishing Light and Glory, on Wednesday, June 25 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, June 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. We're sensing a pattern here: Jim keeps escaping from immediate danger, but the coming consequences are piling up. Please stay away from little Luna until things improve, Jim!!

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 5, "Ravishing Light and Glory." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we flashed back once again to the sad life of John Locke, understanding yet again why life on a very weird deserted island is an improvement for him.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 4, "Every Man for Himself." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Duster.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book that frankly made us tired: Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios by Lisa Bedford. Can't we leave this to the survival dads? Mentioned: How to Survive History: How to Outrun a Tyrannosaurus, Escape Pompeii, Get Off the Titanic, and Survive the Rest of History's Deadliest Catastrophes by Cody Cassidy and a past discussion on how we'd do in a zombie apocalypse (hint: not well).

Terri's random recommendation is a comedy special from Brett Goldstein, of Ted Lasso and Shrinking. It's called The Second-Best Night of Your Life and we both enjoyed it, although we'd slap a content warning on it for profanity (this is Roy Kent, after all). Mentioned: Goldstein telling Seth Meyers about how he got his role in Ted Lasso.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on laws of parenting.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E3, "Further Instructions," on Tuesday, June 17 * Duster S1 E4 on Wednesday, June 18 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, June 19

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Duster. For a violent show about organized crime, it's yielding a surprising amount of parenting advice and family dramas. Mentioned: Brian Grubb on Duster.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 4, "Crimunalis Velocitus Super-Sonicus." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, sweet, caring Sun was shown to be capable of many nefarious things, from lying to adultery to homicide. Sawyer comes up with another nickname for Kate, and Jack learns a truly shocking fact from the world outside the island. Mentioned: Some of our past discussions about motivating kids.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 3, "Further Instructions." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show (starring our old friend Josh Holloway), Duster.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a series of early chapter books by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen about "purrmaids," characters that are half kitten, half mermaid—and a spinoff about mermicorns, because don't all kids love kittens, mermaids and unicorns?

Terri's random recommendation is a double dose of stories about Saturday Night Live. She listened to two short audiobooks: May You Live in Interesting Times: A Memoir, by Laraine Newman, and Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude, by Dan Aykroyd. Mentioned: Saturday Night, Ladies and Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (especially the opening montage), and the debt snowball/debt avalanche techniques.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on mom strikes.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E2, "The Glass Ballerina," on Tuesday, June 10 * Duster S1 E3, "You're No Good," on Wednesday, June 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, June 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

None

May You Live in Interesting Times: A Memoir

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and today we're kicking off a new watch. Duster is a '70s period piece with a cast full of familiar faces, starting from the top with Josh "Sawyer" Holloway. Will we get parenting tips from a show about a guy mixed up in organized crime and the FBI agent who recruits him as an informant? We will! Mentioned: IMDB (helpful in identifying those familiar faces).

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with episode 3. "You're No Good." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. It's a new season, with a new setting and a bunch of new characters, so of course the flashbacks tread some very familiar ground. Jack has daddy issues! We get it!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 2, "The Glass Ballerina." Tomorrow, we'll kick off a new watch (with Lost roots, in the form of JJ Abrams and Josh Holloway): Duster.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is Libby, an app that she uses to borrow audiobooks. She knew it could also be used for e-books, but was thrilled to find that you can also find print magazines on the app. Get behind that paywall with a library card!

Terri's random recommendation is almost two hours of new music from Morgan Wallen, on an album called "I'm the Problem." Mentioned: Disney Peaceful Guitar tunes on her instrumental playlist.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on mementos of the teen years.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S3 E1, "A Tale of Two Cities," on Tuesday, June 3 * Duster S1 E1, "Baltimore Changes Everything," and E2, "Suspicious Minds," on Wednesday, June 4 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, June 5

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. This season finale gave us some nice sibling moments, especially with Jackie, but also some highly predictable and annoying sitcom developments. Will we re-sign for season 2? That's going to depend on what else is on. Mentioned: The season 2 finale of Shrinking.

Next Wednesday, we'll kick off a new show, one that reunites JJ Abrams and Josh "Sawyer" Holloway: Duster, on HBO Max. We'll start with the first two episodes, "Baltimore Changes Everything" and "Suspicious Minds." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This two-hour season finale was packed full of story, lore, old and new characters, plot developments, and general weirdness. If it weren't for Lostpedia, we'd really be... lost.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 3, episode 1, "A Tale of Two Cities." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find commanded her attention thanks to its subtitle. It's The Minimum Method: The Least You Can Do to Be a Stronger, Healthier, Happier You by Joey Thurman. Hard to say no to that!

Terri's random recommendation this week switches things up by introducing an Internet conundrum. Can anyone explain this phenomenon to her?

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on improving the parent portal.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E23 and E24, "Live Together, Die Alone," on Tuesday, May 27 * Running Point S1 E10, "Game Seven," on Wednesday, May 28 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 29

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. While we couldn't help but be charmed by Sandy's romantic gesture (it involved Taylor Swift), we were frustrated by the entirely predictable sitcom move of Lev breaking up with Isla. She tried! Mentioned: The Wedding Singer scene that inspired Sandy and hey, that's Macauley Culkin!

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 10, "Game Seven," the season finale. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, Michael tries to play the Dad Card ("I'm the dad, so I get to decide") while also being shamed for not knowing much about his kid. It's not going to go well for him. Mentioned: A Design Mom argument on how dads can really protect their kids (hint: they don't need guns).

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episodes 23 and 24, "Live Together, Die Alone" (the two-part season finale). Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a Wordle-based romance called A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James, who we congratulate for hopping on a trend. Mentioned: Previous find Cutting Teeth and identifying a Hallmark movie with AI.

Terri's random recommendation is a new EP from one of her faves, HARDY. It's called Country!, in case you forgot that he was a country artist (given his other recent output). Mentioned: "Hide My Gun" from Post Malone.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on how strict our parenting rules are.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S2 E22, "Three Minutes," on Tuesday, May 20 * Running Point* S1 E9, "The Playoffs," on Wednesday, May 21 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 22

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. We love Kate Hudson's performance here, but struggle with the predictable sitcom plots. We protest any trouble in Isla's relationship. Let her keep her very nice fiancé!

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 9, "The Playoffs." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, the title of which is indeed simply a punctuation mark, a lot of dreams and a few flashbacks led us to... another hatch, which spies on the original hatch. And in more magic-island evidence, this hatch has a working printer.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 22, "Three Minutes." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is from the category of "passive-aggressive board books that are really not for babies" (and the subcategory of "children's books by celebrities or celebrity-adjacent people"). It's Let's Put That Away: My First Book of Organizing by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit, with (adorable!) illustrations from Hsinping Pan. Mentioned: Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship by Marie Kondo.

Terri's random recommendation is an app for writers called, simply, Writer; it offers a stripped-down, old-school, black-and-green interface to help you write away distraction-free. Mentioned: Olivetti by Allie Millington.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 in which we discussed our favorite quotes about motherhood. Mentioned: Overwhelmed mom quotes from This Modern Mess.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E21, "?," on Tuesday, May 13 * Running Point S1 E8, "The Streak," on Wednesday, May 14 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 15

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. We continue to enjoy the performances here, and many of the jokes, but think the writers are consulting the sitcom tropes playbook a bit too often. Mentioned: Joe Mande, a writer and producer on both The Good Place and Parks & Rec; Shrinking.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 8, "The Streak." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The "two" of the title might refer to the unlikely pairing of Ana Lucia and Jack's father, Christian Shephard, or to the two castaways who lose their lives in the shocking final minutes of the episode.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 21, "?." (That's not a typo.) Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a picture book called Bear in a Bathrobe by Maddie Frost. Check out the cover to see the bathrobe—and the matching ice skates. Mentioned: Back After This by Linda Holmes.

Terri's random recommendation is a qualified plug for the AeroPress coffee maker, which works well under specific circumstances.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019, reporting on the critters in our lives.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E20, "Two for the Road," on Tuesday, May 6 * Running Point S1 E7, "A Special Place in Hell," on Wednesday, May 7 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 8

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. This episode had the entirely predictable sitcom move of "angry rant is recorded and broadcast," as well as the now-common for this show move of "Marcus saves the day." Mentioned: Grizz and Dot Com on 30 Rock, Councilman Jamm on Parks & Rec, and Take Your Child to Work Day.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 7, "A Special Place in Hell." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode gave us Rose and Bernard's story (turns out, Bernard is ... a lot) and showed us that Rose and Locke have something in common. Meanwhile, pieces are being put into place for a confrontation with the Others as the end of the season draws nearer. Mentioned: Michael Emerson (who plays Not-Henry Gale) on his wife Carrie Preston's show, Elsbeth, and his own show, Person of Interest.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 20, "Two for the Road." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is The Wedding People, a novel by Alison Espach that's circulating heavily at her library and lived up to the hype. Mentioned: The movie Elizabethtown.

Terri's random recommendation is a writer she's shouted out before, Brian Grubb. This time, he's got a take on Reacher that delighted both Terri and her husband. If you haven't watched the show, here's a scene to give you a taste.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2018 on sharing, and when it's OK not to.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E19, "S.O.S.," on Tuesday, April 29 * Running Point S1 E6, "The Yips," on Wednesday, April 30 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 1

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. This episode brought us the inevitable falling-into-a-pool-in-formalwear moment (three out of five Gordons), which is definitely some kind of sitcom law. And though raised by a single mom, Jackie shows he's savvy enough to play Mom against Dad, or in this case, brother against brother. Mentioned: Retta and Ike Barinholtz praising Max Greenfield's dance moves on Good Hang with Amy Poehler.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 6, "The Yips." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode was nothing but sad, as we flashed back to Hurley's time in a psychiatric hospital and learned more about who was (and wasn't) there with him.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 19, "S.O.S." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a series of children's early chapter books starring a rat named Ratnip. And yes, there's one about a slice of pizza.

Terri's random recommendation this week is a celebrity podcast. We'd only do this for Amy Poehler! Mentioned: The Afterparty and the Parks & Recollection podcast.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2016 (!) on the parenting finish line. Mentioned: Our discussion on how to define "young adult."

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E18, "Dave," on Tuesday, April 22 * Running Point S1 E5, "Beshert," on Wednesday, April 23 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 24

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. This week, two brothers are entirely absent, but the other two are uncomfortably close, as Ness camps out at Sandy's pristine (clearly child-free) home. Meanwhile, Isla's usual "flip the script, come out on top" plan doesn't come together by the end of the episode. Mentioned: Korean dol ceremony and Brian Grubb's "Customer Reviews of the White Lotus Family of Resorts."

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 5, "Beshert." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we get yet another reminder that Locke's pre-island life was a real bummer, in case we forgot. And his comfortable island life in the hatch is upended too.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 18, "Dave." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is Menopause Makes: Empowering Sewing Projects to Relax Your Mind, Cool Your Body, and Ignite Your Creativity. It's a book that hops on a trend and gives it a twist. But we're not sure if it's going to have the intended effect.

Terri's random recommendation this week is two comedians that the Facebook algorithm has decided (correctly!) that she, a person of a certain age, will enjoy: Brian Kiley and Andy Huggins.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on our kids and their sibling relationships.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E17, "Lockdown," on Tuesday, April 15 * Running Point S1 E4, "Doljanchi," on Wednesday, April 16 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 17

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. The episodes certainly follow a pattern, but they are enjoyable and make us laugh. And after this one, we're ready to hire Marcus as a parenting coach.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 4, "Doljanchi." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, surprise! We're going to need another cradle. Also surprise (not really): Henry Gale isn't who he says he is. Mentioned: The "Got any milk?" scene and My Girl Barks on X.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 17, "Lockdown." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a cute kids' game that can be played solo or collaboratively. It's called Cat Crimes and seems like a twist on Clue for young players (there's no murder!).

Terri's random recommendation this week is Facebook groups for any ailments or fancy medications you might be taking. It's a techie upgrade on bonding with fellow patients in a waiting room.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 on the delicate art of delegating.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E16, "The Whole Truth," on Tuesday, April 8 * Running Point S1 E3, "The Travis Bugg Affair," on Wednesday, April 9 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 10

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's Running Point. So far, the show has ups and downs (like a sports team does!), but there's a lot to like—especially the performances of Kate Hudson as the lead and Brenda Song as her best friend. Mentioned: Song and her partner, fellow child star Macaulay Culkin.

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 3, "The Travis Bugg Affair." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode showed that the women of the island are just as inclined as the men to run off on a dangerous errand in the jungle (well, Kate will join in no matter who's going). Also, we missed Sawyer's baby-whispering skills. Mentioned: George Clooney in the storm sewer on ER.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 16, "The Whole Truth." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a cool service called LibriVox that offers free public domain audiobooks, read by volunteers. Terri may have found her next volunteer job, as a "prooflistener."

Terri's random recommendation this week is mahjong solitaire, which she plays on the Mahjong Titan+ app and on the AARP website.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on good mom moments (elusive, but so exciting!). Mentioned: Tiny Triumphs on Extra Hot Great.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S2 E15, "Maternity Leave," on Tuesday, April 1 * Running Point* S1 E2, "Joe Pesci," on Wednesday, April 2 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 3

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and now that we've finished season 1 of A Man on the Inside, we're moving on to Running Point, a new Netflix comedy starring Kate Hudson. While this pilot episode was pretty pilot-y, it was also a lot of fun, and we're looking forward to seeing what comes next. Mentioned: The harrowing ER episode "Love's Labor Lost" (1995).

Next Wednesday, we'll watch season 1, episode 2, "Joe Pesci." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This was another tough episode, which gave us even more (unwanted) details about Sayid's career as a torturer. Plus, another new character appears on this allegedly deserted island.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 15, "Maternity Leave." Tomorrow, we're kicking off a new watch, Running Point.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is perfect for the cat-lover in your life: A History of Art in 21 Cats by Nia Gould. We also suggest visiting the author's site for more cat goodies and the cutest cursor we've seen on the World Wide Web.

Terri's random recommendation this week is also a book: Kelly Bishop's memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. Terri found it made for a delightful afternoon of listening. And, in an update from a few weeks ago, she's got a new answer to the question "What is AI good for?" Mentioned: Past library find All the Beauty in the World, Hallmark (or Hallmark-ish) movies Love Struck Café and Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on saying yes to saying no (and which of us is the naysayer in our household).

Next week's lineup:
Lost S2 E14, "One of Them," on Tuesday, March 25 * Running Point* S1 E1, "Pilot," on Wednesday, March 26 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 27

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and we've now finished up with A Man on the Inside. While we enjoyed the actors' performances and the gentle humor, we do feel a bit duped by the promise that this was a mystery show; the case was closed within the first few minutes of the finale. Still, we'll probably be back for season 2. Mentioned: Monica's closet on Friends.

Next Wednesday, we'll start a new watch: Running Point, on Netflix. It stars Kate Hudson as a woman who unexpectedly finds herself in charge of her family's pro basketball team. Former Disney kid Brenda Song appears, too, with some very non-Disney dialogue. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week's episode was another round of "Sawyer is hateful because he wants to be hated" (as diagnosed by Kate), with a side of "lonely people can easily break bad" (we hope no one finds out how Charlie was involved in Sawyer's con).

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 14, "One of Them." Tomorrow, we're back with the finale of our sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a slim, slightly twee French novel, The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Feret-Fleury. She doesn't give it a full-throated endorsement, but if you'd like to vicariously visit Paris and you love books, you might enjoy this. (And if you'd like to help us define the words "quirky" and "zany," leave us a comment on Instagram, X, or Facebook).

Terri's random recommendation this week is a productivity tool she's trying called Clockify. It's helping her work with her distractible tendencies, instead of fighting against them.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on the challenges of turning negative self-talk around, in our kids and even in ourselves.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E13, "The Long Con," on Tuesday, March 18 * A Man on the Inside S1 E8, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold," on Wednesday, March 19 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 20

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Right now, we're watching A Man on the Inside. While this week's episode did return to the mystery ostensibly at the heart of the show (and end on a cliffhanger, of course), it was still mostly about the melancholies of aging, with a hefty side of parent-child conflict. Cheery!

Next Wednesday, we'll watch the season 1 finale, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week's episode was nearly unrelentingly sad for the lead character, Charlie. A brief Hurley/Libby frustration was the only relief from the nightmares and flashbacks to nightmarish real-life events.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 13, "The Long Con." Tomorrow, we're back with our sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a picture book called I Worked Hard on That! by Robyn Wall with pictures by A.N. Kang. It stars a cute (really!) spider whose web-weaving efforts are frequently thwarted. We also recommend a scroll down Wall's list of other titles, including My First Book of Beards, "a super-stylish board book for babies and toddlers with bearded dads" (really!).

Terri's random recommendation this week is more of an observation: AI is everywhere! There's Claude, Grok, ChatGPT, and more, with some useful applications and some less so.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on how sharing our words of wisdom sometimes feels like talking to a brick wall.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E12, "Fire + Water," on Tuesday, March 10 * A Man on the Inside S1 E7, "From Russian Hill with Love," on Wednesday, March 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Right now, we're watching A Man on the Inside. Last week, we complained that the mystery (the alleged driver of the plot) had been forgotten and been replaced by a melancholy look at aging. This week, things got even sadder as one of Charles's friends died. However, at least we got some Charles-Emily scenes, even if they were about the lack of communication between father and daughter.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 7, "From Russian Hill with Love." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In case you've forgotten, this episode would like to inform you once again that Jack has a savior complex. But he's also realized that he needs an army to take on The Others, so that's next on his to-do list.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 12, "Fire + Water." Tomorrow, we're back with our sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is Toto, by A.J. Hackwith, which is a look at the Wizard of Oz story from the perspective of Toto the dog. He tells us, "I was mostly a Good Dog until they sold me out to animal control, okay?" which sounds like a take we'd like to hear.

Terri's random recommendation this week is a filmed version of a stage production of Waitress, starring Sara Bareilles and streaming on Max. We've talked about the show and the movie before, and Terri found this an enjoyable way to make use of her Max subscription. Mentioned: A song from the show, "She Used to Be Mine," performed by Jeremy Jordan, Jessie Mueller, and the show's creator, Sara Bareilles.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on one-star reviews of parenting experiences. Mentioned: "7 Surprisingly Busy Days in the Life of an Experimental Theater Maker" at the New York Times (gift link).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E11, "The Hunting Party," on Tuesday, March 4 * A Man on the Inside S1 E6, "Our Man in Sacramento," on Wednesday, March 5 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 6

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Right now, we're watching A Man on the Inside. This episode strayed rather far from the spy premise of the show, and we're wondering when it'll find its way back. And when we'll see Emily and her kids again. Come on! Put those kids on the phone, at least!

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 6, "Our Man in Sacramento." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, it's Mr. Eko's turn for flashbacks telling his complicated and violent backstory, while he and Charlie search the jungle for the wreckage of the Beechcraft plane. The Smoke Monster returns and so do the computer messages from Walt (or someone claiming to be Walt).

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 11, "The Hunting Party." Tomorrow, we're back with our sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is from the Scatological Department of the children's section (not a real thing, but why isn't it?). It's The Great Poop Contest by Rafael Ordonez. Mentioned: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard.

Terri's random recommendation this week is rosary rings, which are useful in the dentist's chair, the passenger seat, and anywhere else you need a little prayerful distraction.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on life skill blind spots.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E10, "The 23rd Psalm," on Tuesday, February 25 * A Man on the Inside S1 E5, "Presents and Clear Danger," on Wednesday, February 26 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 27

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Right now, we're watching A Man on the Inside. In this episode, we missed seeing or hearing from Emily and her family, and we felt sorry for Charles as he made friends and then realized he'd need to betray them to do his job. But there were still a few of the hijinks we've come to expect.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 5, "Presents and Clear Danger." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. While we've already had many a hint as to what Kate did, this week's episode breaks it all down for us, entering Kate into the Bad Parent sweepstakes with entries from her mom, dad, and stepfather. On the island, things get weirder in the hatch as Michael gets a message from his son, who's possibly grabbing some unauthorized screen time.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 10, "The 23rd Psalm." Tomorrow, we're back with our sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find comes from the adult nonfiction section this week: Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive by Eliot Stein. She can't vouch for the author (yet) but thinks this could be an entertaining and illuminating trip around the world.

Terri's random recommendation this week is the sitcom Scrubs, which ran from 2001 to 2010. She's watching it for the first time for two reasons: She's a Bill Lawrence fan (see: Shrinking) and she needs to justify her Hulu subscription.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on real-life conversation hearts.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E9, "What Kate Did," on Tuesday, February 18 * A Man on the Inside S1 E4, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Painting Class," on Wednesday, February 19 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 20

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Right now, we're watching A Man on the Inside. In this episode, we found out that you can't escape the PTA, even in a senior living residence, and that Charles and his daughter make a great team. Mentioned: a Spectrum TV ad in which a kid springs a project on his dad at bedtime, LinkedIn games, a hot buttered rum recipe (slightly more complicated than Terri's version). and Tom and Jerry batter.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 4, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Painting Class." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The meeting of the tail-section and mid-section survivors seemed to be more of a gentle tap than a violent collision, but it led us to the Reunions Montage at the end: Sawyer and Kate! Michael and Vincent! Rose and Bernard! Sun and Jin! Jack and some woman he met in a bar at the airport!

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 9, "What Kate Did." Tomorrow, we're back with our sweet sitcom, A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find ties in nicely with our new TV series watch, A Man on the Inside. It's a nonfiction children's book called Animal Snoops: The Wondrous World of Wildlife Spies by Peter Christie. Check it out if you've got a kid who's fascinated by fauna, or by covert ops.

Terri's random recommendation this week is one sec, a productivity tool available as an app or a browser extension. It makes you pause and think about what you're doing before you open a social media feed, or any other time-sucking online place.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on the best and worst times of day for parents.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E8, "Collision," on Tuesday, February 11 * A Man on the Inside S1 E3, "The Emily Always Rings Twice," on Wednesday, February 12 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 13

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. We recently started the Netflix comedy series A Man on the Inside. Ted Danson stars as Charles, a widower who's hired to go undercover at a retirement home to solve a burglary case. But there's plenty of parenting to be found here, as Charles's daughter Emily deals with three teens doing stupid teen things.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 3, "The Emily Always Rings Twice." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode caught us up on what's been happening with the tail-section survivors. And what's been happening is pretty grim. Their leader, Ana Lucia, has all the responsibilities of a leader with absolutely no benefits. As moms, we relate.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 8, "Collision." Tomorrow, we're kicking off a new series watch: A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're watching, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is an old Hallmark movie called Christmas at Cartwright's that grabbed her attention with its name--since she used to share it. To her knowledge, there aren't any real department stores called Cartwright's, though.

Terri's random recommendation this week is also store-adjacent. She suggests visiting a Barnes & Noble cafe for lunch. She and her family particularly recommend the Caprese sandwich, grilled cheese, spinach feta pretzels, and raspberry cheesecake.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2020 on family rituals.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E7, "The Other 48 Days," on Tuesday, February 4 * A Man on the Inside S1 E2, "The Man Who Knew Too Much About Bridges," on Wednesday, February 5 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, February 6

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Today, we're kicking off our watch of the new Netflix comedy series A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson and Stephanie Beatriz. We very much enjoyed the first episode, from spotting familiar The Good Place faces to the embrace of physical newspapers and snail mail.

Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 2, "The Man Who Knew Too Much About Bridges." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Things go from bad (in flashback) to much, much worse (on the island) for Shannon in this one, as we meet her evil stepmother and then she meets not The Others, but the Tailies. Meanwhile, Locke adds to his Island Dad cred by teaching Claire how to swaddle the baby.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 7, "The Other 48 days." Tomorrow, we're kicking off a new series watch: A Man on the Inside.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is Cranky, by Phuc Tran with illustrations by Pete Oswald. It's a picture book starring a crabby crane who does not want to talk about what's bothering him, so don't ask! Mentioned: The Food Group series, also illustrated by Oswald.

Terri's random recommendation this week is some Apple synergy: Apple Music playlists from our beloved Shrinking (an Apple TV+ show). You can listen to songs from season 1 and season 2 (that one includes the extended, very profane version of "Cheater Btch"). Mentioned: "Collateral" (which plays just before the accident Louis causes) and "Looking Too Closely" (from the final minutes of season 2).

In the archives*, we checked in on an episode from 2022 on pondering praise.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E6, "Abandoned," on Tuesday, January 28 * A Man on the Inside S1 E1, "Tinker Tailor Older Spy," on Wednesday, January 29 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 30

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. It wrapped up this week with a grand gesture of forgiveness befitting of the season's theme. It also added "magnanimous" to Derrick 2's character traits, to go along with "hot." We'll miss these characters a lot and are looking forward to season 3 (coming in 2026).

Next week, we'll kick off a new series watch: A Man on the Inside, a Michael Schur-helmed show starring Ted Danson and Stephanie Beatriz. Episode 1 is called "Tinker Tailor Older Spy" and it's on Netflix. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode went nowhere, much like our survivors; it gave us a bit more of Sun and Jin's story in flashback, but nothing very important. We could, however, relate to both Sun's and Michael's foolhardy desperation to do something in a situation they can't control.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 6, "Abandoned." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 12 (the season finale).

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is The Change by Kirsten Miller, a novel of revenge and crime-fighting fueled by menopausal women's rage (which made it very satisfying).

Terri's random recommendation this week is the Rosary in a Year podcast, a chart-topper offering a deep dive into this prayer (perfect for the new year). Mentioned: The Bible in a Year podcast and the Catechism in a Year podcast.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on reserving our judgment (or at least trying to).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E5, "...and Found," on Tuesday, January 21 * Shrinking S2 E12, "The Last Thanksgiving," on Wednesday, January 22 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 23

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. This episode included one unnecessary break-up, one child who gave a parent a dose of their own medicine, and one person who's possibly in the wrong profession. Mentioned: Disney adults and a women-hanging-out scene from Jerry Maguire.

Next week, we'll watch the finale of season 2, "The Last Thanksgiving.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On the island, poor Hurley got stuck with a thankless job, while in flashback, he got a scolding from his mom that we found relatable. Elsewhere, we learned more about the Dharma Initiative bunker and the tail-section survivors.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 5, "...and Found." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 11.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a resource that you can most likely find at your own library: Newspapers.com, a repository of archives from all over the U.S. and six other countries. Find your great-grandparents' wedding announcement or read up on crimes like the Panama Hat Heist of 1904.

Terri's random recommendation this week is not one, but three books: Two she's recently finished, and one she's just starting. She finished (and loved) A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and enjoyed Jim O'Heir's memoir about Parks & Rec, Welcome to Pawnee--but suggests skipping the audiobook on this one. And as a dutiful English major, she's now reading Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Hemingway's Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises by Lesley M. M. Blume. Mentioned: The TV adaption of A Gentleman in Moscow, which we watched and enjoyed last summer.

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on parenting best-sellers on Amazon. Guess what? Things haven't changed much in five years!

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E4, "Everybody Hates Hugo," on Tuesday, January 14 * Shrinking S2 E11, "The Drugs Don't Work," on Wednesday, January 15 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 16

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. On this episode, a parent tried and ultimately failed to make a child's birthday special, and a child tried to set boundaries with a parent--which also didn't go very well. But at least Liz is back to her snarky self.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 11, "The Drugs Don't Work.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this episode, we met a few of the threatening Others that Jin warned us about at the end of the previous episode, re-met a survivor seen previously in flashback, and heard yet again that Locke wasn't always the tough guy he is now. Mentioned: Game show challenges for parents and Mouse Rat's song "The Pit" from Parks & Rec.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 4, "Everybody Hates Hugo." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 10.

Every week, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. There were a lot of parenting and family breakthroughs in this episode, along with a little more comic relief than we got last time (thanks, Sean).

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 10, "Changing Patterns.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) And we'll be changing back to our usual pattern of Shrinking on Wednesdays and the weekly roundup on Thursdays.

While we’re celebrating New Year’s with our families, we bring you this relic of podcasts past: A speed round devoted to our resolutions for the coming year. That year was 2020, but … yeah, we’re still rolling them over. And since this is a replay, you'll hear from our old pal Nicole Eredics. We miss you, Nicole!

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Along with Michael flashbacks and the aftermath of Walt's kidnapping and the raft explosion, this episode revisited the in-the-hatch events of the prior one. So we got some time and pacing weirdness to go along with all the other island weirdness.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 3, "Orientation." Tomorrow, we'll replay a New Year's chat from our archives, and then we'll be back with a new episode on Thursday (Shrinking, S2 E9).

On Wednesdays (usually), we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking, a happy fun sitcom that does its best to make us cry every week. This was an extra-sad one, with many characters facing the consequences of their actions (Liz, Derek, Louis, Jimmy) and their mortality (Paul). Like we said, fun and happy! Mentioned: Shrinking playlists on Apple Music (season 1 and season 2).

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 9, "Full Grown Dude Face.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) Look for that on Thursday, January 2, as we continue our shuffled holiday schedule for another week.

While we’re celebrating Christmas with our families, we bring you this relic of Christmas past: One of the only original podcast episodes we put out on Christmas day, back in 2019. As you’ll see, we don’t take vacations from complaining.

We'll be back tomorrow with our discussion of Shrinking, season 2, episode 8, "Last Drink."

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this season 2 kickoff, we meet a new character, get yet another Jack flashback, and watch both Locke and Kate take a dive down into the hatch. Mentioned: Our discussion of a Good Place scene that called back to the opening of this Lost episode.

Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 2, episode 2, "Adrift." Tomorrow, a special Christmas relic, and then Shrinking, season 2, episode 8 on Thursday.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a board book that's ostensibly for babies... about electrical engineering. Better yet, it has a Christmas theme! (And it's part of a whole series of science-themed board books). We'll stick with colors, shapes, and ABCs, thanks.

Terri's random recommendation this week is a lighter topic than electrical engineering: Funny videos on Instagram. Check out Farbsy for goofy takes on workplace emails, customer support for pets, and more.

In the archives, we checked out an episode from 2019 on the good news/bad news of being needed as a parent. Mentioned: Googling Is for Old People. That's a Problem for Google, at the Wall Street Journal; the penny problem on The West Wing and at the New York Times.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S2 E1, "Man of Science, Man of Faith," on Tuesday, December 24 * Shrinking S2 E8, "Last Drink," on Wednesday, December 25 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. This episode gave us the happy resolution of one of the unhappy plotlines we've been following, as Alice and Summer made up (but only after Summer worked out her feelings in a very NSFW song). But it also included the reveal of two serious betrayals, so we have that fallout to look forward to next week. Mentioned: An in-on-the-joke response to the episode from Craig of Craigslist.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 8, "Last Drink.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This two-hour episode, the season finale, was predictably action-packed--with some catastrophes we did, in fact, predict. Mentioned: Guest Taylor Cole's musical tribute to Locke on the Extra Hot Great podcast.

Next Tuesday, we'll starts season 2 with episode 1, "Man of Science, Man of Faith." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 7.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a trio of cozy mysteries by Claudia Gray, all starring Jane Austen characters: The Murder of Mr. Wickham (2022), The Late Mrs. Willoughby (2023), and The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bough (2024). These are an absolutely delightful (and non-stressful) way to revisit these characters, and there's even a little helping of romance. Mentioned: Death Comes to Pemberley, another contemporary author's take on an Austen-themed mystery.

Terri's random recommendation is Artful Plus, the premium version of Artful Agenda, a digital planner we both use. With Artful Plus, you get a habit tracker and the ability to make and use your own stickers, among other perks. Mentioned: The Artful Agenda Facebook group, Artfully Obsessed.

In the archives, we discussed an episode from 2020 on how parents can pay it forward (which we think is more helpful than starting or participating in a drive-thru pay-it-forward chain). Mentioned: Books from our former co-hosts: Inclusion in Action by Nicole Eredics and Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools (January 2025) by Amanda Morin.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S1 E23, "Exodus: Part 2," on Tuesday, December 17 * Shrinking* S2 E6, "Get in the Sea," on Wednesday, December 18 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 19

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking, and an episode that gave us quite a lot of parenting and therapizing and dads trying to overcome daddy issues (plus Gabby trying to manage her complicated family, too). Good on the dads and surrogate dad figures! But at least one other storyline is going someplace we'd rather not follow.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 7, "Get in the Sea.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode gave us the launching of the raft (so, everything's going to be fine from this point on, right?) and the return of Danielle Rousseau, bearing ominous warnings (so, maybe not so fine).

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 23, "Exodus: Part 2" (the two-hour second half of the season finale). Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 6.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is an instructional picture book for kids called How to Pee Your Pants (the Right Way) by Rachel Michelle Wilson. It's cute and relatable (and Terri thinks it could have applications beyond the preschool crowd).

Terri's random recommendation is back, and this week she has a simple way to reflect on the holiday season: The Pray More Advent retreat from Pray More Novenas.

In the archives, we checked out an episode from 2020 on the joy of flying solo (otherwise known as alone time for mom).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E23, "Exodus: Part 1," on Tuesday, December 10 * Shrinking S2 E6, "In a Lonely Place," on Wednesday, December 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. And TBH the honesty in this episode caused a lot more problems than it solved, and that's not really why we're here. Bring back the jokes and the friends hanging out!

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 6, "In a Lonely Place.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This Kate flashback gave us a bad daughter, a bad ex-girlfriend, a bad mom, and yet another bad dad, but not a lot of forward progress on many plots. Mentioned: Mackenzie Astin in How to Deal.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 23, "Exodus: Part 1" (the first half of the season finale). Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 5.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a trio of parenting books, because the publishing industry will never give up on promising parents a simple fix for all their problems. The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself by Sarah Ezrin * Project Management for Parents: Engage the Family, Build Teamwork, Succeed Together by Hilary Kinney, PMP * The Danish Secret to Happy Kids: How the Viking Way of Raising Children Makes Them Happier, Healthier, and More Independent* by Helen Russell

Terri's random recommendation will be back next week, since we've reached the finale of Dancing with the Stars season 33! Congratulations to Bachelor Joey for his win and to Stephen and Ilona for being winners in our hearts. Seek out their freestyle numbers if you haven't seen them yet: Stephen and Rylee; Ilona and Alan.

In the archives, we discussed little things we're thankful for (from 2020); happy Thanksgiving!

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E22, "Born to Run," on Tuesday, December 3 * Shrinking S2 E5, "Honesty Era," on Wednesday, December 4 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 5

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. On this episode, our old pal Daddy Issues is back with a vengeance, but there's also some good fathering (or surrogate fathering) going on too.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 5, "Honesty Era.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This was a Sayid episode, and while we found the connection between the flashbacks and the action on the island to be tenuous, we were OK with it (especially for the side plot of "Sawyer reads to the baby").

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 22, "Born to Run." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 4.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a three-book series for young readers called My Pet Slime. Because slime is still a thing, and nonfiction titles about how to make it just aren't enough. Mentioned: Publisher Andrews McMeel.

Terri's random recommendation is back on the shelf for a few more weeks while we finish out the season of Dancing with the Stars. This week was the semi-finals, which turned out to be a lot of drama for nothing because... no one was eliminated. While we don't care for the bait-and-switch of it all, we're happy with this crew and won't mind spending three hours with them next week for the finale.

In the archives, we discussed those times when mom can't fix everything (from 2019).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E21, "The Greater Good," on Tuesday, November 26 * Shrinking S2 E4, "Made You Look," on Wednesday, November 27 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 28

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. While the Grace storyline from last season was resolved (to our liking) in this episode, we ended up back in the danger zone by the end, with both Liz and Alice making bad decisions that are going to reverberate from this point on.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 4, "Made You Look.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. While the Jack flashbacks didn't tell us much we didn't already know (bad dad! can't let go!), there was a lot of drama on the island, with both a birth and a death. Mentioned: The show's music, by Michael Giacchino.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 21, "The Greater Good." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 3.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a book of short essays whose title, Get Me Through the Next 5 Minutes, really spoke to her at this moment in time. Mentioned: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick; The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green; the song "The Next Ten Minutes" from the musical The Last Five Years (movie version with Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan; COVID version with Skylar Astin and Shoshana Bean).

Terri's random recommendation is back on the shelf for a few more weeks while we finish out the season of Dancing with the Stars. This week was the 500th episode, but we found the celebration pretty lackluster, with very few pros and stars returning to the ballroom. You're better off heading to YouTube to catch some of the all-timers: Anything from Maks and Meryl Davis's season, Nastia Lukin and Sasha (subbing for Derek) dancing a Charleston to "Honey I'm Good" in a subway car, Iman Shumpert and Daniella doing a creepy contemporary, and Bobby Bones' winning freestyle. Also mentioned: Alan Bersten's new puppy, Jeff.

In the archives, we discussed what moms can see (from 2022).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E20, "Do No Harm," on Tuesday, November 19 * Shrinking S2 E3, "Psychological Something-ism," on Wednesday, November 20 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 21

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

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On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's season 2 of Shrinking. On this episode, Alice's friend Summer came in clutch with both some good advice and an interest in the neighbor boy who keeps watching Alice over the fence. Alice needs the help, since her dad is still floundering.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 3, "Psychological Something-ism.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In the flashbacks, we return to Locke's story, which just keeps getting sadder. On the island, things are also not looking great for Locke, as he worries that the magic island is taking away the gift it initially gave him.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 20, "Do No Harm." Tomorrow, it's Shrinking, season 2, episode 2.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a picture book called Edmund Unravels, starring a cute little ball of yarn who likes to take adventures (and has his very own yarn version of helicopter parents). Mentioned: This Target back-to-school ad.

Terri's random recommendation is a recent edition of her Substack newsletter that lists the many books on her to-be-read list. If you're interested in celebrity memoirs, Hollywood behind-the-scenes stories, and quirky nonfiction, she's got something for you. Mentioned: A Gentleman in Moscow, Erma Bombeck.

In the archives, we discussed car tech for parents (from 2019). In five years, the automotive industry hasn't advanced in the ways that we were hoping for.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S1 E19, "Deus Ex Machina," on Tuesday, November 12 * Shrinking* S2 E2, "I Love Pain," on Wednesday, November 13 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 14

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. This week, we're starting season 2 of Shrinking, a show we liked a lot. We're happy to see these people again, and were quite surprised at a certain character reveal at the end of this episode. We're definitely interested to see where this goes.

Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 2, "I Love Pain.” (Yes, we're watching this a few weeks behind its initial drops. That's parenting for you!) We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. And this was both a Hurley flashback (finally!) and the episode where we met ... the numbers, which were endlessly discussed, analyzed, and debated from here on out. Plus, we now have an Island Grandpa in addition to our Island Papa.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 19, "Deus Ex Machina." Tomorrow, we dive into season 2 of Shrinking.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is an early chapter book series starring Inspector Flytrap, a mystery-solving Venus flytrap with a goat for an assistant. It's from the legendary Tom Angleberger--author of Fake Mustache, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, and much more--and his wife, Cece Bell, who created El Deafo. Also mentioned: Magic Tree House graphic novels and nonfiction titles.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus so we can discuss the current season of Dancing with the Stars. As ever, the show went all out for Halloween, even if the stars' "nightmares" were not particularly convincing. But our faves lived to dance another day, so we're happy about that. They'll be back in two weeks, minus Bachelorette Jenn. Mentioned: "Poison" on Scrubs.

In the archives, we discussed how irritating and unfair it is that moms always have to be the voice of reason (from 2022). And here's a sampling of our tricky and treat-y discussions on Halloween decorating, Halloween hassles, how to spook and scare parents, and favorite Halloween costumes.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E18, "Numbers," on Tuesday, November 5 * Shrinking S2 E1, "Jimmying," on Wednesday, November 6 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 7

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Origami Yoda #1) (Origami Yoda series)

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On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building; season 4 has now come to a close, with another wedding--a real one this time, not a fakeout with Mabel in a white gown--and of course, another murder to set up next year's season. Terri forgave all of the shenanigans that led up to this point, including the ridiculousness of this very episode, thanks to one special reveal. Mentioned: Selena Gomez's net worth, her beauty company, and a Wizards of Waverly Place reboot; Alan Sepinwall's review of the season at Rolling Stone.

Next week, we’ll return to the latest season of Shrinking, a show we very much enjoyed in its first outing. We'll watch the season 2 episodes one at a time, starting with "Jimmying.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode centered on Jin, who in addition to having daddy issues (he's ashamed of his seemingly very sweet pop) has some major daddy-in-law issues to deal with. At least now everyone knows Sun speaks English, so she can translate for him. Mentioned: The Room of Requirement in the Harry Potter series.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 18, "Numbers." Tomorrow, it's the season 4 finale of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a novel by Dancing with the Stars's own Julianne Hough called Everything We Never Knew. She finds it frustrating that celebs can "write" novels purely on the marketing power of their names, but Terri sees an opportunity for the ghostwriters who are a necessary part of the equation. Mentioned: Millie Bobby Brown'sNineteen Steps.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus so we can discuss the current season of Dancing with the Stars. This week, it was Disney Night, or as we like to call it, Properties You Didn't Know Disney Owned Night. For the second week in a row, the elimination was correct, so we're celebrating that.

In the archives, we discussed what we'd put on our parenting wish lists (from 2021). Mentioned: Blackout Coffee, Wicked branded mac & cheese, and Krabby Patties at Wendy’s.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E18, "Numbers," on Tuesday, October 29 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E10, "My Best Friend's Wedding," on Wednesday, October 30 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 31

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. With just one episode left to go, the trio is zeroing in on Sazz's killer, but not before the murderer takes out Glen Stubbins and Mabel gets herself trapped in her apartment alone with the suspect. Mentioned: The Fug Girls' recaps at their newsletter, Drinks with Broads (available to paid subscribers), and the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones.

Next week, we’ll discuss the season 4 finale of Only Murders in the Building, “My Best Friend's Wedding.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this really rather sad episode, we saw a very young Sawyer (in flashback) and a very young boar (on the island), and watched as Kate and Sawyer played a game of Heavy-Handed Character Development, aka I Never.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 17, "...In Translation." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 9 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a nostalgic one: She learned that the Richard Scarry Busytown books had a TV adaptation called Busytown Mysteries, in which adorable characters solve cute little mysteries. Mentioned: Terri's current read/listen,Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus for the moment as we return to the DWTS ballroom for a new theme, "Dedication Night." We were happy to welcome back Mark Ballas as a thoughtful and helpful judge, and to say goodbye to Brooks and her showmance efforts. Mentioned: "Taylor Did," a song by Alana Springsteen.

In the archives, we discussed some of the perks of parenthood (from 2018). We don't always complain! Mentioned: The memoir Remedies for Sorrow.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E15, "Outlaws," on Tuesday, October 22 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E9, "Escape from Planet Klongo," on Wednesday, October 23 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 24

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This week's episode gave us a deeper dive into the real (?) story of the Westies and how they formed their tight-knit, card-playing, ham-eating group. We also finally met Helga, the voice on the ham radio, and realized that Mabel is the mother hen of the podcasting trio. Mentioned: OMITB recaps at Vulture.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E9 of Only Murders in the Building, “Escape from Planet Klongo.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week's episode was rather violent, with a death toll of two on the island and some crime and vomiting in the flashbacks. But at least Claire's back (and conveniently has no memory of the past month).

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 16, "Outlaws." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 8 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a lighthearted, yet not overly fluffy novel with a reality-TV hook. It's called Big in Sweden, and author Sally Franson really did compete on a TV show in Sweden. Mentioned: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus for the moment as we return to the DWTS ballroom for two nights of ridiculous wigs and ridiculous scoring. However, we can say that the appropriate stars were shown the door at the end of the second evening. Mentioned: Stephen Nedoroscik's shelter cat.

In the archives, we returned our 2018 episode, "Beyond Tiger Moms and Helicopter Parents."

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E15, "Homecoming," on Tuesday, October 15 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E8, "Lifeboat," on Wednesday, October 16 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, October 17

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. Terri felt personally attacked by this episode, as it flaunted the plot holes of her beloved season 1 right in her face. We also identified some from season 2 having to do with Charles's parents and much younger sister, played by Melissa McCarthy with the Long Island-O-Meter turned up to 11.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E8 of Only Murders in the Building, “Lifeboat.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week's episode gave us more of Michael and Walt's story, so now we know that while Michael isn't the greatest dad around, he did make a big sacrifice for his son. (Plus, we have another candidate for the Bad Dad Hall of Fame.)

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 15, "Homecoming." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 7 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a follow-up to the Grammar Zoo series from a few weeks ago. Now, we have dinosaurs doing the wordplay, in Triceratopposite and Stegothesaurus from author Bridget Heos. Also mentioned: Little Pea and its sequels, Little Hoot, and Little Oink. Catherine also has a bonus pick: Clio Greek Yogurt Bars.
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Terri's random recommendation is back this week, since Dancing with the Stars took a break. She suggests checking out Web Sudoku for all your brain-building, time-wasting needs.

In the archives, we return to 2022 to talk about Apple Watch features parents need.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E14, "Special," on Tuesday, October 8 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E7, "Valley of the Dolls," on Wednesday, October 9 * Weekly roundup (including two episodes of DWTS) on Thursday, October 10

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. While this episode wasn't as novel and creative as season 1's "The Boy From 6B," it did offer a new take by relying a lot on found footage from hidden cameras. As parents who want to keep abreast of what our kids are up to, we can relate.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E7 of Only Murders in the Building, “Valley of the Dolls.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week's episode was a Boone/Shannon flashback, where we found out more about their... unusual sibling relationship. And on the island, we're wondering where the urgency is on finding Claire, who's been missing for quite some time now.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 14, "Special." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 6 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is another nonfiction, memoir-ish pick called All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley, which chronicles the author's ten-year stint as a guard at the museum. Mentioned: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, also set at the Met.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus for the moment as we return to the DWTS ballroom, where Dwight and Daniella pulled off a beautiful foxtrot and our fave Stephen showed he could do more than jive. The less said about the eliminated Anna the better. Mentioned: Champions, with Kaitlyn Olson, who we're seeing a lot during DWTS in ads for her new show, High Potential; and Terri's Substack, Too Old for Cool.

In the archives, we headed all the way back to 2017 to discuss our assertion that parenting is not a panacea.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E13, "Hearts and Minds," on Tuesday, October 1 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E6, "Blow-Up," on Wednesday, October 2 * Weekly roundup (not including DWTS, as the show will be off for the week) on Thursday, October 3

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This season isn't hitting as well as past ones have, except when Detective Williams comes in to be the mom and lay down the law. We'd like more of that and less of Hollywood making fun of itself.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E6 of Only Murders in the Building, “Blow-Up.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup (which will include a chat about the September 24 episode of Dancing with the Stars).

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode's punny title is a sign that it's a pretty lightweight one, despite the presence of three dead and decomposing bodies. It's a Kate flashback episode, and she flashes a lot of her backside, too.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 13, "Hearts and Minds." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 5 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find grabbed her attention with its dramatic subtitle. It's a memoir by Megan Nix called Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, A Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth, which is a compelling mix of family tale and investigative journalism.

Terri's random recommendation is on hiatus for the moment as we return to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom. Terri's all in for Pommel Horse Guy Stephen Nedoroscik, who was absolutely delightful (and absolutely underscored) in his first outing. Catherine's a PHG fan too, but also wants to see more of rugby player Ilona Maher. And both anticipate a lot of creativity from Daniella (5'3") choreographing for her partner Dwight Howard (6'11").

In the archives, we journey back to 2019 to discuss all the ways we try (and usually fail) to manage stress and worry. Mentioned: Trello and Artful Agenda.

Next week's lineup:
Lost S1 E12, "Whatever the Case May Be," on Tuesday, September 24 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E5, "Adaptation," on Wednesday, September 25 * Weekly roundup (including DWTS*) on Thursday, September 26

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. This episode continued its focus on the Westie side of the building, but also gave us a look at Sazz's stuntman life. Mentioned: Stuntman movie The Fall Guy and its star Ryan Gosling in Barbie (at the Oscars and on SNL) and Crazy Stupid Love (warning, 13-year-old spoilers await at that link); the upcoming movie His Three Daughters. Oh, and we also talked about the likely cost of a leg of shower ham.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E5 of Only Murders in the Building, “Adaptation.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup (which will include a chat about the September 17 premiere of the new season of Dancing with the Stars).

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode has "daddy issues" right in the title, so you know it's going to be a doozy. And it was, with lots of flashbacks to Jack's Bad Dad and some pretty bad stuff happening on mystery island, too.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 12, "Whatever the Case May Be." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 4 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find caught her eye thanks to our recent watch of A Gentleman in Moscow. It's a children's book called The Apartment: A Century of Russian History by Alexandra Litvina, illustrated by Anna Desnitskaya and translated by Antonina W. Bouis. It covers six generations of a family and their life in the titular apartment.

Terri's random recommendation is a new way to get your morning dose of pumpkin spice: Special K Pumpkin Spice cereal. Happy fall, y'all!

In the archives, we discussed the ways we've been mortifying our children since 2019 (not to mention long before that).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E11, "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues," on Tuesday, September 10 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E3, "Two for the Road," on Wednesday, September 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. And while this week's episode was indeed set in The Building, it had a Hollywood flavor that we didn't love. We're hoping the three actors hightail it back to LA very soon. Mentioned: "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?" (from OMITB season 3) gets an Emmy; the Perfect Strangers theme song on The Leftovers.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E4 of Only Murders in the Building, “The Stunt Man.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. On this week's episode, we had a great deal of drama in both the flashbacks (as Claire encountered both a bad dad and a very bossy psychic) and on the island (hold on a minute, this guy's name isn't on the passenger manifest!).

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 11, "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues." Tomorrow, it's season 4, episode 3 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a brightly colored, punny way to introduce little ones to the joys of grammar: Comparrotives, which is part of a whole Grammar Zoo.

Terri's random recommendation is musical again this week: She's been listening to Post Malone's F-1 Trillion on repeat. It's a double album featuring collaborations with a lot of big-time country names, from Morgan Wallen to Dolly Parton. Her top two earworms, so far, are "Missing You Like This" (featuring Luke Combs) and "Hide My Gun" (with Terri fave HARDY).

In the archives, we discussed parenting-themed reality show challenges and how poorly we'd do at them (originally from 2021).

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E10, "Raised by Another," on Tuesday, September 10 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E3, "Two for the Road," on Wednesday, September 11 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 12

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Only Murders in the Building. Episode 2 brought back some old favorites from way back in season 1, as well as another round of Stars Stopping By to Be Suspects. Catherine apologizes to Jackie Hoffman for forgetting her name and her character's name: Uma!. Mentioned: The card game Oh Hell, which figured prominently in this episode.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E3 of Only Murders in the Building, “Two for the Road.” We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Terri's re-watching, and Catherine's wading into the madness for the first time. On this week's episode, the main character was Sayid. His backstory provided no shocking twists, but his current story sure did.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 10, "Raised by Another." Tomorrow, we'll discuss season 4, episode 2 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a reminder that libraries are far more than just books. You can also check out an '80s-themed murder mystery game set in a shopping mall! Mentioned: "Let's Go to the Mall" from How I Met Your Mother.

Terri's random recommendation is a reminder that sporting events in Paris are not over for the year. You can still watch the Paralympic Games, and you should! Here's how and where to watch, and an extensive list of relevant social media accounts to follow. Mentioned: Stephen Nedoroscik, aka Pommel Horse Guy, will compete on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. It starts September 17, and we'll be watching. Also mentioned: DWTS winner Laurie Hernandez's Olympic gymnastics analysis.

In the archives, we discussed parenting job descriptions and how they've changed, or haven't, since 2018.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E9, "Solitary," on Tuesday, September 3 * Only Murders in the Building S4 E2, "Gates of Heaven," on Wednesday, September 4 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 5

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On Wednesdays (rescheduled from Tuesdays), we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. We've sadly come to the end of A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In the final episode, "Adieu," Alexander says some very difficult goodbyes. Have your monogrammed hankie ready.

Only Murders in the Building kicked off its fourth season with a cross-country round trip before ending up back in the building... where there was another murder. There was a lot of hand-holding and sign-pointing for a 30-minute episode, but we're happy to spend more time with these characters (and a very lengthy list of celebs stopping by in cameo roles). Mentioned: "Some Very Good Dogs" on Substack.

Next week, we’ll discuss S4 E2 of Only Murders in the Building, “Gates of Heaven.” We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

Each Tuesday (formerly each Wednesday, but stay tuned for new shows tomorrow instead), we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, we got more of Sawyer's backstory, aka why he hates himself and wants everyone else to hate him too.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 9, "Solitary." Tomorrow, we'll say "Adieu" to A Gentleman in Moscow and "Hello" to season 4 of Only Murders in the Building.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a children's book that maybe scared Terri a little: Little Red and the Big Bad Editor, by Rebecca Kraft Rector with illustrations by Shanda McCloskey.

Terri's random recommendation is a follow-up to her movie games rec from last month: A movie game/community on Substack called Movie Fight Club. (And don't forget about her own Substack, Too Old for Cool!).

In the archives, we discussed some unexpected back-to-school advice from 2021 and today. Mentioned: The Scrambled States of America.

Next week's lineup: * Lost S1 E8, "Confidence Man," on Tuesday, August 27 (we're swapping our Tuesday and Wednesday schedules to accommodate Tuesday episode drops of Only Murders in the Building) * A Gentleman in Moscow E8, "Adieu," and Only Murders in the Building season 4 E1, "Once Upon a Time in the West" on Wednesday, August 28 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 29

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, the flashback dial spun to Charlie, so we got to find out about his story and also see him become a hero and quit heroin, so that's quite a win for him.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 8, "Confidence Man"; we're switching our Lost discussions from Wednesdays to Tuesdays to accommodate Only Murders in the Building on Wednesdays. We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In episode 7, "An Assembly," Alexander has to face some hard facts: His little girl is growing up, and he's going to have to let her go--and go far, far away.

Next week, we'll discuss the finale of the series, "Adieu." We'll also kick off our next series watch: Only Murders in the Building, season 4! Since those are dropping on Tuesdays, we'll be discussing them on our Wednesday episodes and switch Lost to Tuesdays. But for this week, Lost is still our Wednesday show, so we'll be back tomorrow with that discussion.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is actually an app that helps her keep track of some of her library finds (and make them Instagram-ready). It's called Bookmory.

Terri's random recommendation is more of a PSA: Don't take pity on sweet-looking young people going door to door and invite them in. And if you do let a stranger into your home, don't show them your electric bill.

In the archives, we checked in on the joys of homeownership, most recently discussed in 2022.

Next week's lineup: * A Gentleman in Moscow E7, "An Assembly," on Tuesday, August 20 * Lost S1 E7, "The Moth," on Wednesday, August 21 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 22

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, we got another set of flashbacks and another wait, what? revelation, although it was not as shocking as Locke's "this island restored my ability to walk" news.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 7, "The Moth." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In episode 6, "The Fall," a crisis prompts Alexander to test the limits of his confinement. His hotel family (and his keeper, Osip) must work together to protect him, just as he strives to protect Sofia.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the seventh episode of the series, "An Assembly." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of our other current TV watch/rewatch, Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find this week is another kids' nonfiction book that relies on a scatological title to grab the attention of reluctant readers (see also: Butt or Face?). This one's called Fish Farts: And Other Amazing Ways Animals Adapt by Joanne Settel.

Terri's random recommendation is a new venture from actor, author, and audiobook narrator Julia Whelan. It's called Audiobrary, and we'll be interested to see how it does as it takes on Audible.

In the archives, we checked in on free-time activities for adults, first discussed in 2021.

Next week's lineup: * A Gentleman in Moscow E6, "The Fall," on Tuesday, August 13 * Lost S1 E6, "House of the Rising Sun," on Wednesday, August 14 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 15

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode brought Jack to the brink, as he was haunted (maybe literally?) by his dad and his past demons, so much so that he ran himself right off the side of a cliff. The good news is that Locke was there to save the day, so that Jack could resume his job as de factor leader and mom to all. Mentioned: The Lostpedia page on this episode.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 6, "House of the Rising Sun." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In episode 5, "An Arrival," Alexander gets a crash course in fatherhood and learns it's very different from being the fun uncle. Mentioned: A Screenrant recap of this episode.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the sixth episode of the series, "The Fall." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of our other current TV watch/rewatch, Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find this week is a movie that somehow seems to be very popular in her library system: Sasquatch Sunset. If you're looking for an adventure/comedy told entirely in grunts, this one's for you!

Terri's random recommendation is a book she thinks is worth your while: Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History by Rebecca Struthers. It's especially appealing in the audiobook version, narrated by Anna Ploszajski.

In the archives, we checked in on what our obsessions were seven years ago, and what they are now.

Next week's lineup:
A Gentleman in Moscow E5, "An Arrival," on Tuesday, August 6 * Lost* S1 E5, "White Rabbit," on Wednesday, August 7 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 8

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

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Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In this episode, we got more of Locke's back story, which also gave us more a lot more to wonder about when it comes to the properties of this island. On the parenting tip, Michael searched for a babysitter and decided on someone who doesn't speak a word of English.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 5, "White Rabbit." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In episode 4, "Good Times," Alexander has become a gentlemanly waiter, and is realizing that life in the hotel is not representative of life in the real world. And by the end of the episode, he's become a surrogate father (...maybe grandfather, at this point) again. Mentioned: Brian Grubb, a TV writer who always appreciates the line "We're not so different, you and I" (heard in this episode).

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the fifth episode of the series, "An Arrival." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of our other current TV watch/rewatch, Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is another scary nonfiction series for children: Deadly Biters (including Grizzly Bears Bite!, Piranhas Bite!, Hippos Bite!, and more). Mentioned: The similar series Animal Battles and Who Would Win?.

Terri's random recommendation is a set of games that test your knowledge of movies, actors, fun facts, and the way they all intersect: Cinematrix, Movie Grid, and Movie Pyramid. Mentioned: The This Had Oscar Buzz podcast.

In the archives, we found that four years after our original discussion, we could come up with a few more mom confessions.

Next week's lineup: * A Gentleman in Moscow E4, "Good Times," on Tuesday, July 30 * Lost S1 E4, "Walkabout," on Wednesday, July 31 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, August 1

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode, "Tabula Rasa," focused on flashbacks to Kate's back story, so we learned more about how she was pursued all the way to Australia by a U.S. Marshal (if not exactly why she was in his sights). We also saw a real parenting win when Locke recovered Walt's dog, but let Michael be the hero who reunited the two.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 4, "Walkabout." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments, like a library find and a visit to our archives.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. In episode 3, "The Last Rostov," the Count's reckoning with all the changes in his world brings him to the brink, but a kindly beekeeper rescues him. He also deepens his relationships with Anna (the actress) and Osip (the official who supervises his captivity). Plus. Nina's back—as a teen know-it-all. We can relate.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the fourth episode of the series, "Good Times." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of our other current TV watch/rewatch, Lost.

Here's what's on our minds (and playlists) this week:

Catherine's library find is a book she judged by its cover. Glassworks's art and blurbs appealed enough for Catherine to give this debut novel by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith a try (it also happens to be on the Staff Picks table at her library right now, chosen by another staff member). It's a creative, but uneven, tale of four generations trying, and often failing, to connect with and support one another.

Terri's random recommendation is the latest album (collection of songs?) from HARDY, titled "Quit!!" She's enjoying the artist's transition from country music to F-bomb-laden hard rock.

In the archives, we revisit a rant from four years ago: Simply Refusing to Simplify, about the (many) issues we have with listicle-format advice on minimalism.

Next week's lineup: * A Gentleman in Moscow E3, "The Last Rostov," on Tuesday, July 23 * Lost S1 E3, "Tabula Rasa," on Wednesday, July 24 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 25

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Happily for Catherine, the second part of the pilot was much less migraine-inducing than the first part. The castaways are likely not as happy, as they are dealing with mysterious monsters, mysterious fellow passengers, and mysterious raw fish dishes. As for parenting, we're giving Michael a pass for now, but he's going to need to step up his game.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 3, "Tabula Rasa." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments from our recent Weekly Roundup format.

On Tuesdays, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+. "An Invitation," the second episode of eight, did in fact bring a couple of invitations (some threatening, some not), along with a secret expansion of the Count's living quarters and--sadly—the departure of his young friend, Nina.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the third episode of the series, "The Last Rostov." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of our other current TV watch/rewatch, Lost.

Each Thursday, join us for a weekly roundup that's an update on our most recent podcast format. We'll bring you a library find, an update from Terri on life or pop culture or whatever's on her mind, and a pick from our archives.

Catherine's library find this week is a lushly illustrated children's picture book called Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson, with art by Sharon King-Chai, because there's always room for another animal alphabet book (especially when it's this beautiful). Mentioned: Some of Donaldson's other titles, Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, and The Gruffalo's Child (all illustrated by Axel Scheffler).

Terri's random recommendation is the exciting news that she has started a Substack newsletter! Find out more and subscribe: Too Old for Cool. It's free (although you're welcome to pay her if you'd like).

In the archives, we revisit a classic from two years ago: Choosing Your Parenting Battles.

Next week's lineup:
A Gentleman in Moscow E2, "An Invitation," on Tuesday, July 16 * Lost* S1 E2, "Pilot Part 2," on Wednesday, July 17 * Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 18

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property--something one or both of us has watched and wants to revisit, or something we missed the first time around. We're kicking it off with Lost, which premiered almost 20 years ago. Terri enjoyed it, in all its convoluted weirdness. Catherine hasn't seen it before, but is willing to risk migraines to find out more.

Next Wednesday, we'll discuss season 1, episode 2, "Pilot Part 2." We'll be back tomorrow with a roundup of some of our favorite segments from our recent Weekly Roundup format.

Welcome to a new and improved Parenting Roundabout podcast! About a year after our last reinvention, we're switching things up again. As parents and parenting writers, we can’t help but see everything through a parenting lens. But as our kids have become adults, we find ourselves more interested in getting caught up on movies and streaming than on going over the same parenting topics over and over.

So since we’re pretty sure we can find parenting wisdom anywhere, we’re going to talk about what we’re watching, what we thought about it, and maybe what we can learn from it, if only what not to do.

On Tuesdays, we’ll share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. We’re kicking it off with A Gentleman in Moscow, a limited series on Paramount+ that premiered at the end of March. It's based, pretty faithfully so far, on a 2016 book of the same name by Amor Towles, which Catherine loved but Terri has not read. And it stars Ewan McGregor, who is fully inhabiting the titular gentleman. He's not a parent, but he's destined to take on a paternal role as the series continues. Mentioned: An episode of the Godsplaining podcast on the novel.

Next Tuesday, we'll discuss the second episode of the series, "An Invitation." We'll be back tomorrow with a discussion of an older property. We're kicking it off with Lost, which premiered almost 20 years ago. And on Thursday, we'll bring you a roundup with some of our favorite segments from our recent Weekly Roundup format.

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine needed some tech support, and Terri needed to spend a lot of time following the latest Taylor-Travis news. Mentioned: The Senior Swifties Sideline.

What we're watching: After watching the Ripley TV series, we decided to visit/revisit the 1999 movie, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Tom and co. are younger, in color, and more focused on music than visual art (no detours to the Italian Renaissance) in this version, but there's no cat! Mentioned: Purple Noon, a French movie adaptation of the story.

Catherine's library find this week is a first novel that's gotten a lot of attention since it was published in 2022: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It's a charming story with two unlikely leads: A 70-year-old cleaning woman and a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed a new member of Terri's family (July 3, 2023), the work-life seesaw (July 1, 2020), and fake life deadlines (July 3, 2019). Disclaimer: Terri is not a Medicare expert. Go to https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up/part-b-only for official Part B info.

Next week, we will be debuting a new format. As our kids have become adults, we find ourselves more interested in getting caught up on movies and streaming than in going over the same parenting topics over and over. So we’re going to talk about what we’re watching, what we thought about it, and maybe what parenting advice we can take from it, if only what not to do.

We'll check out an older TV show or movie and a newer one each week, starting with Lost as our oldie (S1 E1, "Pilot: Part 1") and A Gentleman in Moscow as our newcomer (S1 E1, "A Master of Circumstance"). Follow along!

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine reported on her son living it up in NYC, seeing lots and lots of theater. Mentioned: A past episode in which we discussed a BroadwayHD presentation of She Loves Me.

What we're watching: We finished up season 3 of Bridgerton with episode 7, "Joining of Hands," and episode 8, "Into the Light." Yay for Penelope and Colin, but there were too many Bridgertons and altogether too much going on in this season. We wanted more Polin, less everything else (but still had fun with it).

Catherine's library find this week is a trio of children's books that will strike fear in the heart of our former podcasting pal Nicole Eredics: Frankie D, Vegan Vampire by Sally and Brian Dutra, illustrated by Tiffani Brown; Harold the Iceberg Is Not a Super Food by Lisa Wyzlic, illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse; and1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed mandatory attendance at family events (June 29, 2023), occasions worthy of photo shoots (June 27, 2022), and movies that made us cry (June 26, 2015).

Next week, we'll return to the story of Tom Ripley with the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri went to the New Jersey Special Olympics, and now will never hear How Far I'll Go from Moana the same way again.

What we're watching: We're into the second half of Bridgerton season 3now and watched two episodes: 5, "Tick Tock," and 6, "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton."While thrilled to be engaged to Colin, Penelope is now juggling her secret identity, her fractured friendship with Eloise, and some serious scheming from Cressida.

Catherine's library find this week is a follow-up to a previous find, The Sandal-Making Workshop. This time, we're learning How to Make Custom-Fit Bras and Lingerie (or, rather, discussing why we won't be doing that, thank you).

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed proud parent moments (June 19, 2023), scary advice (June 17, 2020), and ambiguous kid-speak (June 19, 2019).

Next week, we'll discuss the final installments of Bridgerton, season 3: Episode 7, "Joining of Hands," and episode 8, "Into the Light." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine's dogs are getting a little too close to nature, while Terri's pup seems, thankfully, not to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor.

What we're watching: In the final episode (for now) of Ripley, "Narcissus," Tom's got a pretty good thing going in Venice, including a new friend played by John Malkovich.

On Bridgerton's season 3, episode 4 ("Old Friends"), it's finally time for the carriage scene everyone's been waiting for—although Terri thinks Lord Kilmartin's gesture is far more romantic.

Catherine's library find this week is an earthworm-themed two-fer: I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt and The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken by Jennifer Frank, illustrated by David Ezra Stein.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed keeping everything on Zoom (June 11, 2020), parenting ghostwriters (June 13, 2019), and talking vs. texting (June 16, 2016).

Next week, we'll discuss the next two installments of Bridgerton, season 3: Episode 5, "Tick Tock," and episode 6, "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, home improvements continue (in the Midwest) and are regretfully declined (in New Jersey).

What we're watching: In episode 7 of Ripley, "Macabre Entertainment," Tom does some scrambling in Sicily but pulls off another escape in the end.

On Bridgerton's season 3, episode 3 ("Forces of Nature"), it's time for the old suitor switcheroo as Lord Debling shows an interest in Penelope and Colin comes to his dang senses and sees what's been in front of him the whole time.

Catherine's library find this week is a nonfiction charmer called The African Svelte: Ingenious Misspellings That Make Surprising Sense by Daniel Menaker, with illustrations by Roz Chast.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed life skills lessons we'd like to see (June 7, 2021), emergency contact forms (June 5, 2019), and privacy at home (June 4, 2018). Mentioned: The Ostrichpillow.

Next week, we'll discuss the final episode (at least for now) of Ripley, called “Narcissus,” and episode 4 of Bridgerton, season 3 ("Old Friends"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

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On our latest weekly roundup, some of the men in our lives are dealing with excessive amounts of mulch (or bark, or wood chips; whatever the terminology, there is too much of it).

What we're watching: In episode 6 of Ripley, "Some Heavy Instrument," the law starts to close in on Tom, in the form of Inspector Ravini, played wonderfully by Maurizio Lombardi. Mentioned: The murderous leg of lamb episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, based on a story by Roald Dahl.

On Bridgerton's season 3, episode 2 ("How Bright the Moon"), Penelope discovers that Colin is a writer (!) and the Queen finds a debutante who interests her. Guess what? It's piano-playing Francesca.

Catherine's library find this week is another pick from the department of Crafts We'll Never Do: The Sandalmaking Workshop: Make Your Own Mary Janes, Crisscross Sandals, Mules, Fisherman Sandals, Toe Slides, and More by Rachel Corry. We're impressed at Corry's industriousness, but we'll stick to buying our sandals (and all of our other shoes) at Zappos.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed secret handshakes and inside jokes (May 27, 2021), what robots could do for us (May 27, 2019), and weird things that make you happy as an adult (May 29, 2017).

Next week, we'll discuss the next episode of Ripley, called “Macabre Entertainment,” and episode 3 of Bridgerton, season 3 ("Forces of Nature"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, it's Catherine's turn to deal with an outage, as the water main near her home was shut down (by the same project that caused a gas leak a few weeks back).

What we're watching: In episode 5 of Ripley, "Lucio," we caught up with the flash-forward that started the series off: Tom dragging a dead body down the stairs of an apartment building, very noisily and bloodily and under the watchful eye of a handsome cat.

Then we jumped back 150 years to season 3 of Bridgerton, with episode 1 ("Out of the Shadows"). Here, the colors are bright and beautiful and no one is getting hit in the head with anything heavy—although, of course, there is plenty of subterfuge.

Catherine's library find this week is from the department of Crafts We'll Never Do. It's called Abstract Embroidery: Slow Stitching With Texture, Colour, and Creativity by Emily Botelho. We also took a detour into a non-library find from the same department of not-gonna-happen: Tooth Gem Style: Bedazzled Styles From Around the World.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed the kind of families we aren't (May 24, 2021), connecting with kids (May 20, 2019), and stuff we need to get rid of (May 23, 2017).

Next week, we'll discuss the next episode of Ripley, called “Some Heavy Instrument,” and episode 2 of Bridgerton, season 3 ("How Bright the Moon"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri reports on a power outage that almost derailed her viewing of Ripley, while Catherine's daughter had a close call with a tornado. Mentioned: Unfrosted (the Jerry Seinfeld Pop-Tart movie) and the upcoming Twisters, an "update" of the 1996 movie Twister.

What we're watching: Episode 3 of Ripley is called "Sommerso," which means "submerged" in Italian, so maybe you can guess what happens in that one? It taught us that blood spatters look extra-dramatic in black and white, for one thing. Episode 4, "La Dolce Vita," showed us Tom's new situation in Rome. It's not really a sweet life, but it is a double one--for now. Mentioned: TV critics Daniel Fienberg, Roxana Hadadi, and Ben Travers on the show, and particularly the ages of the actors and their characters.

Catherine's library find this week is ostensibly a children's book, but we think it's aimed squarely at Gen-Xers: It's a board book called Goodnight, Girls, starring cartoon versions of TV's Golden Girls. Mentioned: A new version of Matlock, coming soon and starring Kathy Bates.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed Mother's Day (May 15, 2023), proud mom moments (May 17, 2021), and what's bugging us (May 19, 2021). The children's book about a mouse that Terri was trying to recall is The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.

Next week, we'll discuss the next episode of Ripley, called “Lucia,” and the first episode of Bridgerton, season 3! It's called "Out of the Shadows" and we're confident it'll be quite a contrast with Ripley. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, a delicious fundraiser benefitting the library where Catherine works prompted us to talk about clever ways to solicit donations (and how involved parents get in the process).

What we're watching: We started Netflix's Ripley, a series based on the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, with episodes 1 ("A Hard Man to Find") and 2 ("Seven Mercies"). In the series, the characters are aged up and the color is drained out for a you-can't-miss-it moodiness. We didn't love it (listen in to hear why) but we'll keep going.

Catherine's library find this week is from the quirky nonfiction category: Dogland: Passion, Glory and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show by Tommy Tomlinson. It's a perfect audiobook for Terri, except she'll miss out on pictures of doggies.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed kids in public places (May 10, 2023), gestures of generosity (May 9, 2022), and what we'd do with villa-in-Italy riches (May 12, 2016). Mentioned: Best in Show; "Craig" by Walker Hayes.

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Ripley, “Sommerso” and “La Dolce Vita.” Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, our resident Swiftie gives her review of The Tortured Poets Department. Mentioned: The video for the song "Fortnight," with Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles (of Dead Poets Society ... get it?).

What we're watching: We came to the end of Reservation Dogs and we're so sad about it. But the final pair of episodes ("Elora's Dad" and "Dig") were a beautiful celebration of family and community and the perfect way to go out.

Catherine's library find this week is Monster's New Undies. Check out a read-aloud so you can appreciate the rhymes from Samantha Berger along with the illustrations by Tad Carpenter. Plus, a follow-up to previous library find Butt or Face: There's a sequel, Butt or Face: Revenge of the Butts!

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed pre-pandemic peeves (April 29, 2020), trade-in values (April 29, 2019, and the hardest thing to give up (May 2, 2016). Mentioned: Seinfeld complains about cheek-kissing; Forever My Girl.

Next week, we'll start watching the new Netflix series Ripley. We'll watch the first two episodes, “A Hard Man to Find” and “Seven Mercies.” Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine's daughter defended her thesis project, and Catherine actually got to watch it from another time zone.

What we're watching: Reservation Dogs creeps closer to the finish line with another pair of lovely episodes, "Wahoo!" and "Send It." We enjoy all the interactions among various generations and among both the living and the spirit worlds.

Catherine's library find this week is an older documentary entitled Obit. Life on Deadline, which highlights the work of obituary writers at the New York Times. Mentioned: The Times' Overlooked project and another NYT-related documentary, Bill Cunningham: New York.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed dental dilemmas (April 24, 2019), the prom (April 25, 2019 and April 24, 2023), tensions and transitions with adult kids (April 26, 2023), and generation gaps (April 27, 2023). Mentioned: Taylor Swift's new album, "The Tortured Poets Department."

Next week, we'll return to Reservation Dogs for the final two episodes of season 3, E9 ("Elora's Dad") and E10 ("Dig"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we belatedly share our experiences with recent natural phenomena. Don't worry, Terri survived the Great New Jersey Earthquake. Mentioned: Catherine's report on the August 2017 solar eclipse.

What we're watching: Thanks to our two-by-two watch schedule, we got a perfect pair of Reservation Dogs episodes this week. "House Made of Bongs" flashed back to 1976, and a fateful outing for Maximus, Bucky, Brownie, Irene, Mabel, and Fixico. Then "Frankfurter Sandwich" reassembled several members of that generation to spend time with Cheese out in the woods.

Catherine's library find this week is the recently published Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Arachnophobes should look away, but everyone else will be charmed by this adorable critter.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed dealing with kids' homework (April 17, 2019); our kids' obsessions (April 18, 2019); and kids' stuff side hustles (April 18, 2022). Mentioned: Taylor Swift playlists and a Joe Diffie Hixtape.

Next week, we'll return to Reservation Dogs season 3, E7 ("Wahoo!") and E8 ("Send It"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we find that we're still involved in "youth" sports, even though our kids are well past the age of T-ball and tot soccer.

What we're watching: Reservation Dogs season 3 brought two very different episodes. "Deer Lady" gave us both the origin story of this character and a gut-wrenching look at Indian boarding school history. "Friday" bought comic relief with a day at the IHS clinic as the kids served their punishment for running away to California.

Catherine's library find this week is Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, the epic tale of a female aviator born in 1914. It's complex, sweeping, and full of adventure. Mentioned: Previous pick The Strange Case of Dr. Couney.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed saying no to naysaying (April 10, 2019); people asking us for help (April 11, 2017); and how we treat ourselves (April 14, 2016). Mentioned: The movie Champions, a PSA starring its actor Madison Tevlin, and a post Terri wrote on the same topic; Oat Nog and Oats Overnight.

Next week, we'll return to Reservation Dogs season 3, E5 ("House Made of Bongs") and E6 ("Frankfurter Sandwich"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri has been spiffing up her office by returning the walls to their original blank slate and adding a coffee and tea station. Mentioned: Electric kettles from Amazon Basics and Cuisinart.

What we're watching: We return to Reservation Dogs for season 3. The first two episodes, "BUSSIN'" and "Maximus," give Bear his spotlight and his odyssey into oddity and wisdom.

Catherine's library find this week is a follow-up to The World's Best Class Plant: This time, we meet Rick the Rock of Room 214, who wants to leave the classroom and go on an adventure out in the world. Rick's creators are author by Julie Falatko and illustrator Ruth Chan. Mentioned: Pet Rocks.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed birthday celebrations for big kids (April 5, 2023); family financial planning (April 4, 2022); and the last photo on our phones (April 6, 2017). Mentioned: IFoundaQuiltedHeart.com.

Next week, we'll return to Reservation Dogs season 3, E3 ("Deer Lady") and E4 ("Friday"). Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

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Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Cordless Electric Kettle, Stainless Steel

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri (a true Senior Swiftie) is watching the Eras Tour on Disney+ and marveling at the spectacle.

What we're watching: Also a spectacle, of a different kind, is season 3 of Girls5Eva. The gang goes on tour and tremendous silliness ensues, as you would expect from this show. Mentioned: Joe Reid at This Had Oscar Buzz.

Catherine's library find this week is a nonfiction series for kids called Whose Poo?. It's yet another example of smart people figuring out how to teach science and encourage reluctant readers through bodily functions.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed how to ruin kids' lives (March 25, 2019); anger management (March 26, 2018); and parent-friendly restaurant ratings (March 27, 2015). Mentioned: Annie Kurzweg and The Leighton Show on Instagram, HARDY's the mockingbird and THE CROW album, "Song for the Dumped" by Ben Folds Five, "Ben Franklin's Song" by the Decemberists, and an upcoming AppleTV+ series on Franklin.

Next week, we'll return to Reservation Dogs for season 3. We'll watch the first two episodes: "BUSSIN'" and "Maximus." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we are still trying to teach our kids about conveying urgency in their texts.

What we're watching: We finished season 2 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 9 ("Offerings") and 10 ("I Still Believe"), two more opportunities to weep through our laughter and cheer on the Rez Dogs as they finally make it all the way to California.

Catherine's library find this week is a sweet picture book called The World's Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao, and starring a surprisingly cool spider plant named Jerry.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed the perils of punctuality (March 18, 2021); (not) following your passion (March 18, 2020); and the sting of rejection (March 19, 2018). Mentioned: "I'm Just Ken" at the Oscars; our episode Working Hard, or Hardly Working?.

Next week, we'll watch Girls5Eva (which has moved to Netflix) and talk about all of season 3. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we start with a cautionary tale about baking your own bread: It could lead to an ER visit.

What we're watching: On season 2 of Reservation Dogs, episodes 7 ("Stay Gold Cheesy Boy") and 8 ("This Is Where the Plot Thickens") could not have been more different. One focused on Cheese and his big heart, and the other on Big and an unintentional acid trip that led to some real-life trippiness. We'd watch #7 again and again, and are delighted that it's in the Extra Hot Great Canon. But once was enough for #8.

Catherine's library find this week is The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved Thousands of American Babies by Dawn Raffel. It caught her eye because the author was one of Catherine's bosses at her first job after college. Plus, it does sound like a fascinating tale. Mentioned: Empire of the Sum and Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed a clickbait complaint (March 15, 2023); unsound sleep (March 14, 2019); and memorable birthdays (March 15, 2018).

Next week, we'll watch the final two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 2: E9 “Offerings" and E10 “I Still Believe.” Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, what happened in Vegas didn't stay there, as Catherine reported on her recent trip. Mentioned: Omega Mart.

What we're watching: We continued with season 2 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 5 and 6: "Wide Net" and "Decolonativization." We learned a little more about the aunties as they headed to an out-of-town conference, and an earnest pair of workshop presenters tried to help the teens learn more about themselves (without much success).

Catherine's library find this week, Slug in Love by Rachel Bright with illustrations by Nadia Shireen, prompted mention of other slug and pug books (Slug Needs a Hug, Doug the Pug, Pig the Pug) as well as reminiscences about some other faves, like Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo, both written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed neverending household tasks (March 10, 2021); launching a young adult (March 7, 2019); and Girl Scout cookies (March 8, 2018).

A correction: Last week, Catherine said she had learned of a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert scheduled for the afternoon. Turns out, the band in question was the Red Hot Chilli PIPERS, which makes a lot more sense (and frankly sounds a lot more fun).

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 2: E7 “Stay Gold Cheesy Boy" (which has been inducted into the Extra Hot Great Canon) and E8 “This Is Where the Plot Thickens.” Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri's making a Lenten sacrifice and exploring its technicalities. She may need to be more specific next year.

What we're watching: We continued with season 2 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 3 and 4: "Roofing" and "Mabel." Both had their share of humor as well as a hearty helping of melancholy and heartbreak, as Elora lost her grandmother but connected with their community.

Catherine's library find this week is actually her book club find that could become a library find for someone else. It's called Raft of Stars, by Andrew J. Graff, and it takes place in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Mentioned: Terri's current audiobook listen, From Cradle to Stage: Stories from Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars by Virginia Hanlon Grohl (mother of Dave Grohl, whose own book was a past Terri rec).

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed parenting-related job titles (March 1, 2021); bedtime quandaries (February 26, 2020); and our priorities as parents (March 1, 2017). Mentioned: Dog probiotics, Jamie Lee Curtis's viral plea for afternoon concerts, and VEEPS as another old-person option: Stream concerts from home instead!

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 2: E5 “Wide Net" and E6 “Decolonativization.” Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we discover that Catherine's children need a refresher on what a 529 college savings plan is, and possibly the number of a good attorney.

What we're watching: We started season 2 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 1 and 2: "The Curse" and "Run." As we predicted and feared, Jackie and Elora's journey does not go well. Meanwhile, back home, Willie Jack tries to reverse their bad luck with the (questionable) help of Bucky and Brownie.

Catherine's library find this week presents two books that kids might really enjoy, but that may teach some unsavory lessons: Ugly Animals by Laura Marsh and Animals That Make Me Say Ewww! by Dawn Cusick.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed admin club (February 19, 2020); mom friendships (February 19, 2018); and NSFW music (February 22, 2016). Mentioned: HARDY's "Radio Song" and "Ben Franklin's Song" from the Hamilton Mixtape.

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 2: E3 "Roofing" and E4 "Mabel." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we report on our preparedness (or lack thereof) for Valentine's Day. We love you, dear listeners!

What we're watching: We finished season 1 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 7 and 8: "California Dreamin'" and "Satvrday." These were both heartbreaking in their own way. We're glad we can roll right on into season 2 and find out what happens to the fracturing friend group next.

Catherine's library find this week is not something to read, but something to eat: Bobo's PB&J Oat Snacks, discovered in the break room. They're a tasty cross between an oatmeal cookie and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed the medical test gauntlet (February 15, 2023); what's in our freezers (February 15, 2018); and volunteer work (February 12, 2016). Mentioned: Yasso Greek yogurt bars, the DEF Reset.

Next week, we'll watch the first two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 2: "The Curse" and "Run." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, it's the conclusion (we hope!) of the renovations and room-switcherooing at Terri's house.

What we're watching: We continued with season 1 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 5 and 6: "Come and Get Your Love," which focused on Cheese and Big and introduced the Deer Lady; and "Hunting," a moving portrait of Willie Jack's relationship with her dad. While we missed Bear and Elora, we liked the deeper dive into these other characters, and know that we'll see the others again soon. Mentioned: Vulture recaps of episode 5 and episode 6.

Catherine's library find this week is a fractured fairy tale called Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs by Davide Cali. Let's just say parents will relate to the decision Snow White ultimately makes (and the illustrations, by Raphaelle Barbanegre, are amazing).

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed what our kids are watching on TV (February 8, 2023); how kids change their parents (February 2, 2022); and parenting-related reality TV challenges (February 6, 2020). Mentioned: The West Wing Weekly podcast and What's Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service, a forthcoming book by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack.

Next week, we'll watch the final two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 1: "California Dreamin'" and "Satvrday." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, it's musical bedrooms at Terri's house, and she now has her very own office!

What we're watching: We continued with season 1 of Reservation Dogs with episodes 3 and 4 ("Uncle Brownie" and "What About Your Dad"). The kids are having a rough go of it, but the show remains quite enjoyable to watch.

We also spent some time discussing the Oscar nominees and not-nominees. Mentioned: Drinks with Broads, the Fug Girls' newsletter that makes for a great accompaniment to, or substitute for, watching awards shows on TV.

Catherine's library find this week is not a book, but a website called Book Marks, which is an aggregator of book reviews. Use it to quickly check the critical consensus on a book you're curious about. Or just read the Most Scathing Book Reviews of 2023.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed support without smothering (February 2, 2023); the misery of making phone calls, volume 1 (January 29, 2020) and volume 2 (February 4, 2019); and teaching kids resilience (January 29, 2018). Mentioned: The EconTalk podcast discussing the book Fluke by Brian Klaas.

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 1: Episode 5, "Come and Get Your Love," and 6, "Hunting." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, winter has arrived, and none of our dogs are all that happy about it.

What we're watching: We kicked off a new TV series this week, watching the first two episodes of season 1 of Reservation Dogs ("Fckin' Rez Dogs" and "NDN Cinic"). We can already see that the rave reviews are justified. Mentioned: Primo and Rutherford Falls*.

Catherine's library find this week goes crafty again with Cross-Stitch with Cattitude: 20 Pawsome Designs by Emma Congdon. Terri was once very into cross-stitching, but she's now holding out for dog themes and the large-print version of cross-stitch. Mentioned: The Old Place by podcaster Bobby Finger andDust Child.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed being on call for our kids (January 26, 2022), family-watching (January 27, 2020), and being a grown-up (January 22, 2016). Mentioned: A BuzzFeed listicle and The Divorce Seekers: The Intimate True Story of a Nevada Divorce Ranch Wrangler.

Next week, we'll watch the next two episodes of Reservation Dogs, season 1: Episode 3, "Uncle Brownie," and 4, "What About Your Dad." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, please forgive Terri's squeaky, scratchy voice. She's not contagious through your podcast player.

What we're watching: The movie The Holdovers, which is on an awards-season roll so far, was moving, affecting, and sad. We say you should grab a box of tissues and watch it.

Catherine's library find this week is all about the visuals, with picture books starring both adorable and elegant animals: The Perfect Siesta by Pato Mena, Fish and Crab by Marianna Coppo, and Animal Portraits by Lucie Brunelliere.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed unhelpful helping (January 15, 2020), other people's parenting (January 15, 2018), and texts to new parents (January 17, 2022).

Next week, we'll start a series watch of Reservation Dogs (on Hulu) with the first two episodes of season 1: "F*ckin Rez Dogs" and "NDN Clinic." Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we catch you up on our winter-break adventures (which were less wintry than in years past).

What we're watching: Instead of watching something together, we reported on what we consumed during our time off. Catherine saw the movie The Boys in the Boat in an actual theater with multiple generations of family members. It's exactly the sort of movie that it sounds like it should be from that setup: historical, inspirational, Oscar-bait-y. Mission accomplished, Director George Clooney!

Catherine also watched Asteroid City (on an airplane, which seems appropriate for this film set in a space-obsessed 1950s desert town). It's star-studded, with the Wes Anderson Quirk dial turned up to the max. Mentioned: The Afterparty's season 2 episode, "Hannah."

Meanwhile, Terri subscribed to VEEPS, a streaming service that allows her to watch live and recorded concerts. She's checked out old favorites like HARDY and discovered new artists too, including The Summer Set and Something Corporate. It's a great value for the money if you love music but in-person concerts are not as fun as they used to be.

Catherine's library find this week is a subset of the familiar Choose Your Own Adventure series. Did you know you can Choose Your Own Nightmare?! We'd rather not, but can imagine the appeal this might hold for some tweens and teens.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed parenting rites of passage (January 12, 2022), empty-nest careers (January 14, 2021), and real-life FastPasses (January 12, 2016).

Next week, we'll watch the movie The Holdovers, which you can find on Peacock, Amazon Prime, and maybe even in your local movie theater. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, some of our kids are moving back and forth from college, and one is moving down to the basement apartment... little by little.

What we're watching: On The Gilded Age, there were many winners and a few losers in the season 2 finale, "In Terms of Winning and Losing." While we're sad that the show has not (as yet) been renewed for season 3, we also kind of wouldn't mind letting these characters stay where they landed in this episode.

We also watched the movie Quiz Lady, which you can find on Hulu. It stars Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as a pair of sisters, but the twist is that Sandra Oh is the screw-up and Awkwafina is the straitlaced one. The movie also has enough fun little twists (plus dogs!) to make it a lot of fun.

Catherine's library find this week is Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. It's the first in a series about a mom and suspense novelist who gets mixed up in some real-life crime, with her trusty babysitter as her sidekick.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed parenting trends to take or leave (December 21, 2021), parenting trends of the decade (December 18, 2019), crazy jobs and crazier elves (December 18, 2015), and our very first episode: Holiday Parenting Joys and Jangles (December 18, 2013; be warned that the production quality is best described as "primitive").

We're taking the next two weeks off for the holidays (we think we've earned it, after 10 years!). We'll be back in January. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available. Happy New Year!

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine's stressing through finals week from a distance.

What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, Xochitl Gomez took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, so it's another win for the teens. Good for her, but a big fat BOO to the judges for not giving Alyson Hannigan a full set of courtesy 10s for her freestyle dance.

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 7, “Wonders Never Cease," but neither do big problems like your brand-new husband dying and your son getting scammed out of all your money. This was a very bad week for the Brook/Van Rhijn sisters.

Catherine's library find this week is actually a book she copyedited, not one she found on the library shelves. But she hopes you'll check out this warm, lively middle-grade novel starring a tween boy who learns to look at dance in a new way. It's called The Rings of Jeffrey, and it's by Nello McDaniel.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed how parents can pay it forward (December 14, 2020), holiday gifts for pets (December 14, 2018), and morning woes (December 11, 2015).

Next week, our TV watch will cover the Gilded Age season finale, "In Terms of Winning and Losing" (S2 E8). We'll also watch the movie Quiz Lady, which you can find on Hulu. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we have a happy update to Terri's dog-boarding dilemma. Cousin dog to the rescue!

What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, we went from a (not so) shocking elimination to a kinda shocking non-elimination, as all five semi-finalists went through to the finale. Go, Alyson and Sasha! And Ariana and Pasha! And Jason and Daniella! And Xochitl and Val! And even Charity and Artem!

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 6, “Warning Shots" were fired in both the union battles and the opera wars, Ada's honeymoon ended very abruptly, and Marian was put on the spot in the worst way.

Catherine's library find this week is both a book and a concept: Folded Book Art. We agree that it looks very cool, but you probably won't find us trying it ourselves.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed our kids' special skills (December 5, 2022), our own parenting skills (December 4, 2015), and what makes a good-enough Christmas (December 5, 2019).

Next week, our TV watch will cover the Dancing with the Stars finale and "Wonders Never Cease" (S2 E7) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine reported on her recent Airbnb stay, which didn't sway Terri at all from her "not for me" position.

What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, it was Taylor Swift Night and, at long last, the exit of Harry Jowsey. Mentioned: A report that Harry asked to leave in place of Lele Pons, and a theory that Swiftie wrath is what finally took him out.

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 5, “Close Enough to Touch," things got scary for Peggy (as we predicted), watchful Watson saved Bertha's dinner for the Duke from Turner's amateur-hour machinations, and Aunt Ada got married! Mentioned: The book The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah; the true story of Emily Warren Roebling, who secretly took over her husband's role as chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Catherine's library find this week is a funny picture book that asks the question: What would happen if Grandpa really did get your schnozz when playing the classic game of Got Your Nose!?

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed how influential we are (December 1, 2022), family splurges (December 2, 2021), and all we want for Christmas (December 2, 2019).

Next week, our TV watch will cover the Dancing with the Stars semi-finals and "Warning Shots" (S2 E6) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, we started with an update from Terri on her broken wrist and how her recovery is progressing. She still does not recommend breaking a bone.

What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, it was Whitney Houston Night and Barry Williams danced his last, after a good long run. Kudos to you, Greg Brady!

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 4, "His Grace the Duke," saw more Opera Warring, romantic entanglements beginning and ending, and the start of Bertha's takedown of her former maid, Turner.

Catherine's library find this week is in the who knew?? category: It's series of thrillers based on the famed (at least locally) Lake Geneva mailboat. It's called, of course, the Mailboat Suspense series.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed finding positive places online (November 23, 2020), gratitude for those who co-parent with us (November 25, 2019), and what we're thankful for (November 22, 2018). Mentioned: Heidi Wrangles Cats, anIcebreaker-inspired TikTok, and its predecessor, the movie Cutting Edge.

Next week, our TV watch will cover Taylor Swift Night on Dancing with the Stars and "Close Enough to Touch" (S2 E5) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, we started by learning about the specialized profession of library moving, and Terri came up with an idea for a new TV show.

What we're watching: On Dancing with the Stars, Music Video Night brought us some literal and some more creative interpretations of iconic music videos, plus Paula Abdul judging (we'd like to keep her on the panel, please!).

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 3, "Head to Head," it's date night at a terrible play and, as Ward McAllister, Nathan Lane plays 19th-century Frogger literally and figuratively as the Opera Wars heat up.

Catherine's library find this week is a picture book celebrating a holiday that doesn't get much attention in little-kid lit: Yom Kippur. It's Big Bad Wolf's Yom Kippur by David Sherrin, illustrated by Martín Morón (see a reading on YouTube).

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed unnatural consequences (November 14, 2022), mom flexes (November 15, 2021), and habit-breaking and habit-forming (November 13, 2019).

Next week, our TV watch will cover Whitney Houston Night on Dancing with the Stars and "His Grace the Duke" (S2 E4) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, we discuss the challenges of dog boarding and the implications for family travel as the winter holidays approach.

What we're watching: As always, Dancing with the Stars went all in for Halloween with "Monster Night," with the costuming, hair, and makeup departments working even more overtime than usual (but we still think the scariest dance was when Frankie Muniz played a stalker with very little assistance from hair and makeup).

On The Gilded Age, season 2, episode 2, "Some Sort of Trick," featured a great deal of romantical intrigue, with current, past, and possibly future pursuers and partners turning up left and right. Mentioned: The official Gilded Age podcast from HBO.

Catherine's library find this week was more TV: A series called Jamestown about the early English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, from (some of) the creators of Downton Abbey.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed family to-do lists (November 9, 2022), holiday happenings and headaches (November 10, 2021), and the importance of having a vent buddy (November 7, 2019).

Next week, our TV watch will cover Music Video Night on Dancing with the Stars and "Head to Head" (S2 E3) on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, Catherine is sorely tempted by some very cute kittens (it's easy because they live 2,000 miles away). Mentioned: Heidi Wrangles Cats on Instagram.

What we're watching: It was time for that Dancing with the Stars staple, "My Most Memorable Year." As always, that meant lots of emotional, barefoot contemporary dances (and a bunch of Viennese waltzes) followed by judging that seems extra harsh, what with all the hearts on all the sleeves.

We also returned to The Gilded Age with season 2, episode 1: "You Don't Even Like Opera." Once again, there is scheming, secrets, and many, many elaborate hats. Mentioned: Commentary on the show from the Fug Girls (on their website for season 1 and their Substack for season 2) and Alan Sepinwall at Rolling Stone.

Catherine's library find this week spotlights a series called the Food Group, from illustrator Pete Oswald and author Jory John. Check out The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, The Big Cheese, and many more.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed signs of senior-parent-itis (October 31, 2022), Halloween hassles (October 31, 2019), and the scariest places we've been (November 1, 2016).

Next week, our TV watch will cover "Monster Night" (Halloween) on Dancing with the Stars, and "Some Sort of Trick" on The Gilded Age. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri gives us the low-down on the perfectly pleasant walk that turned into a broken wrist and a bunch of other bumps and bruises--and caused us to skip a week of podcasting for the first time in forever.

What we're watching: We quickly discussed two weeks' worth of Dancing with the Stars: Motown Night (aka Wig Night) and Disney 100 Night (aka a car commercial/people in varying degrees of very literal costumes).

We also watched Champions, starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlyn Olson, and a delightful cast of actors with intellectual disabilities portraying a team of basketball players. Shout-out to Kevin Iannucci, Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, James Day Keith, Tom Sinclair, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, and Bradley Edens. We loved watching them and hope this leads to many more roles for them.

Catherine's library find owes a lot to potty humor. We've got The Big Bang and Other Farts: A Blast from the Past by Daisy Bird, along with No One Likes a Fart by Zoe Foster Blake and Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed gifts for moms of teens and young adults (October 26, 2020), parenting "Would You Rather?" questions (October 28, 2019), and awards beyond "valedictorian" (October 23, 2017).

Next week, our TV watch will cover "Most Memorable Year" on Dancing with the Stars, and we'll return to The Gilded Age: Season 2 debuts October 29. Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available!

On our latest weekly roundup, Terri shares some decluttering success stories, including finding a loving home for her vintage record albums.

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building's season finale, "Opening Night" (episode 9), we learn whodunit (that is, the multiple whos who done it) and question the wisdom of having very serious conversations in the wings while a show is underway on stage. Plus, of course, the next murder in the building happens, so we're ready for season 4.

On Dancing with the Stars, it was Latin Night, or as Terri called it, "Dresses with Sleeves Night." Bruno continued to impress (?) with his collection of mesh shirts, and there were quite a few enjoyable, well-done dances.

Catherine's library find this week is books on the amigurumi craft craze. Therein, you can find instructions on how to crochet everything from a doughnut-shaped unicorn to Mr. T to a whole family of dinosaurs.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed how volunteering can be a runaway train (that we've successfully disembarked from; October 10, 2019), care packages for kids (October 9, 2019), and digital hoarding (October 9, 2017).

Note: After this episode was recorded, but before Terri edited it, she fell and broke her wrist. So if the editing on this episode is even less professional than usual, have mercy. Next week we will be off while Terri has surgery and recovers. We will be back the week after with stories—you can bet on that.

When we come back, our TV watch will cover Motown and Disney nights on Dancing with the Stars as well as the movie Champions. While we're gone (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

On our latest weekly roundup, we are once again grateful that we don't have to deal with all the logistics surrounding high school events (even though we have a front-row seat to some of them).

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building's "Thirty" (episode 9), the trio started to close in on Ben's killer (killers?). We were quite proud of some of the predictions and connections we made last week, as well as those discussed over on Drinks with Broads, the Substack from the Fug Girls.

We also did get the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars after all, and found it enjoyable even at two and a half hours long. So many dances! Mentioned: Jason Mraz's songs "Lucky" (featuring Colbie Caillat) and "I'm Yours."

Catherine's library find this week highlights the cozy mystery phenomenon, especially the punnily titled food-themed books. There's one for everyone!

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed what cheers us up (October 8, 2020), Apple Watch features for parents (October 7, 2019, and October 6, 2022), and children's books we've loved and loathed (October 2, 2015).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S3 E10 of Only Murders in the Building (“Opening Night,” the finale!) and "Latin Night" on Dancing with the Stars. If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

On our latest weekly roundup, we checked out a celebrity charity auction on eBay. Proceeds are going to support striking actors and writers, but we think the potential for awkwardness is rather high.

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "Sitzprobe" (episode 8), set at a rehearsal for Oliver's musical, was fittingly filled with drama. The highlight was Charles successfully singing the "Pickwick Triplets" patter song, which you can view on YouTube (earworm alert!!). You can also check out the lyrics on Mashable or listen on Spotify.

We also previewed the 32nd season of Dancing with the Stars, which is set to premiere tonight (September 26), but is in danger of being disrupted by the aforementioned WGA strike.

Catherine's library find this week is a two-fer: For adults, we're intrigued by a niche nonfiction title called Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close by Hannah Carlson. And for kids, who wouldn't want to read about an anthropomorphic ball of lint called Linty? That's Linty: A Pocketful of Adventure by Mike Shiell.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed parenting in the past vs. the present (September 28, 2020), what our kids do and don't tell us (September 25, 2019), and what reality shows we'd want to be on (September 26, 2017).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S3 E9 of Only Murders in the Building (“Thirty”) and the first episode of Dancing with the Stars, if it happens. If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

On our latest weekly roundup, we celebrated some decluttering triumphs (even as we know this is a job that never ends).

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "CoBro" did bring us some more details that we should probably use to figure out what happened to Ben. But we were more excited by the return of some old favorites (Theo! Uma!) and a few superstar guests.

Continuing our theatre theme, we checked out Ben Platt and Molly Gordon's Theater Camp, a mockumentary set at ... well, you can guess. It was fun and funny, but not exactly fresh. Mentioned: Return to Me.

Catherine's library find this week (speaking of stars) calls back to one of our previous TV watches, Parks and Recreation. Did you know there's a children's picture book called Parks and Recreation: Leslie for Class President? There is! You can also check out The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we discussed tag-team parenting (September 20, 2021), managing stress and worry (September 19, 2019), and the sacredness of routine (September 23, 2016). The podcast Terri mentioned is the "Overcoming Anxiety" episode of Daily Rosary Meditations. She also mentioned Kitty's Morning Glories daily rosary and the Structured app, as well as Artful Agenda, a digital planner we both use.

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S3 E8 of Only Murders in the Building (“Sitzprobe”) and a preview of the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

Parks and Recreation: Leslie for Class President!

The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary

On our latest weekly roundup, we don't have any kids in public school anymore, but we can still complain about back-to-school issues like traffic and loud robot voices.

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "Ghost Light" was entertaining but entirely expendable; we're no closer to knowing whodunit. On The Afterparty, we do now know whodunit, although we're not exactly convinced the show's writers didn't just throw a dart at the murder board and then work backwards from there.

Catherine's library find this week shifts to nonfiction for adults, with two titles of note. One is scary (100 Animals That Will Fing End You) and one sounds like an absolute delight: Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator. It's by Keith Houston, who also wrote Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks*. Terri is very disappointed that she can't listen to these immediately as audiobooks.

In the archives, we revisit episodes in which we complained about kids' toys (September 15, 2021), financial surprises (September 11, 2019), and physical pain (September 12, 2017).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S3 E7 of Only Murders in the Building (“CoBro”) and the movie Theatre Camp. If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we have questions about when to notice someone else's hairstyle, and what to do when someone notices yours.

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "Ah, Love!" upended two relationships and (maybe) kicked off a third, while (maybe) exonerating one suspect and lining the next one up. On The Afterparty, "Isabel" finally allowed Elizabeth Perkins to have some fun, and cast some serious shade on murder victim Edgar.

Catherine's library find this week is another questionable nonfiction series for kids: Scary Places, with titles like Creepy Castles, Eerie Parks and Playgrounds, Abandoned Insane Asylums, and many, many more.

In the archives, we revisit chats on reality-show challenges for parents (September 6, 2021), making our kids' lives easier (September 5, 2019), and sibling jealousy (September 8, 2017).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E10 of The Afterparty ("Zoe and Vivian," the season finale) and S3 E6 of Only Murders in the Building (“Ghost Light”). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we have a special guest star. Nicole is back for a cameo appearance!

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "The White Room" was not about expensive Manhattan real estate, but about stage fright (and there was a catchy song). On The Afterparty, "Feng" brought some surprising subtlety from Ken Jeong, even in the midst of a lot of TikTok videos.

Catherine's library find this week is another nonfiction series for kids that she found disturbing—actually, there are at least two series in the same vein, so we have concerns. Mentioned: "The Wolverines" on Saturday Night Live from October 11, 1975, and whether gophers and groundhogs are the same critters.

In the archives, we revisit chats on our best school strategies (September 2, 2021), back-to-school emotions (September 3, 2020), and what was left out of the parenting manual (August 28, 2015).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E9 of The Afterparty ("Isabel") and S3 E5 of Only Murders in the Building (“Ah, Love!”). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we check in on a couple of milestones: losing a landline and gaining a new capacity for passive-aggressive commentary.

What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "Grab Your Hankies" brought some quite awkward efforts at investigating Ben's murder (involving hiding in curiously roomy furniture and asking transparent questions). On The Afterparty, "Ulysses" gave us a melodramatic dance movie send-up and some shady behavior from Zoe's family.

Catherine's library find this week isCutting Teeth by Chandler Baker. This mystery/thriller novel's flap copy grabbed her attention with its talk of bloodthirsty, murderous four-year-olds. Yes, preschoolers!

In the archives, we revisit chats on spending priorities (August 22, 2022), the costs of raising kids (August 21, 2019), and the school-supply scavenger hunt (August 27, 2014).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E8 of The Afterparty ("Feng") and S3 E4 of Only Murders in the Building (“The White Room”). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we check in on social events, with kids and without; at this point, sharing a fast-food lunch with a friend is a special treat.

What we're watching: Only Murders in the Building is back! Season 3 started with a fake-out death and then a real murder that was, conveniently, in the building. We're looking forward to following along as our heroes solve the mystery. On The Afterparty, this week's episode, "Danner's Fire," gave us very little to go on in terms of mystery-solving, so we felt pretty cheated.

Catherine's library find this week is a children's book that you have to see to appreciate. It's Lou, the story of an anthropomorphic fire hydrant.

In the archives, we revisit chats on pride and parenting (August 15, 2022), college in the olden days (August 16, 2021), and kids' activities we enjoyed (August 17, 2018).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E7 of The Afterparty ("Ulysses") and S3 E3 of Only Murders in the Building (“Grab Your Hankies”). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we check in with our furry family members. Terri's dog is making friends, and Catherine's are making enemies.

What we're watching: On The Afterparty, this week's episode, "Sebastian," was a heist caper, complete with double-crosses, switcheroos, and high-stakes Connect 4 games. On Brothers & Sisters, "Prior Commitments" brought us another wedding, and another secret sibling?!

Catherine's library find this week is a heavy, expensive-looking coffee table book featuring black-and-white portraits of chickens accompanied by quotations from literary classics. How are the two connected? Literary Chickens leaves that up to the reader.

In the archives, we revisit chats on the emptying nest (August 12, 2021), those little-kid days (August 13, 2018), and summer transitions (August 7, 2015).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E6 of The Afterparty ("Danner's Fire") and the season premiere of Only Murders in the Building, which is back for season 3 (the episode is "The Show Must..."). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On our latest weekly roundup, we start with the unavoidable cultural onslaught that is Barbie, the movie (which allowed us to reminisce about the Barbies of our youth). Mentioned: One of Greta Gerwig's previous movies, Lady Bird, which we discussed back in 2018.

What we're watching: We continue with The Afterparty's "Hannah," a pitch-perfect take on Wes Anderson films that introduces some important new information, but doesn't seem to bring us closer to discovering the killer. On Brothers & Sisters, season 2 hurtles to its conclusion by tossing out or reversing just about everyone's storyline.

Catherine's library finds include one cynical pick, the Behind the Brand series for young titans of industry, and one adorable one: The fruit and veggie tales of Jared Chapman (Vegetables in Underwear, Vegetables in Pajamas, and Fruits in Suits).

In the archives, we revisit chats on what's keeping us up at night (August 3, 2022), our teamwork dreams (August 4, 2021), and household hacks (August 3, 2020). Mentioned: Oats Overnight.

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E5 of The Afterparty ("Sebastian") and S2 E16 of Brothers & Sisters ("Prior Commitments"). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

On Parenting Roundabout's weekly roundup this week, we chat about the generational divide when it comes to laptop stickers (Terri's sticking with Gelaskins, but Catherine's pondering some individual stickers, like a young person).

What we're watching: We continue with The Afterparty's "Travis," a film noir from the POV of Grace's ex, hat-wearing Travis. Then, on Brothers & Sisters, the Secret Sister plot that drove the story from almost the very first episode is upended, leaving us wondering what we've been doing this whole time.

Catherine's library find brings us to the world of Amish romance novels and mysteries. Who knew? Wanda Brunstetter, for one; she's written over 100 novels set in the Amish world.

In the archives, we revisit chats on competitive mom bragging (July 24, 2019), shared responsibility for projects (July 27, 2022), and family bonding (July 27, 2020).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E4 of The Afterparty ("Hannah") and S2 E15 of Brothers and Sisters ("Moral Hazard"). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

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Welcome to Parenting Roundabout 5.0! (4.0? 6.0? Who knows!) Now that we are just a duo, and the last of our collective children has turned 18, we're going to discuss parenting in a more roundabout way. Each week, we'll bring you:
Parenting chat and updates, since parenting never ends. This week: a new driver and dorm décor. * What we're watching, a continuation of our Round 2 episodes. This week: The Afterparty, season 2, episodes 1 and 2 ("Aniq: The Sequel" and "Grace") and Brothers & Sisters, season 2, episode 13 ("Separation Anxiety"). * Catherine's library finds, a new segment highlighting some of the interesting and unusual items that Catherine encounters at her workplace. This week: Les Miserables, a BabyLit French Language Primer. * What were we talking about?*, a stroll through our extensive archives. This week: Kids and money—some things never change—with stops at 5 Ways to Annoy Teens and Young Adults (July 21, 2022); The Slow, Bumpy Road to Independence (July 22, 2020); and Kids and Money, Money, Money (July 22, 2016).

We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E3 of The Afterparty ("Travis") and S2 E14 of Brothers and Sisters ("Double Negative"). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

Nicole is leaving us (sob!), so this week she is sharing some of her favorite episodes from our years (and years, and years!) of podcasting together. Today's farewell memory comes from March 23, 2020. Remember March 2020? This is a historical document!

We check in on life under lockdown in California, New Jersey, and the Midwest. We're united in our lack of toilet paper and our surplus of people in our space while we try to work.

Terri and Catherine are not going away, but they will be changing up the podcast format. Tune in on Tuesday, July 18, for a new episode.

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Nicole is leaving us (sob!), so this week she is sharing some of her favorite episodes from our years (and years, and years!) of podcasting together. Today's farewell memory comes from January 8, 2018; we've piled on a lot more episodes since then.

We reflect on our 200 podcast episodes to date. My, how we've changed, and grown, and spent a whoooole lot of time talking.

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Nicole is leaving us (sob!), so this week she is sharing some of her favorite episodes from our years (and years, and years!) of podcasting together. Today's farewell memory comes from June 13, 2022.

Nicole's dog, Missy, passed away recently. Since she's been a presence on the podcast over the years, today's episode is all about Missy and her exploits. It won't be the same without her.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we followed Sally Field from Pasadena to Boston and watched the movie 80 for Brady (also starring Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Lily Tomlin). It's pure cameo-filled fantasy, but also a lot of fun.

As usual, Brothers and Sisters was less fun, but both Sarah and Kevin did seem to get a win so we'll take it. Next up, S2 E13, "Separation Anxiety." We'll also get into season 2 of The Afterparty with the first two episodes (dropping July 12), "Aniq 2: The Sequel" and "Grace." After that, we'll watch one episode a week, as they drop. We'll also be dropping a new format next week, so stay tuned for that!

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Remember last week, when Nicole mentioned driving all over the state of California? That's due to her new work schedule, and it means she won't be able to podcast with us anymore. So this week she is going to share some of her favorite episodes from our years (and years, and years!) of podcasting together. Today's farewell memory comes from April 12, 2021.

It's our version of the old TLC show "A Baby Story"! Your three podcasters have three very different birth and adoption stories, each with their challenges--but all with a happy ending. Listen for our tales of hives; hyperemesis; planes, trains, and automobiles; and Johnny Depp.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's listening to the Something Was Wrong podcast on long drives. Terri's keeping her new dog clean with Well & Good Gently Clean Dental Wipes and Deodorizing Dog Wipes. And Catherine's keeping her feet happy with Allbirds Women's Tree Flyers.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

An article about a mom who's taken up skateboarding to share that activity with her kids got us obsessing about how far we would (or, more likely, would not) go to get that quality time. Mentioned: The Finland Ice Marathon.

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The blowback from a TikTok video prompted us to complain about people who can't understand why a parent might tiptoe into their child's room once in a while and tidy up a little bit. Just a little!

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Primo's first season (of many, we hope!) comes to an end with two sweet love stories and plenty of silly uncle shenanigans.

Of course, there are always shenanigans with the Walker family on Brothers and Sisters, and this episode is no exception (although at least Nora had the sense to go on a date without her family in tow). Next: S2 E12, "Compromises." We'll also watch the movie 80 for Brady, given that it stars actors from two of our long-term watches: Sally Field and Rita Moreno.

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Terri's home is dog-less no more. Welcome, Layla! (Mentioned: Petfinder, which is a helpful way to look longingly at prospective pets in near-to-you shelters.)

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Find out which of us describes her child's interior design as "Hoarders-themed," and which one had to censor her kid's posters with a Sharpie.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from September 2019.

Nicole is reeling from a string of unexpected, untimely bills, giving us a reason to complain about unnecessary emergency-room visits, overly thorough car mechanics, and other surprise hits to our budgets.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out Edmund Unravels by Andrew Kolb, a children's book with an unlikely hero. Nicole's learning new things with the Imprint app, and Terri's fandoms unite in the song "Taylor Swift" by Walker Hayes.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

An article in which a mom claimed to "never" force her kids to attend family events got us obsessing about the precarious balancing act of good manners, familial duty, and kids' autonomy.

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After noticing an uptick of requests for gifts on social media (and car windows), we mildly complain about this practice, which is really just the millennial version of sending out formal announcements for life events.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we're still charmed by Primo (performances, relationships, plots―all of it!) and already sad about the fact that there are only two episodes left in this season: E7, "The Recruitment Fair," and E8, "What?"

It's status quo, too, on Brothers and Sisters, as a family dinner turns into a litany of secrets revealed in front of an unsuspecting potential romantic partner. These people will never learn. Next: S2 E11, "The Missionary Imposition" (groan).

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We reached way back into the mental archives to talk about how to manage a parent-child energy-level mismatch. Godspeed, parents of little ones! Mentioned: Last week's shout-out of an icy activity.

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Parents (and therapists) from past generations have passed on some truly crummy wisdom. We've totally gotten over resenting them for it, sure!

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from September 2019.

We follow up last week's food fight chat with more on WW (formerly known as WeightWatchers): How it works (or doesn't) for us, how it could be improved, and how in the world they thought "WW for kids" was a good idea.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole found some fun earrings that are perfect for Palm Springs. Terri found an unusual use for a doggie bandana. And Catherine found a special treat at Costco: Girl Scout Thin Mints Pretzels. Also mentioned: more neckwear, from Coolibar.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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It's a fact of parenting life: Kids try things, and they quit things. With the benefit of hindsight, we obsessed about all the trying and quitting our kids have done over the years, and how they feel about it now.

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An article on NPR caught our eye with the promising title "Anti-dopamine parenting can curb a kid's craving for screens or sweets." (Can it also curb an adult's craving, we wondered?) The advice within is quite reasonable, but we still managed to complain about how when our kids were little, we didn't even have screens for them to crave. Mentioned: A screen-free activity that held a toddler's attention for a solid hour.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Primo continues to delight with its lived-in family situations, charming characters, and funny jokes. Next: S1 E5, "The Carnival," and E6, "The Candy Bar."

Brothers and Sisters' Walker clan also has plenty of family situations, but they're more outlandish than lived-in, and a precious few characters are charming. Nevertheless, we persist, and move on to S2 E10, “The Feast of Epiphany.”

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We are super proud of our kids' big accomplishments, like earning diplomas and degrees. But we're also very proud of the little things, like showing up for a roommate, being a good sport, and sending a thank-you note.

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

After discussing our inadequacies as pet parents, we moved on to talk about another thing we're not that great at.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from September 2019.

We try to set our kids up for success, one storage bin and phone alarm at a time. But they don't always appreciate (or, let's face it: notice) our efforts.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's singing the praises of Biofreeze patches for your aches and pains, while Nicole's back with another comfy shoe: The Flexy flats from Naturalizer (mentioned: this basketball game played in pumps TV commercial ... which was actually for a different brand. Sorry, Easy Spirit!). Terri's shopping for religious items at Autom and recommends it for your religious gift-giving needs.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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An episode of Ted Lasso that highlighted all the ways parents might damage their kids (as in the Philip Larkin poem Mae quotes, "This Be the Verse") got us obsessing about what our kids might say to us about their upbringing, and the beefs we still have with our own parents.

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A fracas over fish got us complaining about dumb fights with family members: What they're really about, and why they aren't as effective as the tantrums our own moms threw.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we found that Primo deserves all the paise it's been getting, and we're looking forward to watching the rest of season 1. Next: S1 E3, "The Ride Home," and E4, "The Game Champ."

On Brothers and Sisters, we can't say we're looking forward to the many episodes to come, exactly, but at least this one bought the A-list guest stars. Next: S2 E9, "Holy Matrimony!"

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With graduation behind us and warm weather here, we talk about our summer projects, from big (new job! College move-in prep!) to just-the-right size (traveling to Trenton, New Jersey and drinking plenty of water).

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It's usually unfair to teachers to blow off homework. But you can find a way to make it work better for your child. Mentioned: Our interview with Meghan Corridan in episode 182.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from September 2019.

We complain about how hard it is for people with different priorities, preferences, and metabolisms to share a kitchen.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's shouting out the Special Olympics on the occasion of the New Jersey summer games. You can participate, volunteer, or just cheer on the athletes at an event near you. Nicole's listening to a podcast called Scamanda about a scammer named Amanda (see what they did there?), while Catherine's family is jumping on the charcuterie board train with the help of Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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We're observing this apparent holiday a week late, which tracks with our general attitude toward making and keeping New Year's resolutions. Mentioned: Kitty's Morning Glories daily rosary, Artful Agenda, and Dance & Co.

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Increasingly desperate sales pitches from a graduation photographer got us complaining (and, OK, sometimes celebrating) the corny pictures pressed upon parents from school, sports teams, and more.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we said "so long" to Ted Lasso and Ted Lasso after three seasons. While not everyone liked this finale (ahem, Alan Sepinwall), we thought it had many beautiful, funny, and touching moments, and we'll miss these characters a lot. Mentioned: Shrinking (and Bill Lawrence's involvement in both shows).

On Brothers and Sisters, the Walker family takes on a DIY detox for Justin, which apparently works? They'll neve shake their need to spill each other's secrets, though. Next: S2 E8, “Something New.” And something new for us too: Primo, on Amazon Freevee (free with ads even if you don't have Amazon Prime). It’s a “coming-of-age comedy” about a teen in Texas being raised by his mom and her five brothers. We'll watch S1 E1, "Big Eyes," and S1 E2. "The Cookout."

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After four very long years, we have two newly minted graduates: Nicole's daughter from university and Catherine's son from high school. Their internet auntie, Terri, cheered them on from afar.

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. This one is from 2017 and follows up on yesterday's summer camp theme.

On today's episode: You'll never guess what Catherine's kids are taking to camp along with the bug spray and sleeping bags.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

AMC Theaters' Summer Movie Camp got us talking: What other businesses would we like to see offer a summer deal for kids? We're ready to drop our children off at any shopping mall, bowling alley, ice rink, or hair salon that will take them.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Both Nicole and Catherine are sharing cute summer shoes they found on Amazon: a two-band braided low block heel and a flat gladiator sandal. And when Terri's son recommended frosted brown sugar cinnamon Pop-Tarts to her, she decided she needed to pass that rec on to you.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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An article that waxed nostalgic about kids' book collections got us obsessing about what we've hung on to from our kids' teen years (and even our own).

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A truly sad advice column question at Slate got us complaining about mean girls and what to do about them, in your kids' lives and in your own. Step 1: Don't live in a small town.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Ted Lasso approaches the end of season 3 (and possibly the entire series) with an episode that could alternatively be titled "Parents: They'll Mess You Up." Mentioned: The Philip Larkin poem Mae recites to Ted, "This Be the Verse," and Alan Sepinwall and the commenters on his Substack newsletter. Next: S3 E12, "So Long, Farewell."

On Brothers and Sisters, the brothers currently are doing more messing up than the parents, although there is plenty of messing up to go around. And we assume there will continue to be on the next episode, S2 E7, "36 Hours."

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An article at Grown & Flown titled "10 Moments From College That I Would Like to Relive" prompted us to talk about all those precious moments from that time in our lives (although there are precious few that we actually want to relive).

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

This question about what our kids are reading this summer was mostly a confession of what they're not reading.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.

It's easy to obsess when our kids make big choices, like what college major to declare or what career to pursue. The hardest part might be deciding when to let it become their obsession instead of ours.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri recommends two Ashley McBryde songs, with accompanying videos, that are fun, fiery, and female-empowering: "Brenda Put Your Bra On" and "Bonfire at Tina's." Nicole's touching up her color with L'Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up Spray. And Catherine watched the Bridgerton spin-off/prequel Queen Charlotte on Netflix.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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A rather wide-ranging survey on moms' superheroic skills and traits, and their confidence in them, got us obsessing about skills we have--and wish we had.

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Nicole's hours-long passport agency ordeal got us complaining about having to corral kids in waiting rooms and other boring places, and also appreciating the fact that we're past that stage of parenting now.

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On this week's entertainment- themed episode, a delightful episode of Ted Lasso featured many character breakthroughs and lovely scenes, plus the return of Phoebe! Mentioned: Sam Richardson in The Afterparty. Next: S3 E11, "Mom City."

On Brothers and Sisters, more bad decisions, more secrets kept and revealed, and more accusations of bad mothering. So, par for the course. Next: S2 E6, "Two Places."

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It's high school graduation season, so we talked senior pranks and other traditional observances, like senior skip day, cap decorating, and the smuggling of inflatable beach balls into the graduation ceremony.

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Of our six (teen and adult) kids, only about two can be trusted to feed themselves independently.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.

On today's episode, we complain about high school schedules. Should teens really have to wake up so early? And what about block scheduling, where they're in one classroom for 90 minutes straight? Mentioned: The Start School Later campaign.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends the Tom Hanks movie A Man Called Otto if you need a good cry (it's based on the book A Man Called Ove). Also mentioned: Up in the Air. Terri enjoyed a Walker Hayes concert from the comfort of her couch thanks to Veeps. Mentioned: Hayes' song "If Father Time Had a Daughter" and Flymachine, another streaming platform for concerts.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

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Take Your Child to Work Day was a few weeks back. But today, Terri makes an impassioned pitch for Take Your Mom to Work Day. Will no one think of the mothers whose kids won't tell them anything??

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Today we direct our complaining at a Buzzfeed quiz on parenting which did not necessarily give us sensible responses to choose from. We found that we are pretty aligned with other folks' responses, but we aren't sure that's a good thing.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, an entertaining (if still too long) episode of Ted Lasso brought us some good new phrases to adopt, Rupert still being a snake, and Rebecca getting to be a big boss lady. Next: S3 E10, "International Break."

On Brothers and Sisters, the states of all the unions are not strong (which is not surprising), but we always love seeing Scotty turn up to stir the pot. Next: S2 E5, "Domestic Issues" ... which sounds an awful lot like "States of the Union."

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We don't ask for much on Mother's Day, especially now that we have quite a few under our belts. You can just get us some chicken nuggets and take yourself on a hike. Mentioned: Goldbelly and Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots singing "Chick-fil-A (... But It's Sunday)."

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On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

When we asked "What was the most recent text you sent to or received from a family member?", there was one fervent prayer, one tantrum, and of course, one heart-eye emoji.

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On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.

On today's episode, we compare and contrast our own weddings with those of the Kids Today, with their barn venues and their candy buffets and their gender-switched wedding parties. Mentioned: This McSweeney's Monologue from a barn that would prefer not to host your Pinterest wedding, thanks anyway.

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On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's leaning into the world of AI with an Amazon Prime series called Upload. Terri's protecting her neck, Coastal-Grandma style, with a gaiter from Coolibar. And Catherine's watching TV too: The current season of Top Chef, which is Top Chef World All Stars (set in London, with chefs from around the world).

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

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On today's episode, we're obsessing about ChatGPT and other AI tools. One of us are excited about the possibilities, and the other two are feeling pretty threatened by the robots that are taking our jobs. Mentioned: An "emotional support" chatbot.

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On today's complaint episode, we discuss whether kids are more disliked (and/or less tolerated) today than in the past, and wade into the great Plane Popcorn Spill debate.

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On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with two episodes of Ted Lasso. Like their predecessors this season, they were long and fairly free of plot, although there were some nice moments. Next: S3 E9, “La Locker Room Aux Folles.”

On Brothers and Sisters, most everyone is still miserable, except Kitty, who successfully swats away a threat from Robert's ex-wife, and Scotty, who scores himself some legal advice in exchange for a gourmet dinner for Kevin. Next: S2 E4, "State of the Unions."

We take one week off and a whole lot of stuff happens! So we're giving you the scoop on all of that today. After all our complaining and obsessing about some of these topics, you deserve some closure.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Our appliances let us know when they're ready to be replaced by refusing to do their jobs.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.

When you're juggling as many balls as we are, sometimes one or two get dropped. We obsess about these mistakes, and particularly the shame of admitting to them right when we've worked up a good rant about how they're someone else's fault. Mentioned: Low-Effort Ways to Annoy Your Teen from Annie Get Your Gum.

Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2016.

Do your kids represent themselves to their pediatrician, or are you the one doing all the talking? How can you transition teens and young adults to self-advocacy so you can be released from the room where it happens (and the pressure of being the family medical caseworker)? Finding the right doctor helps, unsurprisingly.

Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2016.

Being sick is no fun, but sometimes, we wish for the ability to just put school or work on hold for 24 hours and take good care of ourselves. Sick days are few and far between for freelancers, alas, and even sparser for parents. Do you get a sick day sometimes?

Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2018.

Doctors whose office is closed when you're sick. Orthodontists who don't keep kid hours. What we wish phone physicians could do. Yep, we've got a few things to say about the availability of medical professionals.

Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2019.

Nicole has a cold, and she's griping about how hard it is for moms to take a sick day. How come there's no such thing as the mom flu, equivalent to the man flu?

Terri is recuperating from surgery and we have forced her to take a few days off. So this week, we're looking back at some of our past discussions on encounters with sickness, health, and health care. Today’s chat is originally from 2017.

It's important to look after our health, sure, but some of the stuff we have to put up with before and during that exam make us kind of sick of it.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

On a scale of sharing Ketchup Chips to watching The Emoji Movie, we gauge our willingness to play the martyr.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from August 2019.

This report on how much our little darlings cost us got us complaining about all the expenses we've covered over the years, from the predictable to the (unpleasantly) surprising.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine was influenced by Sherry at Young House Love to buy her daughter a candle warmer lamp. Nicole's labeling everything in sight with her Niimbot label maker, and Terri's fostering independence with the Liddle Griddle, which is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches (and maybe also for pancakes).

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A New York Times newsletter item suggesting that today's adult kids are doing better than their parents think they are got us obsessing about what it really means to be independent and launch into the world, both today and in past generations.

A Psychology Today article about sources of tension between adult children and their parents got us complaining about our old friends, the listicle and the alleged expert, along with the fact that parenting adult children is just as hard (if not harder) than parenting little ones.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Ted Lasso crew goes on a somewhat trippy trip to Amsterdam. The players vow to stick together as a team, but everyone else is isolated in their own storyline. We'd like some ensemble back in this ensemble show, please! Next (in two weeks): Season 3, episodes 7 and 8. Mentioned: The "Beard After Dark" episode from season 2; reviews/commentary from Linda Holmes and the Fug Girls; the immersive Van Gogh exhibit.

On Brothers and Sisters, Justin is home from Iraq and trying to recuperate from a serious injury with his mother hovering, while Sarah and Joe split for good. The best thing about this episode is the appearance of Denis O'Hare as the senator's campaign manager. Next (in two weeks, as Terri will be recovering from surgery next week--sadly without a Nora to take care of her): season 2, episode 3, "History Repeating."

It's prom season, and the youngest of our kids is attending two events this year (which came as something of a surprise to his mother).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Terri's daughter found out the hard way that Facebook doesn't look too kindly on name changes made just for fun.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

In this episode, we complain about all those sports, activities, camps, and classes that we thought would be the answer to our prayers, but fell short (sometimes, way short). Who knew trying to help our kids find their passion and their tribe would be so hard?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's marveling at the power of her Corkcicle water bottle. Terri enjoyed the story, writing, and narration, all by Julia Whelan, of Thank You for Listening (Whelan also narrated another of our past Roundup items, Flying Solo by Linda Holmes). And Catherine recommends Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, a charming, bittersweet, family-friendly movie.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

When we heard about an upcoming mother-daughter book by Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, we obsessed about the books we could write, given that we all have mothers and daughters and writing experience (just no Academy Awards). Mentioned: Social Print Studio, Storyworth, St My Dad Says, The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters.

Catherine's son got his temporary driver's license almost three years late, and Terri's made his confirmation at age 30. So we complained about artificial timetables and the people who try to make us and our kids stick to them.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, "Signs" was the last episode of Ted Lasso for Shandy (we hope) and Zava (we wonder). We saw a lot of plot points coming, but not Zava's retirement. Next: S3 E6, "Sunflowers."

Then, we jumped right in to season 2 of Brothers and Sisters with "Home Front." It had a little bit of everything we expect from the Walkers: Public arguments, sharing TMI about one's sex life with one's siblings, and a birthday party turned tragic. Next: S2 E2, "An American Family."

An article on baby first-aid kits got us talking about essentials for bigger kids: We've traded the nasal aspirator and the tiny medicine droppers for KT Tape and chewing gum (but two of us can't seem to keep un-expired over-the-counter meds in stock).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Inspired by the funny ladies of I Mom So Hard, we riff on the labels that should come with your firstborn.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

On today's episode, we talk teensplaining: That lovely way that adolescents have of knowing everything and not being the least bit shy about sharing that knowledge, especially with their ignorant parents. From laundry to driving to law enforcement, our (completely uncredentialed) kids are the experts!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine updates her recommendation for Hugimals weighted stuffed animals. Nicole's rocking some comfy Rockport dress shoes, and Terri's ears are full of Catholic podcasts: Catholic Latte, Restore the Glory, and Beyond the Beacon.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A question about how our first kids are different from their younger siblings got us obsessing about personality, birth order, nature vs. nurture, and what our kids' relationships are with each other now vs. when they were younger. They definitely agree on one thing: Their mothers can be so annoying.

Prompted by a Huffington Post query, we complain about how and why it's so hard to let others help us, when we are perfectly willing to extend a hand to neighbors and friends in need. What's your position on asking for and granting favors?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Ted Lasso's team may have had a "big week," but the episode was fairly small and restrained. We'd like our jokes back, please! Next: Season 3, episode 5, "Signs."

On Brothers and Sisters, of course nothing is ever small or restrained, and that includes Senator McCallister's relatives, which show up to his engagement party and proceed to out-Walker the Walkers (until the Walkers all jump, fully clothed, into the pool). Next: Season 2, episode 1, "Home Front."

A few weeks ago, Nicole told a sad tale of being disappeared from Facebook against her will due to a hack. But thanks to a commenter on one of our podcast Facebook posts, she found a group of fellow #LilyCollinsHack victims, and eventually was able to get her account restored. We're so glad to have her back!

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

It's hard being a parent-group newbie, and it's hard being a veteran. Let's just skip the whole thing.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

We obsess about all those little details of social interactions that we feel unsure about (which means we are also worried about what we have, and haven't, taught our kids about manners and etiquette).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's found another way to listen to podcasts, including ours: PlayPodcast.net. Nicole's watching HBO's The Last of Us, and Catherine found a tasty blood orange cake mix at Trader Joe's. Also mentioned, though not by name: Catherine's most recent book club book, Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

As mentioned yesterday, Terri's son had a milestone birthday, which means Terri's now obsessing about whether she's actually the parent of "young" adults any longer.

It's offspring birthday season for both Terri and Catherine, with milestones all around: 18! 21! 30! Terri's wondering what, exactly, a parent's birthday-party obligations are when kids cruise past the ball-pit and cupcakes stage.

Now that Shrinking has left us (for now), we pivot to a show with some similar DNA: Ted Lasso, returning for season 3. We're happy to see these old pals again--although we're glad we don't have to work at Keeley's company. Next: Season 3, episode 4, "Big Week."

It was a big week on Brothers and Sisters, and a very sad one, as the family faced the premature birth of Julia and Tommy's twins. Oh, and dealt with a blackmailer and an impending divorce. Next: "Matriarchy," the finale of season 1.

With Nicole's daughter about to graduate from university and weighing her options, we talked about our own first steps into the work world. Mentioned: the Columbia Publishing Course (formerly the Radcliffe Publishing Course).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

While we're pretty live-and-let-live when it comes to teens and screens, we do acknowledge that there are times when they should maybe put them down. But if they're not on their phones, what else are they gonna do?

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

Another parent's college admission post (in July!!) sent Catherine into a shame spiral. That prompted us to complain about not just mom bragging, but our irrational response to it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's discovered Monopoly Deal, a card game she says is a big improvement on the Monopoly board game. Terri's Country Music Minute returns with Walker Hayes' two-song set, "Being a Dad and Missing Mine." And Catherine's got another daily word game to recommend: Anigrams.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

MONOPOLY Deal Card Game (Amazon Exclusive)

On today's episode, we're obsessing about those times (and tasks) that make us feel we're succeeding at our mom jobs. These can be rare, so we have to recognize them when they happen.

A survey that accused parents--especially Gen-X ones, like Nicole and Catherine--of oversharing about their kids on social media got us complaining. Not about oversharing, but about how parents just can't win. Mentioned: Some of the moms we follow on Instagram, like Gabrielle Blair, Witney Carson, and Lindsay Arnold.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we came to the end of Shrinking's first season with "Closure." While it did tie up many loose ends, it then created a giant problem to deal with in season 2. While we're not thrilled with that, we'll definitely be back to see what happens.

Brothers and Sisters, too, is careening toward the end of season 1, with everything from a stolen kiss to a food fight to an imminent premature birth. Next: S1 E22, "Favorite Son." And since Shrinking is done for now, we'll move to another Bill Lawrence/Brett Goldstein project: Ted Lasso, which is back for a third season. We'll catch up with the two episodes that have aired so far, "Smells Like Mean Spirit" and "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea." and the one that drops tomorrow, "4-5-1."

As we mentioned last week, Nicole was hit by a Facebook hack that caused her to lose her personal account and with it, access to her Inclusive Class business account. Here's the whole cautionary tale. Also mentioned: How to back up your Facebook data.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Way back in Episode 97, we patted ourselves on the back for some strong parenting skillz. This time around, we're admitting to what's not going so well.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

We talk about this survey of major milestones, and question how big of a milestone "learn how to iron" really is. Along the way, we get a peek at some of our dark secrets (like the real reason Terri learned how to ride a bike, and the anti-vampire dinner party Catherine held).

With Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from November 2022.

Nicole gave up her landline phones, which got us talking about what tech our households are hanging on to and what we're giving up (and which one of us was a teen princess with her own phone line).

With Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from March 2021.

We obsess about Reviews.org's offer of cash in exchange for a digital detox (no phones, TVs, computers, video games, smart devices). We think $2,400 is a pretty nice sum for a 24-hour-long nap.

With Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from way back in September, 2017.

On this speed round, we asked: Why do Facebook Messenger, Fitbit, and autocorrect hate us so?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We continue to enjoy hanging out with the Shrinking folks, who do seem to be moving forward as this episode's title promises. We'll be sad to see them go after next week's season finale, "Closure." (But we can listen to the show's playlist on Apple Music, and look forward to season 2 at some undisclosed time in the future.)

We do not, however, enjoy hanging out with the Walkers, Harpers, and other Brothers and Sisters characters who are really quite mean to each other in this episode (sometimes they deserve what they're getting, and sometimes they don't). Next: S1 E21, “Grapes of Wrath.” Sounds jolly!

With Nicole dealing with the aftermath of the Lily Collins Facebook hack, we're taking the week off to revisit some tech talks, complaints, and obsessions of the past. This discussion is from January 2020.

New phone frustration has us wondering if we're too old to be technically savvy, or if it's technology that needs to do a better job meeting our needs.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Having built up a good head of steam on our first topic, we keep it up with some complaints about kids' activities. Can no one plan ahead anymore?!

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

This article on young people starting businesses led us to ask whether our kids could capitalize on their obsessions. Either we don't have enough imagination, or the market hasn't caught up to their passions just yet.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's Country Music Minute brings us Morgan Wallen's latest, "One Thing at a Time." Nicole's resting easy on a new King Koil mattress, and Catherine's becoming a bird-watcher thanks to her suet log bird feeder (although hers is made from an actual log, not a log-like resin like the one linked).

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

An article about kids' astrological signs got us obsessing about whether they matched our own kids' temperaments and behaviors. First, we had to figure out what their signs even were. Mentioned: Starscroll horoscopes.

When we're casting about for something to inspire a rant, an article about "fill-in-the-blank parenting" is usually a safe bet. This week, it's "lazy parenting." Surprise! It's not lazy at all!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking gave us some fun new combinations of characters (and a great business idea) in "Boop." Next: S1 E9, "Moving Forward."

The combinations on Brothers and Sisters were far less fun, as Kevin made a fool of himself on a blind date with Senator Handsome's brother (thanks to Kitty) and Joe made a pass at Sarah's half-sister. Not cool, guys. Next: S1 E20, "Bad News."

We're late to the TikTok party of sharing inside info from our professional experiences--as parents. But we have plenty of stories and "it worked for me" advice, so we're talking about it today. Mentioned: Terri's toy-store hangouts.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Inspired by the viral "I Swimsuit So Hard" video, we gripe about all the uncomfortable and impractical clothes women are expected to wear.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

Terri may have just had a milestone birthday, but today Nicole is complaining about the little annoyances of aging. This is our reward for 20+ years of raising kids?!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, hip young traveler Nicole recommends TRU by Hilton hotels. Today's Instagram Minute is from Catherine, who suggests Animals Doing Things (cute and funny things). And Terri's Catholic Minute returns, this time with the Universalis app (mentioned: a past Catholic Minute pick, the Liturgy of the Hours from Word on Fire.)

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

An article about parents of a newborn who buttered up their neighbors with free booze prompted us to obsess about what peace offerings we'd provide, and when (and whether they're needed at all).

Terri confessed to an error she would've yelled at her kids for making, so Nicole and Catherine had to chime in with their own goofs to make her feel better. Plus, we all complained about the frustrations of aging. Mentioned: A laptop cleaning kit that Nicole recommended and Catherine has already ordered.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it's parties everywhere. The Shrinking gang, in the episode titled "Apology Tour," deals with post-party consequences (and still manages to have another party by the end of the ep). Next: S1 E8, "Boop."

Various Walkers are of course partying in various ways in "Three Parties," an episode that felt like treading water in many ways--but with artichoke-themed cocktails. Next: S1 E19, "Game Night."

A roundup of the best shampoo subscriptions got us talking about all the things we'd like to see delivered regularly to our doorsteps, from the practical (kitty litter) to the treat-yoself (Diet Dr Pepper and beauty products). Mentioned: Overnight Oats, Blackout Coffee Co., Black Rifle Coffee, Grounds and Hounds Coffee, Ipsy.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Attention, app developers: We have some ideas for you, because we need help scheduling, nagging, and shopping. Mentioned: Mom-matchmaking app Peanut.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019 (and it's a coincidence that it's our second Walker Hayes mention this week. What can we say--we've got a superfan in our midst).

Inspired by "Don't Let Her," a sweet song from Walker Hayes, we obsess over all those details and quirks about our kids (and pets) that are important, but known only to us.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, It's Terri's turn for an Instagram Minute: She's passing along a recommendation from her ENT (hi, Dr. Lee from Summit Health) for The Dumb Dads on Instagram. Nicole is taking manicures into her own hands with a gel nail polish kit, and Catherine suggests a book called This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

There will always be some family issues that we want to keep within the immediate family, or maybe we want to keep from the kids just a little longer. On today's episode, we obsessed about what and how and when and why (or why not) to spill to our kids as they get older, when it's OK to lie to protect them, and whether that even works.

A report on a study of helicopter parenting, which you'd think we would be cheering, somehow gave us fodder for complaints: One of us isn't buying it, and another thinks its definition of helicoptering might be wrong. (And speaking of Substacks, the report is on Bruce Feiler's newsletter, which was recommended by Asha Dornfest's, Parent of Adults).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Shrinking managed to out-cringe Brothers and Sisters (not easy), thanks to terrible decisions by just about everyone. It's no wonder that next week's episode, S1 E7, is called "Apology Tour."

There were still bad decisions on Brothers and Sisters, of course--finally, Senator McCallister puts a foot wrong--along with some bad writing, just for fun. Next: S1 E18, "Three Parties." The Walkers do love a party!

A cute video claiming to use AI to help sell Walker Hayes's home got us talking about what we'd like to put up for sale, and how we could use the latest tech tools to help close the deal.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

From fantastic memory to nerves of steel, we celebrate the qualities we admire in our kids.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

An unwelcome visit from a live frog got Nicole thinking about setting boundaries and making rules. She has some complaints about what happens when your adult kids are your roommates.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's snacking on flavorful, virtuous crackers from 2s Company, while Nicole's laughing with the ladies of the I've Had It podcast and Terri's enjoying Substack newsletters from Alan Sepinwall and the Fug Girls (also mentioned: R. Eric Thomas's newsletter, which is non-Substack, but still very fun).

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

A Wall Street Journal article about parents ghostwriting their kids' texts got us obsessing: Our ghostwriting services extend well beyond texts. We are professionals!

Whether it's due to a generation gap or a kid's need to "figure it out" themselves, we can complain about plenty of occasions when we just don't understand what our kids are doing. And we don't think we're alone.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Shrinking folks are doing things they can't face, or at least trying to, while the Walkers, on Brothers and Sisters, are facing the fact that there's another one of them (and making some truly bad decisions about her). Next: Shrinking S1E6, "Imposter Syndrome," and Brothers and Sisters S1 E 17, "All in the Family."

Inspired by TikTok, we chatted about what activities our families like to share, starting with watching TikToks together.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Find out which one of us bans coffee for kids and teens, and which one fed it to her young child by accident.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

After reading yet another article about how parents only have 18 summers with their kids (they show up every year), we respond with a hearty "So what?" We can come up with at least 18 things about summer with kids that we're glad to be done with.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's fortifying her home with a heavy-duty door security bar from Brinks. Terri is keeping tabs on her health with her very own home blood pressure monitor, and Catherine's soothing them both with a pretty tune from singer-songwriter Claire Kelly called "The Land that Time Forgot."

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

Omron Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, 3 Series

On today's episode, we obsess about the news that Marie Kondo has backtracked a bit on her tidiness crusade (and of course, has written a new book about it). Mentioned: Silk long underwear, tea organizer.

Terri's been through a lot of medical tests recently, which gives us the opportunity to complain about all that entails--from the discomfort to the claustrophobia to the too-long (or sometimes too short?) wait for results. Mentioned: Summit Health on Roundabout Roundup.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we see two views of psychotherapy. On Shrinking, Jimmy is having mixed results with his unorthodox methods, while also trying to juggle his relationships with his daughter, co-workers, and neighbors. Next: Season 1, episode 5, "Woof."

On Brothers and Sisters, episode 15, "Love Is Difficult," was perfectly timed for Valentine's Day. And it looks like love is going to get even more difficult for the Walkers, now that their half-sister has arrived in town. Next: Season 1, episode 16, "The Other Walker."

After our friend Mike shared a meme on the topic of "if moms made candy hearts," we decided to devote this almost-Valentine's Day episode to talking about our candy conversation heart ideas. What would yours say?

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Turns out we're not big jewelry people, but we do each have a sentimental piece or two.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

As if birthdays weren't enough pressure, Terri's facing one that feels like New Year's Day times 60: What should she do to celebrate? And what should she do to make it count and change her life for the better? She needs ideas.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her own efforts and imploring you to check out the index she's creating of everything we've covered on Round 2: TV shows, movies, books, live theatre, and more. Meanwhile, Catherine adds to Terri's workload by mentioning the Peacock reality show The Traitors, hosted by Alan Cumming.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

This week, we are bringing you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. Today, we revisit and update an episode from August 2017, "Our Lives Are Like a Bad TV Show." Spoiler: Terri's moved from a procedural to a sitcom, while Catherine left Sitcom Land for some light suspense.

This week, we are bringing you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. Today, an episode from August 2017 on what our kids were watching. Some things have changed, and some have stayed very much the same, even all these years later.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked out the first two episodes of Shrinking, a new Bill Lawrence/Brett Goldstein comedy on Apple TV+. It's a very funny, if F-bomb-heavy, show with some wonderful performances, so we'll be back for more. Next: Episodes 3 and 4, “Fifteen Minutes” and “Potatoes.”

On Brothers and Sisters, the Walkers are up to their usual shenanigans: Sex with exes (mentioned: this Cougar Town song, speaking of Bill Lawrence)! Getting busted for smoking pot! Feuding and colluding with a co-worker who's your late father's mistress! Next: Episode 15, “Love Is Difficult” (you don't say).

This week, we are drawing on our Round 2 themes to bring you some second thoughts on round-2 related topics from our archives. First up, in October 2017, we jumped off of our Dancing with the Stars watch to talk about our most memorable years. Today, we're checking in to see what's changed and how we'd choreograph some of the highlights and lowlights of our lives.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Today's question: What sports do you find the most boring to watch? The most exciting?

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from July 2019.

Sometimes it's tough to balance our kids' right to privacy with our own need to fill a conversational void. Or our ability to think on our feet when we're caught off-guard.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out her local mega-medical practice, Summit Health (coming to a location near you soon, probably). Nicole's being proactive with a laptop cleaning kit, and Catherine's having fun with the social photo app BeReal.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

An article titled "12 Ways to Help Your Young Adult When Life Knocks Them Down" got us obsessing about how and when it's appropriate to step in when kids have problems, and how hard it is to step back.

The latest "insert-animal-here" parenting style is apparently jellyfish parenting. But instead of complaining about that, we decided to pick our own sea creatures to identify with. (Watch out for Terri's sharp teeth.)

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we followed Rob Lowe from Brothers and Sisters (and West Wing and Parks & Rec before that) to his new Netflix movie, Dog Gone. The drama and the stakes are turned way past 11, but the dog is cute and you will shed some tears in spite of yourself.

On Brothers and Sisters this week, a younger Rob Lowe lends his caterer to an otherwise disastrous party celebrating Nora's 60th birthday (it's the Walkers--you know there would be disaster). If you like, you can compare this discussion with one we had back in 2017, when Terri first challenged Catherine to watch this episode. Next: S1 E14, "Valentine's Day Massacre." We'll also check out B&S star Calista Flockhart's real-life husband, Harrison Ford, in Shrinking, a new series that also stars Jason Segel and shares DNA with Ted Lasso.

The relentless promos for the new movie 80 for Brady (like the trailer and music video) got us talking about events from our own lives that should get the Hollywood treatment.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Today's question: For shopping during the holiday season or any time of year, do you prefer the big box stores or small mom-and-pop shops?

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

At The Shop Forward (which Terri recommended recently), you can customize a tote bag with four words or phrases that tell the world who you are. We, of course, would like several bags to be used in different settings. Sometimes we want to proclaim we're moms, and other times we don't!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with @jeremy.the.manager. Catherine suggests a tasty veggie bowl from Loma Linda, and Terri's rocking out to HARDY's latest album, "The Mockingbird and THE CROW."

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

When kids are little, we have hopes and dreams for what they'll accomplish. As they get older, we have to let go of the goal-setting process. If you know us, you know this isn't exactly easy.

An article suggesting more widespread use of the term "matrescence" for the transition to motherhood got us (well, one of us, especially) ranting about fancy words for common experiences. But we can all agree that when you become a parent, finding your people is essential.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked out NBC's absolutely fine and pleasant reboot of Night Court, created by and starring Melissa Rauch (Big Bang Theory's Bernadette). We enjoyed seeing a few actors from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (India de Beaufort--who also appeared on One Day at a Time--and Kapil Talwalkar). But we might've enjoyed watching the original series' pilot even more (it's available on Freevee). Mentioned: The late Harry Anderson's recurring role on Cheers.

Over on Brothers and Sisters, nobody's enjoying much of anything (surprise), but everybody feels compelled to talk with their siblings about their sex lives. Next: S1 E 13, "Something Ida This Way Comes." We actually talked about this episode on a Round 2 way back in 2017, but we're revisiting it now with more context (at least for Catherine). We'll also follow Rob Lowe to his latest movie, Dog Gone.

When we read some "anti-parenting advice" prompted by a viral Twitter thread, we had to talk about it. Is it any surprise to learn that just as we are anti a lot of parenting advice, we are also anti anti-parenting advice?

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

We tell our tales of cars that pull off magical U-turns, a family assembling itself from across the globe, and close encounters with groundhogs.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

Summer brings travel, and travel brings us such a lengthy list of to-dos and don't-forgets that maybe it's easier to just stay home.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's just one of many fans of Father Mike Schmitz's Catechism in a Year podcast. Nicole's caring for her local "community" cats with a cushy heated blanket. And all you need to know about the article Catherine's recommending is the title: An Oral History of the Time Six Doctors Swallowed Lego Heads to See How Long They'd Take to Poo.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

Last week, we talked about parents using baby monitors to supervise big kids. Then we heard about a mom who tracked her kid down in cyberspace--not to quit playing games, but to defrost a lasagna for dinner. Brilliant!

On today's episode, we're complaining about Facebook's algorithm serving us up ads for clothing and shoes "for mature women." Listen, just because we like comfortable, roomy clothes and some nice arch support doesn't mean we are old!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with the Sandra Bullock-Channing Tatum rom-com The Lost City, a delightful tropical adventure (ancient parchment! a volcano! leeches on someone's very attractive butt!).

Then we moved to the also beautiful setting of Justin's rehab facility in Brothers and Sisters, for some family squabbling right in front of Justin's peers and therapist. Good times! Next: S1 E12, "Sexual Politics." We'll also check out NBC's reboot of Night Court. Don't make us regret it, NBC.

After reading the life advice Sahil Bloom collected from 90-year-olds (found via Liz Gumbinner's Substack), we talked about what advice made sense to us, what scared us, and what we're already doing (pats self on back).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

Our thoughts on what's overrated cover rather a lot of ground: Beaches. Amusement parks. Water parks. Camping. Leaving the house ever.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

A recent poll of dads finds that many of them feel "shamed" by comments about their parenting. We say "hey, that's our turf! Move along!" And also, we prefer to call it "educating" instead of "shaming."

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out a fun store called BoxLunch, where you can buy fun goodies like a Hufflepuff ramen bundle. Nicole binged all of White Lotus season 2 in a single day, and Terri's recommending a new breakfast strategy: Oats Overnight.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

The topic generator that is Julie Jargon at the Wall Street Journal strikes again, this time with an article titled "These parents use baby monitors to track older children--even teens." We obsessed about whether or not this is ever a good idea (and how it's at least a little tempting).

A Scary Mommy article about a mom who didn't appreciate her babysitter's need to shower on the job got us complaining about--well, not babysitters. About lack of context, mostly, and our own inexperience with babysitter management.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with the latest exploits of Benoit Blanc (of Knives Out) in the movie Glass Onion. It's full of fun performances, delightful cameos, and beautiful scenery, not to mention a twisty little mystery.

Brothers and Sisters is another product with a cast full of familiar faces, but swaps in many (many) family dramas for the mystery--although we're still following the Case of the Missing Personalized Plate. Next up: S1 E11, "Family Day."

We'll also watch the movie The Lost City on Amazon Prime; NPR's Linda Holmes called it "a genuinely terrific film that burbles with star power and uses its cast perfectly." That cast, by the way, is headlined by Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Radcliffe.

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An adult kid's confession got us talking about how hard it is to help grown children manage their money... or to ask for any help at all.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

When given the choice between two occupations, we'll always try to figure out which one has the lower potential for stress.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

We attempt to translate all those words kids say that mean everything and also nothing: "Sure." "Okay." "Later." "Whatever." If you want to listen, that's "fine."

Today we're taking a look ahead at our leisure and pop-culture consumption. Will we get anywhere with our backlog of newspapers, audiobooks, and podcast episodes in 2023? Stay tuned!

We're looking ahead (and around our homes) with fingers crossed: Please, nothing big break this year!

On today's New Year's episode, we look ahead to what our children might be up to in the coming year. Some of them have a pretty long to-do list.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we watched a Brothers and Sisters two-parter called "Mistakes Were Made." And, indeed, there were mistakes aplenty. We wouldn't expect anything less from the Walker clan. Next: Brothers and Sisters S1 E10 "Light the Lights," and we'll also watch the new movie Glass Onion, the Knives Out follow-up on Netflix.

To ring in the new year, we're returning to our speed round format to look ahead to what's coming up in 2023. Today, we're talking about our jobs (podcasting included!).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

We know we should do all these important health tests and tasks, but we just don't wanna.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

A few weeks back, we identified lots of parenting tasks we'd like to outsource. Now, we've come up with a host of parenting problems we think a ghostwriter could handle for us.

This winter-break week, we’re going back to our old Speed Round format to bring you some quick episodes to close out the year. Today, with 2023 looming, we cast our memories waaaaay back to recall what was going on in our lives at age 23.

Happy new year, and thank you for listening to us in 2022!

Only one of us got a master's degree (and we are so proud of her!) but we all took on some new challenges in 2022, and we should give ourselves credit for that.

This winter-break week, we’re going back to our old Speed Round format to bring you some quick episodes to close out the year. Today, we're looking back at 2022 and shouting out some the lovely places we traveled.

This winter-break week, we’re going back to our old Speed Round format to bring you some quick episodes to close out the year. Today, we're reminiscing about some of the best meals we had in 2022, at Koutouki Greek Estiatorio, Chick-fil-A, and Whataburger (just listen, we'll explain).

Every week, we chat about what parents are talking, complaining, and obsessing about right now. But this winter-break week, we’re going back to our old Speed Round format to bring you some quick episodes to close out the year. First up: Our favorite books of 2022, which include The Lincoln Highway, The Storyteller (the audiobook, in particular) and Where the Crawdads Sing (via the movie).

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure.

We cop to those experiences that sound like a great idea, but kinda suck in reality.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This discussion is from June 2019.

We revisit a past complaint target in a new way: First it was dental insurance. Now we complain about dentists themselves, as Nicole deals with a belittling one and Terri finally resolves to have her tooth pulled already (it's been six years).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine suggests fun sock Advent calendars from Target, Nicole is enjoying a new card game called Deep Shinola, and Terri makes it meaningful by recommending the Liturgy of the Hours subscription from Word on Fire.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music, which you hear on every episode.

After reading Grown & Flown's list of "nine things NOT to say to your teen when they're home from college," we obsessed about this tough transition time (for parents and kids!), as well as what our mothers may have said to us.

A Buzzfeed listicle on parenting trends did its job, getting us to talk about it by way of complaining about what's included and what's not. Join us for the gentle snark.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we flew to Bali for Ticket to Paradise, the George Clooney-Julia Roberts vehicle that was utterly enjoyable and also utterly forgettable.

We also hit the Walker family ranch in Ojai, California, for a few more rounds of "people having sex in inappropriate places" and "extremely awkward dinner-table talk." No Round 2 next week, but on January 3, we'll discuss the next two episodes of Brothers and Sisters: "Mistakes Were Made," parts 1 and 2.

Today, we're talking about a Wall Street Journal article called Even university presidents lose their minds when their teens apply to college. It resonated with Catherine and Nicole, who may not be university presidents, but who are definitely losing their grip on their sanity as three of their kids apply to college and grad school.

During a series of "Would You Rather?" Speed Rounds, we take on WYR questions about how we approach life (and chocolate).

Terri's still obsessing over a years-old situation, while Nicole and Catherine have more recent experience: What do you do when you're in a position to bust a kid for bad behavior? Do you tattle, or no? And if so, how?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri recommends another Dancing with the Stars side-hustle project: online workouts and dance classes with lots of the DWTS pros at Dance & Co. [https://www.danceand.co/]. Nicole has a trusty new Lapacker backpack so she can comfortably travel with her laptop [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B595K1KS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details]. And Catherine's eyeing Hugimals weighted stuffed animals as a weighted-blanket alternative [https://www.hugimalsworld.com/].

Terri's at her wit's end with minor family bickering, and trying to come up with a way to either stop it, or at least make it more fun for her to referee. So we obsessed about ways to gamify frequent family fights.

In response to a Scary Mommy post called "9 Toys I Can Unequivocally Say Were a Total Waste of Money" [https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/9-toys-i-can-unequivocally-say-were-a-total-waste-of-money], we complained about toys our kids had that didn't stand the test of time (and mentioned some that actually did).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked in on Love Actually, the Christmas movie that's celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Take or leave the anniversary special (it's on Hulu), but do revisit the movie for a little Christmas cheer.

We also continued with our Brothers and Sisters watch, with season 1's "For the Children." The Walker siblings don't stand a chance against Nora's powerful guilt trip, so they all have to attend her annual benefit. Next: S1E8, "Northern Exposure." Plus, we'll check out the new George Clooney-Julia Roberts movie, Ticket to Paradise, which you can stream on Peacock.

In response to a Grown & Flown article [https://grownandflown.com/christmas-is-for-mothers-also/] (which is a response to this SNL skit from 2021 [https://youtu.be/FOVCtUdaMCU]), we talked about all the holiday obligations society places on moms, plus the ones we place on ourselves--and how to just opt out.

If you peek in our closets, will you find quality or quantity? Flats or heels? Navy or black? Mentioned: Sherry from Young House Love and her minimalist wardrobe [https://www.younghouselove.com/minimal-closet-wardrobe/].

It's another paperwork complaint: Choosing an emergency contact person to list on various and sundry forms. Turns out it's even harder to select that person when they'd have to be responsible for our pets. Mentioned: Petego Pet Tube Kennel [https://amzn.to/2WiokmF].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's shouting out a new-to-her airline, American, after a smooth and as-comfortable-as-possible cross-country flight [https://www.aa.com/]. Catherine discovered a handy hair-care product: Garnier Fructis Curl Refresher Spray [https://www.garnierusa.com/about-our-brands/fructis/curl-nourish/curl-refresher-spray]. And Terri discovered Coach Lisle, a handy source of dad jokes [https://www.instagram.com/coachlisle/].

Last week, Catherine told a story [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/teaching-conversation-skills] about her son asking a group of her husband's colleagues what their dream job would be, which prompted us today to obsess about what our aspirations once were [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/speed-round-what-did-you-want-to-be-when-you-grew-up], and how our current careers stack up against the ideal.

A complaint session on bad habits quickly became a discussion about how to handle flatulence in public (specifically, in church): Hold it in, or let it rip? But there's also more to this episode than toot talk, so stick with it.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caved to the relentless promotion of the movie The People We Hate at the Wedding (Amazon Prime), mostly because we have a big soft spot for Allison Janney, Kristen Bell, and even Dustin Milligan (known to us mostly as Rutherford Falls Podcast Guy). And while we enjoyed seeing them all, we wouldn't RSVP yes to a second viewing.

In Brothers and Sisters, another dysfunctional family comedy, many Walkers go on many disastrous dates (and one that turns out OK in the end), and for once Justin is the most competent sibling around. Next: S1 E6, "For the Children."

Also next week, we'll celebrate the 20th anniversary of Love Actually by re-watching that film and the Diane Sawyer special devoted to it (Hulu).

We're not taking credit, but sometimes our kids really impress us with their skills and strengths, from book smarts to memory and recall to coordination and creativity.

Our discussion of sundae toppings leads Terri on a walk down SoCal memory lane.

Our kids aren't obsessed with the K-pop boy band BTS, but Terri went to the concert anyway—twice! And that got us talking about our kids' concert experiences, and our own.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's Walker Hayes Minute returns with a recommendation for Hayes's new song "Face in the Crowd" (and its video [https://youtu.be/SZ523NEhnhM]). Nicole is embracing the practicality of a sturdy rolling crate [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0798J37V7?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details], and Catherine appreciates the reassuring messages from @bigtimeadulting on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bigtimeadulting/].

Watching Dancing with the Stars has brought Terri and Catherine into the world of pro dancers who also work as influencers. That led us to obsess about all the ways that we could try to influence our vast audience. Mentioned: Dancing Pizza [https://dancing-pizza.com/], Nicole's son's TikTok-famous cat [https://www.tiktok.com/@speaking_of_cats], and our Amazon shop [https://www.amazon.com/shop/mamatude].

An article in the Wall Street Journal about a trend in playdates [https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-parents-live-text-the-playdate-endearing-or-annoying-11668205916?st=8zr8ah02k3i8dyb&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&fbclid=IwAR3TiY0fiui0JmRRZXW3o9NZ8O0yVGrmPv1thY4Ej8IIacOTyXZn4ZKRSek] got us complaining about the expectation to document every moment of kids' lives, including when they're visiting another child's home.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we stepped into the holiday season with the Apple TV+ original movie, Spirited, starring Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Octavia Spencer, and many other familiar faces. While most of the songs let us down, everyone seemed to be having a grand time and we can appreciate that.

On Brothers and Sisters, no one has a grand time, of course; they're dealing with chronic illness in a kid, their passive-aggressive mother, and other drama. Next: S1 E5, "Date Night." We'll also watch another movie: The People We Hate at the Wedding [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9071456/], streaming on Amazon Prime and featuring some of the stars of our past series watches: Kristen Bell (The Good Place), Allison Janney (The West Wing), and Dustin Milligan (Rutherford Falls).

An Instagram post from the University of British Columbia [https://www.instagram.com/p/ClBsgVMtxrw/] got us talking about social and conversation skills, and how necessary it is to really teach kids how to have both polite and meaningful conversations with friends, family, colleagues, and strangers.

Inspired by a post at Go Fug Yourself [https://www.gofugyourself.com/unclaimed-baggage-by-jen-doll-09-2018], we tell our tales of finding weird (sometimes disturbing!) items.

Today's episode is not for the weak of stomach. Skip this one if you don't want to join us in recalling and complaining about all the disgusting ways we've had to show love and care for our dogs.

Today, to finish up our Thanksgiving Leftovers week, we’re forking over an episode from last December on holiday shopping in a time of supply-chain challenges. No stress, though. We’re sure you’ll be able to find everything you’re looking for!

Today we’re filling your plate with an episode from July 2019 that, well, starts with the 4th of July, but it gets to today’s holiday too. Wait for it. And as we so often do, we have a business idea for someone else to execute.

Today, for our Thanksgiving leftovers week, we are serving up an episode from December 2020 about holiday traditions we were … surprisingly not upset to lose in the time of COVID. Two years later, we're still happy to skip out on mall Santas, office parties, and so much more.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Dancing with the Stars gave us the winner who'd seemed inevitable from day 1, but who still managed to win us over in the end: Charli D'Amelio. Overall, the move to Disney+ has been a positive one, and this was a fun season.

Over on Brothers and Sisters, there's a much less fun pool party. Watching the Walkers is a good way to kick off your Thanksgiving week, so you can be grateful that there's a little less drama (we hope) around your table. Next week: S1 E4, "Family Portrait." We'll also get into the Christmas spirit with the new AppleTV+ movie, Spirited, starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10999120/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt].

This week, we’re serving up some delicious holiday leftovers for your enjoyment. In this episode from November 2019, we kicked off a week of gratitude by extending thanks and shout-outs to all of those people who have helped make our parenting journey just a little easier, from spouses and grandparents to pediatricians and carpool buddies.

Which of us are the losers in our households, and which the finders?

After Nicole encountered a room-service delivery robot in Las Vegas, we talked about the many handy household uses we would have for robot technology.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole is back with another handy pet product: an automated feeding dish for her cats [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FT93YM2?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details]. Terri is shouting out some cute, comfy, and made-in-the-U.S.A. socks from Zkano [https://zkano.com/collections/womens-knee-high-socks]. And Catherine is marveling at how far college applications have come, now that she's seen the Common App [https://www.commonapp.org/].

Nicole challenged us to name some of our family favorites, which proved to be a little challenging. But we did come up with some vacation spots, restaurants/cuisines, and movies that have a home in our hearts.

An article from Raising Teens Today [https://raisingteenstoday.com/things-moms-see-that-no-one-else-sees/] got us complaining about all those things moms' magic eyes can see that are somehow invisible to kids (and, usually, spouses).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we shimmied into the Dancing with the Stars semi-finals, and to a pretty predictable final four: Shangela, Wayne Brady, Gabby Windey, and Charli D'Amelio. Even though we are quite sad to see Daniel go, this is a pretty fun group for the finale.

Over on Brothers and Sisters, no one's having that much fun, whether they're being tossed in jail, bailing someone out of jail, or not finding what they need at the party store. Next: S1E3, "Affairs of State."

The idea of using natural consequences [https://www.positivediscipline.com/articles/natural-consequences] to help kids learn is so good! So smart! So... hard to actually put into practice, when you really think about it.

We've talked about what's inside our refrigerators before [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922813]. Now, we want to know what's stuck to the outside.

If you're a parent, it's likely you've obsessed over this topic at some point: Writing a will, setting up a trust, creating an upon-my-demise plan. Not fun (although Nicole managed to find some humor), but very necessary.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine alerts you to Costco's macarons, which come in seasonal flavors [https://www.mashed.com/1015690/costcos-newest-macarons-have-all-the-fall-and-winter-flavors/]. Nicole shouts out Charlie Berens on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@charlieberens] (and Catherine seconds this recommendation, although she's not on TikTok). And Terri's more productive when a snarky app checks on her, so she's been enjoying Productivity Challenge Timer [https://productivitychallengetimer.com/].

After learning that King Charles always travels with his childhood teddy bear and his personal toilet seat [https://jezebel.com/king-charles-wont-go-anywhere-without-his-teddy-bear-an-1849740365], we obsessed over what we take on trips, and what we leave behind.

On today's episode, we complain about being the keeper of the to-do list for everyone in our family, and the only one with any sense of urgency about just checking these tasks off, PLEASE!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Dancing with the Stars producers got Terri to feel sorry for Heidi right before she was sent packing, along with perennial good-sport Vinny. We'll miss you, man. Next: The semi-finals.

Then we turned from ballroom drama to family drama with the series Brothers and Sisters. We watched the 2006 pilot, "Patriarchy," which introduced us to the Walker family of southern California and its many cute white boys. Soon we will be able to tell them all apart. Next week: season 1, episode 2, "An Act of Will."

Nicole gave up her landline phones, which got us talking about what tech our households are hanging on to and what we're giving up (and which one of us was a teen princess with her own phone line).

What time do your kids turn into pumpkins, and who makes the rules? (Turns out, it's not always the parents.)

After reading an article about tasks parents are paying others to do [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/10/outsourcing-parenting-rituals-to-pros/3643343002/], we came up with many more jobs we commonly complain about. We're prepared to offload them all to a hired hand, or to Big Data. We're not picky.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri suggests cacao tea (she gets hers from Gold River Trading Co. [https://goldriverco.com/collections/cacao]) for when you want the idea of chocolate without the calories and sugar. Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with Cats of San Bernardino [https://www.instagram.com/catsofsanbernardino/], and Catherine's singing the gospel of rolling up your clothes to fit them in your drawers [https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/organizing-tips/a25908506/why-you-should-roll-your-clothes/].

Today we're obsessing about all those occasions where (mostly) moms have to step in and crush dreams, just because they are living in the real world. Is that fair?

Today we're complaining about little things that refuse to work and trip us up, from mayonnaise packets to electrical outlets to tiny plastic doodads in the dishwasher.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the common thread is "we hated the ending." On Dancing with the Stars, the judges saved the annoying star and sent the cheerful good sport home, and on Rutherford Falls, the writers introduced highly unnecessary, 11th-hour plot twists that will now never get resolved because the show hasn't been renewed. Quit while you're ahead, people!

Next week, the DWTS theme is '90s Night. And we'll kick off a new series watch: Brothers and Sisters, a soapy drama that premiered in 2006 on ABC and is now available on Hulu [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758737/].

While Catherine says her son is not allowed to have senioritis, apparently she can have it for him. But when a kid can't coast through his senior year, his parents really can't either.

Summer offers delicious food and drink, but then again, so does fall. Don't make us choose!

A post on the Today show site [https://community.today.com/post/5-easy-ways-to-build-your-relationship-with-your-teenager] got us talking today. It's about "easy" (red flag!) ways to build your relationship with your teenager. Despite its quick-and-easy promise, we did find some good advice within, and shared our own too. Mentioned: Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured-Heart Approach by Howard Glasser [https://amzn.to/2HnjdbH].

Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole treated herself to a cozy fleece from Columbia [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MV8MPH8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details], but the plant-based snacks that Catherine recommended, Mustache Munchies Cheddarish crackers [https://www.getgreenmustache.com/products/mustache-munchies-cheddarish-crackers], do not sound like a treat to Nicole. Terri's just happy that Taylor Swift dropped a new album [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLINj2JJM1jxP5aYiX47uBCRu9g8JItDWp].

An Instagram post from the Just Girl Project [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjst166rqn0/] got us obsessing about self-care, the 5 love languages, and what happens when you mash them up together. Let's just say that some of us love ourselves, and self-care [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/the-self-care-struggle], a lot more than others.

The fill-in-the-blank (helicopter, tiger, lawnmower) parent genre [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/episode-235-beyond-tiger-moms-and-helicopter-parents] is rich for revisiting, and complaining about, which we are doing today after reading the latest list of suggestions at the New Yorker [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/17/helicopter-parents-are-last-years-model].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, foxtrots abounded on Dancing with the Stars, Michael Bublé proved to be a charming judge, and Vinny climbed up out of the bottom two (no doubt thanks to Terri's votes). Next week: Halloween! and the return of team dances.

On Rutherford Falls, election day draws nearer (in fiction as in real life) and Bobbie and Feather battle for votes and public goodwill at a pancake breakfast. Mmmmm, pancakes. Next: The season—and series—finale, "Election."

When Nicole got the chance to be her son's guest for Christmas instead of hosting the holiday herself, she jumped on it (maybe too quickly?). That got us talking about how we feel about reversing the roles on holiday traditions and other family routines.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past (in this case, September 2018) for your weekend listening pleasure.

Since Nicole doesn't usually join in on the Round 2 fun, we each give a little report on what's on our TVs these days.

On today's episode, we obsess about online travel booking. Instead of being convenient, we find it's usually far more trouble than it's worth. Cross your fingers that Terri's family isn't sleeping in the car on their next trip.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's rocking out to HARDY's latest, The Mockingbird and the Crow [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmoOJX8ck0EMFbYRj21_GAi4i6Vcik5kF]. Nicole's gearing up for some trips to the Northeast with Blundstone boots [https://www.blundstone.com/stout-brown-premium-leather-v-cut-boots-womens-style-500], and Catherine's showing her loyalty to both Delta Airlines and Starbucks [https://www.deltastarbucks.com/content/starbucks/en/overview.html].

Terri doesn't go out much, and it might be because she keeps getting invitations filled with befuddling suggestions for gift-giving.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we're coming to you a day late because Dancing with the Stars felt we needed double the amount of dancing this week: First, Most Memorable Year, capped off by the sad departure of Selma Blair, who is unable to continue with the show for medical reasons; and then, a prom night/dance marathon mash-up with a very unsatisfying outcome: Joseph sent home while Heidi stayed. Next: Michael Bublé Night.

Then, on Rutherford Falls, we had an enjoyable, but sitcom-101 Halloween episode featuring a cast of condiment costumes (mentioned: Chicago-style hot dogs [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/kitchen-notes/the-unbreakable-rules-of-the-chicago-dog-and-when-to-bend-them]). Next: "Firefighters Pancake Breakfast."

It's a hot topic on TikTok: Are you an almond mom [https://www.self.com/story/almond-mom], or did you grow up with one? Today we complain about these moms, but also about how hard it is to handle difficult topics related to weight, nutrition, and health.

We debate the best response to friendly children who volunteer personal information. Is polite chit-chat cute, or creepy?

If you take us out to lunch, we will gladly pay our share and maybe even yours too. (Just please, take us out to lunch!)

Our kids are in the hot seat on complaint day again this week. This time it's because they have a bad habit of breaking our stuff... until we admit that we're pretty good at breaking our own stuff.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine has a two-fer: the book The Lincoln Highway [https://www.amortowles.com/the-lincoln-highway-about-the-book/], and Little Free Libraries [https://littlefreelibrary.org/], which is where she found her copy. Nicole recommends the Waze app [https://www.waze.com/], which has been helping her navigate LA traffic. And Terri's happy it's pumpkin season, so she can enjoy pumpkin spice cookies from Tate’s Bake Shop [https://www.tatesbakeshop.com/pumpkin-spice-cookies.html] and pumpkin spice tea from Gold River Trading Company [https://goldriverco.com/products/pumpkin-spice-tea].

On the one hand, we're nostalgic about all the tasty home-made foods that we got and our kids didn't. On the other hand, they've had many more opportunities to try cuisines from around the world--and vegetables that haven't been boiled within an inch of their lives.

This is the third installment [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/wildlife-invasions] of a series [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/emboldened-animals] in which we complain about critters. This time around, we're dealing with raccoons, opossums, and spotted lanternflies [https://nj1015.com/spotted-lanternfly-quarantine-zone-expanding-to-all-of-nj/].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: It was Disney+ Night on Dancing with the Stars, which meant varying degrees of commitment to costumes from Disney properties: Alan unrecognizable as a zombie (Hocus Pocus 2), Sasha and Selma snappy in suspenders and saddle shoes (The Muppet Show), and Emma as a sexy race car driver (Cars), which prompted a mention of the song "Sexy" from Mean Girls, the musical [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KycXHeUxho].

We said so long to Sam, and Vinny and Jessie bounced back from harsh criticism last week to fervent praise this week. Next: Most Memorable Year on Monday, 10/17, and Prom Night/Dance Marathon on 10/18. That means we'll bring you Round 2 on Wednesday, 10/19, instead of our usual Tuesday.

Over on Rutherford Falls, it was road-trip time: Terry, Reagan, Nathan, and Bobbie traveled to New York--and away from advancing the plot. Still, we got to revisit season 1's NPR Josh and Rutherford Inc.'s former PR boss, Kaitlyn. Next: S2 E6, "Halloween" (how timely!).

Nicole's daughter is in her last year of university, and Catherine's is right behind her. We've barely had time to digest the Big Life Decisions they had to make to get to this point, and now it's time for more.

Back in 2016, we shared our most frequently used emojis [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922749]. Then we revisited the topic two years later.

The World Health Organization recently issued screen-time guidelines for kids: No screens at all for babies under a year old, and one hour a day max for kids 5 and under [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/no-screen-time-babies-only-1-hour-kids-under-5-n998051]. Our response to this is to laugh heartily, and reminisce about all the fun (and useful) screen time we had with our little kids. We loved this expert take: 4 times it's okay to hand over the iPad at Today.com [https://www.today.com/parents/screen-time-kids-4-times-it-s-ok-hand-over-t104254].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole shouts out a West Coast coffee chain called Dutch Bros [https://www.dutchbros.com/] that's a fun Starbucks alternative (her favorite is the Golden Eagle). Terri's daughter got her playing Crowd Sort [https://apps.apple.com/ug/app/crowd-sort-color-sorting-game/id1584996888], a color-sorting phone game (because we can always use another game). Catherine's enjoying both the latest season of The Great British Baking Show and the Not-So-Great Defector Bake-Off [https://defector.com/tag/nsgdbo/], in which the host of her recent pick, the Normal Gossip podcast [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-gold-river-trading-co-chamomile-tea-and-the-normal-gossip-podcast], and a colleague attempt the technical challenges from the show every week.

The Apple Watch has some pretty fancy features [https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/whats-new-apdb93ea3872/watchos], but we have some suggestions for improvements that would really make a difference for parents.

We reviewed Grown and Flown's list of 5 things not to get stressed about during senior year [https://grownandflown.com/kid-senior-5-things-not-stressed-about/], which is the current situation for Catherine and in the rear view for Nicole and Terri. Catherine feels entirely justified in the stressors she's experiencing. Mentioned: Senior picture stories [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/speed-round-sunday-senior-pictures].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Dancing with the Stars felt the need for a James Bond-themed evening, which meant nothing but slow rumbas and the occasional tango (and poor Jessie James Decker dipped in gold paint). Next: Disney Plus Night.

On Rutherford Falls, Reagan encountered a bureaucratic level of hell that reminded us of The Good Place. But thanks to her new curator, Nelson, she succeeded in her quest to apply for a land assignment--and she has a new love interest, too. Next: Season 2, episode 5, "Adirondack S3."

It's sweater-weather, fall-foliage, pumpkin-patch season ... at least for two of us. Nicole is nostalgic for Canadian autumns from her home in the southern California desert.

Turns out we're better at passing along clothes, toys, and baby gear than we are at tossing birthday cards (with a few special exceptions, of course).

In the complaint department today: We try and try to teach our kids basic life skills, like laundry and cooking. And yet (some of) them just don't seem to get it. We'd like our appliances to step up and share some of the burden.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's been enjoying the YouTube series Jet Lag: The Game [https://www.youtube.com/c/jetlagthegame] with her son. Nicole is trying out the Rover app [https://www.rover.com/] for pet care (and has an inside look at how the company vets its caretakers). And thanks to Dancing with the Stars, Terri's checking back in with an older show she enjoyed: Brothers and Sisters (available on Hulu) [https://www.hulu.com/series/brothers-sisters-f5b3f0f0-b0c4-46d7-8e7a-0bbebfdb9b30].

Terri was surprised to learn that her husband carries a comb to touch up his 'do while he's at work, which got her (and us) obsessing over how much personal grooming we do in public. Or in private, for that matter.

Whether our kids are at home or away, there are challenges (and some victories) when it comes to staying in communication with them.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Dancing with the Stars suggested we learn a whole lot about the life of Elvis and about how bad many guys look in wigs. And we said goodbye to a Real Housewife in favor of a Charlie's Angel. Next: James Bond Night.

On Rutherford Falls, we also learned something: Reagan has a family! A beloved Aunt Sue, who passed away, and parents. Whaddya know! And speaking of parents, Nathan's going to be one. Oh, dear. Next: "Land Back."

Having a growth mindset [https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/] can be a pathway to success for kids (and adults). But sometimes a parent's idea of growth doesn't match a teacher's, and then what?

Forget the running playlist, the breakup playlist, and the poolside playlist. We have some other ideas for songs to live by.

A New York Times letter-writer prompted today's chat when she wrote: "It is my belief that children often have more of an impact on changing their parents than parents may have on molding their children." We can't quite commit to that "more" business, but agree that parenting sure has changed us.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri recommends a trip down memory lane with The Big Chill on HBO Max [https://www.hbomax.com/feature/urn:hbo:feature:GYiJjVARO5pA3MQEAAABR], or a old movie of your choice. Since her kids are no longer at home, Nicole's spoiling her cats with a cute new cat condo [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792CKRHC?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details], and Catherine suggests a fun thriller novel set at a refuge for monkeys: Florida Woman by Deb Rogers [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/florida-woman-deb-rogers?variant=39723439882274].

We borrow once again from the Bobby Bones Show [https://bobbybones.iheart.com/] to obsess about whether 12-year-olds should wear thongs or cut their hair in mohawks, and how we feel about our own kids' clothing, hair, and accessory choices.

On this week's Round 3, it's our version of the TikTok #parentingchallenge. Between us and our spouses, who's stricter, funnier, neater, more outgoing? It's a new twist on complaining about our partners--gently!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it's back to the ballroom for a new season of Dancing With the Stars. The show is now streaming on Disney+, so you've got to pony up for that service if you want to watch. But benefits include no commercials, an elimination at the end of the show (instead of awkwardly happening a week late), and--at least this week--mostly dancing, little faffing about. Next week: Elvis night.

We're also back in Rutherford Falls for a few more weeks (season 2 has just 8 episodes). There's considerably less sparkle and glitter, but there is a grumpy new curator to help Reagan out. Next: S2 E3, "Aunt Sue."

Here's a lesson learned: Don't ask your kids who their heroes are unless you are prepared for their answer. But we also acknowledge that life off of the pedestal is pretty comfortable.

It's time to return to the urgent question of most recent photos on our phones [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922795], and this crop is more exciting than last time: A memorable souvenir, a nimbler-than-expected dog, and some possibly illegal activity.

Target's car-seat trade-in event [https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/planet/sustainable-products/car-seat-trade-in] is happening now (NOTE: This is a replay, but the event really is happening now, September 11-24!), which got us thinking: We have a lot of other kid stuff we'd like to trade in for bigger and better things.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole is into the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon]. Switching gears entirely, Terri recommends a daily live rosary from Kitty Cleveland of Kitty's Morning Glories [https://www.facebook.com/groups/307917207476233]. And Catherine's off in another very different direction with the book Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six by Maya Paine Smart [https://mayasmart.com/book/].

Parenting TikTok is all about #gentleparenting, so we had to obsess over it for awhile. Nicole's all for it, Terri has doubts, and Catherine mostly stays out of it and feels quietly guilty about whatever she did or didn't do when her kids were little. Mentioned: "What Is Gentle Parenting?" at Parents magazine [https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/what-is-gentle-parenting/] and Howard Glasser's Nurtured Heart Approach [https://nurturedheartinstitute.com/].

While Nicole was away, Catherine and Terri alternated home and appliance annoyances [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/revisiting-the-joys-of-homeownership]. Now that Nicole is back, it was her turn to deal with a big mess: ants taking over her pantry.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We kick off season 2 of Rutherford Falls (the final season, as it turns out). The titular "white man" is, of course, Nathan, who has secretly returned to Rutherford Falls but possibly hasn't learned much on his epic journey of self-discovery. Next: S2 E2, "The New Curator."

We also kicked off a new season of Dancing with the Stars, now on Disney+, with a preseason special called "Pros' Most Memorable Dances." While it was fun to see some of the dances from years past, we question whether these were truly the most memorable. For example, Catherine nominates this Charleston from Nastia Liukin and Sasha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkvEjn-tkEI] as her top pick. We also ran down the cast for the upcoming season [https://tvline.com/lists/dancing-with-the-stars-season-31-cast-full-list-dwts/], which premieres Monday, 9/19.

We've been checking all those first day of school photos, and that led us to reminisce about back-to-school shopping--with our own moms, and with our kids.

Not all of our children's activities are exactly fun for us, but there are those things that became as much a part of our social life as our kids'. On today's Speed Round, we give a cheer for team sports and marching band. And fancy cupcakes!

After ignoring it for years, we suddenly started to wonder if dental insurance is a must or a maybe. Our complaint: The math (surprise!) is complicated, at least here in the USA (mentioned: Oscar insurance [https://www.hioscar.com/]).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's recommending something that might be tough to replicate: Getting a hand-me-down Apple Watch [https://www.apple.com/watch/]. Cultivate a friendship with someone who has one! You can easily acquire Catherine's recommendation, a novel called Flying Solo by NPR's Linda Holmes [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/574065/flying-solo-by-linda-holmes/]. And it's also easy to check out Nicole's pick, speaking_of_cats on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@speaking_of_cats]. Be a part of this viral star's following!

A TikTok video about "fringe moms" [https://www.tiktok.com/@shinebeautymalibu/video/7137885808840805674] got us obsessing about whether we were fringe moms and finding our place amongst the cool moms, awkward moms, and other playground cliques.

On this week's Round 3, Catherine is complaining about the extra hurdles her kid needs to jump through to get into college--like this process wasn't hard enough already?! Mentioned: The Honest Guide to College [https://www.commonsense.news/p/the-honest-guide-to-college].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we wrapped up season one of Rutherford Falls with episode 9, "Stoodis," and episode 10, "D'Angelos." These were an improvement over episode 8, although they returned to the well of Nathan having a tantrum and Reagan trying once again to get herself back into the good graces of the Minishonka community. (Mentioned: Elizabethtown [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368709/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1].)

We'll come back for season 2 mostly for Reagan and Terry Thomas. Next: Season 2, Episode 2, "White Man in the Cupboard." We'll also check out Dancing With the Stars's first episode on Disney Plus, a preseason special called "The Pros' Most Memorable Dances" ([https://abc.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/news/updates/watch-dancing-with-the-stars-the-pros-most-memorable-dances-disney-plus-day-2022], September 8).

Terri's decades-long grudge against egg salad was recently tested when her son ordered an egg-salad sandwich... at an establishment known only for hot dogs. On the flip side, Nicole's family won't go near one of her favorite foods, Vegemite. Do you and your kids have wildly different food preferences? Mentioned: Mr. Cow Corn Dogs [https://mrcowcorndog.com/menu].

In our day, senior photos involved slapping on some sort of drape-like thing and smiling pretty. Now, there are whole photo shoots, with props and costumes and locations and enormous pricey package and photographer salesmanship. We wonder if it's all really necessary.

Nicole said everyone was talking about Kim Kardashian's bathroom [https://jezebel.com/kim-kardashian-west-explains-her-sinks-1834125651], so we had to, too. The upshot: If we had Kim's kash, we wouldn't spend it on a sink with no basin, soap, or towels.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, entertainment three ways: Catherine's recommending the Broadway musical Mean Girls (based on the 2004 movie) [https://meangirlsonbroadway.com/]. Nicole found a reality show that held her attention in Alone [https://www.history.com/shows/alone]. And Terri remembered how much she likes Lyle Lovett while listening to his new album, 12th of June [https://youtu.be/7UVF8F7j0l4].

"Quiet quitting" is a current buzzword, so we obsessed over how it would work in our homes instead of the workplace. Would anyone even notice?

Yes, we want open communication with our kids, but sometimes we need to put our hands over our ears and say "TMI!" So today we're complaining about knowing a bit more than we care to about what's happening in our kids' lives.

On this week's entertainment-themed episode, the season finale of Only Murders in the Building pulls off a triple-switcheroo killer reveal. While you can't look too closely at the plot, the show is always fun to watch and lovely to look at.

We can't say the same for Rutherford Falls--at least this particular episode, which fell flat with its continued use of Nathan as a plot device and punching bag. Next week, we'll finish up season 1 with episode 9, "Stoodis," and 10, "D'Angelos."

A Washington Post article titled “College admissions are stressful enough. Parents, don’t make it worse” [https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2022/08/18/making-college-admissions-less-stressful/] got us talking about how to make the application season easier on everyone involved--and some unexpected factors to consider when making that list of possibilities.

Doctors whose office is closed when you're sick. Orthodontists who don't keep kid hours. What we wish phone physicians could do. Yep, we've got a few things to say about the availability of medical professionals.

A kid's obsession can build self-esteem, lead to a career, or help you communicate when nothing else works. So what's not to love? After all, as adults we have plenty of obsessions of our own (like, say, podcasting).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, the Instagram Minute is back once again, with a guest recommendation from Terri's daughter: @Dogs [https://www.instagram.com/dogs/], and specifically this video of two puppers spying on their neighbors [https://www.instagram.com/p/ChDyF2Glt1N/]. Catherine's recommending some different dogs: the truly hideous homes on HGTV's Ugliest House in America [https://www.hgtv.com/shows/ugliest-house-in-america].

The first day of Catherine's son's senior year is looming. Send thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and maybe some chocolate. She's going to need help.

Just last week, a mere 7 days ago, Terri had a problem with her garage door opener [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/the-joys-of-homeownership] and Catherine's basement was about to get torn up for a new drain and sump pump (thrilling). Both of those are resolved now, but that just means that our various appliances had to beg for attention. Mentioned: Cuisinart PerfecTemp electric kettle (which, for the record, can be had for much less than the price advertised) [https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/tea_kettles/cpk-17p1/].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we're coming to the end of season 2 of Only Murders in the Building, which means lots of twist and turns and threads being pulled--and almost all the characters we mentioned last week as being MIA are in fact IA this time. Next week: the season finale, "I Know Who Did It."

On Rutherford Falls, Nathan continues to be a punching bag and a terrible friend to Reagan, which Josh gently points out. And the team of lawyers from Rutherford Inc. is really no match for Terry Thomas. Next: season 1, episode 8, "Skoden."

We once again steal a question from Follow the Herd, and talk about how we'd spend a $10,000 windfall. Travel agents and cheap contractors, help us out! Mentioned: Lyle Lovett in concert [https://mamatude.blogspot.com/2002/08/august-12-16-2002.html].

Nicole's favorite TV series has let her down this season, so she's picked a book series as her fave, and Catherine and Terri followed suit. Our picks: Sue Grafton mysteries [https://amzn.to/2KukaNT], Harry Potter audiobooks [https://amzn.to/2M0LUOT], and Henry and Mudge kids' books [https://amzn.to/2KpAhMx].

This post on the "burden of parent homework" [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/well/family/the-burden-of-parent-homework.html] was the perfect prompt for our weekly complaint session. No thank you to homework for preschoolers, to homework for bigger kids that requires tons of parental intervention, and to communication tools that don't actually communicate.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine takes over Nicole's Instagram Minute to recommend Knuckle Bump Farms [https://www.instagram.com/knucklebumpfarms/], for its many, many pictures of cute baby animals and a sassy emu named Emmanuel. And Terri suggests immersing yourself in the mood of the movie Licorice Pizza [https://youtu.be/ofnXPwUPENo], set in the 1970s in the San Fernando Valley.

What with all the Hollywood folks and social media influencers securing sponsorships for their life events, we obsessed about how we could get in on the action too. This is a very influential podcast!! Mentioned: A fundraiser for Catherine's daughter's skating team that's fun for NFL football fans [https://www.charitymania.com/give/AC168].

It's time for another round of "All the things in our homes that are broken right now," with big fat disclaimers about how grateful we are for the roofs over our heads (it's all the junk inside the house that is the problem).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, miscellaneous clues are scattering like glitter or cat hair on Only Murders in the Building. We suspect they will need a lint roller to clear everything up in the two remaining episodes. Mentioned: WhoKilledBunny.com. Next: Season 2, episode 9, "Sparring Partners."

On Rutherford Falls, Reagan manages to create a meaningful museum exhibit out of a hodge-podge of donated items, and Terry Thomas dismantles the baby lawyer that Rutherford. Inc. sends to negotiate with him. Next: Season 1, episode 7, "Rutherford, Inc."

In response to this viral video of a moment of sportsmanship from a Little League game [https://local12.com/sports/content/viral-video-beaned-little-league-batter-rises-to-console-upset-pitcher-waco-texas-tournament-hit-helmet-player-regional-playoff-game-hug-mound-kaiden-shelton-isaiah-jarvis-tears-cry-crying], we talked about some of those moments of pride we've had in our kids--but tragically haven't captured on video. Can we get a little advance warning next time?

Loud bark-y dogs, stealth hedgehogs, attack ants, and black pooches playing speed bump in the dark are on the job of defending our homes. Play it safe—stay away!

Today, we're talking about an article [https://bold.expert/from-philosopher-to-negotiator-these-parental-roles-help-kids-thrive/] that outlines some of the roles parents need to play to help kids thrive (it's an interview with the coauthor of a new book, The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to raising Highly Successful Children [https://amzn.to/2IsUJz1].) We've performed them all, and have several to add to the list.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we are here for your flavored beverage needs. Terri's shouting out the Flavored Coffee of the Month Club [https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/products/flavored-coffee-of-the-month-club?selling_plan=1905754223] from Blackout Coffee Co. (so far, she's sampled white chocolate and raspberry and then black currant). If you prefer your fruity flavors over ice, Catherine recommends the unique sparkling water flavors at Aura Bora, such as basil berry, cactus rose, and chai cranberry [https://aurabora.com/].

Inspired by a Follow the Herd question [https://www.followtheherd.org/game/], we ask: Would you rather have a job you love for $75,000 a year, or a job you hate for $125,000 a year? We think it's a pretty easy answer, but at least one of our family members surprised us with their thoughts on the topic.

A few months ago, the No Stupid Questions podcast did an episode about whether it's okay to copy aspects of other people's personality, titled "Do You Mind If I Borrow Your Personality?" [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/do-you-mind-if-i-borrow-your-personality/]. So we copied that topic and discussed it today.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: It was another rough week for Mabel on Only Murders in the Building as she unlocked some traumatic memories with the help of Theo Dimas (even though he only caught about a third of what she said). We ended on a cliffhanger as the city was plunged into a blackout, setting up next week's episode: season 2, episode 8, "Hello Darkness."

Rutherford Falls used "History Fair" to comment on the connection between art and artists and how past bad behavior affects current work. It was all very high-minded (even if it did mostly take place in the kitchen of a P.F. Chang's) but didn't get us anywhere on the season-long plot of the lawsuit. Next: "Negotiations (season 1, episode 6).

Every once in a while, we get a little nostalgic and wistful and think about how sweet it would be to have a baby around... or a baby dog. And then we have an experience like the one Terri just had to set our heads straight.

In a question that proved almost too hypothetical to answer, we try to determine what age we'd like to remain forever and ever. Two of us are going for 30, and the other one can't quite commit.

First we were obsessed with the college application process [http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/kids-and-rejection-college-acceptance-edition], then those who cheated on that process [http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/rethinking-college]. Now, we're wondering how the heck anyone could pay for college once they do get in.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, our guest Audra shouts out Beats Studio Buds and by extension, Bluetooth and audiobooks. Audra's podcast partner Hadassa is a fan of Song Quiz, which you can play on an Alexa device. Terri recently returned to Return to Me, an old movie worth revisiting (we talked about it on Round 2 way back in 2017). Finally, Catherine suggests doing a 5-minute workout for a quick burst of accomplishment. Visit https://parentingroundabout.com for all these links.

Terri's daughter is trying out some dating apps, and Terri has zero experience in this area (not that that stops her from obsessing about it). Luckily, guests Audra and Hadassa do have experience, both personal and parental, to share.

Guests Audra and Hadassa (from the A Bit Above podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bit-above/id1548787190]) join us in complaining about everything that interrupts our sleep, from kids to pets to neighborhood car alarms--and of course, worries from the past, present, and future.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it's a terrible, no-good, very bad week for poor Mabel on Only Murders in the Building, and Terri has a theory about the questioned paternity of Oliver's son. Next week: Season 2, episode 7, "Flipping the Pieces."

Over in Rutherford Falls, we learn about Minishonka casino CEO Terry Thomas and the motivation for his lawsuit plan. Plus, we meet his family, including a wife who can mix it up on the lacrosse field sidelines and a daughter who has a talent for beading but doesn't care to capitalize on it. Next: Season 1, episode 5, "History Fair."

With Nicole away for the time being, we decided to bring in some help: Audra and Hadassa from the A Bit Above podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bit-above/id1548787190]. They are both moms, but beyond that, lead very different lives. So on today's episode, they tell us about themselves and their podcast.

We look at the pretty places near our homes, from a New York City skyline view to the California beaches--with a stop in the Midwest for historic homes and ice shanties.

Today, we complain about people who doubt our kids' abilities. And then we complain about ourselves for caring so much about proving them wrong.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we are here to entertain you with a song and a show. First up, the most recent single from Walker Hayes, "Y'all Life," is a catchy ode to life in the south, complete with cute video [https://youtu.be/zYw4xdlj2SQ]. And Julia, on HBO Max [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10975574/], is an ode to Julia Child and her public TV cooking show, The French Chef.

It's kind of a chicken-and-egg problem: How much do you warn kids about risky behavior, and how much do you worry that warnings are actually invitations?

Catherine's wondering how much responsibility she has for helping her husband with projects around the house that he initiates, and whether he is then responsible for caring for her after she initiates a project like a 14-mile hike. Luckily, Terri knows the legal loopholes.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Only Murders in the Building's "The Tell" brings us Chekhov's DNA test kit, and with it, SECRETS! So many secrets, and not all of them about the unsolved murder of Bunny Folger. Next: Season 2, episode 6, the title of which is still a secret.

And on Rutherford Falls, we meet adorable radio reporter Josh, played by Dustin Milligan (recently of Schitt's Creek). He's both a love interest for Reagan and someone who's brought his reporter's curiosity to town just as the Minishonka Nation sues Nathan. Mentioned: The Parks and Recollection podcast [https://teamcoco.com/podcasts/parks-and-recollection] and Parks & Rec/Rutherford Falls creator Mike Schur's affection for the band Neutral Milk Hotel [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ooIqOf4X2uz4mMptXCtie]. Next: "Terry Thomas."

Bobby Bones will be hosting a new reality show called Snake in the Grass [https://parade.com/1400310/mikebloom/snake-in-the-grass-season-1/], debuting next Monday on USA, in which a group of people tries to complete challenges while outwitting and identifying the saboteur among them. Since parenting life is nothing but completing challenges while other people get in the way, we can relate.

If you think we live in pristine houses with immaculate furnishings and tables accented just so ... you haven't listened to this podcast before, have you? Nah, our coffee tables are a mess, but a generally amusing mess, we hope. (Mentioned: Little Free Library [https://littlefreelibrary.org/].)

On Round 1 this week, we're talking about apologies. It's not so simple to help our kids learn when and how to say "sorry" [https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-04-03/teaching-kids-the-importance-of-an-apology], especially if we want them to mean it. It turns out, we don't actually care that much about sincerity.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri was once again Facebook-influenced to make a purchase: A Velcro-closure wrap skirt from RipSkirt that's breezy and comfy and only clingy in the laundry [https://ripskirthawaii.com/}. And for your top half, Catherine is shouting out Old Navy for its PowerLite racerback tank with built-in bra (why are these so hard to find??) [https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=876379042].

Last week, we obsessed over an article from Grown & Flown called "10 Ways This Mom Has Stopped Annoying Her Teens" [https://grownandflown.com/ten-ways-mom-stopped-annoying-teens/]. One episode [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/choosing-your-parenting-battles] wasn't enough to cover all the ways we annoy our children, so we are returning to this list today to discuss the remaining 5 ways we are sooo annoying.

When you hear this, Catherine will be in the midst of a 3-state college tour with her son, so spare a few thoughts for her safety and sanity. How do you feel about road trips: Fun adventure, or "are we there yet?!"?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we have new characters being introduced and old characters returning. Pretty soon the Arconia will need that pod that Nina's plotting to build in order to house all these people. Next: "The Tell."

On Rutherford Falls, one of Nathan's former professors arrives on the scene to be an awful person with (here we go again) a podcast. Meanwhile, Reagan is running errands and doing favors all over town to try to reintegrate herself into the community. Next: "Aunt Ida's 90th Birthday."

Terri's family recently needed to buy a car, and since her son had Big Opinions about what to get, he did the research and his parents followed his lead. That got us talking about who gets to make the call when the family needs something pricey: One parent? Both parents? The kids? Or is it truly a family affair?

Nicole's enjoying #Australian slang, Catherine's not enjoying being called "extra," and Terri just wishes people would stop making language harder. (Mentioned: the website Urban Dictionary; the book What Did You Say? What Do You Mean?; the podcast Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day; see https://parentingroundabout.com for links.)

We're still obsessing about college over here, because Nicole's daughter is in the thick of decision time and Catherine's is not far behind. How can you blame us, when the whole process is so inscrutable?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri has a tasty, low-guilt treat to recommend for your evening snacking needs: WW Snack Size Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Bars [https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/ww-supermarket/products/frozen-novelties/snack-size-chocolate-fudge-ice-cream-bars]. And Catherine's experimenting with walking while working with a new treadmill desk attachment [https://www.amazon.com/HumanCentric-Treadmill-Attachment-Workstation-Treadmills/dp/B083TB367L/]. Mentioned: Terri's portable, tripod standing desk [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-edpeople-on-tiktok-milk-bone-vitamin-treats-and-intension-design-standing-desk].

HumanCentric Treadmill Desk Attachment | Laptop/Tablet/iPad/Book Holder and Stand on Treadmill | Workstation Fits Most Treadmills

Today, we're obsessing over an article from Grown & Flown called "10 Ways This Mom Has Stopped Annoying Her Teens" [https://grownandflown.com/ten-ways-mom-stopped-annoying-teens/]. In fact, we're so obsessed with it we can only talk about five of the ways today. We'll revisit the other five next week.

In honor of Terri's 32nd wedding anniversary, we paused our usual weekly complaining to chat about some of what she's learned in those three decades. Puzzle pieces and PDA both play a role.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Only Murders in the Building gives us a deep dive into murder victim Bunny Folger, making her much more sympathetic than she's been up to this point. Next: S2E4, "Here's Looking at You."

We also kicked off a watch of Rutherford Falls, a sitcom streaming on Peacock. While its second season is already out, we're starting at the beginning with season 1, episode 1, the pilot. While we're not, as yet, convinced that this is the show that can fill the Parks and Rec hole in our life, everyone involved is talented, especially lead actress Jana Schmieding, so we're going to keep going. Next: S1E2, "Buckheart Lodge."

We take a break from our usual parenting talk to discuss a real-life unexplained event. Listen and then tell us if you have a theory about the ghost that's clearly haunting Catherine's house. Mentioned: Rob Lowe and sons in The Lowe Files [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7214622/].

While Terri waits for her central air to be repaired, she's collecting tips on how to hack some chill, or just general gripes about the difficulty of keeping one's cool when things get hot. (Mentioned: our earlier episode on Thermostat Wars [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922528].)

We complain about a kid being rejected for a credit card (come on, Kohl's! Otherwise, we love you!) and discuss how and when they should start building that all-important credit history. Mentioned: The "I have a credit card" scene from The Sure Thing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APe-KV0vIM].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we're all about the tea. Terri's drinking a delicious chamomile blend from Gold River Trading Company [https://goldriverco.com/products/tea-bags?variant=42900815577316], and Catherine's listening to Normal Gossip [https://defector.com/introducing-normal-gossip-a-podcast-where-we-will-gossip-as-a-treat/], a podcast that spills the tea on people she's never met. It's surprisingly satisfying!

A British outdoor education company created a calculator that lets you determine how many times you'll say "No" to your kids by the time they turn 16 [https://www.pgl.co.uk/yesparent]. While that ship has sailed for us. we do think that using your "no"s wisely is a sound parenting strategy.

Terri spotted an article titled "Dads are often IT guys when couples divide chores" [https://www.wsj.com/articles/dads-are-often-it-guys-when-couples-divide-chores-11655520474], and she laughed, then cried, then complained--because she's the only IT guy in her house, and she's not getting paid enough.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Only Murders in the Building is back for season 2, and we're in. We have to show solidarity with our fellow podcasters, right? And also, Shirley MacLaine! Next: Season 2, episode 3, "The Last Day of Bunny Folger" (episodes drop on Tuesdays on Hulu, so listen to our discussions to prepare you for what's next).

We're also going to return to the Mike Schur-iverse (since we are fans of Parks and Recreation and The Good Place) and watch Rutherford Falls on Peacock. While season 2 of that is out now as well, we'll start with season 1, episode 1, humbly titled "Pilot."

On this Independence Day, we talk about declaring our independence from holiday rituals and traditions that don't work for our families. Like, you know, fireworks (loud! flashy! lots of waiting around! No thanks).

Catherine and Terri ponder whether they prefer trying out new TV, movies, and books or revisiting beloved favorites. Doesn't help that it's never been easier to find that old stuff, or just watch memorable scenes on YouTube over and over and over again.

Thanks to this roundup of campaign slogans from moms [https://wokesloth.com/mom-campaign-slogans/masha/], we brainstormed our own (Nicole had a little help from SloganGenerator.org) before deciding we probably—no, definitely—do not want any job we'd have to campaign for.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out Shout--specifically, Shout Color Catchers [https://www.shoutitout.com/en-us/products/color-catcher-dye-trapping-sheet]. These dye-trapping sheets will save your red-and-white clothes from a pink future. Terri's recommending a cute children's book [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/stanley-the-dog-the-first-day-of-school-bobby-bones?variant=40051461685282] from her fave Bobby Bones, starring his bulldog Stanley.

Terri's family recently said a sad goodbye to their 21-year-old Jeep. Yet they shed nary a tear over the loss of a similarly dependable and long-tenured toaster. So we obsessed about what makes some objects meaningful, while others can be kicked to the curb without a second thought. Mentioned: The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, where you can visit cool objects like old-fashioned typewriters [https://www.menloparkmuseum.org/].

Wall Street Journal columnist Julie Jargon reeled us right in with a story titled "Moms are struggling with burnout. Is it more work to let dads help?" [https://www.wsj.com/articles/moms-are-struggling-with-burnout-is-it-more-work-to-let-dads-help-11654314523?st=jsdxio4of2nvye6&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink]. That headline was all we needed to share our own rants about the division of labor in our homes.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Girls5Eva season 2 ends with a knock-down, drag-out fight between two unlikely characters, and it's a joy to behold (and is being added to "Janet Kicks Some Demon Butt" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJoJaRHtwhc] on Terri's fire-me-up playlist. This show is a delight and we're in for season 3 if there is one. Mentioned: Interviews with Renee Elise Goldsberry to read [https://www.vulture.com/article/renee-elise-goldsberry-girls5eva-season-two-interview.html] and listen to [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-details/id1625012023].

Next: Another show we enjoyed is back for season 2: Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. We'll start with the first episode, "Persons of Interest."

Dancing With the Stars pro Sharna Burgess recently did a sexy maternity photo shoot [https://www.today.com/parents/parents/brian-austin-green-sharna-burgess-maternity-shoot-rcna31473], so that got us talking about whether we'd ever want to do the same (uh, no) and what other milestones should be commemorated by a professional with a big camera. (And if you want to hear Catherine talk about her super non-sexy pregnancy rash, that episode is here: https://www.spreaker.com/user/parentingroundabout/how-we-became-mom.)

Nicole brought to our attention an article about American Dream Miami [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5862329/USs-biggest-mall-gets-ahead-Florida.html], soon to be the biggest mall in America, but not exactly our dream of the perfect mall. We'd skip the amusement park rides and ice-climbing wall and focus on things like roaming nail technicians, golf carts, and the ability to shop in peace. (Mentioned: Mall of America [https://mallofamerica.com/], West Edmonton Mall [http://www.wem.ca/], and American Dream Meadowlands [https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2018/05/american_dream_megamall_opening_next_year.html], coming soon to Terri's neighborhood, yikes.)

Today, true confessions about obsessions: Not ours, but those of our husbands. Catherine's and Nicole's partners are kindred spirits with a similar level of extra-ness when it comes to kitchen gadgets. Terri's, meanwhile, is happy with an old TV show—but he needs to watch every single one, thank you very much.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine reviews two airplane-watch-quality movies: Death on the Nile and House of Gucci (mostly, she's just proud to have watched two relatively new movies). Terri shouts out Glad You're Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Breaking Fences, a book by Walker Hayes and Craig Allen Cooper that inspired an episode of the podcast a few weeks back. Mentioned: The Tender Bar, a movie we watched for Round 2, and the book that it's based on. Visit https://parentingroundabout.com for links to everything discussed.

Nicole is away this week, and Catherine and Terri are feeling the effects of having been away (read: a ton of extra work). So this week, we're talking, complaining and obsessing about jobs and work by revisiting, and updating, some past discussions on that topic. Today, we return to a question we first asked in September, 2021: "What's your retirement plan?"

Nicole is away this week, and Catherine and Terri are feeling the effects of having been away (read: a ton of extra work). So this week, we're talking, complaining and obsessing about jobs and work by revisiting, and updating, some past discussions on that topic. Today, we hop back to "The Work-Life Seesaw," from July 2020, and see how it's going on that teeter-totter today.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we're into the second half of Girls5Eva season 2, and the girls are busy working on their album. Also getting questionable cosmetic procedures, pursuing questionable theories about their lost bandmate Ashley, and staging a questionable Star Search rematch with Mario Cantone. Plus, Daniel Breaker finally gets to sing! Next: The final two episodes of this season, "Returnity" and "Tour Mode."

Nicole is away this week, and Catherine and Terri are feeling the effects of having been away (read: a ton of extra work). So this week, we're talking, complaining and obsessing about jobs and work by revisiting, and updating, some past discussions on that topic. Today, we hop way back to 2018's "Career Check-In" and then check back in on how the work world is treating us today.

We can't really enter the imaginary worlds of our favorite movies, TV shows, and plays, but we could theoretically hang with the folks who make them happen. On today's Speed Round, we pick some entertainers we'd like to entertain us in person.

Inspired by cartoonist Annie Kurzweg [https://www.instagram.com/anniegetyourgum/], we confess all the terrible things we do to torment our children: Looking at them! Looking at their phones! Speaking to them in front of peers! We are the worst.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole shouts out an effective, easy-to-use essential: The ChomChom pet hair remover [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAGTNAQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details]. Terri's enjoying the adorableness of Joshua Shaw, @upsidedownandcute on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/upsidedownandcute/]. And Catherine escaped for a few hours by watching the latest Downton Abbey movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11703710/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1]. Mentioned: Downton Abbey: The Exhibition [https://www.downtonexhibition.com/].

ChomChom Pet Hair Remover - Reusable Cat and Dog Hair Remover for Furniture, Couch, Carpet, Car Seats and Bedding - Eco-Friendly, Portable, Multi-Surface Lint Roller & Animal Fur Removal

After the crew on the Bobby Bones Show discussed the appropriateness of wine as a teacher gift [https://overcast.fm/+5VzIbx_Ys/4:12], we also obsessed about what we've given (and received).

After reading about a study showing that women aren't as good at promoting themselves as men are [https://characterlab.org/tips-of-the-week/how-did-you-do/], we complained about the modern need to promote yourself in order to get anywhere. We'd just like you to listen without us having to tell you how great we are, okay?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, episodes 3 and 4 of Girls5Eva bring us more silliness as the girls finagle their way into a rap video and Summer must resist her parents' call for her to take a purity pledge in the wake of her divorce. Next week: “Leave a Message If You Love Me” and “B.P.E."

Nicole's dog, Missy, passed away recently. Since she's been a presence on the podcast over the years, today's episode is all about Missy and her exploits. It won't be the same without her.

So someone throws, say, a PERFECTLY GOOD banana muffin into the trash, one you had planned to eat for breakfast, and it's in a SEALED BAG, and it's in the kitchen trash that got emptied not THAT long ago, and you can find it to fish it out, would it be THAT terrible to rescue it and slather it with butter and eat it? It wouldn't, would it? Would it?

A Buzzfeed article obsessing about mom catchphrases [https://www.buzzfeed.com/alliehayes/reddit-moms-funny-catchphrases] naturally led us to do the same. At least one of us has upped her game by adding Broadway show tunes to her catchphrase repertoire.

We're off this week, but bringing you some past discussions on summer-y topics to kick off the season. This one comes from June 2019.

Hey, airlines: We have some brilliant ideas! There are so many ways you could make the air-travel experience easier and happier for families, and this whole episode is a brainstorming session just for you.

We're off this week, but bringing you some past discussions on summer-y topics to kick off the season. This one comes from July 2021.

After a recent mention of summer camp for kids, we started dreaming about the amenities we'd like to see at mom camp. Let us know if there's one out there that offers robot butlers, doctors on call, and hot tubs for everyone. Mentioned: The luxury suites aboard the Queen Mary, featured in the movie Let Them All Talk [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-let-them-all-talk-and-veronica-mars-keep-calm-and-party-on].

We're off this week, but bringing you some past discussions on summer-y topics to kick off the season. This one comes from July 2019.

After reading yet another article about how parents only have 18 summers with their kids (they show up every year), we respond with a hearty "So what?" We can come up with at least 18 things about summer with kids that we're glad to be done with.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we return to an old favorite: Girls5Eva, which is back for season 2. It's just as goofy and fun the second time around, as the girls are trying to get back in the game with a new record deal. Next week: Episode 3, "Who U Know," and 4, "Can't Wait 2 Wait."

We're off this week, but bringing you some past discussions on summer-y topics to kick off the season. This one comes from June 2019.

On today's Round 1, we talk about high school graduation. Nicole's daughter received her diploma last week, and we compare and contrast with our other kids' experiences (past and future).

On a recent Speed Round, in the course of a different discussion, Catherine mentioned this question: "If someone paid you to travel the world for the next three years, would you go?" We thought that sounded like a Speed Round in its own right, and now here it is! Although come to think of it, we're not so interested in the offer, unless Nicole's demands are met, anyway.

On this week's Round 3, our complaint is with kids who suddenly need essentials like salt, black shoes, and Revolutionary War-era costumes at the eleventh hour. (And we have some suggested solutions for the business world.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's found a new podcast to enjoy: Naked Lunch from Phil Rosenthal and David Wild [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1620018481]. Nicole's cruising around on her new Aventon e-bike [http://www.aventon.com/]. And Catherine's playing an online game called Follow the Herd [https://www.followtheherd.org/game/].

Terri recently found out that someone's been holding a grudge against her for more than a decade, so we obsessed about grudges we've held and been the target of. Turns our our memories can be pretty long too.

An article summarizing a blatant case of baby name stealing [https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2572726/stolen-baby-name-reddit/] got us complaining about the people involved in this situation, who really were awful to each other. But then one of us confessed to a milder instance of name... sharing, let's just say.

On this week's entertainment-themed episode: The season finales of both our series! Bridgerton finally arrived at Kate and Anthony's happy ending, but there were quite unhappy endings for several other characters. We await season 3 with some trepidation, because of the Bridgerton boys' tendency to lunkheadedness (looking at you, Colin).

On The Afterparty, the mystery is finally solved, with the help of eyewitness testimony from little Maggie (Brett and Zoe's daughter). Did we figure it out before we were told? Nope, but we did enjoy the ride and will likely watch when the show returns for season 2.

Next: Season 2 of another show we enjoyed very much: Girls5Eva on Peacock. We'll watch two episodes a week, so first up are "Album Mode" and "Triumphant Return to the Studio."

The Japanese TV show Old Enough (available on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81506279]) features teeny, tiny children going out in the world to run errands. It got us talking about how this would play in the U.S. (uh, it wouldn't). Mentioned: Saturday Night Live's spoof on the show [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhGTtWsW9F8].

Terri's just trying to walk her dog around her nice suburban neighborhood. Why are people treating her like public enemy #1?

Today's obsession is sleep, and whether our kids are getting enough of it. Because when the kids aren't sleeping, neither are the mothers. It's quite the vicious cycle.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's shouting out Singo, a fun twist on Bingo [https://www.playsingo.com/]. Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with @MenWiththePot [https://www.instagram.com/menwiththepot/]. And Terri has a triumph of pack-ratting to shout out: Her state is now requiring the use of reusable bags, and she is ready [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2022/05/04/nj-plastic-bag-ban-date/9568824002/].

Last week's chat about senior skip day [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/senior-skip-day] got us obsessing about what we'd do with a skip day of our own. What we really need is a way to peace out from parental worrying. Who's got that figured out?

After we heard about a little boy who commandeered his mom's phone to order 31 McDonald's cheeseburgers via Doordash [https://www.today.com/food/people/2-year-old-orders-31-mcdonalds-cheeseburgers-doordash-rcna29331], we complained about our family members and their buying habits.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: The Bridgertons and the Sharmas try to show their "Harmony" in the face of the ton's disdain, and it doesn't go well. Anthony and Kate get a brief moment of happiness, but it doesn't last because this isn't the final episode of the season. However, next week is: "The Viscount Who Loved Me."

On The Afterparty, we get Detective Danner's backstory this week, but we're still waiting to find out 1) who killed Xavier and 2) where is Jennifer 2 and 3) where is Jennifer 2's husband? It'll all get wrapped up next week: "Maggie."

While we are past (way past) the baby formula stage, we feel for the parents who are struggling to find what they need to feed their little ones. And we certainly know well the frustrating feeling of hearing advice from people who don't get it. Repeat after us: Every family is different! (And here's some real advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics for families who can't find infant formula [https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Are-there-shortages-of-infant-formula-due-to-COVID-19.aspx].)

Nicole's getting some pressure to add a puppy to the family. Though we're pretty sure she's gonna cave, we talk about all the reasons why we should stand pat with the pets we have.

We just talked about college decisions recently [http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/kids-and-rejection-college-acceptance-edition], but we had to revisit the topic after the Operation Varsity Blues scandal broke. Could it lead to more transparency in the admissions process? (Mentioned: Felicity Huffman on Sports Night [http://parentingroundabout.libsyn.com/round-2-two-podcasts-and-a-sitcom].)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole shocks us all by enjoying salad: Taylor Farms Chopped Kits [https://www.taylorfarms.com/chopped-kits/]. Catherine also suggests a tasty bite: KIND Frozen treat bars [https://www.kindsnacks.com/frozen-treat-bars/]. And remember last week, when Catherine recommended Puffs the play [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-puffs-the-play-fancii-desk-fan-and-thedad]? This week, Terri's shouting out the other Puffs (the kind you blow your nose in) for handling an allergy attack with tender loving care [https://puffs.com/en-us/shop-products/lotion-tissue/puffs-plus-lotion].

Now that Bird scooters [https://www.bird.co/] have arrived in Catherine's small town, we obsessed about other goods and services that we think should just appear when and where we need them, from pacifiers to vacuum cleaners to Starbucks coffee. Mentioned: Evo's car share service in Vancouver [https://evo.ca/].

We complain (lightly) about this seasonal ritual, and discuss whether or not parents and schools should look the other way or take a stand. Mentioned: The Afterparty episode "High School," in which youthful indiscretions have long-lasting consequences [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-bridgerton-an-unthinkable-fate-and-the-afterparty-high-school].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: The queen has planned a lavish wedding for Edwina and Anthony, so there's no stopping them now, right? Wrong! Also wrong: The queen's spy who thinks he has identified Lady Whistledown. Next: "Harmony."

On The Afterparty, it's Zoe's turn to tell her story and she does so in an animated film starring Regular Zoe, Fun Zoe, Tiny Rage Zoe, and more. But we're still no closer to knowing who killed Xavier. Next: "Danner."

A BBC article titled "The Parental Shame That Haunts Working Parents" [https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220121-the-parental-shame-that-haunts-working-parents] got us talking about the shame we've experienced, whether it comes from community members, relatives, ourselves, or our quite ungrateful children.

We've talked about our dogs plenty on this podcast, so consider this listing of their fears and desires and coffee-stealing habits more as a review than a revelation.

We feel the need to complain about those who dare reject our kids (the nerve!). 'Tis the season for college decisions, and it's never easy to console a child who's been inexplicably turned down from one of her top-choice schools.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out Puffs, a funny play (not the brand of facial tissues). Catch it at a high school near you or watch a filmed version on Amazon Prime [https://www.amazon.com/Puffs-Filmed-Off-Broadway-Langston-Belton/dp/B07JM5SMTL/]. Nicole's cooling off with her Fancii desk fan [https://www.amazon.com/Fancii-Personal-Portable-Whisper-Technology/dp/B072DSHKCH/] and Terri's found a funny fellow to follow in Twitter: @thedad [https://twitter.com/thedad].

None

We go out on a limb to obsess about some of the opinions we hold that aren't shared by others, sometimes including family members. But we're standing firm.

On today's episode, one of us is responding to some new offerings from Target [https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/2564294/matching-family-outfits-target/] by complaining about matching outfits for families. The other two are confessing their own past experiments with coordinated costuming.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: "An Unthinkable Fate" on Bridgerton might be marrying your love's sister, or being disinherited by your awful grandparents, or becoming a (!) feminist. But mostly it just meant we're waiting at least another week for Anthony and Kate to kiss already. Next: "The Choice."

On The Afterparty, the episode title "High School" departs from convention because no one knows the storyteller's name, even though he's the one throwing the fateful St. Patrick's Day party 2006 party that changed everything. (It's Walt. WALT!!) Next: "Zoe."

Today, we're inspired by the Walker Hayes song "Craig" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLNTewIfrg] and the book it. in turn, inspired, called Glad You're Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences [https://www.moodypublishers.com/glad-youre-here/]. The incident that prompted this unlikely friendship got us talking about those times when people have noticed and taken an interest in our kids, and how meaningful that is.

We have tales of being bit by dogs and monkeys and even bicycles, but we're not holding grudges. (If those lizards menacing Nicole ever do attack, though, they're dead to us.)

With her daughter off to college soon, Nicole is obsessed with teaching independence and life skills. Terri and Catherine offer advice, despite having yet to push any of their children out of the nest.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's enjoying audiobooks on Audible [https://www.audible.com/], and mentioned that it's now integrated with the Waze app [https://www.waze.com/]. Terri shouts out Parks and Recollection [https://teamcoco.com/podcasts/parks-and-recollection], an episode-by-episode Parks and Recreation podcast (just like we did here on Round 2--only this one has Rob Lowe). And Catherine discovered a new (to her) drink at Starbucks: the Royal English Breakfast tea latte [https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/465/hot].

We take a cue from the Bobby Bones Show [https://overcast.fm/+IvaKUKVgg/16:12] and obsess about what we'd do to transform a company if we had the funds to purchase it and remake it to our liking.

But should there be? Huckleberry [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/huckleberry-baby-child/id1169136078] is just one of many baby-tracking and sleep-promoting apps out there. Your podcast panel is divided as to how terrifying this is.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the "victory" of Bridgerton's title could have referred to a number of events, but none of them were truly victorious victories. At least one was revealed to be a big mistake (huge) almost the minute it happened. Next: "An Unthinkable Fate."

And on The Afterparty, Chelsea's story didn't take us too much farther into the mystery of who killed Xavier, but we did get to see the next place Aniq found to eavesdrop. Next: "High School."

It's almost Mother's Day, so we shared some of our favorite memories of our own moms (including how they are with our own kids). We hope all our listeners feel appreciated this week and every week.

It's a good time to set feet free from shoes and socks. But sandals can be problematic if your spouse disapproves, you have a foot condition that requires sturdier footwear, or your part of the country demands pricey versions.

We've tried cute little notes, temper tantrums, and repeating ourselves over and over (and over) again. And yet, our families ignore our wise counsel and basic rules.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's enjoying traveling the world with Ed People on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@edpeople]. Catherine's shouting out Milk-Bone Good Morning Daily Vitamin Treats for helping her dog's creaky joints [https://www.milkbone.com/dog-treats/vitamins/good-morning-healthy-joints]. And Terri has a spiffy new tripod standing desk that lets her travel from room to room with her laptop [https://www.intension-design.com/tripodtable].

Spontaneity is easy and fun when you have no jobs, kids, or pets. At our stage in life, we require plenty of time for advance planning and advance worrying.

An article suggesting "10 Practical Ways to Improve Happiness" [https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/04/happiness-research-how-to-be-happy-advice/629559/] got us complaining about exactly how practical it is, for example, to walk an hour a day, read for pleasure an hour a day, and exercise, and socialize with your colleagues, and on and on. It doesn't make us happy to have to follow these rules, OK?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Bridgerton took a bit of a darker turn and gave us some traumatic Bridgerton family backstory. So we forgive Anthony's rakishness, for now. Next: "Victory."

Luckily, The Afterparty brought the mood back up with a lightweight musical episode. It didn't bring us any closer to solving the mystery, but it was fun to watch. Next: "Chelsea."

Like Duh-nelle on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@i.talkwith.myhands/video/7079877885867314478], we are unapologetically not crunchy moms. We are the opposite of cloth-diapering, gardening, chemical-free parents--which makes us soggy moms. How about you?

It's the kind of thing we'd love to say that we do—especially Terri, who used to work for Hallmark—but between the cost and the time and the organization needed to actually buy and mail something, we're not exactly on it.

In this episode, we're talking about kids today—or really, kids' activities today and how they're really kids' and parents' activities. Because why wouldn't we want to balance parenting, working, family relationships, and maintaining a home with a full-time job as a soccer mom?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri recommends Wakeout!, an app that she says makes exercise fun [https://wakeout.app/]. And in Nicole's absence, Catherine resurrects the Instagram Minute with her shout-out of Depths of WIkipedia, which will add randomness and giggles to your Insta feed [https://www.instagram.com/depthsofwikipedia/].

With TV shows like Full House and iCarly returning with re-imaginings and reboots, we obsessed about who, exactly, these shows are really for: The kids who used to watch them, or their moms?

Catherine got to spend a few days with one of her oldest (as in longest-standing) friends, and this prompted some complaints about how hard it is to build that kind of friendship as an adult. Thankfully, we've found that podcasting is one way to make friends!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Bridgerton is indeed "Off to the Races," as suitors line up to compete for Edwina Sharma's hand and Eloise and the Queen continue their pursuit of Lady Whistledown. Next: "A Bee in Your Bonnet."

On The Afterparty, this week's storyteller was Brett and his genre was "car chase/heist movie." Maybe he's not such a bad dude, but rather a dad looking for a beloved stuffed koala! Next: "Yasper."

When we heard about Sniffspot [https://www.sniffspot.com/], an Airbnb-type service that lets you rent out your yard to curious canines, we brainstormed about all the kids' stuff we could profit from in the same way: Swing sets! Books! Legos! Barney videocassettes (there's a market for those, right?)! Mentioned: Our garage sale episode [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/time-for-a-garage-sale].

We love our dogs so much; we talk about them all the time on the podcast (and sometimes you can even hear them in the background). But birthday celebrations? Maybe a spoonful of peanut butter and a pat on the head.

It turns out we're all obsessed with certain hotel amenities. Free, fast Wifi is a given, but you can also make an impression with easy access to hot drinks, USB ports, lap desks, and Netflix.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we close out our entertainment-inspired week of episodes with a couple of pop-culture picks. Catherine's son discovered a high-concept book called S (just the letter S!), but there's a book within the book called Ship of Theseus [https://www.mulhollandbooks.com/titles/j-j-abrams/s/9780316201643/]. Terri recommends wallowing in a sad country song called "Flower Shops," from ERNEST, featuring Morgan Wallen [https://youtu.be/SOyd2H0l334].

On today's entertainment-inspired episode, we're obsessing about TV procedurals and all the parenting mysteries, big and small, that a crack team of investigators could examine--from who ignored the IEP to what happened to all the charging cords.

Continuing our entertainment-themed episodes this week, today we complain about TV shows that overlook certain types of moms and families--the types we are. We have some ideas for you, network execs.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we kicked off two new series watches. From The Gilded Age, we jumped to another costume drama: Season 2 of Bridgerton. It's starting strong with the two romantic leads facing about 8 episodes of obstacles. Next: "Off to the Races" (S2E1).

We also started The Afterparty, a comedic locked-room murder mystery (a la Knives Out) starring a very funny Tiffany Haddish and also featuring some of our old pals, like Ben Schwartz (Jean-Ralphio from Parks & Recreation) and Tiya Sircar (Vicky from The Good Place). Next week: "Brett."

It's just Terri and Catherine this week, so we're jumping off our entertainment-themed Round 2s to bring you a week of pop-culture inspired discussions. Today, we're talking about times we've experienced social maneuvering a la Mrs. Russell in The Gilded Age.

We recall some shocking plot developments that took us by surprise ... and mourn the fact that watching things months after the fact on our DVRs means it's hard to be shocked anymore. Mentioned: The Extra Hot Great Canon episode on a Melrose Place twist [http://previously.tv/extra-hot-great/ehg-082/].

Parents, trust us when we tell you we would rather listen to your child's tantrum than your cringe-y baby talk. We usually try to show solidarity with other moms and dads, but it turns out this is where we draw the line.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, two very practical picks: Terri's rainbow-colored accordion file [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M43R3YQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?th=1] is keeping her receipts organized (and off the dining room table). and Catherine's white noise machine [https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Machine-Non-Looping-Privacy-Therapy/dp/B07TK18KC2/] is keeping her sleep environment quiet.

Yogasleep Dohm UNO White Noise Machine Real Fan Inside for Non-Looping White Noise Sound Machine for Travel, Office Privacy, Sleep Therapy For Adults & Baby 101 Night Trial

Monday's episode covered our big kids' finances, and today we're obsessing about their health. How much of their appointments, bills, questions, and concerns should they handle on their own, and how much can we butt in?

It's a dinner-table dilemma: How to teach kids the manners they need for the real world when they're mostly in the at-home bubble, where burping at the table and eating with your fingers can be easily overlooked.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we finished up The Gilded Age season 1 with a triumphant ball and some (but not all) secrets revealed. These were an especially fun and frothy pair of episodes to close out the season and leave us looking forward to what we assume is the inevitable season 2.

Also mentioned: Our discussions of the past two Best Picture winners, CODA [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-making-it-and-coda] and Nomadland [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-nomadland-and-veronica-mars-spring-break-forever]. We clearly know how to pick 'em, so stay tuned for 2023!

For next week, we'll switch to an even frothier costume drama: Bridgerton, season 2 (on Netflix), and a quirky comedic mystery (reminiscent of our past pick Only Murders in the Building): The Afterparty on AppleTV+.

When kids are little, it's simple: Parents pay (and pay, and pay) for everything. But as they grow, the financial situation gets a little more fuzzy. What's a need, what's a want, and who covers the cost?

We know we should be more careful, but finding the balance between staying safe on the Internet and having fun on it is getting harder and harder to strike.

Inspired by Amy Brown's podcast, today we're talking about casseroles vs. spoons. Actually, we're all confessing that when it's time to contribute to a meal or party, we definitely sign up to bring the spoons. We know our strengths!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's found a new sweet treat with good-for-you ingredients: Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups [https://www.justins.com/products/mini-dark-chocolate-peanut-butter-cups/]. Nicole's new best buddy is a handy gadget called the Door Buddy [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N258SAG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Terri reports, with a bit of a sigh, that she's back on WW (for a clean start this time) [https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/].

When we learned that, apparently, LinkedIn causes stress and FOMO for college students [https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-college-students-linkedin-fomo-is-realthese-tips-will-help-11647045049?st=5oeipimyvlrv9qm&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink], we obsessed about our own LinkedIn profiles, as well as life in the olden days when resumes were on paper and you had to talk to potential employers on the telephone.

A Wall Street Journal article about YouTube in the classroom [https://www.wsj.com/articles/youtube-is-a-huge-classroom-distraction-teachers-are-reluctant-to-banish-it-11647656643?st=jwes8cn1sxfw83c&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink] got us (well, mostly Nicole) complaining about people who complain about technology in school. It's here to stay, folks, so figure out how to use it.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we wrapped up the (first?) season of As We See It with "Please Don't Leave." Everything's coming up Douglas, and Mandy manages to patch things up with Harrison after he learns about his parents' plans. If the show comes back, we'd like more roommate stories and less focus on the neurotypical drama, please.

On The Gilded Age, it's nothing but neurotypical drama in "Irresistible Change" as Tom and Marian have a secret meeting, Turner gets fired, Gladys finally gets to grow up, and George is possibly on the hook for manslaughter (plus, there's drama in Catherine's house which you may overhear). Next week, we'll watch the final two episodes of this season: "Tucked Up in Newport" and "Let the Tournament Begin."

The U.S. Senate's vote to make Daylight Saving Time permanent got us talking about the twice-yearly time change, and whether it really makes kids squirrely or is just a minor inconvenience that's quickly forgotten.

From the latest in late night to our college daytime-show faves, we talk talk-show hosts and who we remember most fondly.

There's almost nothing more delicate than trying to encourage a kid to exercise ("Are you saying I'm fat?!"), which explains why we're all a little obsessed with our children's fitness habits.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's Instagram Minute is back with cat rescuer Heidi Wrangles Cats [https://www.instagram.com/heidiwranglescats/]. Terri's got a non-Walker Hayes, non-Taylor Swift music recommendation, and it's HARDY [https://linktr.ee/hardy]. And Catherine's enjoying #grumpyjimmy DiResta on Making Fun [https://www.netflix.com/title/81267200]. Also mentioned: Making It [https://www.nbc.com/making-it].

It seems that some of our family members need a public service announcement about thoughts and opinions they should keep to themselves. Or perhaps find a more tactful way to express. (A mom can dream.)

Inspired by a mom who mercilessly sold her kids' toys on eBay, we complain about the stuff in our homes we'd like to put a price tag on and shove out the door (although two of us are more motivated than the third).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, so much betrayal. On As We See It ("Outed"), Harrison feels deceived by Mandy, Jack realizes he isn't fooling anyone into thinking he's neurotypical, and Violet finds out Van wants her to move to a residential treatment center. Next: "Please Don't Leave," the season finale.

On The Gilded Age, Agnes's butler, Bannister, commits the sin of moseying across the street and posing as the Russells' butler. As the episode title reminds him, "Heads Have Rolled for Less." Next: "Irresistible Change."

An episode of the Choiceology podcast [https://www.schwab.com/resource-center/insights/content/choiceology-season-9-episode-1] about Strider balance bikes [https://striderbikes.com/] got us talking about how removing steps, pieces, or extra clutter can help kids master a skill. Terri also thinks there's a market for balance bikes for small adults, so call us, Strider!

Spam phone calls are bad enough, but what about when salespeople come to your door—do you open it or hide until they go away? Or what if it's a kid selling cookies? Or a neighbor with a dead goose? We assess our degree of welcoming on today's Speed Round.

Even though she's moved on from having to wrangle small, grabby children in line at the store, Nicole still has some complaints about the system (or lack thereof).

This week, in honor of an ailing pet in our podcast family (get well soon, buddy!), we're revisiting some of our past discussions about our companion animals--and that goes for roundup recommendations too.
In November 2018, Terri shouted out Chewy.com and 1800PetMeds.com.
In May 2020, Catherine gave Crown and Paw pet portraits the seal of approval (also mentioned: Gray Duck Art pet painting kits).
In October 2021, Nicole shared a squeezable treat that her cats go crazy for.
Visit https://parentingroundabout.com/ for links to all of these goodies.

This week, in honor of an ailing pet in our podcast family (get well soon, buddy!), we're revisiting some of our past discussions about our companion animals, from cats and dogs to turtles and stick bugs. Today's episode comes from September 2021.

Today we're obsessing about family members' conflicting opinions about adding a furry friend to the mix. It all started because a kitten literally fell into Nicole's yard (and was far too cute to turn away).

This week, in honor of an ailing pet in our podcast family (get well soon, buddy!), we're revisiting some of our past discussions about our companion animals, from cats and dogs to turtles and stick bugs. Today's episode comes from May 2019.

Today's Round 3 is not for the weak of stomach. Skip this one if you don't want to join us in recalling and complaining about all the disgusting ways we've had to show love and care for our dogs.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: As We See It's 6th episode, "Fear Is My Bitch," once again found us lamenting some bad, bad decisions and choices (but at least Joe Mantegna's character is still alive). Next: "Outed."

On The Gilded Age (episode 5, "Charity Has Two Functions"), there are more lamentable choices, but also more extremely elaborate gowns and hats. Next: "Heads Have Rolled for Less."

This week, in honor of an ailing pet in our podcast family (get well soon, buddy!), we're revisiting some of our past discussions about our companion animals, from cats and dogs to turtles and stick bugs. Today's episode comes from May 2019.

Today we have some complaints about our (mostly) beloved pets: Cats are stalking lizards, a dog has herpes, and we've got a tortoise situation AND a hare situation.

Catherine plans to attend a local writer's conference, and that inspired Terri to share her formative experience with the Santa Barbara Writer's Conference [https://www.sbwriters.com/] in the mid-’80s and Nicole to recall a particularly great teacher's conference full of math accessories [https://creativemathematics.com/].

When we heard that photos from inside a wifi-enabled refrigerator might be used in a dating app, we started wondering—and worrying—about where else those pics might turn up.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine was Instagram-influenced to buy a cozy, new-but-recycled sweater from Everlane [https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-waffle-pullover-recashmere-bone]. Nicole found some gluten-free crackers with just the right amount of spice (Good Thins Jalapeño & Lime Corn & Rice Snacks [https://www.goodthins.com/jalapeno-product.html]). And Terri's loving a Walker Hayes playlist made by a fan named Nick Simmons [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/walker-hayes/pl.u-6LbWuVL1NM]. Hayes is more than just "Fancy Like"!

You can get everything at Walmart, even parenting advice: The retailer has a new service called Tot Squad [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tot-squads-parenting-services-now-available-on-walmartcom-and-select-walmart-stores-301487833.html], with on-call experts to help parents with advice on topics like sleep, breastfeeding, and car seats. That's great, but where's the Squad for parents of older kids? That's what we need!

Gruesome images on cigarette packs and soda bottles can deter consumers. So we came up with some more products (and people) that should come with warning labels to keep our kids away.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: As We See It episode 5, "Ever Had an Edible?" pushed all of Terri's mom-of-kids-with special needs buttons, and she has a few choice words for Jack's aunt, Julia the French fry guy, and most especially Harrison's mother. Next: Episode 6, "Fear Is My Bitch."

Over on The Gilded Age's "The Long Ladder," everyone was much better behaved, even when they were being racist and hitting on their bosses and just generally acting clueless. Next: Episode 5, "Charity Has Two Functions."

Back in the fall of 2020, we talked about Play-Doh for grown-ups [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/yesterdays-toys-today]. Now, Build-a-Bear has gotten in on the action with stuffed animals "just for adults" [https://cafemom.com/news/build-a-bear-after-dark-collection/build-a-bear-announced-the-collection-on-february-2] We say there's no shame in enjoying a teddy bear at any age, and it doesn't need to come with an adult accessory (like a glass of Champagne). Plus, we drift into whether candles make a good gift.

Hey, did you hear that Nicole wrote a book? And it's finally here! We celebrate her book-release day with a little talk about Inclusion in Action: Practical Strategies to Modify Your Curriculum and why you should run out right now and buy it: https://www.amazon.com/Inclusion-Action-Practical-Strategies-Curriculum/dp/1681252244.

Inclusion in Action: Practical Strategies to Modify Your Curriculum

Terri's been obsessing about her kids' jobs for a while, and now Nicole is joining her. How much pressure should we put on our high-school students to be gainfully employed?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri shared another delicious snack option: potato sticks from Utz [https://www.utzsnacks.com/products/utz-potato-stix-original-potato-sticks?variant=9121492271148]. Nicole's enjoying season 2 of the not-for-kids TV show Euphoria [https://www.hbo.com/euphoria], and Catherine has another word game to suggest. If Wordle isn't enough for you, try Quordle [https://www.quordle.com/]!

After watching the most recent season of The Amazing Race (which just wrapped up), Catherine obsessed about which of her family members she'd team up with on a race around the world--and she made Terri and Nicole play along too. Mentioned: GeoGuessr [https://www.geoguessr.com/], the Holderness Family [https://theholdernessfamily.com/].

Today, we're complaining about those times when we disagree with our spouses about a parenting issue. We don't understand how this happens, since our way is always the right way.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: As We See It's episode 4, "The Violetini," centered on a birthday party that did not go well for two out of three roommates--plus, Mandy's staying (who would have guessed?). Next: "Ever Had an Edible?"

On The Gilded Age, the New York City aldermen find out what happens when you cross George Russell (and insult his wife--big mistake), and it's not good. Plus, both Marian and Peggy receive proposals that take them aback. Next: "A Long Ladder."

A surprising weather event in Southern California got us talking about life experiences we, and our kids, have missed out on (or been spared from), like broken bones and sleeping under the stars.

It's family birthday season for Catherine and Terri, and book launch season for Nicole, so it seems like a good time to review our celebration traditions, from ceremonial plates to congratulation cheesecakes to paying too much for dinner.

Kids thrive on routines, but so do parents. So today we're complaining about having to deal with changes to our daily habits—and the best ways to bug other people until they fix things.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole had us all drooling over the Baskin-Robbins Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Layered Sundae [https://order.baskinrobbins.com/menu-details/reese-s-peanut-butter-cup-layered-sundae?id=95ea2b0c-3e7f-41b2-bda4-5f218f60d25e&sizes=%5B%5D]. Catherine went practical with her pick for KN95 masks from Bona Fide Masks [https://bonafidemasks.com/face-masks/kn95-respirators/]. And Terri went cozy with a fleece blanket from L.L. Bean [https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/121749?page=polar-fleece-blanket-full-queen&bc=&feat=blanket-SR0&csp=a&searchTerm=blanket&pos=3].

A Wall Street Journal article titled "College Students Have to Learn to Make Small Talk Again" [https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-students-forgot-how-to-talk-to-each-other-11644627316?st=xvyy5prs97qhn5h&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink] got us obsessing about the ways social media. the ubiquity of smartphones, and of course a global pandemic have changed the ways people interact with others in public.

This week's complaint is about a mom-shaming incident we read about [https://www.parents.com/news/neighbor-shames-mom-for-using-car-to-soothe-children-to-sleep/], in which an anonymous (cowardly!) neighbor told a mom to stop using her car as a baby sleep aid. We say, Let he who is carbon-neutral cast the first stone. Mentioned: The Snoo baby sleep solution from Dr. Harvey Karp (we're looking for an adult version, please) [https://www.happiestbaby.com/collections/snoo-accessories].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the As We See It roommates continue to navigate family ties, friendship, and romance in episode 2, "When Violet Met Douglas." Next week, it's another Violet-titled episode, "The Violetini." Mentioned: A book about sex for young adults with disabilities [https://norabaladerian.com/the-rules-of-sex-for-those-who-have-never-been-told/].

On The Gilded Age, George Russell throws his money at a problem on behalf of his wife Bertha and we are just as impressed as Mrs. Astor (even if we didn't get the morning off like she did). Next: "Face the Music."

An article about an ingenious solution for parents juggling small children and work [https://www.moms.com/desk-parents-with-toddler-goes-viral/] (or just Web surfing; here's a pic [https://twitter.com/FamiliesFwdVA/status/1484940785476935690]) got us talking about the ways in which we restrained our little ones when we needed to--and suffered when we couldn't.

Gas line work in Terri's neighborhood and the need for a young fellow to come in the house and turn stuff off and on led her to wonder: Is it good manners to chat in a friendly way with workfolk in your home, or should you just shut up and leave them to do their thing? So of course, she checked in with Catherine and Nicole for a consensus.

If kids can sue their parents just for being born [https://news.iheart.com/featured/coast-to-coast-am/content/2019-02-04-indian-man-wants-to-sue-his-parents-for-giving-birth-to-him/], do we need to be prepared to defend our every parenting decision in a court of law? If you'll all be on our jury, we'd feel better about it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri tried a tasty new Pop-Tart (the Lemon Creme Pie flavor [https://www.poptarts.com/en_US/products/favorites/pop-tarts-lemon-creme-pie.html]). Nicole's daughter found a helpful Facebook resource: Interior Design: Ask Everything [https://www.facebook.com/groups/205442120227387]. And Catherine's following Jackie Wong, @RockerSkating on Twitter [https://twitter.com/rockerskating], for tons of Olympic figure-skating news. Mentioned: the men's individual event, especially Nathan Chen, Yuma Kagiyama, and Jason Brown.

A Character Lab tip about honesty, and how stress makes it hard to practice [https://characterlab.org/tips-of-the-week/honest-people/], got us obsessing about times when we've been honest, or tried to teach our kids honesty, with mixed results.

Nicole finished her last course in her master's program (yay Nicole!!), which got us complaining about how finishing a big project or meeting a challenge just leads to needing another challenge. Mentioned: National Novel-Writing Month (NaNoWriMo [https://nanowrimo.org/]).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we returned to As We See It with episode 2, "I Apologize for My Words and Actions." We continue to be most interested in the lives and challenges of the three roommates, and less so in their caregivers (except you, Joe Mantegna). Next: "When Violet Met Douglas" (episode 3).

We also pivoted from Abbott Elementary to The Gilded Age (quite a 180) with episode 1, "Never the New." It's an escapist joy to watch beautiful people in beautiful rooms wearing beautiful clothes scoff about New Money. Mentioned: The Fug Girls' coverage [https://www.gofugyourself.com/the-gilded-age-recap-01-2022}; actor Simon Jones as an audiobook narrator (he has over 100 credits on Audible, but Catherine heard him read the middle-grade novel Lionboy). Next: "Money Isn't Everything" (episode 2).

Happy Valentine's Day, lovely listeners! As the calendar demands, on today's episode we talk about how we observe this day with our spouses and kids. We've all been married for a long time, so things have ... evolved.

Like folks didn't already have enough to disagree about these days, top sheets have become a hot topic on the Internet. (Or they were when we recorded this. Given the lifespan of Internet hot topics, people have probably moved on to some other ridiculous triviality by now.) We give our opinion on this vital issue, and though we do not agree, we remain civil. It can be done, people.

Marie Kondo and her KonMari method are all over our social media feeds, thanks to her Netflix show [https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379]. So today, we discuss our tidying-up takeaways. In a nutshell: We're #KonMaybe. Also mentioned: Minimalist Joshua Becker on Young House Love Has a Podcast [https://www.younghouselove.com/podcast-128/].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine shouts out IHG Rewards [https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/content/us/en/home], a loyalty program that actually delivered for her. Nicole also found a product that delivered on its promise: Nature Fresh charcoal bags for absorbing (not covering) odors [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QRX9CQT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1]. And Terri's got some comfy new made-in-the-USA undies from BodyForce [https://bodyforcebrands.com/].

Nature Fresh Charcoal Bags Odor Absorber (4 Pack), Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags, Activated Charcoal Bags Odor Eliminator Deodorizer Charcoal Air Purifier Car Smell Shoe Closet Freshener (4x200g)

A fascinating BBC article [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220104-how-parenting-changes-you] got us obsessing about how our kids have changed us, and how much power we really have, as parents, to change them.

On today's episode, we're talking and complaining about gifts that come with a side of worry and confusion--those occasions where other people give our children gifts, and we can't quite figure out why they did. Do they think we are neglecting our kids' needs?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we checked out two new TV series and enjoyed them both--but will only continue watching one of them: As We See It, which resolves around three neurodivergent characters who live together as roommates. It can be painful to see the cruelty they experience, but it's also funny and warm and very well-acted. Mentioned: A sibling caregiver story on Once and Again, discussed on the Extra Hot Great podcast [https://www.extrahotgreat.com/392]; actor Rick Glassman (who plays Jack on As We See It) on Undateable [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuWDWbDu_E]; discussion forum about the show on Wrong Planet [https://wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=400783]; the Parks and Recollection podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parks-and-recollection/id1583327243].

We also watched the new sitcom Abbott Elementary, which is cute and funny and sweet and not something Catherine can ever watch again, because the handheld camera work gave her a migraine. Instead, we'll check out The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes' new show on HBO Max, in which people sit quietly in drawing rooms and would never dream of allowing a handheld camera in their midst. So next week: As We See It, episode 2, "I Apologize for My Words and Actions," and The Gilded Age, episode 1, "Never the New."

Banks are now promoting debit cards for kids, and in an increasingly cashless society, we can certainly see the benefits. They gotta learn somehow! Mentioned: Mint for budgeting [https://mint.intuit.com/].

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. This one is from February 2018, the last time the Winter Olympic Games were held.

Upside: No constant blather from NBC commentators. Downside: Below-zero temps. Though we like watching the Winter Olympics just fine, we're not so sure what we'd want tickets for.

Today we're talking about talking on the phone—more specifically, helping our kids make their own calls to employers and insurance companies and other fun places. Why can't we do everything online, please?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole took the Wordle ball and ran with it, finding an app called Wordus that allows you to play Wordle all day long [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordus/id1602940346]. Terri enjoyed an in-home delivery from Enjoy [https://www.enjoy.com/]. And Catherine's happy that The Amazing Race [https://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/] is back after a Covid-imposed hiatus. Also mentioned: Amazing Race coverage at Rob Has a Podcast [https://robhasawebsite.com/shows/amazing-race-2/].

After Nicole heard about a Ring cam capturing footage of a mountain-lion fight, we obsessed over what wildlife we might encounter near our homes. We don't feel too threatened by deer and lake sturgeon, but we all agree that Canada geese have an attitude.

A Wall Street Journal column titled "Moms in Middle Age: Rarely Alone, Often Online, and Increasingly Lonely" [https://www.wsj.com/articles/moms-in-middle-age-rarely-alone-often-online-and-increasingly-lonely-11642860003] resonated with the Gen-X members of our trio (the Boomer is cool with just being left alone, although she does join the others in considering podcast recording sessions a big part of her social life).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we took a week off from TV and watched two movies: The Tender Bar (2021) and Up in the Air (2009). Both were enjoyable character studies, even if they were also very "Man has Man Problems." And speaking of enjoyable characters, George Clooney stars in Up in the Air and directed The Tender Bar.

Next week, we're going to check out the pilots of two new TV series and consider whether to continue with one or both: As We See It (on Amazon Prime) and Abbott Elementary (on ABC/Hulu). If you have strong feelings about either, let us know!

Prompted by a researcher's "hey that's not what I meant!" article on note-taking by laptop [https://characterlab.org/tips-of-the-week/take-note/], we discussed the ups, downs, pros, and cons of kids using laptops and other tech to learn. Plus, what happens when hackers take out a school district's technology (hint: It's not pretty).

This or that: Sand and a sunburn or roller coasters and expensive fun? We're not all that enthusiastic about either one, TBH.

Not only are we obsessed with embarrassing things that happened to us in high school, we're obsessed with trying to protect our kids from having the same obsession (and some of the other growing pains that come with adulthood).

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: In spite of the skepticism [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/second-listen-saturday-airpods-more-like-wherepods] she once expressed about AirPods [https://www.apple.com/airpods/], Terri has now acquired a pair and thinks they are pretty cool. Nicole left the desert to visit Vancouver and brought some cute rain boots [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086D4TZTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1] with her. And Catherine's totally on the Wordle [https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/] train (but not spamming her Facebook friends with her daily results).

Some moms might find a group primal scream therapeutic, but we're not buying it. We don't want witnesses to our screaming, so we suggest some alternatives.

An article titled "Being the Mom of Older Kids Is an On-Call Position" [https://grownandflown.com/always-available-for-my-teens/] definitely resonated with us. Our kids might not cry for us in the middle of the night anymore, but they still need us!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we wrap up our Ted Lasso watch with the final two episodes of season 2. It's the less universally beloved season, and we definitely have quibbles with some of the storylines. But we still enjoyed it very much, and look forward to season 3. Next week, a George Clooney double feature: Up in the Air (2009), in which he stars [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/], and The Tender Bar (2021!), which he directs [https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Bar-Ben-Affleck/dp/B09J67JJGC].

An article about uncertain incentives led us to talk about whether our kids are motivated by praise that's intermittent or constant. Say it with us: Parenting is hard! Motivating kids is hard!! Also mentioned: Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach by Howard Glasser; Funds of Knowledge by Norma Gonzalez, Luis C. Moll, and Cathy Amanti; our most recent discussion about motivation [visit https://parentingroundabout.com for links].

Fact check: Terri said she heard about the article "Uncertain Incentives" on the podcast No Stupid Questions. But while she did read the article at about the same time she listened to the similarly themed "Which Is More Powerful: Reward or Punishment?" episode of No Stupid Questions, it in fact came in her email as a Tip of the Week from Character Lab, which she heard about from No Stupid Questions cohost Angela Duckworth. It was not something that was mentioned on the podcast episode.

It's a delicate subject, but we do all have some bad diet story or other, from grapefruits to cabbage to partial vegan. There's one we give thumbs-up to, too.

New phone frustration has us wondering if we're too old to be technically savvy, or if it's technology that needs to do a better job meeting our needs.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, it's a rare all-books edition! Nicole's rediscovered her favorite author, Jonathan Kellerman, in audiobook form [https://www.jonathankellerman.com/]. Terri also recommends an audiobook, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green [https://www.johngreenbooks.com/the-anthropocene-reviewed-book]. (While she very much enjoyed the audiobook, if you purchase the book in print you can get a copy signed by the author.) And Catherine suggests reading her pick, The Hundred-Year House by Rebecca Makkai [http://rebeccamakkai.com/work/the-hundred-year-house/], in print because you'll want to be able to flip backwards as you go.

We obsess over a few of our kids' favorite things from their little-kid days--at least the ones we still feel some fondness for, like The Lion King (Broadway show), Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars, Arthur, Dragon Tales, Cyber Chase, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Big Comfy Couch, Teletubbies, Max and Ruby, Henry and Mudge books, and iCarly.

A parenting advice column at Slate [https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/01/performance-bonuses-kids-care-feeding.html] got us complaining about how hard it is to motivate kids, whether or not you have $5,000 at your disposal to offer as a "year-end bonus." Mentioned: A past discussion about the thorny issue of motivation [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/just-trying-to-help].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Ted Lasso's Coach Beard has a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad night, documented in an overlong episode that doesn't advance the show's plot at all. Then, in "No Weddings and a Funeral," there's plenty of plot, but not nearly enough jokes. Next week: We finish the season with episode 11, "Midnight Train to Royston," and episode 12, "Inverting the Pyramid of Success."

Nicole heard about a new service that sends informative text messages to new parents [https://globalnews.ca/news/8251440/ubc-new-parent-text-service/]. We, of course, determined all of the problems with that idea--but also came up with some fixes.

Even if you're not a teenager living and dying by the amount of likes your posts receive, it's always nice to get some attention for the things we put on Facebook and Instagram and what-all. Today, we chat about some of our most satisfyingly appreciated posts.

This is going to be a big year for both Catherine and Nicole: They'll both be celebrating (maybe observing is more accurate?) their 50th birthday. One thing we know for sure: They're not having a wedding dress party for the big 5-0 fete [https://www.scarymommy.com/wedding-dress-party/].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri got her hands on some home Covid tests from iHealth (here's the instruction video; you don't even have to swab your brain!). Nicole made her day a little sparklier with Weiman jewelry cleaner. And after a brief detour to mention the HBO special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, Catherine shouted out a Lego set that allows you to make a wall hanging of a Hogwarts house crest. Visit http://parentingroundabout.com for links to everything.

A list of "100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying," at the Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/01/marginal-gains-100-ways-to-improve-your-life-without-really-trying], caught our eye. We obsessed about which of these 100 tips made sense and which were just plain silly. (Do we need a special blender just for chopping onions? No, we do not. We will do it the old-fashioned way like Julia Child, or better yet, buy our onions pre-chopped).

Sure, it's a big deal when you send your child to kindergarten (or college). But are you really a parent if you haven't dealt with head lice, faced a diaper blowout, or held down a squirming kid while a lab tech jammed him with a needle? Mentioned: The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on head lice [https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/Signs-of-Lice.aspx].

On this week's entertainment-themed episode, two pretty tough episodes of Ted Lasso. Characters struggled with daddy issues, panic attacks, head injuries, and a drubbing from Manchester City (plus a probably inappropriate, but irresistible, workplace romance). Next: Season 2, episode 9, ”Beard After Dark,” and episode 10, “No Weddings and a Funeral.” Mentioned: The Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Baseball-100/Joe-Posnanski/9781982180584], Linda Holmes's TL recaps at NPR.org [https://www.npr.org/series/1041961886/ted-lasso-recaps], and Roy Kent fan sweatshirts at The Shop Forward [https://www.theshopforward.com/products/i-heart-roy-kent-unisex-pullover-navy].

We totally fell for a clickbait-y headline about a mom bringing four uninvited guests to kids' birthday parties [https://www.today.com/parents/mom-5-says-she-brings-whole-family-birthday-parties-t242940], and had to talk about it. Of course, the situation was much more nuanced than the title implied--and so are the rules about who should go to birthday parties.

From the West Coast to the East Coast, from the suburbs to the sprawl, we shout out some cities we've loved or liked or had mixed feelings about. It's complicated.

According to an article in US News and World Report [https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/foods-for-anxiety-lower-kids-stress-levels-with-these-healthy-choices], eating foods including salmon, chickpeas, watercress, and sauerkraut could help soothe anxiety and stress. We note that chocolate, cookies, and Cheez-its seem to work equally well. At the very least, they don't add stress. Mentioned: Jameela Jamil on Justin Long's podcast, Life is Short [https://wondery.com/shows/justin-long/].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine discovered she has a talent for axe-throwing. Nicole shouts out a portable projector that lets you turn any blank wall into a movie screen [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M3ZFW2J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Terri recommends the audiobook Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624619/nine-nasty-words-by-john-mcwhorter/] (but maybe use earphones, depending on who else can hear it).

An adorable Instagram post from musician (and father of many little kids) Thomas Rhett [https://www.instagram.com/p/CXjTTVJFqgw/] got us obsessing about the old saying, "The days are long, but the years are short." It's true, but not necessarily something you want to hear when you're in the trenches. (And the days may be long, but the nights are endless!)

In lieu of a New Year's resolution, some people (like author Karen Walrond [https://www.chookooloonks.com/blog/focusing-on-words]) choose a word of the year to represent their hopes and intentions for the coming year. This, of course, is too much pressure for us, so we can't take it seriously. But we do want to know if you have a special word for 2022. Tweet it at us at https://twitter.com/roundaboutchat!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, two more episodes of Ted Lasso, season two. "Rainbow" was a delightful rom-com tribute that nicely followed up the preceding episode, "Carol of the Bells," and its Love Actually inspirations. And "The Signal" gave us plenty of dating-app hi-jinks along with a nice victory for the team and for Nate. Next: Episodes 7 and 8 of season 2, "Headspace" and "Man City."

Happy New Year! We are not resolution people, so we figured: Why not think big, and make some ambitious pledges that we know we won't follow up on? Mentioned: Artful Agenda [https://www.artfulagenda.com/], Terri's Roundabout Roundup pick from a few months ago [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-hofbrauhaus-las-vegas-artful-agenda-and-off-the-eaten-path]. She's still using it, which is quite an endorsement.

From vitamins to pop-sockets to surprise boxes, we talk about our latest purchases and some Prime particulars.

Today's topic: New Year's Eve (and New Year's Day) traditions and memories, like narrowly avoiding Y2K disaster and giving Times Square a wide berth. How do you celebrate?

Happy holidays! This week, we are taking a look back at some 2021 episodes we loved. Today, our favorite Roundabout Roundup picks, originally from June 25 (robot vacuum), August 13 (summer dresses), and September 24 (bone-building foods). Visit https://parentingroundabout.com for all the links.

Nicole upgraded her robot vacuum to a combo vac/mop (that unfortunately does not kill giant scary spiders). Catherine sang the praises of a Knox Rose summer dress from Target, plus offered a side recommendation for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. And Much to Nicole's dismay, Terri tried sardines (to strengthen her bones) and described the experience in great detail. Plus, she learned that you can indeed scramble eggs in the microwave.

Happy holidays! This week, we are taking a look back at some 2021 episodes we loved. This one originally dropped on July 1.

Terri's birthday was yesterday, and Catherine's is next week. But don't rely on these idea lists from New York magazine [https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-birthday-gifts-for-mom.html], Etsy [https://www.etsy.com/market/gifts_for_mom_birthday], and Cosmo [https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g26765913/gifts-for-mom-from-daughter/] when you're shopping.

Happy holidays! This week, we are taking a look back at some 2021 episodes we loved. This one originally dropped on May 26 (but the topic is back in the news now [https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/us/cheugy-omicron-among-2021s-most-mispronounced-words/ar-AARxZMV]).

We wade into, and complain about, the debate over who, or what, is "cheugy" [https://www.cnet.com/how-to/what-does-the-word-cheugy-mean-and-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-a-cheug-a-guide/]. We like Instagram and Ugg boots but could care less about chevrons, decorative wooden signs, and Harry Potter merch (in fact one of us actively can't stand Harry Potter), so we might be safe!

Happy holidays! This week, we are taking a look back at some 2021 episodes we loved. These originally dropped in August (CODA) and November (Only Murders in the Building).

The movie CODA (on AppleTV+) is a lovely look at a the ordinary life of a teenage girl, played by Emilia Jones, whose parents and brother happen to be deaf. It's predictable, yet complex and joyful. Mentioned: Pop Culture Happy Hour's discussion of the movie.

On Only Murders in the Building, "The Boy From 6B" (season 1, episode 7) provided a ton of exposition with almost no dialogue. It was a clever, creative way to suggest two new suspects for Tim Kono's murder.

Happy holidays! This week, we are taking a look back at some 2021 episodes we loved. This one originally dropped on April 12.

It's our version of the old TLC show "A Baby Story"! Your three podcasters have three very different birth and adoption stories, each with their challenges--but all with a happy ending. Listen for our tales of hives; hyperemesis; planes, trains, and automobiles; and Johnny Depp.

In this holiday week, we're focusing on happy things, like having family around us, and maybe having podcasting friends around us too.

On this day of gift-giving in honor of a baby, we discuss whether nontraditional baby shower gifts are an improvement on the basic baby blanket and onesie. Plus: Bonus complaining about how it's harder than ever to buy gifts for our families.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out this very podcast--specifically, our archives, because we have over 1,000 episodes for you to enjoy. Terri tried out a fun promotion from the Two Blind Brothers store [https://twoblindbrothers.com/pages/reveal], and was rewarded with a soft and adorable stuffed puppy [https://twoblindbrothers.com/collections/kids/products/guide-dog-guider-yellow-lab-puppy?variant=39390051467360]. And Catherine binged Netflix's Blown Away Christmas [https://www.netflix.com/title/81251991], the special edition of a show she recommended in this space more than two years ago (told you we have a lot of old episodes).

On yesterday's episode, we recounted some holiday tales of woe. Today, we take a fresh look at how we could fix some holiday fails with a do-over. Learn from us, young parents!

We review some fond memories and some not-so-fond ones and decide there are some holiday events that should stay forever in the misty, pine-scented past.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we continue with season two of Ted Lasso, episodes 3 and 4. Episode 4, "Carol of the Bells," is a Christmas episode, so our timing is impeccable. And so is the episode, which we will watch every Christmas from now on, because it's just that delightful.

Next week, we'll revisit some of our favorite Round 2 discussions from 2021. In two weeks (January 4, 2022) we'll return to Ted Lasso with season 2, episode 5, "Rainbow," and episode 6, "The Signal."

With gift-giving season in full swing, we share our tales of the times we got it right (like pet portraits [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-karens-going-wild-crown-and-paw-and-schaefer-outfitter]) and very wrong (Terri's still traumatized over unintentionally mislabeling a present). Plus, some of the head-scratchers we've received.

Do you identify your car by something impersonal like color, make, or who drives it? Or have you come up with a more creative tag, like Blueberry or Marge? We fall more on the boring side, but Toyota's nagging Nicole to up her game.

Many kids (and teens and young adults) that we know are obsessed with AirPods, Apple's pricey wireless earbuds. Some are lucky enough to have their own. But how long will it be before they're eaten by the sofa cushions?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine enjoyed a novel by Ann Patchett, The Dutch House (and the audiobook narrated by Tom Hanks) [http://www.annpatchett.com/the-dutch-house]. Nicole suggests an alternative cat littler, Okocat Natural Wood Clumping Litter [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0OVT9M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Terri found a resource for browsing small businesses owned by veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and their spouses: The Buy Military-Owned Guide from Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families [https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/buy-military-owned].

Holiday parties are happening again, but our social skills may have rusted a bit over the past 19 months. We obsess about parties, gatherings, and get-togethers--and the spousal negotiations that accompany them.

A gynecologist went viral (not in the actual germy way) for asking on Twitter how he could improve the office visit experience for his patients [https://www.buzzfeed.com/amatullahshaw/doctors-office-changes]. We had to chime in with our own complaints and suggestions.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we kick off season 2 of Ted Lasso with "Goodbye Earl" and "Lavender." We're fans of the extremely capable Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, and can't wait to see what she has in store for Jamie Tartt. Also, Terri apologizes for saying "soccer" throughout when she should have been saying "football." She trusts Ted will understand. Next week: "Do the Right-est Thing" and "Carol of the Bells" (how seasonal!). Mentioned: "Goodbye Earl" from The Chicks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7gNf_9njs].

With Christmas looming and everyone panicking about the supply chain, we check in on our shopping progress so far. Some of us still have long to-buy and to-do lists.

It's nice, value-for-money-wise, to get lots of lovely throw pillows with a new sofa and love seat, but when there are so many that there's no room for humans to sit, things start getting out of hand. Of course, it doesn't help that we can't quite throw old ones away either.

Kids complain when they don't get a snow day. Parents complain when they do AND when they don't. This is why we don't want to be the snow-day decision-makers.

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been looking back on our 2021 episodes and found some that were just hanging out there sadly at the bottom of the download tally. So this week, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite least-listened-to episodes of 2021.

Today's episode comes from February. Inspired by a New Yorker article [https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/one-star-reviews-of-early-parenthood-milestones], we give poor reviews to several parenting experiences we do not care to repeat, from dance recitals to IEP meetings to having a high school senior during a pandemic.

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been looking back on our 2021 episodes and found some that were just hanging out there sadly at the bottom of the download tally. So this week, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite least-listened-to episodes of 2021.

Today's episode comes from February, in response to a primal scream hotline for moms set up by the New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/18/parenting/primal-scream.html]. (You can also visit https://screamintothevoid.com to type away your frustrations). We decided that with family members around alllll the time, what we really need is a soundproof room to scream, vent, cry, or throw a personal, private tantrum. Mentioned: Our episode on she sheds [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42472511].

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been looking back on our 2021 episodes and found some that were just hanging out there sadly at the bottom of the download tally. So this week, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite least-listened-to episodes of 2021.

Today's episode comes from January. We discussed how not every product needs to come with an extra, like a chart to keep track of your face masks [https://www.parenting.com/child/gear/crayola-kids-face-masks/], or be called a "system." Slow your roll and just let us live, please. Mentioned: Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her coordinating masks [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8527209/Queen-Mathilde-King-Philippe-Belgium-coordinate-masks-outfits.html].

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been looking back on our 2021 episodes and found some that were just hanging out there sadly at the bottom of the download tally. So this week, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite least-listened-to episodes of 2021.

Today's episode comes from January, when we speculated about how we should adapt our work life as our kids need less hands-on attention. Should we lean in to more responsibility, or check out? Mentioned: A behind-the-scenes look at the Bridgerton costumes ([https://fb.watch/2VRFRZoBRD/], and speaking of entertainment, Round 2 will be back next Tuesday with a discussion of the first two episodes of Ted Lasso, season 2.

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been looking back on our 2021 episodes and found some that were just hanging out there sadly at the bottom of the download tally. So this week, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite least-listened-to episodes of 2021.

Today's episode comes from February, when we took a cue from writer Emma Beddington at the Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/09/almost-a-year-working-from-home-time-for-my-family-performance-review] and provided performance reviews for our households, including family members and other important employees (like the dishwasher and the Internet service).

From Wisconsin and New Jersey, where kids wear shorts when it's freezing, to Southern California, where kids wear woolens when it's warm, we discuss kids not dressing for the actual weather and wonder whether we should care.

Apparently college reveal parties (and godmother proposals) are a thing? Today we're talking about the extra-ness of it all, and why you shouldn't be tempted to tempt fate like this.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's listening to Walker Hayes' new song, "AA," on repeat [https://youtu.be/hp6T14iP2C4]. Nicole cleaned up a big mess with her O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop [https://www.target.com/p/o-cedar-easywring-spin-mop-and-bucket-system/-/A-50335649#lnk=sametab]. And Catherine's shouting out Rocket Fizz [https://rocketfizz.com/], a candy store where you can buy mushroom-flavored candy canes, pickle cotton candy, and ranch-dressing soda (along with actually good candy and other treats).

Inspired by this cute story [https://tasteofcountry.com/walker-hayes-fancy-like-promise-christmas-blowups/] about the singer Walker Hayes buying blow-up Christmas decorations for each of his six kids, we talked about what we'd splurge on for our families if we had the opportunity.

Nicole follows @mobile_mama [https://www.tiktok.com/@mobile_mama], a reviewer who evaluates cars based on their mom-friendliness, on TikTok. That inspired us to complain about our own cars, and suggest the features that would make us happier in our vehicles.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: Since we've professed interested in both musical theatre and anything Lin-Manuel Miranda does, we had to watch tick, tick ... BOOM! on Netflix. It's a movie adaption of Jonathan Larson's autobiographical show of the same name, and Andrew Garfield is captivating as Larson. Get out your Broadway bingo cards when you watch, because the cameos come fast and furious. Next week: Ted Lasso, season 2, episodes 1 ("Goodbye, Earl") and 2 ("Lavender").

Since our offspring grew up in the olden days before kids' podcasts were a thing (and neither were moms' podcasts), we talk about what shows they would have been into--or the messages we'd have wanted to deliver via podcast. Mentioned: The Wondery network's podcasts for kids [https://wondery.com/genre/kids-family/].

A chat about our zombie survival skills gets sidetracked by our musing about how people in breakdown-of-civilization movies somehow always have access to contact-lens solution.

We got our skin care and beauty advice from Seventeen magazine, and our daughters get it from YouTube. Because they definitely don't want to hear it from us.

This Thanksgiving week, we're checking in on our discussions from past years to see how our objects of gratitude have changed, or not. Today, in honor of Black Friday, we look at what our purchasing plans were back in 2017.

Thank you, as always, for listening, this week and every week. We'll be back with new episodes on Monday, November 29.

This Thanksgiving week, we're checking in on our discussions from past years to see how our objects of gratitude have changed, or not. Today, we flash back to 2018, with a chat on gratefulness and a look at favorite holiday movies. Because 'tis the season for those again. Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving week, we're checking in on our discussions from past years to see how our objects of gratitude have changed, or not. Today, we travel back to the fall of 2019, when we had no idea what was about to hit us.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we wrapped up season 1 of both of the series we've been catching up on. Ted Lasso's "The Hope That Kills You" was every bit as bittersweet and heartwarming as the rest of the season, and we're looking forward to season 2.

On Only Murders in the Building, "Open and Shut" finally brought a resolution to the mystery, along with two classic TV/movie tropes [http://quarterbacks.org/Roger_Ebert_Glossary_of_Movie_Terms/]: the law of economy of characters (ah, so that's whodunit) and the fallacy of the talking killer (ah, that's how they done it). For this one, we may not be back in for season 2.

Next week: Before diving into season 2 of Ted Lasso, we'll take a detour to New York City of the late 1980s and watch Tick... Tick... BOOM, the autobiographical musical from Rent's Jonathan Larson, on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81149184].

This Thanksgiving week, we're checking in on our discussions from past years to see how our objects of gratitude have changed, or not. Today, we're flashing back just one year, to the first Covid Thanksgiving.

Nicole's questioning of her husband's movie taste led us to a chat about works of entertainment we just can't get on the bandwagon with, from Harry Potter (gasp!) to This Is Us (no!).

Happy birthday to Nicole's daughter, who just turned 18! Who know that meant she was supposed to be a fully functioning, 100% independent adult overnight?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, something to watch, to listen to, and to read: Nicole's excited for the return of Dexter in Dexter: New Blood on Showtime. Terri's listening to Red (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift's latest, on repeat (and watching this short film). And Catherine's reading Blair Braverman, on Twitter and in her books Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube and Dogs on the Trail. Head to https://parentingroundabout.com for all the links.

Last week, we talked about parenting costs that are worth paying. Today, the flip side: Prices we paid very grudgingly or not at all. Mentioned: "People Are Sharing Things They Think Are Way Overpriced" at Buzzfeed [https://www.buzzfeed.com/mellohy/people-shared-12-things-they-think-are-way-too-ove-zzeztpw0b].

If you already have your home decorated for Christmas, complete with wrapped gifts under the tree, this episode may not be for you. Or maybe it is, so you can tell us how exactly you found time to do all that. Because if we found that time, we'd probably sleep through it. Mentioned: Nicole's former podcast, The Inclusive Class [http://www.theinclusiveclass.com/2019/05/the-inclusive-class-podcast.html].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we're at the penultimate episode of season one for both series, so these episodes were all about putting the pieces in place. On Ted Lasso, that meant forgiveness and apologies and learning and growing (mentioned: the Extra Hot Great podcast's recent discussion of the show [https://www.extrahotgreat.com/380]). On Only Murders in the Building, it meant pointing us toward the final suspect, whom no one suspected up to this point.

Next week: We're serving delicious Thanksgiving leftovers for all our other episodes, but Round 2 will be new because we want to watch the finales of both shows: "The Hope That Kills You" (Ted Lasso) and "Open and Shut."

After Roxy (grrfeisty on Instagram) posted about her "mom flex" [https://www.instagram.com/p/CWFLMz2tN5z/], we got over our fear of parenting jinxes to talk about our own flexes. We're not taking credit for these accomplishments, of course, but we're happy they happened.

Covers flinging, pillow stealing, preferred bed size, dog bed hogs, and more bedtime issues have our attention today.

The latest study on screen time and its evils [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190109114811.htm] left us sighing and justifying our lack of limits. Since we can't seem to cut back on our own use, it's hardly fair to make our kids go screen-free, is it? (Mentioned: teen calls police when dad takes away cell phone [https://bobbybones.iheart.com/content/2019-01-15-teenager-calls-police-on-her-father-after-he-took-away-her-cell-phone/].)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out the travel site and shop Uncommon Caribbean [https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/], for a beautiful look at that part of the world. Terri's enjoying Facebook groups [https://www.facebook.com/groups/] for making her feed more fun. And Nicole's feeling (a tiny bit) better about doing dishes with her new anti-fatigue comfort floor mat [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KT4MH2R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1].

We obsess about the parenting purchases, big and small, that were worth every penny. It's hard to put a price tag on cozy family time (or more freedom for Mom).

When you have adult children, and they have significant others, holiday planning gets complicated. It was easier with little kids, who didn't have commitments--or opinions.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Ted Lasso gave us a rollicking episode starring the Diamond Dogs (the advice-giving posse of Coach Beard, Nate, and Higgins) and Ted hustling Rebecca's reptilian ex, Rupert. Next: "All Apologies."

On Only Murders in the Building, the podcasters bring in their loyal fans to help them crack the case--except they get it all wrong, and the poisoner in the building strikes again. Next: "Double Time."

Have you had your body engraved with a permanent piece of art? Would you ever? What about us, and our kids? We're talking about it all on this episode.

It's that time of day that goes by really slow. Or that time of day that goes by way too fast. And maybe, depending on who you're talking to, those are the same time of day.

What are parents obsessing about right now? At Nicole's house, it's everything about the going-to-college process, from applying to deciding to (of course) paying for it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri suggests revisiting the hits of the '70s with her Apple Music playlist, "Sounds Like Old Times" [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/sounds-like-old-times/pl.u-11GGyUo8A0r]. Nicole's shouting out a snack care package that she sent to her son, a busy medical student [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BPJYFBV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Catherine's listening to the Invisibilia podcast's friendship season [https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia]. Mentioned: "Nun of Us Are Friends" [https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1037902699/nun-of-us-are-friends] and "A Friendly Ghost Story" [https://www.npr.org/2021/09/13/1036637594/a-friendly-ghost-story].

Inspired by a recent episode of Only Murders in the Building, we're obsessing about how far might go to fix things for our kids. While we wouldn't send someone else to prison in their place, sometimes there's a fine line between advocacy and interference.

As recompense for Daylight Saving Time, we have decided to declare Parent Saving Time that we can implement whenever we need to spring forward or fall back an hour. Our kids will never be late for school again!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Ted Lasso's "Make Rebecca Great Again" brought all the feels, as Ted faced his divorce papers, Nate faced his fears and gave an insulting pep talk, and Richmond faced a team it hadn't beaten in 60 years. Next: "The Diamond Dogs" (season 1, episode 8).

On Only Murders in the Building, "The Boy From 6B," provided a ton of exposition with almost no dialogue. It was a clever, creative way to suggest two new suspects for Tim Kono's murder. Next: "Fan Fiction" (also season 1, episode 8).

Parents always hear that positive reinforcement and praise are critical when raising kids, but we've encountered a few children who kinda hate being told how great they are.

Depending on which one of us you're visiting, you might find barbecue sauce, bread, or waffles. But don't count on ice cubes.

Complaining about jury duty is a perennial topic, but we've managed to find a new, parenting-related twist on it. Would you make the same decision Terri's making? (And would you feel guilty if you did?)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Speaking of Halloween decorations (as we were yesterday), Nicole's recommending her cute, kid-friendly Halloween monster inflatable [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094J4P7DG/]. Catherine and Terri are both shouting out tasty treats (though Nicole might consider them a trick for their fruit and vegetable content): Cecilia's Farms Dried Bartlett Pears [https://www.ceciliasfarm.com/product/barlett-pears-large-halves/] and parmesan and roasted garlic Harvest Snaps [https://harvestsnaps.com].

Is it just us our neighborhoods, or are people getting way more into Halloween decor than they used to? From the cute to the gory, we're seeing inflatables, lights, and plastic props take over. Catherine and Nicole are joining in in their own way, while Terri's admiring from afar.

If you're a parent, you've dealt with fundraisers, whether as an annoyance or an essential way to allow your child to participate in an activity (or, most likely, a little bit of both). While nothing can touch Girl Scout cookies as the thing we most want to shell out for, we've come across a few others that are worthwhile. As for everything else, can we just Venmo a donation?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Ted Lasso continued with its bittersweet tugs on our hearts in "Two Aces." We got to meet the "Golden retriever puppy of a man," Dani Rojas, but also saw Ted lose a big battle when Jamie returned to a different football club. Next: S1E7, "Make Rebecca Great Again."

On Only Murders in the Building, we learned some important new facts about the Tim Kono case, and also confirmed that Oliver will eat just about anything, as long as it's free. Next: S1E7, "The Boy From 6B."

It's a very common piece of parenting advice: Positive reinforcement! Praise kids when they do something right! But we're afraid of jinxing ourselves when we do this. So we tend to back slowly away.

We've had some luck buying stuff from Goodwill and giving stuff away on Freecycle. Also mentioned: Craigslist, Oodle, Sell.com, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor.com.

An incident at Catherine's daughter's high school got us talking about talking: As in, when parents gossip about what's going on at school without knowing what's actually going on. A bad idea? Yes. Kind of fun? Also yes.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Speaking of roundups, Terri has rounded up much of her online writing at Authory, a service for creating a digital portfolio [https://authory.com/TerriMauro?mode=visitor]. Nicole's working more comfortably with her new memory foam lumbar support pillow from Guttylief [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098STRTM1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Catherine's loving Culver's Salted Caramel Pumpkin Concrete Mixer, which is like a slice of pumpkin pie in a milkshake [https://www.culvers.com/menu-and-nutrition/fresh-frozen-custard/concrete-mixers/menu-item-details/salted-caramel-pumpkin-concrete-mixer-mini].

Today, we obsess about what we'd put on a parenting wish list at this stage of the game. Our picks range from the mundane and practical to the truly fantastical.

We thought we were going to complain about the challenges of raising boys vs. girls, especially when it comes to attending school events and dances. But we ended up complaining about the perils of social insecurity for kids--and parents--of any gender.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, "Tan Lines" is a bittersweet episode of Ted Lasso, with a big win and an even bigger loss for Ted. Next week: S1E6, "Two Aces."

On Only Murders in the Building, the "Twist" of the episode title is dealt with fairly quickly, after a highly improbable car chase. But we're not here for the verisimilitude. Next week: S1E6, "To Protect and Serve." Mentioned: TV critic Brian Grubb tweeting about the show [https://twitter.com/briancgrubb/status/1448322932070141954] and the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast discussing it [https://podcasts.apple.com/am/podcast/only-murders-in-the-building/id278974813?i=1000534652726].

After reading about pandemic nostalgia at Scary Mommy [https://www.scarymommy.com/pandemic-nostalgia-longing-early-days/], we talked about whether there's anything we miss about March/April 2020 and everything that came with it. While the feeling of fighting against a common enemy was nice while it lasted, we definitely don't want to revisit anything else about that time (although if you want to hear about how we were reacting in the moment, you can check out our archives [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/archives/03-2020]).

We think Clue, Careers, and that game Catherine's family got at a garage sale could use some freshening up.

Calendars and planners: every parent needs one (or several), and if we could only find the perfect one, everything would just fall into place, right? We do have some specific ideas for all the planner-makers out there.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's enjoying The Spread [https://www.thespread.media/], a newsletter for people who miss print magazines. Nicole's sharing a squeezable treat that her cats go crazy for [https://www.hartz.com/products/cats/treats/squeeze_up/], and Terri reminds us all that is pumpkin doughnut season at Dunkin' Donuts, so act fast [https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en].

A U.S. News article on evaluating private elementary schools [https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/how-to-evaluate-private-elementary-schools] got us talking about what we look for in a school--which is not always easy to quantify. Also mentioned: Our recent episode on school strategies [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/our-best-school-strategies].

On this week's Round 3, we're complaining about some of the things we were taught as kids, and that we were expected to teach our own kids. Because some of them just don't make sense.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we continue with our two half-hour comedies. On the sunnier one, Ted Lasso, we got our first look at Rebecca's oily ex, Rupert, and perhaps our last look, we hope, at Keeley and Jamie as a couple. Next: "Tan Lines."

And on the slightly darker Only Murders in the Building, it's Sting, playing himself with a very good sense of humor, plus the sad backstory of Steve Martin's character, Charles. Next: Episode 5, "Twist."

'Tis the season for #hoco parades, football games. and dances, but why should high-schoolers and former high-schoolers have all the fun? There are a few (a select few) places and groups of people from other times in our kids' lives that we'd like to revisit.

Whether they're questions we don't want to answer in front of our kids to questions that throw us into an existential career crisis, we recall some questions we wish we'd never been asked.

Complaint day is a regular feature on Parenting Roundabout, and this week's subject is car trips with kids. So much to not like: arguments over the stereo system, bringing way too much stuff, the entire state of Indiana.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out Las Vegas's Hofbrauhaus [https://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com/], where it's Oktoberfest 12 months of the year. Terri's found a digital planner that's just as pretty as a paper one: Artful Agenda [https://www.artfulagenda.com/]. And Catherine's enjoying both the name and the flavor of Off the Eaten Path veggie crisps [https://www.offtheeatenpathsnacks.com/products/veggie-crisps].

Our Canadian was raised to be proud of her Australian roots, two of us are Italian by marriage, and two of our kids were born in Russia but don't recall their lives there. Mostly, we're all-American mutts who enjoy Italian food ... and Vegemite?!

Our kids are pretty far removed from recess time at this point, but we still managed to muster up plenty of complaints about their time in the schoolyard (not to mention our own. Terri's still mad about her sticker sales career being cut short).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the third episode of Ted Lasso's first season, "Trent Crimm: The Independent," brought us more Roy Kent and more Keeley, along with two-tone hair reporter Trent Crimm--who of course thwarted Rebecca's attempt to make Ted look bad. It's not happening, honey! Next week: "For the Children."

Only Murders in the Building asked "How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?" in its third episode. Not only did we learn more (probably too much more) about Cat Dad Howard, we also met Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan, along with Sting playing himself, or possibly a crankier version of himself--and one and all living in the Arconia. Mentioned: "Where to Shop Selena Gomez's Bright and Stylish Outfits from Only Murders in the Building" at Elle.com [https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a37432118/selena-gomez-fashion-only-murders-in-the-building/]. Next week: "The Sting."

On today's Round 1, we talked about what we'd need in a matchmaking app for parent friends: filters for drama, housekeeping standards, and kids' willingness to go with the flow. It's a tall order, but we know there's an app developer out there who can do it!

Some of us have specific requirements for cake, but others? You had us at "cake."

We scan Amazon's lists for best-selling [https://amzn.to/2R82GyX] and most-wished-for [https://amzn.to/2LSle0x] parenting books (or should we say "parenting?!" books) to see if there's anything we've read, anything we'd want to read, and most importantly, anything written by Terri [https://amzn.to/2BUrYGo] or Nicole [https://amzn.to/2RpQoS6]. No? C'mon, Amazon!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out Team Rubicon [https://teamrubiconusa.org/service/], a charitable organization founded by veterans. Terri's found another super-helpful feature of the Opera browser: quick and easy screenshots [https://www.opera.com/features/snapshot]. And speaking of quick and easy, Nicole's enjoying the meal delivery service Gobble [https://www.gobble.com/].

When one of our children decided they needed a week's vacation from their part-time job, we started obsessing about work ethic, and whether it's generational, temperamental, or just another way for young adults to express their independence.

A bill for $8.82 for a phone conversation kicked off a complaint about analog bill-paying. Please take our money electronically if you really want it!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, both shows we're watching blossomed in their second episodes. On Ted Lasso ("Biscuits"), we are getting to know the main characters better (and some of the peripheral ones too; you go, soccer-playing girl neighbor).

And on Only Murders in the Building, we are being drawn right in to the mystery of "Who Is Tim Kono?" along with "who are Mabel, Charles, and Oliver?" Plus, we love a dead-friend returning to provide commentary, a la Lilly Kane (Veronica Mars) and Griffin Dunne's character in American Werewolf in London.

Next week: “Trent Crimm: The Independent” on Ted Lasso and “How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?” on Only Murders in the Building.

In a kind of reverse retirement plan, Nicole went back to school to earn another degree. Terri's happy to work as long as she can see her computer screen, but Catherine's probably not going to follow in her mother's footsteps and work until she's 80. What about you?

We have our faves, sure, but it depends on whether we're at a restaurant or home; or it's morning or evening; or we're in the US or Canada.

Inspired by this Offspring article [https://offspring.lifehacker.com/what-lies-have-you-told-your-kids-out-of-convenience-1829902088], we confess some of the lies, fibs, and distractions we have told our kids. Mentioned: This New York Times article about DNA testing and family secrets [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/magazine/dna-test-black-family.html].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Much to Nicole's dismay, Terri tried sardines (to strengthen her bones) and described the experience in great detail. Plus, she learned that you can indeed scramble eggs in the microwave [https://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes/basic-microwave-scrambled-eggs/]. Nicole had to go to her happy place after that and recommended beautiful Whistler, British Columbia as a vacation destination [https://www.whistler.com/]. And Catherine discovered that her favorite hand-me-down jeans from Kut from the Kloth are not irreplaceable after all [https://kutfromthekloth.com/collections/work-from-home-1/products/kp0216mc9-amy-crop-straight-leg-bubbly?_pos=2&_sid=615614363&_ss=r].

Somehow ketchup chips did not even come up in this discussion of family food habits and obsessions. But you will find out who refuses leftovers, who eats whatever's put in front of her, and why Valley Popcorn [https://valleypopcorn.com/] is the superior brand.

With two of our daughters newly experiencing roommate life, we shared our stories of unwelcome boyfriends, unpalatable communal meals, and ungenerous toilet-paper monitors.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we kick off two new series watches. First, we finally get on the Ted Lasso train to see what all the fuss is about. And we check out Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as ... podcasters. Mentioned: Pop Culture Happy Hour on Only Murders in the Building [https://podcasts.apple.com/am/podcast/only-murders-in-the-building/id278974813?i=1000534652726] and the NBC Sports promos that inspired Ted Lasso [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8&list=PLC-B4YCjP2F_hd_RbPw-Whp7h4W_2Vqbz].

Next week, we'll watch season 1, episode 2 of both shows: "Who Is Tim Kono" (Only Murders in the Building) and "Biscuits" (Ted Lasso).

Thanks to an old article about Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard [https://people.com/parents/kristen-bell-tag-team-parenting-dax-shepard/] getting some new traction, we talked about tag-team parenting. Who was on our team (if anyone) and who was the MVP? Mentioned: Our recent discussion about school strategies, which included befriending other parents so you can recruit them onto your team [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/our-best-school-strategies].

Though it seems like we already have too many channels to watch, we can still think of a few we wish we could see — whether they don't exist yet or our cable companies limit us.

A Buzzfeed article [https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/this-chart-comparing-working-moms-vs-stay-at-home-moms-is?fbclid=IwAR0udm9e-t_kgUhyJSdRR9ia5rFLld_21T8bYmt7pzeRf9OsC8i0uDjapkQ] about a chart comparing stay-at-home and working moms prompted us to talk about all the different points on that spectrum that we've experienced. And to remind everyone to live and let live.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out Jackson Galaxy (on YouTube) for his excellent advice on caring for cats [https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCatDaddy66]. Catherine's feeling very seen by Teenager Pro Tips on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/teenagerprotips], and Terri attended a live-streamed concert on a spiffy new platform called Flymachine [https://www.flymachine.com/].

When our kids were small, we fussed over their boo-boos and sniffles. Now that we're ... a little older, we're the ones with the owies, and we would like some of that sympathy returned to us, please and thank you.

We are relieved to have missed out on slime, but there are still plenty of kids' toys (and music, and buggy pets) that we can grumble about. Plus: this episode contains two pieces of useful advice for parents in the throes of the annoying-toy years.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with the movie The Station Agent (2003), which has been patiently waiting at the station known as Terri's DVR for a couple of years. It is delightful and quirky, if not "hilarious" as the New York Times review would have it.

We also watched a filmed performance of the beautiful Broadway musical Come From Away. It's available on AppleTV+, and tells the story of what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, after American airspace was closed on September 11, 2001. It's nontraditional and inspiring, with a great message--but it's also fun.

Next week: Instead of waiting years to get in on some popular pop culture properties, we're going to start now with Only Murders in the Building (on Hulu) and Ted Lasso (on AppleTV+). We'll watch the first episodes of the first seasons of both, and then continue with one episode of each per week going forward.

Today we're talking about child hacks, those little lies and maneuvers parents employ to make life easier, like "the Tooth Fairy doesn't come until you fall asleep!" and "I just have no idea where your pacifier is!" Some were quite deliberate, while others we lucked into (and ran with).

We talk about the video games we've played, the video games we've watched other people play, and the apps we'd like to call video games.

A Facebook post prompted a discussion of some of our parenting goals (and some of the ways we judge others and/or ourselves). Mentioned: A past episode about kids and conversation [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922646].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri has another phone game to shout out: Flipflop Solitaire [http://www.flipflopsolitaire.com/]. Nicole's been binge-watching Young Sheldon (the prequel to The Big Bang Theory) [https://www.cbs.com/shows/young-sheldon/]. And Catherine found a spice rack that's perfect for anyone equipping a kitchen for the first time [https://oriikitchen.com/products/copy-of-orii-20-jar-spice-organizer-rack-in-dark-acacia-wood].

Yesterday we complained about kids' unwanted opinions, and today we're obsessing about family members' conflicting opinions about adding a furry friend to the mix. It all started because a kitten literally fell into Nicole's yard (and was far too cute to turn away).

As our kids get older, they seem to get more opinionated, particularly about topics that used to be exclusively the domain of the parents. Like parenting itself.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Catherine was won over by the star-studded musical parody Schmigadoon!. Terri wasn't, quite, but still enjoyed some of the silliness and all of the performances. Mentioned: Director Barry Sonnenfeld's autobiography, Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother [https://www.amazon.com/Barry-Sonnenfeld-Call-Your-Mother/dp/0316415618].

Next week: The 2003 movie The Station Agent, and a musical very different from the ones referenced in Schmigadoon!: Come From Away, which premieres (as a filmed edition of the Broadway show) on AppleTV+ on Friday, September 10.

Terri and Catherine recently finished watching Making It [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-making-it-and-coda], a TV crafting competition. It's getting a cooking spin-off, of course called Baking It [https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/maya-rudolph-andy-samberg-peacock-baking-it-1235048252/]. So we brainstormed challenges for a parenting competition show called Faking It.

Did he have a nice hairdo? Did he wear a very stylish shirt? Was he simply, blessedly available? We look back at the things that made our guys stand out.

For Terri's family, the loss is fresh. But we've all experienced the death of a beloved dog, and helping our kids through it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends Cheap Old Houses [https://www.hgtv.com/shows/cheap-old-houses], a fun new non-competitive show on HGTV (inspired by an Instagram feed). Nicole shouts out this cheeky video from #WeThe15 [https://youtu.be/gHCDvdCaJhI]--no inspiration allowed. And Terri reminds you that a favorite cookie from her childhood, the Vienna Finger, is still available today [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Fingers].

We have suggestions for helping your child succeed at school, and they range from minimal effort (5 minutes a day!) to "You're here again?" levels of presence in the building.

A yard sign installation celebrating a child's first day of third grade (!) prompted us to complain about where this ends (billboards? fireworks?) and why we don't get signs celebrating our achievements.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we made it to the end of Making It. We congratulate the winner for his very happy-looking shed [https://www.instagram.com/p/CTILC_UlBwb/], and would love to see a season 4 of the show--with a few tweaks.

Speaking of beautiful things, we also watched the movie CODA on AppleTV+ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10366460/?ref_=nm_knf_i4]. It is a lovely look at a the ordinary life of a teenage girl, played by Emilia Jones, whose parents and brother happen to be deaf. It's predictable, yet complex and joyful. Mentioned: Pop Culture Happy Hour's discussion of the movie [https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1026797711].

Next week: We'll stick with AppleTV+ and check out Schmigadoon, We'll watch all 6 episodes of this musical comedy.

Nicole's ready to rethink it all, Terri wouldn't change a thing (not even the bridesmaids' dresses), and Catherine's somewhere in the middle. If you had a wedding, is there anything you wish you could re-do?

Whether you're into hifalutin rhymes, delightful children's verse, or stuff that will make Terri have to dig out the bleep sound effect again, we've got some poetry for you. (The childhood-wall-hanging text Nicole couldn't remember, BTW, isn't really a poem, but maybe a topic for a future episode on parenting judgy-ness: "Children Learn What They Live" [https://www.thelearningweb.net/chapter02/page104.html].)

While Terri has lived in New Jersey for many years, she grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, which was hit with two tragedies in one week back in 2018 when we originally recorded this episode. We discussed how connected we are to our hometowns, and how that looks for our kids too.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out The Hat restaurant [https://www.thehat.com/], which helped her time-travel back to her teenage days. Terri discovered a handy new iPhone trick, thanks to Macworld magazine [https://www.macworld.com/article/353078/spotlight-iphone-ios-15.html]. And Catherine's enjoying "You Shine," a sweet love song from Carrie the musical (yes, it is based on the horror movie [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BreR8sxaNCA]).

We heard a stat saying that two-thirds of people have unofficial assigned seats in their cars, on their couches, and at their dining tables. We thought everyone did this!

Yes, we're aware that there's no such thing as privacy online. But how does Facebook know our bra size? And could TikTok be eavesdropping on our family dinners?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we've reached the semi-finals of Making It, and also discovered the makers' post-show Instagram Live events... which are possibly more fun than the show itself?! Mentioned: Blake's recently completed bear sculpture; all the makers on Instagram [visit https://parentingroundabout.com for all links].

We also returned (reluctantly) to Veronica Mars season 4, with the wrap-up episode from the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast. It didn't convince us to have fonder feelings for season 4. The VMI crew will be re-watching the show's pilot on Saturday, August 28, if you're interested.

For next week: We'll watch the finale of Making It and check out Coda, a new movie on Apple TV+.

Now that our kids' generation is starting to get married, we did a little comparing and contrasting. We're pretty glad we never felt the pressure to come up with a wedding hashtag.

Whether for an advanced degree, motivation to finish a project, or a chance for random people to destroy our will to create, we contemplate returning to school. Or, you know, not.

Time for a career check-in: Nicole is embarking on a new career, Catherine is pondering a switch from freelance to staff work, and Terri just works all. the. time.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out Just Add Ice orchids, because she's been able to keep hers alive (and blooming) for six months now. Nicole welcomes the addition of peanut M&Ms to her family's favorite Costco trail mix. And Terri gives a happy two thumbs' up to Dan + Shay's new album, "Good Things." Mentioned: Interview with Bobby Bones; performing at Bobby's wedding. Visit https://parentingroundabout.com for links.

'Tis the season--are you ready? We're here with some hard-earned advice that goes beyond "Don't forget to buy enough pencils." Have you nagged the special-ed office yet? Checked to see if last year's lunchbox still has last year's lunch in it? Signed up for a school photo? We're here with your to-do list.

We are nothing if not predictable. If you bugged our homes, here's what you'd hear--over, and over, and over again. The major topics: Pets and meals.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Making It is back with its usual contrived stories about why these projects are happening. Let's just let the makers make stuff!

We also checked out Kevin Can F Himself, starring Annie Murphy (late of Schitt's Creek) as a sitcom housewife who's also living in a bleak drama. It's a high concept that's well done, but requires the viewer to live with a lot of unpleasantness. Mentioned: Pop Culture Happy Hour's discussion of the show [https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1017885733/no-laughing-all-crying-the-sitcom-reconsidered-in-kevin-can-f-k-himself].

Next week: Making It episode 7, and we return to Veronica Mars season 4 one last time with Veronica Mars Investigations' wrap-up episode [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/vmi/investigations4].

On this week's Round 1, a Tiktok (of course!) prompted us to look back nostalgically at our university years, in the time before Internet, cell phones, and laptops. You know, back when we used a quill and an inkwell to write our papers.

Here's a this or that for you: delicious ice-cream-rich beverage, or something people use to hide spinach and worse? Yeah, Nicole and Terri are all-in for milkshakes. Catherine ... well, we'll stay her friend, we guess, but we're not going to drink anything she gives us.

Some childhood fears we've gotten over. Others have stayed with us. You just never know when Jaws is going to come up through the drain of a swimming pool! Mentioned: This 2016 episode on what was scaring us at the time [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923142].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri recommends the cheerful "Fancy Like" fan video from Walker Hayes [https://youtu.be/E08puACaHfY], which he kindly posted on YouTube for those of us who can't handle TikTok. Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with geoscan.show [https://www.instagram.com/geoscan.show/], a business that puts on drone light shows (so if you liked the one at the Olympics, you might enjoy this account). Catherine's singing the praises of a Knox Rose summer dress from Target [https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-short-sleeve-wrap-dress-knox-rose-8482-pink-floral-m/-/A-82044440], plus a side recommendation for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin [https://www.jmkac.org/].

Last year, we fretted about Nicole's impending empty nest [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/the-emptying-nest]. And then, she got a one-year reprieve as her daughter stayed home and took her classes online. Now she's leaving, for real, and Nicole's still not ready. Mentioned: You Need a Budget [https://www.youneedabudget.com/].

Nicole's getting ready for her first Covid-era airplane flight, so Terri thoughtfully helps her figure out everything that could go wrong so she can prepare with plenty of pre-emptive worry.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Terri tried Schitt's Creek, a show Catherine has watched in its entirety but Terri had never seen. We selected 5 episodes recommended by IMDB [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvGQh9lwYY8]: Season 1/episode 6, “Wine & Roses”; season 2/episode 5, “Bob's Bagels”; season 4/episode 2, “Pregnancy Test”; season 4/episode 6, “Open Mic” (recently inducted into the Extra Hot Great canon [https://www.extrahotgreat.com/364/]); and season 6/episode 5, “The Premiere." While Terri wasn't as hooked on the show as IMDB promised she'd be, she enjoyed the time she spent in Schitt's Creek.

Next week: Making It returns, and we'll follow Annie Murphy (Alexis Rose on Schitt's Creek) to her new project, Kevin Can F*** Himself, on AMC+. Never heard of AMC+? Neither had we. Here's how to watch it [https://www.amcplus.com/ways-to-watch].

Once we're released from parenting obligations like homework supervision, chauffeuring, and attending concerts and games. we find ourselves at loose ends. Is it time to take up knitting?

We've got our piles of past concert souvenirs, sure, but the cost of doing memorabilia business has gotten to us in recent years.

Do you still have your high school yearbook? We compare and contrast the yearbooks of our day with those of our kids.

This week’s Roundabout Roundup is a very tasty one. Nicole's shouting out her favorite Greek restaurant in Los Angeles, Papa Cristo's [https://papacristos.com/]. Catherine's also going Greek, with a recommendation for Yasso Greek yogurt bars [https://yasso.com/products/bars/]. And Terri's recommending a breakfast that might look like cat food, and sound like baby food, but tastes pretty darn good: Mush ready-to-eat oats [https://eatmush.com/products/mush].

On today's episode, we're obsessing about whether we're superstitious, whether it's something we learned from our parents, and whether we might be passing it on to our kids. Because really, why tempt fate when it's just as easy not to open that umbrella inside the house?

We complain about what it takes to be a team player (and how that works when combined with our rule-following natures) and also about how it's hard to go it alone. You see our dilemma.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We failed to realize that Making It would be pre-empted by a little event called the Olympic Games. So we dipped back into season 1 to compare its "All of the Holidays at Once" episode to this season's similarly themed ep. Turns out the reason there's more making and less emoting in season 1 is: There are fewer people. This throws a wrench in our "Don't send anyone home ever!!" proposal. Mentioned: The makers on Instagram; they're all linked on this post from Melanio.

Continuing the flashback theme, we watched the movie Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and also delightfully featuring Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, as well as Goran Visnjic as a most un-delightful boyfriend. It was a wonderfully witchy trip back to 1998. Mentioned: This article comparing the movie to its source material, Alice Hoffman's book.

Next week: We'll keep Making It and Veronica Mars on hold and challenge Terri to try Schitt's Creek with 5 episodes recommended by IMDB: Season 1/episode 6, “Wine & Roses”; season 2/episode 5, “Bob's Bagels”; season 4/episode 2, “Pregnancy Test”; season 4/episode 6, “Open Mic”; and season 6/episode 5, “The Premiere." Visit https://parentingroundabout.com for all links.

On today's Round 1, we're talking about college majors and degrees and how much influence parents have over their kids' choices. Our parents were supportive of our decisions (in Nicole's case, wisely steering her toward teaching) and we're trying to be the same for our kids.

Printing or cursive? Board games or card games? Painting or drawing? Writing or reading? Hear our answers to this latest batch of questions and play along!

First it was tiger moms, then helicopter parents, then lawnmower parents and even elephant parents. Well, we can come up with click-baity parenting "styles" too!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri recommends the Good Sudoku app [https://www.playgoodsudoku.com/] if you're looking to play that unpronounceable game on your phone. Nicole had a happy customer-service experience with Delta Faucet [https://www.deltafaucet.com/]. And Catherine and her family immersed themselves in Beyond Van Gogh; see if it's coming to your city in this rundown at ArtNet [https://news.artnet.com/art-world/immersive-van-gogh-guide-1974038].

After last week's rant about toxic parenting advice [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/toxic-parenting-advice], we thought we should put our money where our mouths are and share advice that actually did work for us (and doesn't shame you for doing the wrong thing). Of course, YMMV!

A tweet from author Holly Bourne [https://twitter.com/holly_bourneYA] lamenting societal pressure to sleep, eat, walk, meditate, care for our homes and more every single day got us complaining about the pressures we feel, especially as moms--since we have to cover that whole to-do list plus parent our children.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the mega-craft returned to Making It, along with a new project called the procrasti-craft. And we said goodbye to Baseball Blake, whose extremely cool origami door could not save him from a hanging chair that couldn't quite hang.

We also said goodbye to Veronica Mars season 4 with "Years, Continents, Bloodshed" (title drawn from this season 2 scene [https://youtu.be/pR5ED-rnruo]). We knew what was coming and we are still annoyed.

Next: We will return to Veronica Mars in a few weeks after the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/] drops their wrap-up episodes. In the interim, we will continue with Making It and, in a tribute to the best season of Veronica Mars (that'd be #1) and its many flashbacks, we'll flash back to a movie from 1998: Practical Magic [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120791/].

After last week's mention of summer camp for kids [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/when-kids-are-incommunicado], we started dreaming about the amenities we'd like to see at mom camp. Let us know if there's one out there that offers robot butlers, doctors on call, and hot tubs for everyone. Mentioned: The luxury suites aboard the Queen Mary, featured in the movie Let Them All Talk [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-let-them-all-talk-and-veronica-mars-keep-calm-and-party-on].

It's dry-skin season, at least for the two non-Californians among us, and that means either disgusting greasy lotion stickiness or constant itching. Terri's hoping for some go-to moisturizer tips. Maybe you have some? Help out in the comments. Mentioned: Gold Bond, Kiehl's, CeraVe, our episode on habits [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922574].

Too old to fail, but too young to make smart decisions: That's the pickle we find ourselves in as our kids grow up and have to make life-determining choices.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's curly-hair journey continues; she's now acquired a Kitsch microfiber towel [https://mykitsch.com/collections/microfiber-towels], which makes a fetching hair-drying turban. Nicole's Instagram Minute is back with @samir [https://www.instagram.com/samir/], for celebrity home snooping (we mean, shopping). Terri is enjoying Apple's bundling service, Apple One [https://www.apple.com/apple-one/], and even reassures you that if you sign up, Apple will do the right thing by pro-rating your bills.

A recent conversation on The Bobby Bones Show [https://overcast.fm/+IvaJT4Rsg/5:31]got us obsessing: What would we do if one of our kids' teenage friends showed up at our house dressed inappropriately? First we obsessed over defining "inappropriate." Then we pondered what our house rules are. And finally, we wrung our hands at the thought of confronting a kid, no matter what they were wearing.

No, we're not calling out this article for telling people how to be toxic parents [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/toxic-behaviors-parenting_l_60eec024e4b01f118954bd43?fbclid=IwAR3PEGSyKfCtPhYIBGCEU3I9SA7XA67-Sck_iR_gbLC5gWp3tecJIngNItw]. We're saying, telling parents their behavior is toxic... is toxic! Mentioned: Our recent episode "Moms Have Feelings, Too" [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/moms-have-feelings-too].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Making It observed many holidays, which makes sense for a crafting competition. It at least makes more sense than the judges' criteria for sending people home. We'll miss gravy-swilling Gary quite a bit. Next week: Episode 5.

What we won't miss, when it comes to a close, is Veronica Mars season 4. Specifically, we won't miss Veronica herself and how cruel she is to the people around her. You don't deserve any of them, Veronica! Next: "Years, Continents, Bloodshed," the final episode of this season (thank goodness).

Catherine's son is away at camp... without his phone! However will she know where he is and what he's doing?? (Turns out, what he is doing is buying candy bars at the camp store.)

For those with petite closets and serious weather shifts, it's the most arduous time of the year when the T-shirts and shorts go away and the sweaters and long pants emerge. No need for that in your life? Know that Terri is super-jealous.

We debate safety vs. strength: Do we want our kids to take risks in order to become strong? Would it surprise you to learn we can't answer such a black-and-white question?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's loving the look, scent, and feel of Cucina Fruits and Passion Regenerating Hand Cream [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWF2GW8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Terri was a guest on the A Bit Above podcast, and she recommends you give it a listen [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/45-parenthood-requires-love-not-dna-with-terri-mauro/id1548787190?i=1000528300295]. And Catherine's resting easy in super-soft bamboo pajamas [https://www.latuza.com/collections/womens-pajamas-set].

After reading about Internet Dad Rob Kenney [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/06/17/pandemic-connection-rob-kenney/], we brainstormed all the services we could provide as Internet Moms: Gentle nagging! Etiquette advice! Affirmations (with a side of gentle nagging)!

We agree with this Scary Mommy writer, who calls herself "a grumpy spoilsport who hates pranks and teasing." We just don't see the humor in someone being tricked or publicly embarrassed (although Nicole does make an exception for the people on Ryan's Roses [https://kiisfm.iheart.com/topic/Ryan%E2%80%99s%20Roses/], who have it coming to them).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Making It makers make just one "MEGA CRAFT!!!," which still leaves us with too many comedy bits and personal stories and not enough crafting. We just want to see people making stuff, please!

This week's episode of Veronica Mars was titled "Entering a World of Pain," which surprised us because hasn't Neptune been a world of pain for four seasons now? Mentioned: Big Red Machine featuring Taylor Swift and "Renegade," which should be Logan's theme song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_wr-9X47ao], and our episode on parents who sit in first class [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44728571] while their kids are in coach (à la Matty's mom and stepdad).

Collab? It's cute when family members create content together (like Walker Hayes's "Fancy Like" dances with his daughter), but our kids have absolutely no interest. In fact, some of them might implode at the mere thought of appearing online anywhere in the vicinity of their mothers. Mentioned: Terri (sans offspring) was a guest on the A Bit Above podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/45-parenthood-requires-love-not-dna-with-terri-mauro/id1548787190?i=1000528300295].

There's a nostalgic tug that keeps us from throwing away those toys our kids outgrew ... and also a sharp memory of how much money we paid for that stuff. Let's just go with the sentimental angle, shall we?

Thou shalt obey these rules: We set out to make a list of 10 Commandments for How to Treat Parents. Guess how many we actually came up with?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out The Great Pottery Throwdown [https://play.hbomax.com/page/urn:hbo:page:GX0gQ9AKAgr5cuAEAAAG_:type:series], which is The Great British Bake-Off for ceramics. Nicole discovered Temecula wine country [https://www.temeculawines.org/] almost in her backyard, and Terri rediscovered Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/mamatude2/the-parenting-roundabout-podcast/] for posting quotes from this podcast.

We know everyone's out of practice with the outside world after months of lockdown. But is it really necessary to measure the hand grips on the monkey bars before your kids play, as this article suggests [https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-27/summer-playgrounds-come-with-fun-and-hazards]?

We complain about those times when an adorable moppet inserts themselves into an adult conversation (or meeting), usually at the parent's invitation. Should we be gracious about this, or expect better behavior from grown-ups?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Making It makers created with (but didn't bake) cookies and then built little lending libraries for goodies like tools, spices, sporting goods, and kites. We will be watching to see whether the judges follow through on their "no changing your design or you're going home" policy. Next week: season 3, episode 3.

On Veronica Mars, the episode titled "Losing Streak" really did include streaking (the mayor sprinting through town in the buff). And we are losing it with Veronica's unhappiness and repeated accusations against Weevil. Three episodes to go! Next: "Entering a World of Pain."

When we heard about Ariana Grande giving away $1 million in free therapy services, we started brainstorming about what kind of benefactors we'd be if we had the funds--like create an elite squad of customer service ninjas for parents. Mentioned: Medical debt forgiveness [https://www.gofundme.com/f/let039s-wipe-out-1-million-in-medical-debt] (benefiting RIP Medical Debt [https://ripmedicaldebt.org/]); MacKenzie Scott [https://time.com/6050873/mackenzie-scott-profile/].

Brainstorming Speed Round questions in the kitchen brought recent topics on Tupperware [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/speed-round-sunday-tupperware-inventory] and refrigerators [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922710], and today's on those collections of recipes we may only admire from afar. Mentioned: A Man, A Can, a Plan [https://www.amazon.com/Man-Can-Plan-Great-Meals/dp/1579546072/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1510426436&sr=8-1&keywords=a+man+a+can+a+plan&linkCode=ll1&tag=motherswithattit&linkId=aa1c97a29f4d6501974f8803191ec495], Australian Women's Weekly cookbooks [https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=australian+womens+weekly+cookbooks&sprefix=Australian+wom,stripbooks,139&crid=26TQE2ATOCWCD&linkCode=ll2&tag=motherswithattit&linkId=b1ccbe9cbfa96153eb33f2379e10ab31].

Inspired by a Facebook post [https://www.facebook.com/grownandflown/posts/1498189386947803], we dream up fantasy vacations. It turns out we care very little about luxury accommodations or exotic destinations. What we really need is a cozy bed and a Worry Concierge. Mentioned: Family reading weekend at Design Mom [https://designmom.com/how-to-host-a-family-reading-marathon/].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri has a powerful new phone charger that solves the problem of missing and decomposing charger cords [https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HNZ82ZM/A/mophie-powerstation-wireless-xl-portable-battery-10000-mah?cid=aos-us-seo-pla]. Nicole is sparing her cat from the plastic cone of shame with a soft fabric neck pillow [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X6J88MC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Catherine is enjoying ready-made meals from a local catering company that pivoted during the pandemic.

Terri's birthday was yesterday, and Catherine's is next week. But don't rely on these idea lists from New York magazine [https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-birthday-gifts-for-mom.html], Etsy] [https://www.etsy.com/market/gifts_for_mom_birthday, and Cosmo [https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g26765913/gifts-for-mom-from-daughter/] when you're shopping.

Today we're complaining about that fine line between showing our kids compassion and unconditional love, and teaching them that it's not okay to hurt our feelings just because we're moms. Because being passive-aggressive about it doesn't seem to be working.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we welcome the return of Making It, the crafty, punny competition show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. While episode 1 of season 3 contained maybe more crying than we had expected, it still had plenty of very cool crafts to admire. Next: Episode 2, now with even more makers.

But on Veronica Mars, there wasn't much to admire except the return of Leo (now an FBI agent with a jacket full of snacks!) and his uncomfortable hang-out with Logan. There are a lot of characters (and plots) we're sick of, and it's only been four episodes. Next: Episode 5, "Losing Streak."

With graduation season wrapping up, we talk about how things went for the class of 2021, and how the class of 2020 might be feeling about that. Plus, three of our students head back-to-college/med school in person.

Terri's ongoing war with coffee-dive-bombing gnats led to a chat about satisfying homemade fixes for everyday annoyances ... like apple-cider-vinegar traps for GNATS GNATS GNATS! (Mentioned: our Tupperware abundance [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45189997].)

We take a look at our LinkedIn profiles and wonder whether we should add positions like "life coach," "chauffeur," "employment counselor," and even "zookeeper."

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole has upgraded her robot vacuum [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-majestic-pure-hair-mask-eufy-robovac-and-celestial-seasonings-fruit-tea-sampler] to a combo vac/mop (that unfortunately does not kill giant scary spiders) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RQC1GHZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Catherine recommends checking out your city's offerings, which you're paying for anyway so take advantage. And Terri urges you to watch In the Heights [https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/heights], either in the theater or on your own comfy couch.

What is the protocol for reaching out to your kid's significant other's parents... during/after a pandemic? We don't think Miss Manners has an entry on this.

Spiders and mice and bunnies, oh my! Nicole has a traumatic tale to share, and then we discuss our criteria for gently escorting critters outside vs. declaring war.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we took a soothing voyage on the Queen Mary with the Steven Soderbergh movie Let Them All Talk. Nothing really happened, but we still enjoyed watching the ocean go by with Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, and Dianne Wiest. Mentioned: Tim Brayton's review of the film at Alternate Ending.

Over in not-at-all soothing Neptune, California, the Veronica Mars writers tried to make us believe the bomber had been identified. But we've been watching for four seasons now and we knew that couldn't be true. Next: Season 4, episode 4, "Heads You Lose." And we'll enjoy the return of the crafty competition show Making It, hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, Thursday nights on NBC.

According to this Wall Street Journal article [https://www.wsj.com/articles/tent-sleepovers-the-extravagant-party-kids-are-craving-in-2021-11622059882], fancy tent sleepovers are all the rage right now. So the way we bring our kids back together after isolation is to... separate them into individual tents in the same room? Okay, sure.

How is it we have so many Tupperware items? They multiply, don't you think? And why can we never find the right lid? We compare notes on plastic-food-storage-container overload in a speed round that turns into a mini-rant.

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again. Today, two speed rounds on the places we'd go.

From February 2020: When you return home after a vacation or some other disruption to your routine, do you unpack and re-combobulate immediately? Do you shove your suitcase in a corner and ignore it for a week? Or do you freeze, overwhelmed and unable to decide what to tackle first?

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again. Today, two speed rounds on the places we'd go.

From June 2019: Hey, airlines: We have some brilliant ideas! There are so many ways you could make the air-travel experience easier and happier for families, and this whole episode is a brainstorming session just for you.

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again. Today, two speed rounds on the places we'd go.

From June 2018: "If someone paid you to travel the world for the next three years, would you go?" We're not so interested in the offer, unless Nicole's demands are met, anyway.

And from March 2018: We're dreaming about an all-expenses-paid trip to whatever world monument we'd like to see. Special guest appearance by Nicole's dog Missy, who probably just wants to visit the backyard.

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again.

Wednesdays are complaint day on Parenting Roundabout, and this week's subject is car trips with kids. So much to not like: arguments over the stereo system, bringing way too much stuff, the entire state of Indiana.

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again.

From June 2019: Summer brings travel, and travel brings us such a lengthy list of to-dos and don't-forgets that maybe it's easier to just stay home.

We're away this week, but bringing you some of our past chats all about vacations and traveling--now that that's becoming a thing we can do again.

In May 2019, we obsessed about online travel booking. Instead of being convenient, we find it's usually far more trouble than it's worth. Cross your fingers that Terri's family isn't sleeping in the car on their next trip.

We've previously gone on record with our dessert decisions (or indecisiveness). Today, we play "this or that" with hard candy vs. gummy, chocolate pure vs. with stuff in, fake grape vs. fake cherry, minty vs. spicy, and Tootsie Pop vs. Blow Pop vs. throwing them both in the trash.

New parents today have access to tons of cool gear we never got to use, and we’re sad about that. But we're also complaining about what our own parents had that we didn't.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's enjoying an innovation in school band concerts that cuts an interminable evening down to a crisp 3 minutes[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g-w-ycY5QE]. Nicole's trying a bubble wrap-style sensory toy [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092QGRT45/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and Catherine is admiring the peonies in her yard [https://www.thespruce.com/peony-plants-perennials-2132560].

Last month, we shouted out our moms [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/happy-mothers-day-mom]. So with Father's Day approaching, it's our dads' turn, as we tell you a little bit about the fathers who raised us. (Father's Day isn't until June 20, so you still have time to pick up your golf- or barbecue-themed card.)

We'd like to share some of the movies and TV shows we used to love with our kids. But some of it hasn't aged well, and some of it was scary then and is scary now. But the biggest problem is that it's associated with us. So embarrassing!!!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we caught up with the Friends reunion show and got a case of whiplash in the process. It was quite a grab bag of segments, emotions, guest stars, costumes, and other miscellany.

On Veronica Mars, the concern is not whiplash but decapitation, as episode 2 of season 4 brought us our second severed head. We're hoping that's it, although we wouldn't be opposed to Alonzo and Dodie teaming up with Clyde and Nicole to take out some Fitzpatricks.

Round 2 will return on June 22 with the HBO Max movie Let Them All Talk and Veronica Mars "Keep Calm and Party On."

Schools often teach teens important life skills like cooking and how to manage money. But we think they should also teach "How to advocate for yourself when your insurance company pulls a fast one" and "how to tell which YouTube fix-it video is legit."

Recently, we talked seriously about some possible additions to valedictorian in honoring high-school seniors [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/speed-round-sunday-beyond-valedictorians]. Today, we take a lighter look, prompted by former teacher Nicole who has been making her list.

We had to comment on an article in which a mom claims not to miss even a minute of her kids' baby and toddler days [https://www.scarymommy.com/why-i-dont-miss-having-little-kids/]. Mentioned: Our speed round on revisiting our younger selves.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine is shouting out a company that was an early adopter of podcast advertising: Third Love and its very comfy bras and lounge wear [https://www.thirdlove.com/]. Terri finds the iOS app Scrap Paper super useful [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scrap-paper/id1449110504], and Nicole's been converted to the wonder of cord organization with cable clips by her techie daughter [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NVKHLP8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1].

Nicole's on a Mom Strike, and it's not working out so well. As fellow members of the Mom Union, we stand in solidarity with her in this time of need. (Also, someone please make her a sandwich and deliver it to her office.)

We jump off a recent chat about the school parent portal [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/improving-the-parent-portal] to complain about school behavior complaints and how hard it is to get to the bottom of what's really going on.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we watched a movie! We were both curious about Academy Award-winner Nomadland, and are pleased to have made the effort to watch it (free on Hulu, for rent elsewhere). It's a meditative, moving, compelling story, beautifully told. Next: Continuing our theme of "current, but not quite." we'll watch the Friends reunion on HBO Max.

Definitely less meditative and moving: Veronica Mars season 4, episode 1. We're back in Neptune! And so is Very Muscly Logan, Adorable New Dad Wallace, and Chronic Pain Keith, along with a new seasonal mystery: Who bombed the Sea Sprite Motel? Next: Episode 2, "Chino and the Man" (Terri hopes it will be about pants).

An article titled "Use These Positive Phrases to Avoid Conflict With Your Kids" [https://lifehacker.com/use-these-positive-parenting-phrases-to-avoid-conflict-1846972139] got us talking about how positive parenting is one of those "sounds great in theory" ideas that is not exactly easy to implement in the real world, with real kids and real parents.

Is there a product you took for granted that you can't find anymore? Nicole's searching for a remove-dog-hair-from-upholstery item, and Terri is ordering off-brand zinc oxide from Amazon, all because stores do not seem to be stocking our faves.

It's no surprise that our kids' experiences are a lot less free-range than our own were. But we did find at least one common thread.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri suggests you check out Breaking Bobby Bones [https://nationalgeographicpartners.com/2021/02/breaking-bobby-bones/], debuting on the National Geographic channel on May 31 and airing on Sunday evenings this summer. Nicole's enjoying her (probably cheugy) favorite Starbucks treat, the Pink Drink [https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2122275/iced?parent=%2Fdrinks%2Fcold-drinks%2Fstarbucks-refreshers]. And Catherine's cruising way past cheugy to great-grandpa style with her Claeys hard candies [https://www.claeyscandy.com/index.html], root beer flavor, please.

Inspired by a conversation on the Bobby Bones Show podcast [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/139-bobby-bones-show-25100459/], we ask: What secret handshake, password, or only-they-would-know identifiers does your family use just in case someone gets replaced by a cyborg and you need to expose the impostor?

We wade into, and complain about, the debate over who, or what, is "cheugy" [https://www.cnet.com/how-to/what-does-the-word-cheugy-mean-and-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-a-cheug-a-guide/]. We like Instagram and Ugg boots but could care less about chevrons, decorative wooden signs, and Harry Potter merch (in fact one of us actively can't stand Harry Potter), so we might be safe!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we watched the second half of Girls5Eva (episodes 5-8), which was just as silly as part 1. If you haven't checked out this joke machine yet, do yourself a favor and cue it up.

We also took a sidelong glance at Neptune, California, with three episodes of the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com]: Season 4 Pitches, The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, and Mr. Kiss and Tell. What we learned: It's nice when someone else watches or reads for you and just gives you a nice tidy summary! Mentioned: The Veronica-in-the-FBI pitch that thankfully failed to win over TV execs [https://youtu.be/2_JzzR-zP0w].

Next: In spite of ourselves, we're jumping in to season 4 with episode 1, "Spring Break Forever," and the accompanying VMI podcast episode. We'll also watch the multiple Academy Award-winning movie Nomadland.

We are definitely not judging the kinds of families who pose for beautiful professional photos or make t-shirt quilts or go all out to support their kids' sports teams or always take a fun family vacation. We just are not those kinds of families.

With some school districts considering ditching the valedictorian designation due to out-of-control competitiveness, we propose some other efforts we'd like to see honored.

We name the tunes that put little ones to sleep, perk up a road trip—check out Terri's creative strategy!—and, of course, annoy our kids profoundly.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends a graphic-novel style illustrated memoir called The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui. Nicole's trying a new treat, SmartSweets' low-carb, low-sugar gummy candies. And Terri suggests you follow The Dodo on social media for heartwarming animal videos (plus she predicts one they'll definitely post in the near future).

We have a love/hate relationship with the parent portal, that online peek into our kids' school. Some of us want more information (a lot more) and some of us want to live in blissful ignorance.

This week we are visiting the Minor Annoyances Division of the Complaint Department, with stops at old favorites like bad customer service, weird website designs, and actual insects. Mentioned: screamintothevoid.com. And an update: The pink "like" button on Facebook was a temporary change in honor of Mother's Day. These three mothers give that an eyeroll emoji.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we said goodbye to Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, season 2, with (almost) everyone in a pretty happy place. Since season 3 isn't a done deal yet, we can live with that.

And to take away the sting of losing Zoey's song-and-dance numbers, we watched the first four episodes of Girls5Eva, a new original series on Peacock that is incredibly silly and a lot of fun. Next week, we'll watch the remaining four episodes. We'll also tiptoe back toward Neptune, California, with three episodes of the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast: Season 4 Pitches, The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, and Mr. Kiss and Tell.

We step back and take a look at what we admire about our kids, including their humor, resilience, and loyalty. We'd be proud of them even if it wasn't part of our job description.

Having talked about things growing indoors last week [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/speed-round-sunday-do-you-have-houseplants], we move to the wild outdoors to see if Catherine and Terri can at least make things grow in the yard and if Nicole can rise above her houseplant trauma and join the scorpions and tarantulas for some gardening.

Is it ever okay for parents to luxuriate in first class while their kiddos are back in the cheap seats with strangers [https://www.popsugar.com/moms/Kirstie-Allsopp-Flies-Business-Class-Kids-Coach-44903071]? We make the judgment call. (This conversation was recorded pre-pandemic.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole has found the softest, fuzziest warm blanket [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X7YTV84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Terri's doing some post-Mother's Day shopping for herself at The Shop Forward [https://theshopforward.com/collections/cool-mom], and Catherine's experimenting with newfound curly hair using Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion [https://marcanthony.com/products/strictly-curls-curl-defining-lotion].

You can get a themed collection of just about anything delivered to you on a regular basis these days. But so far we haven't found boxes especially for old people, hungry expat Canadians, or podcasters. Get on that, marketers. Mentioned: Sips By teas [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-panasonic-cordless-phone-system-shark-apex-vacuum-and-sips-by] and Cost Plus World Market [https://www.worldmarket.com/].

Terri's son's employer offers some useful benefits to part-timers. As this mom gig we have means way more than full-time hours, we'd like to see some better benefits in our contracts too.

On Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, we got the back story on Zoey and Mo, Zoey and Max, Zoey and SprqPoint, and even David and Emily. And most delightfully, we got Peter Gallagher, since the episode was mostly flashback. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Goodbye."

From San Francisco, we headed south to Neptune for the fan-funded 2014 movie Veronica Mars. While it was fun to see the gang get back together, we didn't appreciate where it left Weevil, or the fact that beloved dad Keith had little to do.

Next: We'll take a break from Neptune and check out Girls5Eva, the new series on Peacock with a cast that makes us optimistic (and a trailer that... doesn't).

Last week, we bragged about all the nice things we do for our kids [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/the-nice-things-we-do]. Today, we check in to see if they ever return the favor (even when it's not Mother's Day).

Catherine and Terri both have black thumbs, but Nicole ... ah, Nicole used to be a houseplant person. Listen to her sad, sad plant story. (Mentioned: her "Coming to America" miniseries, https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923107.)

Our discussion of this article on parenting styles [https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/05/28/614386847/what-kind-of-parent-are-you-carpenter-or-gardener] devolved into a plan for Terri and Nicole to build a trellis and Catherine to buy it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine urges you to read about Prancer the chihuahua [https://www.npr.org/2021/04/27/991376581/prancer-the-haunted-victorian-child-dog-from-viral-ad-has-been-adopted], the "chucky doll in a dog's body" who was recently adopted (and now has an Instagram account [https://www.instagram.com/prancerthechihuahua/] too). NIcole's savoring a sweet treat: Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa (https://www.sanpellegrinofruitbeverages.com/us/beverages/fruit/aranciata-rossa; water flavored with blood oranges). Terri recommends following Kami Cotler, the actor who played the youngest daughter on The Waltons, for a nice dollop of nostalgia in your Facebook feed [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044073624038].

Our moms have taken their lumps on this podcast a time or two, so today we share some of the things we appreciate about them and what they've done for us. It's our Mother's Day gift. Mentioned: StoryWorth on Roundabout Roundup [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-bedsure-bedding-storyworth-and-no-stupid-questions].

Catherine complains about trying, and failing, to help her kid with schoolwork. Terri and Nicole offer a ton of helpful suggestions--most of which have already, well, been tried and failed. But they might help someone else! Mentioned: Our discussion on motivating kids to learn from last fall [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/motivating-online-learners].

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist returned after a short vacation and proceeded to meddle in and muddle up everyone's love life, including her own. Can't a heroine be happy once in awhile? Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Session."

On Veronica Mars, at long last, we came to the finale of season 3, "The Bitch Is Back." While not one but two plot points were recycled (sex tapes! Secret societies), we did enjoy seeing Veronica up to her old tricks, smoking out bad guys and exacting revenge. Next: we'll watch Veronica Mars the movie and listen to the two Veronica Mars Investigations podcast episodes about it.

We list some of the favors and gestures we offer our kids just to be nice. Of course, "nice" is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.

We long for the return of The Brady Bunch, thirtysomething, and Trading Spaces. (And also kind of butcher the Brady Bunch theme song.)

With six teens and young adults among us, there is a lot of disappearing into bedrooms. The challenge: Striking a balance between privacy and family time.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: If your Instagram feed is baby-deficient, Terri has the solution: Follow Dancing with the Stars pros Lindsay Arnold [https://www.instagram.com/lindsarnold/] and Witney Carson [https://www.instagram.com/witneycarson/]. Nicole is enjoying her new Apple Watch [https://www.apple.com/watch/] (even if it does nag her to exercise). Catherine's Cards with a Cause collection [http://cardsforacausefundraisers.com/], purchased via a fundraiser, has come in very handy.

After reading this New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/well/family/parents-kids-learn-new-skills.html] about parents and kids taking classes and learning new skills together, we obsessed about what we might try to master alongside our offspring. Nicole is hoping someone offers a course on concert-going.

A New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/parenting/women-gender-gap-domestic-work.html] about the cognitive labor that moms do (like anticipating problems and worrying about them until they're done) had us nodding vigorously in agreement. Mentioned: Research on the topic by Allison Daminger [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0003122419859007].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was off, so we took on two episodes of Veronica Mars, season 3: "I Know What You'll Do This Summer" and "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down." Veronica solves two cases-of-the-week and we also hit the plot point Terri's been dreading: A sex tape starring Veronica and ... Piz?!

Next week: We close out season 3 with "The Bitch Is Back," and the accompanying episodes of the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast (for this episode, and the whole season); and we cleanse our palate with "Zoey's Extraordinary Double Date."

Jumping off an article on Grown and Flown, we talk about how we were grandparented, how our kids were, and how our kids' kids will be when it's our turn. You'll hear about it on our spin-off podcast!

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. This week: With Terri's bathroom finally finished (yay!), she's thinking of which disaster in her home will move to the front of the line. Catherine and Nicole don't have to think very hard to imagine their next project either. The joys of home ownership.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This time, we tried to rant about our kids, but it didn't really work out. We reserve the right to try again at any time.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole is keeping an eye on the sky with the Storm Radar app [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storm-radar-weather-tracker/id1216396545], while Catherine suggests My Mochi [https://www.mymochi.com/] for a bite-sized ice-cream treat. And our resident Swiftie, Terri, is happy to be listening to "Fearless (Taylor's Version) [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLINj2JJM1jxNeeZ9lih8SNd_NJEkA22u0]."

We continue to obsess about the pandemic and its effects on kids. Today, we appreciate this New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/11/health/pandemic-middle-school-mental-health.html] that encourages parents to praise teens for being so flexible and resilient for the past 13 months.

Prompted by a discussion on the Bobby Bones Show [https://bobbybones.iheart.com/], we ask whether our kids have a right to privacy. If you know they have a diary, are you going to bust into that bad boy with a paper clip?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey's powers weighed heavily on her as she tried to help her sister-in-law, Emily, with a serious problem--while her mom was out on the town with Bernadette Peters.

In Neptune, it was another case-of-the-week, but it involved a fading rock star played by Paul Rudd, so we'll take it. And we think Keith should let Vinnie Van Lowe have the sheriff's job if he really wants it. Next week, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is off, so we'll watch the next two episodes of Veronica Mars ("I Know What You'll Do Next Summer" and "Weevils Wobble But They Don't Go Down") along with the accompanying episode of the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast, "I Know Weevil's Wobble Tapes."

We dream about all we could accomplish if we had an elite team of military forces at our disposal (and maybe pat ourselves on the back for taking on some impossible missions on our own).

If you think we're the kind of people who keep our digital storage neat and trim, you've forgotten that Nicole's phone has nine screens of apps.

Who are you calling over-indulgent? It's time for another discussion of "a parenting article [http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180423/parenting-surprising-ways-we-overindulge-our-kids] that made Terri go 'hmph!'" Say it with us: "Every child is different. Every family is different." Mentioned: Our speed round with author Katherine Reynolds Lewis [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922433].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's keeping her ears warm with the Crimson beanie from Origin [https://originmaine.com/durable-goods/crimson-beanie/], while Nicole is outfitting her daughter in professional attire from Banana Republic Factory [https://bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com/]. And Catherine's focused on makeup, via the competition reality show Glow Up [https://www.netflix.com/title/81075536].

On today's Round 4, we obsess about movie moms: Who do we identify with and admire? Who has that mom mojo that we'd like a little of? Mentioned: ET, the Harry Potter series, Almost Famous, and the Bad Moms series.

From a cold shower to calling the cable company, we complain about those frustrations that turn an ordinary day into a very annoying one.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, both of our protagonists are solving mysteries as Zoey's powers glitch and Veronica takes on a case of the week. Neither episode seemed to have much point, but at least we get the song-and-dance numbers in Zoey. Next week: "Zoey's Extraordinary Girls' Night" (S2E10) and on Veronica Mars, "Debasement Tapes" (S3E17).

It's our version of the old TLC show "A Baby Story"! Your three podcasters have three very different birth and adoption stories, each with their challenges--but all with a happy ending. Listen for our tales of hives; hyperemesis; planes, trains, and automobiles; and Johnny Depp.

We give a shout-out to all that need-to-do stuff waiting on us, and then stuff it back in our purses and inboxes for a little while longer.

We react, with predictable skepticism, to a preschool that won't let kids use the term "best friend." Plus, how social media is actually good for kids' friendships.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine is enjoying the latest Starbucks iced tea [https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2123226/iced?parent=%2Fdrinks%2Ficed-teas%2Ficed-black-teas] along with the current Earth Month game (https://www.starbucksearthmonthgame.com/, designed to promote plant-based drinks). Nicole is indulging her online shopping habit by following Buzzfeed Shopping on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/buzzfeedshopping/]. And Terri has a new bracelet with a message of encouragement [https://www.instagram.com/kelleyscdjewelry/].

This Buzzfeed article reminisced about things "kids today will never know" from the point of view of millennials [https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/funny-kids-today-will-never-know-tweets]. We see your "DVD menu on repeat" and raise you "staticky TV because the channel went off the air at midnight" and more old-timey stuff our kids don't get.

When the Huffington Post told us there were four things to do to avoid raising entitled kids [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-things-parents-do-that-inadvertently-raise-entitled-kids_l_606208a1c5b67593e05b000b?fbclid=IwAR3qq2kDOi_IgpD8GdV5GI8DEQwkxeH3xzifMloy3c2arAnIcuRBfvRx-BE], we had to push back (as is our way). What does entitlement really mean, anyway?

On Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist this week, Zoey turned 30 and chose among the three attractive men fighting for her affections. Now will she stick with him, or will the pendulum swing yet again? Next week: "Zoey's Extraordinary Mystery."

Over on Veronica Mars, Veronica wrapped up the mystery of who killed Dean O'Dell. So now we're left wondering what she'll do for the rest of season 3. Next: "Un-American Grafitti."

It feels like everything has been on hold for over a year, but we found we have made some forward progress in categories such as TV Watched, Hours Worked, and Plants Nurtured.

Since we're past the stage of life for shows like The Bachelor and Big Brother, we broadened our choice to Food Network and HGTV shows, and allowed ourselves to imagine we're foreign travelers and stars.

We reflect on our many years of kid-performance experiences, from marching band to dance to water polo.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's dog, and her carpets, are benefiting from Glandex Anal Gland Soft Chew Treats [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L2K1R76/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Terri surprised herself by enjoying the EconTalk podcast [https://www.econtalk.org/], and Catherine is buying cute gifts from Redbubble [https://www.redbubble.com/[.

While we're not there yet, eventually there will be a post-Covid reality. But how do you help kids get back to normal when there is no normal anymore? Mentioned: "What is scaffold parenting? It could be the key to help kids adjust to post-pandemic life" by Harold Koplewicz [https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/02/18/covid-19-return-normal-may-mean-scaffolding-parenting-help-kids/6781737002/].

A blog post titled "5 of Our Parenting Choices People Have an Opinion About" got us ranting about why everyone insists on caring about how other families raise their kids. We judge those who would judge others.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is back, and so is its general focus on White People Problems. But we're still rooting for Zoey and the gang (especially for the new love interests for Max and Mo). Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Birthday."

On Veronica Mars, the coach's murder turns out to be merely a case-of-the-week that lasted two weeks. But the bodies keep piling up: Mindy O'Dell's ex, Steve, is dead by the end of the episode, and so is ... Sheriff Lamb! Next: "Papa's Cabin."

When we read "Doctors debunk 16 myths about raising kids" [https://www.businessinsider.com/experts-debunk-16-myths-about-parenting-younger-children-toddlers-2020-3], we had to jump in and debunk some of the debunking. After all, our mantra is "every family is different, every child is different" and sometimes that means those myths ring a little bit true.

Terri's trip to the Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly Expo (now called the Nourished Festival [https://nourishedfestival.com/about-us]) got us thinking about all the different allergy-accommodating foods available today and whether we really have to have that restriction to enjoy them.

How does your family manage during power outages? Do you happily play board games by candlelight, or sit in corners clinging to your dead iPhones?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's beautifying her hair with Majestic Pure's avocado and coconut hair mask [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y29JGSK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Nicole is loving her new Eufy robot vacuum [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R295MLS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and Terri is adding variety to her daily tea menu with Celestial Seasonings' fruit tea sampler [https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-Herbal-Fruit-Sampler/dp/B000E63LME/ref=pd_ybh_a_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NMVC6MZKK4Q3FQNM0X3V].

We obsess about Reviews.org's offer of cash in exchange for a digital detox (https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/20/us/stay-away-from-screens-challenge-trnd/index.html; no phones, TVs, computers, video games, smart devices). We think $2,400 is a pretty nice sum for a 24-hour-long nap.

On this week's Round 3, we complain about the possibility of Instagram for Kids. This seems like a good idea for absolutely no one (except marketers looking to sell stuff to pre-teens).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Veronica Mars season 3 adds another murder into the mix. But what we really care about is the buddy comedy "Logan and Heather." We also listened to the Veronica Mars Investigations episode "There's Gotta Be a Poughkeepsie Mortem," which pointed out the Dick and Madison ret-conning that's happening this season. Next: Veronica Mars season 3 episodes 14 and 15, "Mars, Bars" and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is back with season 2 episode 7, "Zoey's Extraordinary Memory." We got this wrong in the episode, but plan to watch Zoey instead of a second episode of Veronica so we can discuss both shows on our March 30 episode.

An article listing "14 Signs You're a Good Mom" [https://www.scarymommy.com/messy-mom-good-mom/] got us talking about all those dead giveaways that a child lives in your house: toys in the bathtub, random detritus in all kinds of odd places, and so on. We agree with the author's conclusion that these are all signs that a mom has her priorities (if not her stuff) in the right place.

Snacks for the road! Two of us advocate for every kind of junk food, diets be darned, while one will allow for apples. We're leaving her at the side of the road.

A viral post about not sharing [https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/everything-kids/moms-viral-message-my-child-is-not-required-to-share-with/] got us talking about the tricky business of sharing vs. having boundaries.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Ever the early adopter, Terri has joined Clubhouse [https://www.joinclubhouse.com/] and is enjoying the conversations there. Nicole surprised herself by liking Glutino gluten-free yogurt-covered pretzels [https://www.glutino.com/pretzels-and-crackers/pretzels/yogurt-covered-pretzels]. And Catherine's found another quarantine watch: Call the Midwife (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1983079/; available on Netflix).

We respond to a tweet that asked, "Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?" by lamenting the awkwardness of being early, even for virtual appointments.

Why is it that moms are always in charge of saying no, except to adding more work to our plates? We complain about the challenges of knowing when (and when not) to say no. Mentioned: The new Netflix movie Yes Day [https://www.netflix.com/title/81011712] and Shonda Rhimes's book Year of Yes [https://www.amazon.com/Year-Yes-Dance-Stand-Person/dp/1476777128].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Logan-Veronica roller coaster is in full effect. Having gotten back together at the end of episode 10, they break up again by episode 12, and we're sure that's not the end of it. Meanwhile, Veronica and Keith continue to be ... kinda dumb this season. What gives? Next: Episode 13, "Postgame Mortem," and the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast episode "There's Gotta Be a Poughkeepsie Mortem."

An article titled "18 Things I Wish I Knew When I Turned 18" [https://www.scarymommy.com/18-things-wish-known-turned-18/] prompted us to wonder if 18-year-olds can absorb any sage advice from their elders. We don't think we could have, and our kids aren't too interested either.

Is it weird to eat hamburgers on a random Wednesday instead of at a cookout? Do you ever put a turkey with the trimmings on the table outside of Thanksgiving? We chat about the way certain foods get attached to certain times.

Inspired by the movie A Quiet Place [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6644200/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6], we pitch our scariest parenting-themed horror movie ideas, featuring crying babies, IEP meetings, and more.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's cat is sitting pretty in a window perch hammock (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BR5MKMS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1; can we get a human-sized version, please?), and Catherine has two very low-maintenance pets: her pair of hedgehog dryer balls [https://www.worldmarket.com/product/hedgehog-dryer-balls-2-pack.do]. Terri is enjoying not just crosswords, but crossword reviews and discussion at the Crossword Fiend blog [https://crosswordfiend.com/].

Is warning your kids that someone might be mean to them in response to their actions just as bad as being mean to them yourself? We struggle with when to step in and when to zip our lips.

A Facebook post from Rookie Moms [https://www.facebook.com/rookiemoms/posts/264427161907372] prompted us to muse about eliminating one thing we do each day in our homes so that we'd never have to do it again. Mentioned: Taskrabbit, which we're now dreaming of using to take care of these annoying jobs [https://www.taskrabbit.com/].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Veronica Mars season 3, episode 10, was a nice, soothing, case-of-the-week plot. There was little else going on--except that the overall story arc is now "Who killed the dean?" instead of "Who is the rapist?" which we very much prefer. Mentioned: Veronica Mars Investigations, "Lord of the Spit Monkey" [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/vmi/3-080910].

After nearly a year of coexisting with Covid, we take a look at what's changed (for better and worse) and what hasn't. We're still podcasting, for one thing!

Why do Facebook Messenger, Fitbit, and autocorrect hate us so? What did we ever do to them?

With all these grown-up, independent kids, we should be doing great at exercising, scheduling medical appointments, and other important tasks. Just guess how that's going!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri suggests livening up your lockdown life by giving your electronic devices names. Nicole's feet are happy in her BZees Lollipop sneakers [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079S4X2P3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and Catherine's fascinated by Ink Master on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/70309571].

After reading an article called "The 5 Best Parenting Decisions I've Made so Far" [https://www.scarymommy.com/5-best-parenting-decisions/], we wondered if we could come up with any decisions that we're happy with in hindsight. While we didn't tally up 5 each, we do have some smart moves in our parenting pasts.

Having kids means your every move has potential to embarrass, annoy, or aggravate most of the members of your family.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, two episodes of Veronica Mars. We're not sure we'd call this season entertaining, exactly, but episode 9, "Spit and Eggs," had about three episodes' worth of plot. Some mysteries were solved, and some new ones emerged. Next: "Show Me the Monkey."

"Homemaker" seems to be the IRS-official job title for what parents do, but we find it entirely inaccurate and insufficient. Can we get credit for some of the many jobs parenting entails, like tutor, therapist, and travel agent?

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. This one comes from a time when potlucks (and gatherings of any kind) were a thing.

Finding something that everyone will enjoy and won't sit idly growing cold in the back corner of the table? It's stressful!

First, we have to figure out what values we value most; and then we have to try to teach them to our kids.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine recommends Uniqlo's HeatTech layers if you're always cold [https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women/heattech]. Nicole's virtually visiting her home province of British Columbia with HelloBC on Instagram p[https://www.instagram.com/hellobc/]. And Terri's always here for new Taylor Swift content--right now, re-releases of her back catalog, including "Love Story" (check out the adorable video featuring very excited fans [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzVF3XeS8M]).

In a careful, knock-on-wood way, we are starting to think about post-pandemic plans, from big things (traveling and having kids back in a traditional school environment) to little ones (petting other people's dogs and going to the movies). What are you looking forward to?

Inspired by a New Yorker article [https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/one-star-reviews-of-early-parenthood-milestones], we give poor reviews to several parenting experiences we do not care to repeat, from dance recitals to having a high school senior during a pandemic.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is still on hiatus, so we watched season 3, episode 7 of Veronica Mars. This one finds Veronica in extreme peril not once but twice, but first Vinnie and then Logan save the day. We also listened to the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast episode "President Infidelity of Vice and Men," covering three TV episodes.

... who is also trying to work from home. During a global pandemic. We share the behind-the-scenes videos we'd film to tell you we're parenting teens and adults without telling you (à la the current TikTok trend [https://www.workingmother.com/tell-me-youre-a-working-mom-video]).

We do some quick takes on pies vs. cakes. Also cookies vs. brownies, hard ice cream vs. soft, and fruit vs. chocolate.

We discuss the anger styles of our kids, our spouses, and ourselves, and how they all mix together into a nice toxic soup.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole is healing aches and pains with Tiger Balm [https://www.tigerbalm.com/], while Terri is helping shelter dogs with her purchases of Grounds and Hounds Coffee [https://groundsandhoundscoffee.com/]. Catherine has an Etsy pick for Schitt's Creek fans [https://www.etsy.com/listing/919217621/rose-apothecary-heathered-slouchy-boho].

After reading an article reporting on scientific research about how alike mothers and daughters are [https://www.scarymommy.com/turn-into-our-mothers/], we confess how much--or how little--we resemble our moms.

The New York Times set up a primal scream hotline for moms [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/18/parenting/primal-scream.html]. Or you can visit https://screamintothevoid.com/ to type away your frustrations. But with family members around alllll the time, what we really need is a soundproof room to scream, vent, cry, or throw a personal, private tantrum. Mentioned: Our episode on she sheds [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/she-shed-dreams].

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist takes on racism in the workplace in a thoughtful, well-done episode. Next: The show will be on hiatus until March 28.

In Neptune, Veronica faces (false) accusations of cheating and Keith succumbs to the temptation of a relationship with his married former client, Harmony. And of course, the rapist is still at large. Next: Season 3, episode 7, "Of Vice and Men," and the Veronica Mars Investigations discussion of episodes 5, 6, and 7.

We take a cue from writer Emma Beddington at the Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/09/almost-a-year-working-from-home-time-for-my-family-performance-review] and provide performance reviews for our households, including family members and other important employees (like the dishwasher and the Internet service).

Do you live uptown? Downtown? On the wrong side of the tracks? In the suburbs? We put ourselves on the map.

Surprise: We've found that helping our kids through painful setbacks is, well, painful.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine recommends the new podcast Listen to Sassy [https://listentosassy.com/], while Nicole is enjoying an established one: SmartLess with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett [https://smartless.simplecast.com/]. Terri suggests checking out the latest iteration of the Opera browser [https://www.opera.com/].

When our own problems seem overwhelming, it's very tempting to want to swap them for someone else's. But our advice in this situation is to be careful what you wish for.

With a return to normalcy on the horizon (right? maybe?), we wonder about some of the skills and habits that have atrophied over these many months of lockdown. Are they gone forever?

On Zoey, it turns out that Zoey's extraordinary trip does not mean that Zoey took Terri's advice to go on vacation. Nope, she goes on a drug trip with her neighbor Aidan and her CEO, Danny Michael Davis. This was not what we had in mind. Mentioned: Broadway actor Chip Zien. Yes, he can still sing! Next up, "Zoey's Extraordinary Reckoning."

On Veronica, we got a welcome return to the season-one style "case of the week" episode. We didn't appreciate Veronica being so quick to sell Weevil out, however. Next: "Hi, Infidelity."

What happens when parents and kids experience a culture clash? Is it tougher to provide support when your child is very different from you, or is having a very different growing-up experience than you did? As with all things, we say yes--and no. Mentioned: Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon [http://www.farfromthetree.com/].

We scour the addresses, phone numbers, and birthdates of our lives to discover digits that seem to be following us around.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." But will you be able to find it when you want to see it?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri wants you to know that you can save your eyes with a zoom-in feature on Mac [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210978]. Nicole's loving Kodiak Cakes's whole-grain muffin mixes [https://kodiakcakes.com/collections/baking-mixes#tag-filter=product-category=baking-mixes]. And Catherine recommends the French heist series Lupin on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/80994082].

After a sanctimonious New York Times article on kids' screen time during the pandemic [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/health/covid-kids-tech-use.html], Indi Savarajiva countered with "Screen Time Cannot Be Worse Than My Dumb and Dangerous Childhood" on Medium [https://indica.medium.com/screen-time-cannot-be-worse-than-my-dumb-and-dangerous-childhood-717c2326516f]. This prompted us to look back at our childhood and adolescent exploits. Let's just say that one of us had plenty of excitement to share.

In a follow-up to our episode on whether we're morning people (spoiler: Nope), we discuss the best, and worst, times of day we experience as parents.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey's "extraordinary" employee turns out to be unextraordinarily fired. And because two love interests for Zoey were not enough, we now have a third on the scene. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Trip."

On Veronica Mars, we continue to recommend that everyone take a trip far, far away from Neptune and Hearst College. If the season-long mystery is "Who is the rapist?", we're not sure we can handle it. Next: "President Evil."

Nicole's results from AncestryDNA were a little unexpected, and gave her some new bragging rights in her family. Catherine's, from another purveyor, were too vague to be of interest. And Terri's staying far, far away; she's not even interested in her past or future dogs' DNA results, let alone her own.

It's not just us, right? Wearing shirts so worn through that it looks like they've been in a knife fight is some kind of guy thing?

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This one harks back to a time when children went to school somewhere other than their own homes, and lockdowns lasted for minutes or hours--not months.

What happens at school when there's a real lockdown or a fake earthquake? Nothing good—but we don't have any better ideas, either.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Following up on yesterday's episode on pandemic clothing, Nicole recommends a pair of comfy pants from Target [https://www.target.com/p/women-s-stretch-woven-cargo-pants-all-in-motion/-/A-79599718], and Terri has a new sweatshirt from The Shop Forward [https://www.theshopforward.com/collections/all/products/4-things-im-fine-pullover-black]. Catherine finally watched Pixar's latest, Soul, on Disney+ and gives it two thumbs up [https://movies.disney.com/soul].

From door pants [https://www.instagram.com/p/CKVr_U8B5qu/] to Zoom shirts [https://www.today.com/style/what-are-zoom-shirts-why-are-they-so-popular-t185763] to pajamas that go from bed to desk to treadmill and back again: How are you dressing during the pandemic, and do you think you'll change once things go back to "normal"?

Not every product needs to come with an extra, like a chart to keep track of your face masks [https://www.parenting.com/child/gear/crayola-kids-face-masks/], or be called a "system." Slow your roll and just let us live, please. Mentioned: Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her coordinating masks [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8527209/Queen-Mathilde-King-Philippe-Belgium-coordinate-masks-outfits.html].

It's boyfriend troubles for both our heroines this week. Zoey's dreams are really nightmares, and poor Max can't seem to do anything to help her. Next week: "Zoey's Extraordinary Employee."

On Veronica Mars, Logan and Veronica are dancing around their significant trust, jealousy, and trauma issues. Sounds like a recipe for romance! Next: "Charlie Don't Surf."

An article on peer support for mental health [https://www.verywellfamily.com/peer-support-programs-for-mental-health-5096446] got us talking. Is this wise, or even practical? We're all for more mental health help, but all we see here are downsides.

Nicole's got us all beat as we count up the houses, apartments, dorms, and other domiciles we've occupied in our lives.

Stop the madness: When seventh-graders are taking SAT prep classes, that's a bad sign.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's enjoying the Too Long, Didn't Watch podcast [https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/too-long-didnt-watch-sepinwall-podcast-premiere-1110945/] with Alan Sepinwall (and a series of celebrity guests). Nicole follows up last week's NordicTrack bike recommendation with a replacement seat [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MX33HXT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1] that's saving her butt, and Catherine wants you to smell like a (clean) baby butt with A&D ointment for dry, cracked skin [https://www.adskinhealth.com/ad-products/ad-original-ointment]. Also mentioned: The Poscast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-poscast-with-joe-posnanski-michael-schur/id757346885].

While none of us are the primary chefs in our homes, we still have strong opinions about what kitchen gear is essential and what just takes up too much space. Mentioned: The Huffington Post's list of useful purchases for every household [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/useful-cyber-monday-deals-2020_l_5faec67ec5b68baab0fbe473]; Nicole's fancy trash can [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXULPTQ/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_api_glc_fabc_XJYaGbE3H8EG4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR1PZo8SlKciu_MI9VG5H0N0pnR-mfLO4AZCW73chObOXar5jE1Rm5MNb0o]; and reusable bowl covers, aka shower caps [https://www.amazon.com/Brite-Concepts-Reusable-Covers-2-pack/dp/B01NCATVPF].

Some are morning people, some are night owls, and some do their best work in the middle of the night. We think it's too bad that the early birds run the world. Mentioned: The Start School Later campaign [https://www.startschoollater.net/].

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, both our current watches have us worried about how the season will go. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist seems to be floating away without the weight of Zoey's father's terminal illness. If it's going to be fun and fluffy, it needs to be shorter--and more fun and fluffy. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Dreams."

On Veronica Mars, if the season-long mystery is "Who is the Hearst College rapist?", we're not sure we can stick around. We'd rather go back to the charismatically evil Aaron Echolls, who was so central to the two previous seasons. Next: "Wichita Linebacker."

As our kids get older, we have to look at milestones in new ways. What are we looking forward to with our adult and nearly adult children? Mentioned: Last week's family shout-outs [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/family-shout-outs]; a milestones discussion from 2016 [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923162].

Our case choices at the moment seem to be style over substance, but a big fat protective case can't fit in your pocket.

We go beyond dogshaming.com (Hey, that's Nicole's dog, Missy!) to put others on notice for their shameful behavior.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine discovered the new-to-her suite of Jackbox Games [https://www.jackboxgames.com/]. Nicole invested in a Nordic-Track exercise bike [https://www.nordictrack.com/exercise-bikes/s22i-studio-bike], which she is using to cycle down memory lane. And Terri is virtuously listening to The Bible in a Year, in podcast form [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bible-in-a-year-with-fr-mike-schmitz/id1539568321].

As our kids need less hands-on attention, we speculate about how we should adapt our work life. Should we lean in to more responsibility, or check out? Mentioned: A behind-the-scenes look at the Bridgerton costumes [https://fb.watch/2VRFRZoBRD/].

When it comes to parenting, judge not, lest ye be complained about on a podcast. An article ostensibly about being a strict parent, but really about scolding others for not being strict enough [https://yourteenmag.com/family-life/discipline/am-i-the-only-one], drew our ire this week.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the return of two of our series watches: The new-right-now Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (season 2), and the throwing-it-back-to-2006 Veronica Mars (season 3). Zoey has lost her dad, although he still appears in videos recorded before his death; but she has not lost her power to hear "heart songs" from the people around her. Next week: "Zoey's Extraordinary Distraction."

On Veronica Mars, Veronica and most of her friends, frenemies, and enemies have returned, and the action has moved from Neptune High School to Hearst College. Everything is still dark and confusing but at least we get a glimpse of Backup the dog. Mentioned: Veronica Mars Investigations podcast [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/]. Next week: "My Big Fat Greek Rush Week," which we'll watch without listening to the accompanying podcast episode for now.

Given how often we complain about our husbands and kids here on the podcast, today we talked about some nice things they've done for us lately. Actually, our daughters got all the kudos this time around, so the boys are on notice for next time.

Checking out the Kickstarter for the super-duper Sandman Doppler clock radio [https://www.sandmanclocks.com/pages/doppler] got Terri wondering why ordinary clock radios are so @#$%@ inscrutable.

We turn to the one and only Ron Swanson (who inspired the phrase "child proximity associates") for a description of our current friendship life.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with @ZillowGoneWild for a dose of real estate humor [https://www.instagram.com/zillowgonewild/]. Terri has come up with an ingenious way to use the previously shouted-out coloring app Sandbox [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sandbox-coloring/id1237405816] in a new way. And Catherine traded in her ancient Fitbit Flex for a Fitbit Inspire 2, which is, in fact, pretty inspirational [https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/products/trackers/inspire2].

Like everyone else in the world, we are looking forward to 2021 being an improvement over 2020. Today we take a slightly cringy look back at our hopes for 2020, and come up with some new ones for 2021. Mentioned: Keep Your Positive Spin to Yourself [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/keep-your-positive-spin-to-yourself].

On Monday's episode, we made resolutions for ourselves. Today, we're pinning some goals on our husbands and kids. There are a few self-improvement steps most of them could take, in our opinion.

On this week's Round 2, we bridge the gap between the old year and the new with Bridgerton, a ballgown- and plot-packed adaptation of the first book in a series of Regency romances by Julia Quinn. There was eye candy of all kinds, including gravity-defying wigs, and we enjoyed it very much.

Happy 2021, and welcome to a new year of Parenting Roundabout podcasts. Today we cast a look back at the resolutions we made for 2020 (to which the universe replied, "HAHAHAHA"), and dare to make some new ones for 2021.

A recent chat about losing things loaned leads us to today's discussion of actual deliberate theft. And mugging!

We reflect on 200 podcast episodes: My, how we've changed, and grown, and spent a whoooole lot of time talking.

We recall New Year's Eve (and New Year's Day) traditions and memories, like narrowly avoiding Y2K disaster and giving Times Square a wide berth. How do you celebrate?

When you receive holiday greeting cards, do you decorate with them? Make crafts with them? Let them collect in a pile on the table and leave them there until March?

Today's question: What is your favorite holiday candy? Or are you quite happy with everyday, year-round treats dressed up in holiday wrapping? (If this speed round makes you hungry, here is a recipe for peppermint bark [https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/almost-famous-peppermint-bark-recipe-2120609] so you don't have to buy it from Williams-Sonoma.)

Today's question is "How many of these holiday movies [https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/rotten-tomatoes-top-christmas-movies] have you seen?" (With a secondary question of "Is that a holiday movie, really?")

Happy holidays! This week, we're bringing you a seasonal speed round from our past each day. We'll be back with a brand-new episode on January 4.

When it comes to holiday foods and treats, Terri and Catherine are very much aligned. They'll take everything Nicole doesn't want, except possibly mince pie.

On Speed-Round Sunday, we share a mini episode from our past for your weekend listening pleasure. Today's question: Do you buy holiday gifts for your pets?

Family traditions rule this time of year, but sometimes they change with time and sometimes new members (or overzealous teachers) make for new rituals.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine suggests Bond-Touch bracelets as a sweet gift option for long-distance couples. Nicole's finding her Ring doorbell very handy, and Terri recommends Acoustic Heartstrings for all your soothing instrumental music needs.

If our family's experiences were turned into holiday movies, we'd get a little Home Alone, a little Hallmark hometown romance, and a little Krampus (look out!). Plus, we predict next year's Hallmark hit, Love at First Swab.

For our Round 3 this week, we look back at holiday traditions we kinda regret: The ones that we didn't continue, didn't start, or didn't nip in the bud when we should have. It's uplifting!

After five hours of fanfare last week, The Voice came to an end and crowned 15-year-old Carter Rubin the winner. We're disappointed for our favorite, John Holiday, but know he'll continue to do amazing things.

Baby Ballroom also wrapped up its second of two seasons, with another very extra party put on by Warren and his long-suffering minions (his daughters' dance partners, Thor and Kirill). We'll miss all these cute little ballroom babies, who we know are not so little anymore; look them up on Instagram, if you dare.

Next week, Round 2 will be on hiatus while we bring you some holiday-season speed rounds. We'll be back on January 5 to discuss Bridgerton, Shonda Rimes' period drama (dropping on Netflix on Christmas Day).

Merry Christmas week! We'll be talking about the holidays all week, and we're kicking it off with our most memorable family Christmases. Turns out they all have something in common.

We check in from California/Canada, New Jersey/California, and Wisconsin/New York to compare notes on the different way people talk about things like carbonated beverages, major driving thoroughfares, an Italian favorite, and coffee.

Our methods may not be conventional, but we discover we're kind of good at self-care, as long as it takes ten minutes or less. Mentioned: last week's "issues" episode [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/second-listen-saturday-weve-got-issues], Sandbox coloring app [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sandbox-coloring/id1237405816?mt=8], and "How to Treat Yourself Without Spending Money or Eating Junk" on Lifehacker [https://lifehacker.com/how-to-treat-yourself-without-spending-money-or-eating-1821073222].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri, our resident Swiftie, is loving Taylor Swift's latest album, "Evermore" [https://taylor.lnk.to/evermorealbumWE]. Nicole treated herself to a handbag from the Kate Spade outlet store [https://surprise.katespade.com/], and Catherine recommends Hint water if you like your beverages gently flavored [https://www.drinkhint.com/].

An article at Jezebel about she sheds [https://theattic.jezebel.com/a-she-shed-of-ones-own-1844832355] got us thinking about our ideal just-for-us spaces (and speculating about why we don't use the spaces we already have).

It's final exam season, so we lament our kids' current level of preparedness and recall our own. Some old habits die hard.

The Voice's top 5 performance show was very entertaining, with skilled performers and a good variety of music. We're glad we have a rooting interest in John Holiday--otherwise it would be very tough to decide where to direct our votes. Next: We'll discuss the winner (who will be revealed Tuesday, December 15) and our overall impressions of the show.

On Baby Ballroom, season 2 continues to bring us new people when we would really like to keep following the old people. Like what happened to the Mia of Jamie-and-Mia?! Next: Episodes 5, 6, and 7 of season 2 (the end).

After reading about a days-long pay-it-forward chain at a Dairy Queen drive-through in Minnesota [https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/us/pay-it-forward-dairy-queen-trnd/index.html], we talked about how we could pay it forward to other parents. We're ready to share diapers, wipes, musical instruments, sporting equipment—and of course, hard-earned advice.

Gone, but not forgotten: Books, photos, and a stuffed cheetah just seem to have wandered away.

It's a recurring feature on the podcast: DIY therapy. This week, making kids' issues and struggles our own. So bad! So inevitable!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole purchased a Netvue security camera to spy on her pets when she's away from home [https://www.netvue.com/product/orb-camera/]. Catherine was Instagram-influenced (by Sherry from Young House Love) to try Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover [https://www.folexcompany.com/carpet-spot-remover/]. Terri's enjoying the Wall Street Journal's crossword puzzles [https://www.wsj.com/news/puzzle]--and says you should read the comments.

This year more than ever, we have to shop online for Christmas gifts. One of us is almost done, one is just getting started, and one just wants to call the whole thing off. Mentioned: Stocking Stuffers in a Pandemic at Swistle.com [https://www.swistle.com/2020/12/01/stocking-stuffers-in-a-pandemic]; Cost Plus World Market [https://www.worldmarket.com/]; the Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture].

Usually on Wednesdays we complain, but today we're actually not complaining about the way Covid is causing so many holiday season events to be changed or cancelled. We're happy to skip out on mall Santas, office parties, and so much more. Mentioned: Online "Handel's Messiah" sing-along [https://www.facebook.com/events/655474472005163/].

On The Voice, the top 9 were revealed (last Tuesday) and performed (Monday night), and just like that, the finale is almost here! We're still rooting for John Holiday but there's not a single vocalist in this group that we'd vote against. Next: The finals.

On Baby Ballroom, season 2 brought some fresh new adorableness, but we miss the old adorableness. Please come back, Jack and Emily and Arjun and Isobel and Max and Olivia! Next: Season 2, episodes 3 and 4.

After watching the coverage of Daphne, the koala that climbed into a family's Christmas tree [https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/asia/koala-christmas-tree-australia-scli-intl/index.html], we talked about what our families might do (or have done!) to make the news. You never know when that car key collection or copy of the local newspaper might come in handy. Mentioned: Our exotic pets episode (https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/pet-parenting-exotic-animal-edition; Catherine changed her mind about koalas) and the #whynotsynchro campaign [https://twitter.com/search?q=%23whynotsynchro&src=typed_query&f=live].

Whether it's computers, sneakers, iced tea, ketchup chips, or coffee creamers, we're true to our faves.

Is there a way to help kids and young adults learn how to gracefully merge onto the conversation highway?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri enjoyed the Taylor Swift documentary, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions on Disney+ [https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/folklore-the-long-pond-studio-sessions/3Xlc0EjKtKpp]. Nicole treated herself to an iPad with the Apple Pencil [https://www.apple.com/ipad/], and is making good use of it. And Catherine circled back around to Disney with the crowd-sourced Ratatouille musical on TikTok. See a YouTube summary [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlUvIC0fOOM&t=8s] or read about it at Playbill [https://www.playbill.com/article/presenting-the-official-fake-ratatouille-playbill] (yes, the real Playbill).

We've said it before and we'll say it again: The pandemic has us craving alone time like never before. We'd like to work alone, travel alone, eat alone; it all sounds good! Mentioned: Eating Alone and Loving It at Jezebel [https://jezebel.com/eating-alone-and-loving-it-1845691130].

For this week's rant, we take issue with a Pandemic Pollyanna who can't just enjoy a good complaint--she has to give everything a brighter side [https://www.scarymommy.com/unwelcome-firsts-of-2020/]. Not us! Mentioned: Our April episode on pandemic silver linings (https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/the-slightly-brighter-side; true to form, we didn't find many).

On The Voice, we're jumping in to the season already in progress and trying to figure out what is going on. We know this much: We're rooting for Team Legend's John Holiday (watch his audition [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM5dJQXxdIY]; it's worth the 5 minutes!), and this show has a better handle on the virtual audience than Dancing With the Stars. Next: Top 17 Results (tonight, 12/1) and Top 9 Perform (Monday, 12/7).

On Baby Ballroom, the Zig Zag Dance Factory celebrates the end of season 1 with a nice, low-stakes, non-competitive party for all the kids, featuring lots of eye makeup and buff dudes in tiny shorts. Next: Season 2, episodes 1 and 2.

We talk about recent research showing that parents' screen-time nagging doesn't really reflect kids' tech use later in life [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118141726.htm]. We're ineffectual, so we don't need to bother! Yay!

We count up all our household computers — the living, the dead, the well-used, the idle, the laptops, the desktops, the iPads, and the ones that come into our lives for only a school year.

We have a checkered history when it comes to habit-forming. Does it count if we're good at creating the same good habits over and over again?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we share warm and wonderful entertainment in several genres. Catherine recommends Kevin Wilson's book Nothing to See Here [https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-See-Here-Kevin-Wilson/dp/0062913468]. Nicole is finally getting into the TV show Schitt's Creek [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/]. And Terri has one song to make you smile ("Made for You" by Jake Owen [https://youtu.be/-uvIf9cSegE]) and one to make you tear up ("Maggie's Song" by Chris Stapleton [https://youtu.be/sQ3J9YnXmUI]).

Today we're grateful for small wonders like mobile ordering, in-home room service, and next-day delivery. And of course, we are very thankful for you, our listeners. Happy Thanksgiving!

Not only is the pandemic throwing a wrench in our holiday plans, but our own kids are too. We seem to have gone from doing holidays our parents' way to doing them our kids' way--without a stop in between for our way.

On Dancing with the Stars, it's the season 29 finale! And, well, at least the show itself was fun? The results, however, were not to our liking. We plan on remembering them in reverse order henceforth, so that Justina Machado comes in first and Nelly second--and a Bachelorette doesn't win for the second season in a row.

The stakes are lower, but only a little, on Baby Ballroom. We enjoy watching the littlest dancers, because the pressure is ratcheting up on the older ones and it's stressing us out. Next: The last two episodes of season 1 (numbers 7 and 8).

Sometimes you just need to look at cute puppies or pandas. On today's Round 1, we talked about online self-care: Visiting digital destinations that soothe and/or amuse, instead of causing stress. Get all the links at parentingroundabout.com.

On lizards in shoes, lake flies, ticks, and that moment you realize the bug you thought you captured to take outside is now probably crawling on you somewhere. Eek!

Normal Rockwell, we ain't: We talk about the pressure — external and internal — to have a portrait-worthy holiday and our attempts to bring expectations down to snapshot size.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole recommends the Litter Genie for families with cats [https://www.amazon.com/Litter-Genie-Plus-Pail-Silver/dp/B007IRMTXE/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=litter+genie&qid=1605288269&sr=8-6]. Catherine recommends Silk Almondmilk Creamers for people who like a little boost of lower-calorie flavor in their coffee or tea [https://silk.com/plant-based-products/creamer/almondmilk/]. Terri reminds you, our listeners, that you can suggest topic ideas for us anytime on our contact page [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/contact.html]. Thank you!

Whether it's advancing age, lack of sleep, or just 2020, we find ourselves feeling very forgetful. We shared a few of our reminder hacks, but welcome more ideas, if you can remember to send them to us.

Following up on last week's complaints about Moxie, the robot that socializes your kid, we now rant about Keepa, the "social distance trainer" that teaches kids to stay six feet away from others [https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2020/11/12/enter-to-win-a-free-keepa-social-distancing-wristband-for-children-super-fun-way-to-teach-6-foot-social-distancing-to-kids/]. Not everything needs a high-tech solution; can we please just stick with tape on the floor and propeller hats?

On Dancing with the Stars, it was a finale-like semi-finals, with contemporary numbers and 10s raining down like confetti. Plus, a shocking elimination: Non-dancer Nelly made it to the finals while figure-skater Johnny Weir did not. Next week: The finale!

On Baby Ballroom, season 1 episodes 3 and 4, we learned that little kids will dance their hearts out for a very tiny trophy, and bigger kids will overcome their fears of revealing to their peers that they love to dance. Next: Season 1, episodes 5 and 6.

Meghan Leahy is a parenting coach after our own heart: She's all about finding what works for you and your kids and ignoring the rest. We discuss a chapter titled "The Invisible Work of Parenting" from her excellent book, Parenting Outside the Lines [https://www.mlparentcoach.com/book/], on giving yourself credit for everything you do--and don't do--to nurture your kids. Mentioned: The viral video of a dad and baby having a conversation (https://qz.com/1639907/the-viral-video-of-a-dad-talking-to-his-baby-demonstrates-a-crucial-parenting-skill/; Catherine apologizes for misgendering the baby).

After crossing U2 off her bucket list, Nicole's wondering who we're still waiting to see (in the faraway, Covid-free future).

Nicole went to Canada and came home to a painful teen breakup. She's not planning to leave home ever again.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends the Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show podcast [https://usaquizshow.com/], a spin-off of the TV podcast Extra Hot Great. Nicole is fascinated by Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep [https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316]. And Terri recommends Car and Truck Remotes for your legitimate and recreational car remote needs [https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/].

With gatherings and travel a no-go, we're brainstorming how else to observe Thanksgiving this year. Virtual Turkey Trot, anyone?

Today's rant is brought to you by Moxie [https://embodied.com/], a robot that promises to teach your child social-emotional skills, mindfulness, and creativity (for the low, low price of $1700). Just like the pet raccoons and tarantulas, we'll pass on having one of these nightmares in our home. Also mentioned: "Will All the Under-Socialized Babies Born in 2020 Be OK?" [https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/baby-development/will-all-the-under-socialized-babies-born-in-2020-be-ok/]

On Dancing With the Stars, Icons Night brought plenty of eyeliner and quite a few fun dances, along with a farewell to Backstreet Boy AJ McLean. Next: The semi-finals.

We're doubling up on dancing for a few weeks with the Netflix series Baby Ballroom, a look at the competitive world of British ballroom dancing. Come for the adorable moppets doing the cha-cha-cha; stay for the delightful British accents from one and all. Next: Season 1, episodes 3 and 4.

We often talk about our dogs, and Catherine's family briefly had custody of a hedgehog. But even though it might be legal to keep a kangaroo, a raccoon, or a tarantula as a pet, that's a "No" from us, dawg. Mentioned: The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, Australia, on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thekangaroosanctuary/].

A funny story from Ellie Kemper about what calmed her baby on a plane got us thinking about unusual things that comforted our little ones.

We wade into the treacherous waters of kids and lying: What are the best ways to react, and to teach them about honesty? (Surprise: There are no easy answers.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri invites brides- and grooms-to-be to check out Wedding Dance School, from Dancing with the Stars pros Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach [https://weddingdance.school/]. Nicole likes keeping her clothes smelling fancy with Downy Unstopables [https://downy.com/en-us/fabric-softener/downy-unstopables/]. And Catherine is now watching DWTS's Monday-night competitor, The Voice [https://www.nbc.com/the-voice], and following competitor John Holiday [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM5dJQXxdIY].

Hearing about Play-Doh's new line of Play-Doh for Grown-Ups (with scents like "Overpriced Latte" and "Lord of the Lawn") got us obsessing about other toys we loved and want to bring back. But we'll take our Play-Doh original flavor, please.

We once thought that as got older, our skin would toughen up and we'd be able to handle criticism. Turns out? Not so much! If you're going to leave us a comment, please make it a nice one.

On Dancing with the Stars, the double elimination turned out to be one elimination (bye, Crishell) and one withdrawal for medical reasons (get well soon, Jeannie). We're still voting for too many of the remaining contestants--while we can. Next week: Icons Night.

As a palate cleanser after two seasons of Veronica Mars, we turned to a much gentler investigation: "On the Rocks," a Sofia Coppola movie streaming on AppleTV+. It starred two of our faves, Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, and was a sweet and wistful portrait of a bygone (that is, pre-pandemic) New York City. Next week: We double down on dancing with Baby Ballroom (https://www.netflix.com/title/80217151) on Netflix (season 1, episodes 1 and 2).

As this article from the Wall Street Journal [https://www.wsj.com/articles/parents-are-the-new-remote-school-zoom-bombers-11603800001] points out, some parents are taking advantage of having their kids' classroom right under their noses. It's not surprising that teachers don't appreciate the uninvited guests.

Last Sunday, our topic was weddings. Today we finish our review of late spring/early summer with a look back at our long-ago proms.

How much do we, can we, and should we oversee and intervene in the romantic lives of our teens and young adults? We're not sure, but Terri does have a business idea that just might take off.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Pet Stuff Minute gives you super-soft, doughnut-shaped pet beds [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XFJ4TYT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Catherine is enjoying the National Zoo's panda cam (baby! panda!!) [https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam], and Terri is making good use of Facebook's Snooze feature [https://www.facebook.com/help/538433456491590] (plus has a request for another way Facebook could make her feed better).

We talked about Halloween last month, and today we're back to follow up on how we plan to observe it. After all, everyone needs candy right now.

As this infographic from Scary Mommy shows [https://www.facebook.com/ScaryMommy2/photos/a.749225261826326/3330758833672943/], the pandemic means that moms have more on their plates than ever before: Remote schooling! Being the hygiene police! Providing constant attention and affirmation to needy family members! It's all too much.

On Dancing with the Stars, we question whether Cruella de Vil is as evil as Freddy Krueger, and whether everyone needed to be wearing fake contact lenses along with their fake blood. Overall, we prefer our dancing to be horror-free--with a rare exception for this creepy one from Frankie Muniz and pro Witney Carson [https://youtu.be/WpDY5-rrck0]. Next: Double elimination! (Can Tyra be eliminated? Just wondering.)

In Neptune, two known villains and one recently revealed villain all met their doom in the season two finale of Veronica Mars. Good riddance! Next: "On the Rocks," starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, on AppleTV+ [https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/on-the-rocks/].

After reading "Moms of Teens Need These 14 Gifts to Make Their Lives Easier," [https://grownandflown.com/gifts-moms-of-teens/] we talked about the gifts we wanted and needed when our kids entered adolescence. Also mentioned: The episode where we complained about our family members' shopping habits [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/are-you-really-going-to-buy-that].

Here are all the games we could name from our childhood; we promise we didn't make them up. Not even "Barbie Dream Date."

Were our parents good parents? We have no complaints. Well, maybe a few tiny ones. Mentioned: Transforming the Difficult Child by Howard Glasser; The Child with Special Needs by Stanley Greenspan; The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley; psychologist Adele Brodkin.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole has found a calming CBD oil from Lazarus Naturals [https://www.lazarusnaturals.com/] that works for her needy, anxious dog. Terri's experimenting with iOS 14 aesthetics on Canva [https://www.canva.com/search/templates?q=ios]. And Catherine recommends painting kits from Let's Make Art [https://www.letsmakeart.com/].

We obsess about how to motivate kids to do schoolwork in these strange times, when so many traditional incentives are unavailable to teachers, students, and parents.

On today's Round 3, we complain about paperwork: Filling it out, getting it where it needs to go, and especially, printing it out in the first place. Why are we still using paper at all anymore?

Dancing With the Stars is humming along, with its agreeable stars making progress and their pros cheering them on. We've had enough of the fake audience cheering for Tyra, though. Next week: Villains Night.

Speaking of villains, we also have had more than enough of the Bad Dads of Veronica Mars season 2, Aaron Echolls and Woody Goodman. Go away, please! Next: "Not Pictured."

Kudos to Nicole, who has decided to go back to school and pursue a master's degree! That prompted us to talk about how well we're doing at learning new things, even in our (ahem) advancing age.

Even though our ceremonies were back in the day before enormous wedding parties were a thing, we don't all have happy stories to tell.

We take a cue from Dancing with the Stars and recall our Most Memorable Years. Nicole's is definitely dramatic enough for a barefoot contemporary number, while Terri plans to rhumba with Sasha. Mentioned: Frankie Muniz's memory loss quickstep on a 2017 episode of DWTS [https://youtu.be/5Vd10gwNJRs].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's enjoying a new documentary podcast called Unfinished: Short Creek, and Nicole has found a cat tunnel toy to amuse her new kitten. Terri is catching up on audiobooks and recommends Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier by Alan Zweibel, along with Phil Rosenthal's You’re Lucky You’re Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom and Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances that Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik. Visit https:://parentingroundabout.com for links to everything we talk about here (plus all our back episodes).

In the beginning of the pandemic, everything was on Zoom. Then we all got a bit of Zoom fatigue. Now we're realizing that if we want to keep friendships alive, we have to embrace virtual get-togethers.

Earlier in the lockdown, we lamented the loss of several key appliances [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/lockdown-breakdown-appliance-edition]. This unfortunate trend is continuing, plus we've added car trouble into the mix.

On Dancing with the Stars, '80s Night brought a lot of bad hair and costume cheesiness, along with the usual Too Much Tyra. While the dances weren't great, the stars are all showing a good deal of mirror ball spirit. Next: "Top 11."

Meanwhile, in Neptune, the writers are piling plot point on top of plot point as season two careens toward its finale, with more proof that Woody Goodman is a bad guy and so is Aaron Echolls. Next: "Happy Go Lucky."

On today's Round 1, we're talking about some of the tech troubles that accompany virtual schooling (for parents, kids, and teachers) and how to overcome them. Mentioned: "8 Tricks for Making Remote School Easier" at the Wall Street Journal [https://www.wsj.com/articles/eight-tricks-for-making-remote-school-easier-11601989200] and the Time Timer [https://www.timetimer.com/].

A cartoon from Hedger Humor for Babble [https://www.facebook.com/HedgerHumor/photos/a.633521596663665.1073741828.630201143662377/1785483274800819/?type=3&theater] got us thinking about the sweet simple things that make us happy now, in our grown-up years.

We had a bossy parenting article to discuss, but decided to give ourselves a break on that, along with lots of other things parents are probably supposed to be worrying about.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri is a fan of the latest update to the iOS operating system (although she has some free ideas for app developers). Nicole found a life-changing chemical-free toilet bowl cleaner thanks to TikTok [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BPRDCW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. And Catherine's back with a second rec for SkinnyPop flavored popcorn. This time: everything bagel seasoning [https://www.skinnypop.com/our-popcorn/popcorn-mini-cakes/everything-bagel/].

During these times. the need for pick-me-ups is pretty much constant. We obsess about what we do now to cheer ourselves up, and what we wish we could be doing. Luckily, talking to each other helps.

On this week's Round 3, we complain about all the ways our family members spend money in ways we disapprove of: On luxury personal hygiene products, on purchases they haven't consulted us about, on items that contribute to general household clutter. It's (usually) their money, but we still don't have to like it.

On Dancing with the Stars, Tyra repeatedly reminded us that the show was live, and then proved it with an embarrassing fumble of the bottom two couples and the elimination. Get it together, DWTS! Next: '80s Night.

On Veronica Mars, never mind the buttocks, indeed, because this title has next to nothing to do with the storylines on the episode. They include: More ridiculous theories about the bus crash, the continuing influence of the Fitzpatricks, a kid who's scarily good with a bow and arrow, and Kendall as an evil mastermind. Next: "Look Who's Stalking."

On today's Round 1, we discuss a Vox.com article, "How the Coronavirus Pandemic Will Affect an Entire Generation of Students." While only one of our kids is currently in a K-12 school, we still worry (a lot) about how all children, families, and teachers will get through this time—and all the challenges that will come after things go back to "normal."

Along with more obvious essentials like wallets, keys, and phones, we speak out for the need to have constant access to things like Band-aids, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. You never know when you'll need 'em! [This was recorded before the days when we needed hand sanitizer every 10 minutes.]

This article on what parenting can (and can't) do [https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-09-20/what-parenting-can-and-cannot-do] really rang true for us. Plus it led to another in our series of "parenting books we could write," entitled Look for the String.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine discovered Nutella Biscuits at the Nutella Cafe [https://www.nutella.com/us/en/nutella-cafe], and Nicole is charmed by Brody Schaffer (@BossBabyBrody on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bossbabybrody/]). Terri has created a 21-hour-long (and growing) playlist of instrumental music to listen to while she works, and you can use it too [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/work-playlist/pl.u-JP1P2FKDmxy].

We're obsessing about the things we once obsessed over (like reading logs and music practice). Now, we obsess over how much of a waste it was to spend time worrying about these things.

Like everything else in 2020, Halloween is shaping up to be different--and difficult--this year. We're not sure how or if or whether we should accommodate any trick-or-treaters this year, unless we build a candy chute like this dad did [https://www.womansday.com/home/decorating/a34113748/halloween-candy-chute/]. Boo! (For the record, the CDC says trick-or-treating is not a good idea.)

On Dancing With the Stars, it was a doubleheader for us as we covered last Tuesday's episode along with Monday's Disney Night. Overall, we're enjoying this crew of dancers (especially now that Carole Baskin has cat-walked off-stage). but host Tyra Banks? Not so much. Still, we'll tune in next week, because we can't quit you, DWTS!

On Veronica Mars "I Am God," rich kids are buying generalized anxiety disorder diagnoses to get out of taking tests, but we think anyone living in Neptune probably has a legit claim to stress and anguish. And we were anguished by this particular episode, with its nonsensical dream sequences. Next: "Nevermind the Buttocks."

A (judgy) article titled "10 Things Our Parents Did That Parents Today Should Bring Back" [https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/10-things-our-parents-did-that-parents-today-should-bring-back] got us ranting about the good reasons why some of these parenting practices fell out of favor.

We checked out a Good Housekeeping list of 50 (Big and Little) Things It's Finally Time to Get Rid Of [http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/g4272/things-its-time-to-get-rid-of/] and found ourselves guilty of having most of them hanging around.

We mostly reserve judgment over the ways millennial parents do things their own way. Well, we try. (Here's the far-judgier-than-we slideshow that prompted this chat [http://parenthood.topix.com/slideshow/18759?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=18759&utm_term=LHKBQ3CDO8CJ1VVH], and the article about delayed adulting we also mention [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/neither-drinking-nor-driving-more-teens-are-putting-off-traditional-markers-of-adulthood/2017/09/18/b46027a0-93f1-11e7-8754-d478688d23b4_story.html?utm_term=.0f2b938c667c0].)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole is upping her fitness game with a set of SPRI Xertubes [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067E4P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Terri's shouting out Amazon Music for including our podcast in its offerings [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/95a15637-9790-49e7-be93-c72ebc509b0b/Parenting-Roundabout]. And Catherine is looking forward to brand-new episodes of The Great British Baking Show [https://www.netflix.com/title/80063224] dropping on Netflix every Friday, starting today.

After reading this expert roundtable on the topic [https://www.wsj.com/articles/expenses-for-adult-kids-which-ones-should-parents-stop-paying-for-11600009200], we obsessed about how and why and whether we're encouraging our kids to manage their own money. It feels good to pay your own way, but if you don't have the means, how much should parents assist?

We know we're blessed with health, food, family, and shelter. But we're still bummed out about all the things that have been taken away or changed due to the pandemic. You know things are bad when we talk wistfully about public restrooms, airports, and the mall food court.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We take a detour from the DWTS ballroom and drop in on 18th-century Scotland with the first three seasons of Outlander (available on Netflix). Catherine found that the show was just the escape she needed right now.

On Veronica Mars, the episode "Plan B" helps us inch closer to the resolution of the bus crash, the rehabilitation of Jackie, and the rekindling of the Logan-Veronica romance. Next: "I Am God."

Not to stress you out further, but cold weather is drawing nearer. We talked about this smart Vice.com article on small ways to prepare for a pandemic-affected winter (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4aym4q/small-ways-to-prepare-home-for-winter-pandemic; some of them are not so small, though). Also mentioned: Mug displays, outdoor preschool, and a wardrobe tip Terri shared last January (go to https://parentingroundabout.com for links).

We chat about things that have completely fallen out of our everyday routine, and hatch a plot to fool today's kids about what that ancient relic the phone booth was really used for.

We recount just a few of the many ways that caring for our pets is remarkably like caring for our kids. For example, we feel like we're not that good at it.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's taking over her daughter's baking projects with Lazy Cake Cookies [https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cake/lazy-cake-cookies.html]. Nicole discovered a resource for academic writing called Ref-N-Write [https://www.ref-n-write.com/]. And Terri enjoyed Kimberly Williams-Paisley's memoir, Where the Light Gets In, on Audible [https://www.amazon.com/Where-Light-Gets-Losing-Mother/dp/1101902973].

California's El Dorado fire (the gender-reveal one) is burning very close to Nicole's home, so she's worrying about what to take if she has to evacuate. Aside from the essentials, there are some practical items she just won't leave behind. Mentioned: Our discussion of quarantine "bug-out bags" [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/our-isolation-essentials].

A post about rules for parents of college students [https://grownandflown.com/parent-college-student-do-not-do/] put us on the defensive. We don't need your stinkin' rules! And anyway, they don't apply to us. We have our reasons. Mentioned: Our rant on the advice "do something that scares you" (no thanks) [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/scary-advice].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Dancing with the Stars is back! But Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews aren't. We're watching for some of our favorite pros and for stars like Justina Machado (of One Day at a Time, which we enjoyed), Skai Jackson, Johnny Weir, and (surprise) Nev Schulman and Nelly.

After watching Veronica Mars season 2, episode 16, we hatch a plan to pack all the characters we like into a minivan and drive it far, far away from Neptune. Next: "Plan B" (maybe this plan is our same escape-from-Neptune idea!).

Recently we talked about what supports teens need as they head back to school [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/back-to-school-emotions]. But this is also a stressful time for moms, especially this year. So we talked about what we need as our kids return to class (and what we don't need, like more videos from the principal [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/dont-make-us-watch-your-video]). Mentioned: Poolside remote learning in Mexico [https://www.parents.com/syndication/four-season-punta-mita-childcare-remote-learning] and remote working in Barbados [https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/remote-working-in-barbados].

We're still in awe of how they put dinner on the table night after night. But the cooking grease under the sink or the alfalfa sprouts among the glassware? Not so much.

Forget "growing out of it." We think it might take a lifetime for kids to adjust to the fundamental unfairness of having a sibling. Mentioned: This article on little kids and jealousy [http://globalnews.ca/news/3681102/is-your-child-jealous-of-their-sibling-heres-what-parents-can-do/] and this image of inclusion [https://www.thinkinclusive.us/cool-graphic-education-boxes/].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole suggests @roomrater on Twitter [https://twitter.com/ratemyskyperoom] for laughs and even some practical advice on setting up your space for video calls. Terri shouts out Zelle for your money-sharing needs [https://www.zellepay.com/]. Catherine recommends Yoga with Adriene for hundreds of free yoga videos on every conceivable theme [https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene].

Our kids are older now and we encourage them to fight their own battles. But sometimes, mama bear has to step in and do some roaring and baring of claws (like Shirley MacLaine does for her sick daughter in "Terms of Endearment.")

News about Amazon's new Halo health tracker [https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Halo-Fitness-And-Health-Tracker/dp/B07QK955LS] got us complaining about giving up privacy in exchange for convenience. We don't necessarily want these gizmos for ourselves, but for other people in our lives? Maybe! Mentioned: NBA players' magic Covid-detecting rings [https://www.axios.com/nba-smart-ring-coronavirus-3593a238-e593-43aa-9a1b-19e84d3170de.html].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, two more episodes of Veronica Mars have us wondering why anyone lives in Neptune, really. The runaway bride from "The Quick and the Wed" had the right idea. Next week, we'll watch season 2, episode 16, "The Rapes of Graff" (another stellar title choice from these writers) and begrudgingly enter the ballroom for the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars without our dear Tom Bergeron.

The pandemic is terrible and we would very much like it to be over. But at least it's mitigated some awkward social situations, like home sales parties and forced waiting-room small talk. Let's keep some social events online forever. Mentioned: Our June episode on pandemic pivots we like, such as Zoom IEP meetings [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/lets-keep-everything-on-zoom].

Maybe it's the four-hour plane ride. Maybe it's the old unhappy memories. Maybe it's some recent memories that aren't so great. For whatever reason, there are some places we'd really just as soon leave behind.

Terri wondered whether she's the only one whose children have abandoned shared TV watching in favor of random series on YouTube. (She's not.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's excited about the brand-new Phineas and Ferb the Movie [https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/movie/phineas-and-ferb-the-movie-candace-against-the-universe]. Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with @grandmagetsreal and her Barbie-based creations [https://www.instagram.com/grandmagetsreal/]. Terri recommends Robin Harms's novella You Can Thank Me Later, which she enjoyed on Audible [https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Thank-Me-Later-audiobook/dp/B07YVL71PS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=you+can+thank+me+later&qid=1598669910&sr=8-1].

Like so many parents right now, we're obsessed with meeting our kids' emotional needs as they return to school (as outlined in this New York Times article [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/well/family/teens-mental-health-needs.html]). Strategies include redecorating and a kitten.

In the complaint department this week, we gripe about videos that could have been emails, videos that take way too long to get to the point, and the inability to speed through a video like you can a web page... or a podcast.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we watched two episodes of Veronica Mars that were mostly up-the-middle procedurals (Where's the witness? Who took the money?) with just enough bus-crash and Logan-on-the-bridge plot to keep things moving. Next week: S2E14, "Versatile Toppings," and S2E15, "The Quick and the Wed."

Last week, Catherine's daughter joined the shrinking ranks of college freshmen actually moving onto campus in this very weird time. She even brought her own toilet paper, and lots of it.

Before there were computers and smartphones and fancy prefab fidget spinners, we kept ourselves distracted with ... taking apart pens. Peeling pencil paint. Unwinding paper clips. Doodling. So much doodling.

Terri sometimes feels her life is a bad detective show. Catherine is stuck in a not-that-funny sitcom, and Nicole's family drama is exhaustingly dramatic. What TV show is your family inadvertently starring in?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri is finding new uses for old technology, while Nicole is sprucing up old furniture and objects with peel-and-stick wallpaper [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VFLDTLP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Catherine is making sure her college freshman won't be without her favorite snack with this collapsible popcorn popper that's perfect for dorm living [https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/collapsible-popcorn-popper].

Now that all three of us have reached the mid-century mark, we can obsess about the benefits of being older, wiser, and much more willing to wear comfortable shoes and stay home.

Parenting is hard no matter what age your kids are. This article calling out middle school as the toughest age to parent [https://parentingteensandtweens.com/middle-school-the-hardest-years-of-your-life-as-a-mom/] got us complaining about pretty much all the ages. Name an age or circumstance when parenting is easy!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, a double dose of Veronica Mars, although both episodes were useless in their own ways. "One Angry Veronica" did nothing for the season-long arc, and "Donut Run" was based on a faulty premise (although Terri's theory about how and why that happened makes a lot of sense). Mentioned: the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/]; a teaser about Veronica joining the FBI [https://veronicamars.fandom.com/wiki/Veronica_in_the_FBI]; and the two Magic Mountains (amusement park [https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain] and book by Thomas Mann [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Mountain]).

Need to use a leash/harness/tether on your kid? No judgment here; two of us have done it. A tweet from Today's Parent magazine about kids being either barnacles or bolters prompted us to talk about which kind of kids we had (and which kind we were).

Ah, sleep time, when the subconscious opens the door on every stupid thing you could possibly imagine worrying about or wondering about or thinking about, and these things parade across your consciousness. Meet some of our cast of thousands.

It’s supposed to be a positive thing when kids get more independent. But we're both happy and thrown into existential crisis.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole and her family are keeping germs away with the Clean Door Anti-Contact Tool [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BY3GGYT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and on a related note, Catherine reports that Hanes makes comfortable, inexpensive face masks [https://www.hanes.com/masks.html]. Terri escaped into a history of the founding of Banana Republic with the book Wild Company by Mel and Patricia Ziegler [https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Company-Untold-Banana-Republic/dp/1451683502/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2SBV9HOPH2K2U&dchild=1&keywords=wild+company+the+untold+story+of+banana+republic&qid=1597422633&sprefix=wild+company%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-2]. Mentioned: Her past shout-out of Abandoned Republic on Facebook [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-alex-ani-tiktok-abandoned-republic].

After hearing about an opportunity to sleep over at the last Blockbuster video store in the world [https://www.scarymommy.com/last-blockbuster-airbnb-bend-oregon/], we obsessed about cool slumber party venues, from malls, mattress stores, and museums to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia [https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo/accommodation].

We appreciate all the work that goes into pandemic protection cleaning and hygiene practices. But we've noticed that sometimes, a little flaw in the system kind of defeats the whole purpose.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: World of Dance wrapped up with a second set of semi-finals and then a fizzle of a finale (partly thanks to the pending pandemic, but also, the performances peaked in the semi-finals and fell flat in the finals).

On Veronica Mars, we finally get an episode about moms instead of dads (including one surprise mom-to-be at the ending). But the best thing about "My Mother, the Fiend" was the renewed alliance between Logan and Weevil. Next: We'll watch the next two episodes from season 2, "One Angry Veronica" and "Donut Run."

We talk about an Illinois school district that made the news for banning pajamas during remote schoolwork. While we agree that respect and routine are both important, doesn't everybody have bigger fish to fry here? (And don't most adults wear the loungiest clothes they can get away with when working remotely?)

We reminisce about some concerts we've seen — and no lies on the list.

Nicole brings us this week's rant, about parents who elbow other kids out of the way to help their own offspring get ahead.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, a real hodge-podge awaits you. Terri's loving Taylor Swift's surprise new album, "Folklore [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsZ6tROaVOQ&list=PLmU8B4gZ41icKdheg4d2KZBgDR1wSWfbH]." Nicole fulfilled her husband's wish for a bidet with the Luxe Bidet Neo 120 toilet attachment (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0RHSJO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1; Nicole's calling it a gateway bidet). And Catherine wants you to know that you can now get cauliflower rice at Chipotle [https://www.chipotle.com/].

Nicole's obsessed with her new kitten, and we've seen many other families bring home new pets (and toys like boats and motorcycles) during the pandemic. Did you develop a new obsession when so much else in life got cancelled? Mentioned: Covers for your Roomba from Robo Rascals [https://www.roborascals.com/].

Thanks to pandemic restrictions, it's been months since any of us has been home alone. Instead of complaining, we dream about what we'd do with that elusive alone time if we had some. (Spoiler: We're a little out of practice.)

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We're very displeased that World of Dance ended its first round of semi-finals by making children cry. We've been telling them for weeks not to! Next: We'll discuss the second set of semi-finals (airing today, August 11) and the finals, airing August 12.

Veronica Mars also included some suffering children (well, 18-year-olds) as both Logan and Veronica were imperiled in "Ahoy, Mateys!" And Duncan had some disturbing dreams. We would not like to revisit any of those things. Next: "My Mother, the Fiend."

After seeing a few posts recommending college students pack a "bug-out bag" in case of Covid-19 isolation, we talked about what we'd need to pack up if we had to seclude ourselves. Podcast mic is on the list!

Statistics say 10 percent of the population is left-handed, but for our podcast, it's more like 33.3 percent. Guess which one of us is the leftie.

In an episode from July 2017, we discuss guilt of the "it's not you, it's me" variety, as in "You should play the trombone because I didn't get to be in the band when I was a kid."

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out Pier 1's going-out-of-business sales [https://www.pier1.com/] as a good resource for dorm and new-apartment shopping. Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with Cameo, the celeb-connection service [https://www.instagram.com/cameo/]. And Terri throws it back to the '70s with her purchase of Alberto VO5 shampoo [https://www.mariettahospitality.com/retail_brand_stories/VO5.php].

With many kids set to do some kind of distance learning in the fall, we obsess about how to keep them motivated and engaged. Starbucks gift cards only go so far.

We lament and complain about how moms are always stuck in the middle, mediating between two other family members who clash. Can anyone tell us how to fix this (since running away from home isn't an option right now)?

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, World of Dance wrapped up the junior division duels with another talented rubber band, a semi-professional (?) hip-hop duo, and a troupe with a teen who's getting taller before our eyes. On to the semi-finals!

On Veronica Mars, we always knew that Neptune was a hotbed of terrible parenting, but this episode (cringingly titled "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner") was really devoted to extremely awful moms and dads. Next: "Ahoy, Mateys!"

It's important to celebrate tiny victories when they happen, so here are our tales of upcycling, repairing, and cleaning success to inspire you. We owe it all (well, most of it) to YouTube. Mentioned: Cleaning expert Vanesa Amaro on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@vaneamaro91]; Terri's jeans from Schaefer Outfitter [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-karens-going-wild-crown-and-paw-and-schaefer-outfitter].

We consider the degree to which the cool things of our youth — Walkman! Stirrup pants! The Seventies! — have not fared well with time.

We talk about the weird ways having money, not having money, spending money, and not spending money can all make you feel ashamed. What's up with that?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: In her continuing series on Apple products and accessories, Terri shouts out Mophie's handy wireless charging pad [https://www.zagg.com/en_us/wireless-charging-base-single-coil-apple-2019]. Nicole is dreaming about what she'll delicious thing she'll order first from Goldbelly [https://www.goldbelly.com/], and Catherine is listening to the Family Secrets podcast from author Dani Shapiro [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-family-secrets-30131253/].

When it comes to following--or even just noticing--trends, we find that our kids care a heck of a lot less than we did. But we're not necessarily taking that as a win.

We're so grateful that we have the means to feed our families. We're just not sure how it is that they are eating so much. It may be time for a padlock on the pantry.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the duels continue on World of Dance with the junior division. That means teeny, tiny Savannah Manzel took on the caped ballroom troupe, the contemporary trio MDC3 faced off against a Japanese group, and two hip-hop squads battled it out for a spot in the semi-finals. Next: The final round of junior division duels.

In Neptune, we seemed to time-travel back to Veronica Mars season 1 with the season 2 episode "Rat Saw God." All the bad guys came back, but two out of three were un-creepified this time around. Next: "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner."

It's easy to bond with little kids, or it least it seems that way now that we're looking back. But we've found ways to bond with our teens and young adults, too, even as the pandemic narrows and changes our world.

We're not afraid to say we like these weird foods. Hear us justify our appreciation of rice cakes with margarine, Brussels sprouts, and Vegemite.

We ask: How did you know you were ready for kids? And once you knew, did the universe help you out, or smack you around a little first?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole discovered that the Apple Magic trackpad helps you look your best on video calls [https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ2R2LL/A/magic-trackpad-2-silver]. Catherine is entertained by her new Roomba [https://www.irobot.com/roomba/e-series], and Terri's trying (and liking) Apple's credit card [https://www.apple.com/apple-card/].

We admit it: Sometimes moms behave badly. We confess a few of our recent sins and ask for absolution in what will certainly not be a recurring feature. We're all done making mistakes now!

Helping kids learn independence is never easy. We share some wins, losses, and in-progresses to remind ourselves that this stuff takes time (and trial and error).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: World of Dance returned from an unexplained hiatus with another round of duels, along with the redemption round for the upper division. We're sorry to see Styles and Emma go, because... wow. Next: Duels continue with the junior division.

On Veronica Mars, "Blast from the Past" proved to be an unpleasant episode, because everyone was sad and Jackie played an elaborate and cruel prank on Veronica. Next: The unpleasantly titled "Rat Saw God." Mentioned: Veronica Mars Investigations' special "Pride and Prejudice" episode [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/vmi/prideandprejudice].

The disruptions of the global pandemic mean making tough decisions about work and school with ever-changing information. It's hard for adults, and much, much harder for teens and their parents.

We recall some cruises we have experienced, both life-changing and nausea-inducing, and wonder if we'd still enjoy them as much today.

We are very live-and-let-live when it comes to kids and technology, but we wonder whether teens need to have better manners when it comes to their phones. (Mentioned: A Round 2 [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922638] in which a mother-son argument is resolved via text.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri recommends Despair.com for a daily dose of snark [https://despair.com/], and Nicole's Instagram Minute also brings some gentle sarcasm with @subparparks [https://www.instagram.com/subparparks/]. Catherine suggests the not-snarky, but fascinating novel Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Manhattan-Beach/Jennifer-Egan/9781476716732].

A month from now, Nicole's nest will be empty (at least of children; the pets are all staying). She's obsessing about her next steps, and we're here to enable that fretting.

After watching a video on the 10 most important things to simplify [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp9zZHqG3bA], we share our complaints with the minimalist life. You'll never catch us keeping it simple, thanks to things like "kids" and "jobs" and "spouses."

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we promised you the second round of World of Dance duels, but it turns out they're airing tonight, July 14, so we'll discuss them next week. Instead, we talked about The Heir Affair, a sequel to The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan of Go Fug Yourself (which we discussed in 2017). The new book is a delightful continuation of the stories and characters we'd so enjoyed in round 1. Recommended!

We can't really recommend the episode of Veronica Mars we watched, titled "Green-Eyed Monster" and guest-starring Laura Bell Bundy as a truly annoying client of Mars Investigations. She hired Veronica to investigate her fiance, but he's the one who dodged a bullet. Next: Season 2 episode 5, "Blast from the Past."

Using smartphones even in the presence of our children may be smarter than we think, or at least not the "OMG PANIC" we have been led to believe. A recent study [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200708105939.htm] concluded that "smartphones play multiple roles in family life, and when not heavily impacting on family time, may have a positive role in parenting." In other words, play that game or send that text. Your kid's gonna be okay.

Following up on our recent crisis chat, which included an account of Nicole's son's scary car crash, we talk about some other car accidents in our lives, including an impressively survivable off-a-cliff plummet and a welcoming back-into at the local coffee drive-through.

We welcome visitors to our homes ... sort of. We prefer that they not stay too long, require us to take them to Disneyland, or venture out of their assigned areas.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's daughter loves her new Bedsure linens [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PWVTWBN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], which were a bargain but don't look it (or feel it). Catherine recommends a Storyworth subscription as a great gift for grandparents [https://welcome.storyworth.com/], and Terri shouts out a new podcast from the "Freakonomics" team called "No Stupid Questions" [https://freakonomics.com/nsq/].

When kids are older, keeping them safe goes way beyond buckling them into a car seat and covering all the electrical outlets. You have to follow them on social media, for example. and figure out a way to make alcohol boring instead of tempting.

How honest should you be with other parents about your life? Your honesty could really help another parent (see this Instagram post from @FruitsofMotherhood [https://www.instagram.com/p/CCKNYt2gbYc/?igshid=w21pdfee4ca4}). But is telling all betraying your kid? As ever, we can't pick a side.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, World of Dance moves from Callbacks to Duels, and we're generally in agreement with the decisions the judges make (plus we're happy to see tWitch show up as a guest judge).

We had planned to discuss season 2, episode 4 of Veronica Mars, "Green-Eyed Monster," today, but it was no match for the release of Hamilton on Disney+!! At long last, Terri got to see the show for the first time, and Catherine got to see it with the original cast. So we had to talk about it. We will return to Veronica Mars next week, along with the second round of WOD duels.

A discussion on the Bobby Bones podcast, along with our recent Second-Listen Saturday episode on marriage. prompted us to talk about whether marriage and parenting are hard (um, yes) and whether saying so to newlyweds and new parents is helpful or not.

If you want to find something, research something, or maybe get some under-qualified tech support, we're your girls.

We put our combined 68 years of marriage to the test to offer advice and cautionary tales. Mentioned: The trailer for an ABC sitcom, "Splitting Up Together" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=denqJWOc6Go].

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri's enjoying her new iPhone SE (which is not too big for her dainty hands). Nicole found another adorable dog on Instagram, what_about_bunny, and this one can talk (!) using a tool called Fluent Pet. Catherine binged Lenox Hill on Netflix, and it was a trip down memory lane. Mentioned: Lenox Hill on the Extra Hot Great podcast; interview with ER physician Dr. Mirtha Macri. See http://parentingroundabout.com for all the links.

We sure try to help our kids when they feel stressed, but sometimes the result is more stress--for everyone. What do you do about stress-management mismatches?

We're finding that the he always uneasy "balance" between work and life changes as kids grow. It's not less difficult; it's just different.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, it was callbacks week on World of Dance, in which we got to see (sort of) 10 groups vie for four spots in the competition. We also got to be dazzled by J-Lo's collection of blinged-out drinking cups. Next week: The duels (this episode airs tonight, June 30, but we'll be talking about it here next week).

On Veronica Mars, episode, things went south for Richard Casablancas in "Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang," but luckily he had a helicopter on stand-by. That makes two more parentless boys in Neptune, if you're counting. Next: "Green-Eyed Monster."

As Nicole's son gets ready to move into his (swanky) first place, we reminisce about a basement in Vancouver, a spacious abode in Kansas City, and an unlocked door in Manhattan.

We'd like to think we're good at writing and teaching and maybe even podcasting, but there are some jobs that are just not for us.

There's a very fine line between encouragement and overselling, and between our kids' disappointment and our own. We try to walk it ... very carefully. (Shout-out to our live studio audience: Nicole's dog.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine learned How to College with a new book [https://www.amazon.com/How-College-Before-Youre-There/dp/1250225183/]. Nicole found a nostalgic TikTok account called Shiny Pretties [https://www.tiktok.com/@shinypretties]. And Terri's thrilled to get advance notice of what's about to arrive in her mailbox with the Post Office's Informed Daily Delivery service [https://informeddelivery.usps.com/].

Prompted by a wonderful Twitter thread [https://twitter.com/Remember_Sarah/status/1273674758756786176], we reminisce about what we thought was fancy when we were kids, and wonder how our kids might respond to the same question.

A DIY project that didn't quite get DI-done prompted us to complain about all those times when, as parents, we should have made better decisions--but forged ahead anyway.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the World of Dance judges seemed a little grumpier in week 4 of the qualifiers, but we are still here for this mostly cheery show. Next week: the duels. Mentioned: Posts from Kristyn Burtt on WOD (and its pre-pandemic production schedule), Dancing With the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance.

In Neptune, we cheered for Wallace as he solved his very own case on "Driver Ed." But we're definitely not cheering for all the love affairs or for the idea of Keith running for Sheriff again. Don't do it, Keith! Thanks to the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast for pointing out some important details that we would have missed. Next: "Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang" (speaking of affairs). Visit parentingroundabout.com for links.

Let's just say celebrations differ depending on who's planning them, as these tweets outline [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mothers-day-vs-fathers-day-tweets_l_5ccc60ade4b0e4d75731eb15?fbclid=IwAR2cE9jyOvbNovq8YtgY9ikhQLagdQXYStd1imVbssic7TtZFfbmtSnk7r0]. Mentioned: Man Crates [https://www.mancrates.com/] and Nicole's new vacuum cleaner (https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-panasonic-cordless-phone-system-shark-apex-vacuum-and-sips-by; a Mother's Day gift that's still going strong).

This isn't one of those name games that uses the name of our childhood street or pet. We're just wondering whether we'd ditch our last names — which people find unaccountably confusing to pronounce — for something more mellifluous.

Teaching kids about money management and family finances is an ongoing project, with good, bad, and ugly lessons all around.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, three ways to calm. soothe, and self-care: Terri's air is cleaner with her new Blueair Blue Pure 411 air purifiers[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CV1H65W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1]. Catherine is charmed by The Big Flower Fight on Netflix,[https://www.netflix.com/title/81046153] and Nicole's giving herself instant face lifts with the Gua Sha Facial Tool [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R55BW9F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1].

As this Washington Post article notes, scientific advances like germ theory changed family culture [https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/05/01/germs-parenting-coronavirus/]. Will the current pandemic do the same? Terri thinks the coronavirus is no match for her son's iron will.

We take issue with the anonymous person who coined the phrase, "Do something every day that scares you." We can't even brush our teeth every day, so give us a break, please!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, we check out a new-to-us dance show: World of Dance. So far, so good; we love the variety of dance genres, group sizes, and ages of contestants. We'll be watching the show on Tuesday nights and discussing it for the following Tuesday, so next up is the fourth episode of qualifiers.

On Veronica Mars (yes, we dove into season 2 without even a week of vacation), it's been a very eventful summer for Veronica and friends, especially boyfriends. In "Normal Is the Watchword," we get the "what I did last summer" summary, a solved case-of-the-week, and a new season-long mystery to ponder.

You'll always parent your second child differently than your first. After all, they're different people. And standards slip when you're tired!

Do you like your clothes loose or tight-fitting? Maybe because we work at home in sweats and yoga pants, we're all for comfortable over constricting. But only really sloppy-looking sometimes.

When we were handing out awards recently, we should have had a category for Waiting: Best wait, worst wait, longest wait. Wait here, we have more to say about this topic.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute returns with @miserable_men [https://wwhttps//instagram.com/miserable_men]. Catherine shouts out food donation via WW, formerly WeightWatchers [https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/wwgood], and Terri hit the toilet-paper jackpot at Staples [https://www.staples.com/].

We've found some big advantages to social distancing, such as abbreviated virtual meetings, curbside pickup shopping, and yard sign celebrations. We'd like to keep them around post-pandemic, please.

A tweet from @momsense_ensues inspired us to list all the many laws of parenting we've learned the hard way, like "You can never make a child eat, pee, or sleep."

We're just discussing one episode of Veronica Mars today, but what an episode it is. The season 1 finale brings all kinds of revelations (including the huge one Terri predicted), action, and drama, plus the triumphant return of Backup the dog.

We can sum up the whole season as "Parents Behaving Badly," but we're going to dive into season 2 anyway. To soften what will surely be a blow, we'll also watch the NBC show World of Dance. Next week: Veronica Mars season 2 episode 1, "Normal Is the Watchword" and World of Dance season 4 episode 3, "Qualifiers 3."

Pets can really make our time at home happier, as this Facebook post from the Bobby Bones Show notes [https://www.facebook.com/bobbybonesshow/posts/3515360098478669]. We're even charmed by other people's pets and by wild animals (but only some of them).

Today's topic: Those things other people do that drive us up a wall. All we'll say here is, be careful eating around Nicole.

Spending money is stressful, especially when you need three cars in a few weeks or buy a whole house sight unseen. We did come up with a great idea for HGTV, though. Call us!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri found a Panasonic cordless phone system that meets her elusive landline needs, and Nicole's enjoying vacuuming now that she has a Shark Apex lift-away vacuum cleaner. Catherine shouts out Sips By for all your tea-drinking needs.

We're starting to be able to get haircuts and dental cleanings again, and go out to restaurants. But with all the new rules and procedures, we're not sure we want to.

A survey found that two in five people think they've changed for the better due to the pandemic [https://www.studyfinds.org/survey-2-in-5-adults-feel-theyve-changed-for-the-better-thanks-to-coronavirus-lockdown/]. We're not ready to go that far, although we can find a few positives.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, first we have an episode that makes us squeamish because of the way it shames girls and gay people ("M.A.D."). And then we have one that makes us squeamish because we have to relive Shelly Pomroy's party via many, many flashbacks ("A Trip to the Dentist"). The only good guys here are Wallace and Weevil. Next week: The season finale, "Leave It to Beaver."

Catherine's daughter virtually graduated, and she gives the report on how it all went, from car parade to YouTube slide show. Mentioned: Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom and her online graduation report [https://www.designmom.com/olives-online-graduation/].

(This is a flashback to a time when we could travel!) Maybe we'd feel more excited about a carefully planned-out trip if the work of making that happen didn't always fall to us. As it is ... there's a lot to be said for just seeing what comes, right? Or do you prefer to know what you're doing?

We're lucky that we haven't faced too many true-crisis situations in our families, but when we do, we tend to be of the "fix it now, fall apart later" type.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute brings us @karensgoingwild (https://www.instagram.com/karensgoingwild/; don't be a Karen). Catherine is very pleased with her supremely silly pet portraits from Crown and Paw [https://crownandpaw.com/]. Also mentioned: Gray Duck Art pet painting kits [https://grayduckart.com/oldkits]. And Terri found some jeans made in the USA at Schaefer Outfitters [https://schaeferoutfitter.com/collections/outerwear-1/products/1950-ladies-ranchhand-jeans]. They're perfect for ranching and also copyediting.

On our last Second-Listen Saturday, we replayed a discussion about special end-of-the-year awards we think parents should get [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/second-listen-saturday-the-award-goes-to]. So today, we're obsessing about all the trophies, medals, and certificates we'd like to see for the very hard work of parenting during a pandemic.

Summer is upon us and we're stumped. What jobs can our teens or young adults do, when service jobs seem risky (and less available, due to underemployed adults) ? We're looking for answers, so if you have some, send them our way!

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, we're closing in on the end of season 1 of Veronica Mars, but not without a couple more cases of "Bad Things Happen to Neptune Students We've Never Heard Of." Plus, Terri has an intriguing theory about who killed Lilly Kane. Maybe we'll find out if she's right next week on episode 20, "M.A.D.," or 21, "A Trip to the Dentist."

It's Memorial Day, so here comes summer! It's shaping up to be just as weird as spring was, but with even more angry letters to the editor and Facebook posts.

You've seen that meme where you answer questions about your senior year in high school, right? There are way too many items on it for a Speed Round, so we focused in on the nerd/jock questions to talk about our high-school identities. What was your high school tribe?

We decided that parents aren't getting enough recognition for all they do (and don't do), so we've come up with some special awards for deserving parental behavior.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri enjoyed the "Pew Pew" episode of the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, all about the sounds in the original Star Wars movies [https://www.20k.org/episodes/pewpew]. Nicole's Instagram Minute brings us the beautiful places and animals of @NatGeoTravel [https://www.instagram.com/natgeotravel/]. And Catherine's catching up on last year's Amazing Race, season 31 [https://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/].

As an episode of the Freakonomics podcast outlines [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/covid-19-college/], colleges and universities, and their students and those students' parents (like Catherine and Nicole), are facing a huge challenge when it comes to the fall semester.

After reading about people making coronavirus-shaped pinatas to enjoy smashing them to bits [https://www.clairescreativeadventures.com/lets-smash-the-coronavirus-with-art-diy-coronavirus-pinata/], we talked about all the other things (so many things) we'd like to bash with a mallet.

These two episodes of Veronica Mars were quite a combo platter of silly high school plots (mascot-stealing in "Betty and Veronica"; petty harassment in "Kanes and Abel's") and some pretty major progress toward solving the mystery of who killed Lilly Kane--as well as the related question of where is Veronica's mom. She's in rehab now! Next: S1E18, "Weapons of Class Destruction," and S1E19, "Hot Dogs."

This new reality may be driving us crazy, but lockdown accommodations have gone too far when kids can get driver's licenses without passing a real, in-person road-test. Not even virtual reality can solve every pandemic problem! Mentioned: The movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1698641/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1]; an episode of The Amazing Race from last season [https://ew.com/recap/the-amazing-race-season-31-episode-5/]; Google Arts and Culture virtual museum tours [https://artsandculture.google.com/partner].

Today’s a mini-rant day for just complaining about the constant calls we get from telemarketers and scammers. Leave us alone! Do we have to just stop answering the phone? How annoyed are you by junk calls these days?

When we read a Popsugar post about a mom's Facebook Live rant on her son's school's disgusting bathrooms [https://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mom-Facebook-Live-Video-Dirty-School-Bathrooms-43316063?ref=42927967], we knew we could come up with some good stuff to complain about too. You know us—we love a good rant!

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out Pepper, the American Hedgehog Warrior [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP0WAdmY0EEnfV2YFJ8Rfbw/videos], and her merch. Nicole's Instagram Minute offers @itsdougthepug [http://instagram.com/itsdougthepug], another cute critter who will brighten your day. And Terri's finally making her way through the excellent TV (The Book) by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz [https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/alan-sepinwall/tv-the-book/9781455588190/].

As with every other event in American life, the Covid-19 pandemic comes with merchandise, and lots of it. Do you have any? Do you want any? Would you buy some from us? Mentioned: The Shop Forward [https://www.theshopforward.com/collections/corona], Jenny Lawson's raccoon face mask [https://www.zazzle.com/rory_the_raccoon_mask_as_requested_cloth_face_mask-256799784892640417], and social-distancing hats in a Chinese classroom [https://www.cnet.com/news/kids-in-china-head-back-to-school-wearing-social-distancing-hats/].

The pandemic has given us extra time to look around our homes and realize how much stuff we're holding on to that we don't need. What have you got that would make a good giveaway?

Now that Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist has wrapped up for the season, we're doubling up on Veronica Mars. This week's episodes featured good detecting, but poor judgement, on Veronica's part—along with the arrival of Alyson Hannigan as Logan's sister, Trina. Mentioned: Shaggy-haired teachers on My So-Called Life [https://youtu.be/8PZHQRFH4IU] and Once and Again [https://youtu.be/m2ecn0Evl4s].

In honor of Mother's Day, we decided to check in on some of favorite TV and movie moms and see how they might handle being locked down during a pandemic (like, how does Marge Simpson maintain that beehive without salon visits?).

Catherine’s “grocery fair” typo already gave us inspiration for a discussion of fantasy school fundraisers, and now we extend that to any sort of store we wish existed. “Try before you buy” seems to be a common theme of our retail dreams. What sort of shop do you wish you could find?

Terri had a major meltdown about a potential delegation fail, which got us wondering (and whining) about why it's so hard to hand off responsibilities to other members of our households.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute offers @d.a.d.n.o.t.e.s [https://www.instagram.com/d.a.d.n.o.t.e.s/], a sweet collection of lunchbox notes. Terri's grateful to the team at @uniteherehealth on Twitter [https://twitter.com/uniteherehealth/], especially Laura and Evelyn, for their kindness and customer service assistance. And Catherine lets us know about a brand-new book for parents of middle-schoolers: And Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Making Sense of Middle School, by Judith Warner [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/534339/and-then-they-stopped-talking-to-me-by-judith-warner/].

Now that her daughter's high school will be offering a virtual graduation ceremony, Catherine is looking for ways to make watching the event feel special. For one thing, there will be a no-sweatpants dress code.

Just when we need them most, our household appliances seem to be protesting by falling apart. We're down half a dishwasher, a smoke alarm, a microwave, a stand mixer, and worst of all, a coffee maker.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, we finished the season of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist with "Zoey's Extraordinary Dad." The season finale somehow tied up all loose ends while also leaving us confused about what just happened and what might come next. Mentioned: The Good Place Podcast's episode on the recent Parks and Rec Covid-19 special [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast/video/4161501].

On Veronica Mars, the case of the week involved yet another family we've never seen or heard of before, and ended with the continuing rehabilitation of Logan as maybe not such a horrible person. Next: We'll watch two episodes, "Mars vs. Mars” and “Ruskie Business.”

Car insurers are compensating drivers for not driving, and colleges are refunding (at least some) room and board costs from abruptly cancelled sessions. Who else owes us some money?

As much as we love our computers and devices and online opportunities, it’s hard not to think sometimes that things were simpler when we couldn’t accidentally video ourselves or e-mail snark to the one person we didn't want to see it. On today's Speed Round, we confess to some recent tech screw-ups and wish we had bigger buttons and a longer undo time. How has technology embarrassed you lately?

We try to keep things steady and stress-free for the kiddos, but there's not much we can do about the routine-busting disruptiveness of a parent's job loss or change.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute offers @commentsbycelebs, [https://www.instagram.com/commentsbycelebs/] because celebs are just like us: They comment on their friends' Instagram posts. Catherine suggests the pleasant distraction of Project Runway's season 18 [https://www.nbc.com/project-runway], and Terri's keeping herself on task with the Tomato Timer app [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tomato-timer-time-manager/id1453228755].

Social isolation means anxiety, discouragement, and disappointment, but we're finding some ways to cheer ourselves up (most of them involve food and drink). Mentioned: How to have a virtual game night at Chris Loves Julia [https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/have-a-virtual-game-night-our-favorite-games-to-play-online/]; Applebee's Chicken Tenders Family Bundle [https://www.applebees.com/en/menu/family-bundle-meals/chicken-tenders-family-bundle-feeds-4].

We know life has changed forever because of the coronavirus outbreak. And that might be a good thing, if we never have to exchange awkward hugs and kisses with acquaintances again.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist had an extraordinary guest star (Bernadette Peters!) and continued to under-use another extraordinary guest, Renee Elise Goldsberry. Next: The season finale, "Zoey's Extraordinary Dad."

On Veronica Mars, the plot of "Clash of the Tritons" was full of holes, but we enjoyed watching Veronica's sleuthing skills. Next: "Lord of the Bling."

Thanks to the pandemic, the tables have turned: Instead of students pleading to be admitted to the colleges of their choice, universities are now scrambling for students. They have some ideas for incentives [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/desperate-for-fall-enrollment-colleges-are-luring-students-with-campus-perks-and-cold-cash/2020/04/22/b6452686-84cd-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html], but so do we.

Catherine's noticing of crafting moms on a skate-team bus made her think of what she'd like to learn how to do, and ask the rest of us for our skill wishes. Music and maintenance are at the top of our list. What's on yours?

We worry about a Time article [http://time.com/4604907/parents-dont-get-how-negative-they-seem-to-their-teenagers/] on the negative spin our kids may be putting on our helpful advice and support. Can we win? No, we cannot.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's Instagram Minute offers @itsabandoned, a beautifully creepy account showing abandoned places [https://www.instagram.com/itsabandoned/]. Terri suggests Social Tea Biscuits [https://www.amazon.com/Social-Biscuit-12-35-Ounce-Boxes-Pack/dp/B000FA38Z4] for your social isolation dieting needs, and Catherine recommends the optimistically funny book Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas [https://www.amazon.com/Here-Save-Your-America-Essays-ebook/dp/B07RNGV7VH/].

Opinions on what the current lockdown is doing to teens (especially high school seniors) range from "worst tragedy" to "will make a good story one day" to "don't throw them a pity party!" We share ours, which you won't be surprised to find are somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. Mentioned: "Why teens may never be the same after the pandemic" on CNN [https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/us/teens-coronavirus-coping-wellness-trnd/index.html]

All this family together time is great. Just great! It's a Norman Rockwell painting up in here every day. (Help!)

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, Zoey returns with an "Extraordinary Outburst." This translates into rather a lot of yelling, but there's also a lot of singing and dancing. We'll take that as a win. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Mother."

Veronica Mars took a turn for the serious this week, with a serial killer lurking in Neptune and Veronica uncovering a years-old switched-at-birth situation in "Silence of the Lamb." Next: "Clash of the Tritons."

Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to the Great Staying Home of 2020. If we knew then what we knew now, we might have made some changes and some special purchases, big and small. Mentioned: "My coronavirus recovery mistake was watching Tiger King." [https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/opinions/recovering-coronavirus-tiger-king-mistake-dent/index.html]

We debate a bit as to whether today's Would You Rather question on where we'd rather live is about size of abode, freedom from yard work, or sharing walls with strangers. However we frame the question, though, we've got opinions. What would yours be?

Reports on early school times for teens and whether it works against their actually, you know, learning things inspired us to chat about sleep patterns — our kids' and our own. Or maybe, in the second case, "lack of sleep" patterns would be more appropriate. (Mentioned: the app Calming Lia.)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Twitter and Instagram feeds to cheer you during unprecedented times. Catherine chose @briancgrubb on Twitter, Nicole shouted out @anxiousmoms on Instagram, and Terri recommended @sparknotes and @quarantinerules on Twitter. Plus, thank you to Rhoberta Shaler at Podcast Magazine for a lovely review of our show. Read it on page 87, and sign up for your free subscription to get upcoming issues. Visit parentingroundabout.com for all the links.

A segment on the Poscast podcast about annoying things we miss during this period of social distancing inspired us to obsess about how we'd answer the same question. Who knew we'd miss driving, or traffic, or normal grocery shopping, to name a few?

For a change of pace, we decided to change the subject of today's Round 3 and focus on some non-pandemic-related complaints. We think everyone is pretty clear on what those are. But dental work, customer service, and bureaucracy whines are evergreen.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist took an extraordinary week off, so we checked in with one of our past watches: One Day at a Time, now relaunched on PopTV after Netflix inexplicably cancelled it. All our faves and yours are back, except the full-length theme song.

In Neptune, it's not Easter but Christmas ("An Echolls Family Christmas"). This was a fun whodunit ep, as Veronica and Keith worked parallel cases centered on the Echolls's home. Next week: "Silence of the Lamb," and "Zoey's Extraordinary Outburst."

Since we've been sheltering at home due to the pandemic, we've had several birthdays and now Easter to observe. While the pressure's off to host a big party, the pressure's ON to make sure that special occasions still feel special. Mentioned: Jesus Christ Superstar on YouTube; it's expired now, but Andrew Lloyd Webber will be releasing a new show every weekend on his The Shows Must Go On channel.

Peek in our car trunks, and what will you find? Let's just say that we're safe from earthquakes and starvation, but we're stumped when it comes to storing spare tires or removing dog hair. What's in your trunk?

Our daughters don’t much want to hear our advice about dating, and maybe it’s just as well, because we’re not even sure whether dating’s a thing anymore, or whether “a thing” is dating, or why you can’t ask someone to a dance without roses and guinea pigs. Like they say on Facebook, “it’s complicated.”

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's Instagram Minute brings us @kalesalad (https://www.instagram.com/kalesalad/; yes, Nicole recommended something with the words "kale" and "salad" in it!). Terri shouts out TaxAct [https://www.taxact.com/] for both its ease of use and its procastination-beating, good-deed-doing promotion: File your tax return with TaxAct by 4/15 and they'll donate 10 meals to the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund [https://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/coronavirus]. Catherine remembers the late Adam Schlesinger with this performance at NPR's Tiny Desk [https://www.npr.org/2011/10/06/140998957/fountains-of-wayne-tiny-desk-concert]. (Another wonderful tribute is at Rolling Stone [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/adam-schlesinger-fountains-of-wayne-essential-songs-976093].)

While there are really no pros to this pandemic, we are still trying to count our blessings, from health and shelter for our families to saving on gas and getting our walks in.

We want to follow the rules to keep everyone safe, but some social contact does seem essential. And also: Zoom, don't fail us now [https://www.npr.org/2020/04/03/826129520/a-must-for-millions-zoom-has-a-dark-side-and-an-fbi-warning]! Mentioned: A NJ.com article titled "Sorry, hanging out while 6 feet apart isn't coronavirus social distancing, expert says." [https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/03/sorry-hanging-out-while-6-feet-apart-isnt-coronavirus-social-distancing-expert-says.html]

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, "Zoey's Extraordinary Silence" really did bring something extraordinary: a dance featuring American Sign Language and deaf performers. Bravo! Mentioned: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song round-ups in memory of Adam Schlesinger.

On Veronica Mars, Veronica got involved in a touchy-feely, huggy-squeezy cult, and decided not to find out who's her daddy. Mentioned: Jonathan Bennett (who played Mooncalf Casey) on Dancing with the Stars. Next: "An Echolls Family Christmas" and we'll also discuss the first three episodes of the new season of One Day at a Time (available on PopTV and TVLand). For links and an episode transcript, please visit parentingroundabout.com.

We report in on what we have, what we don't have, and what we might have stocked up on had we known we should be doing that.

Groceries. Bank. Post Office. Bills. We lament some of our least-favorite errands, both out and about (we originally recorded this when we could actually go out and about) and online. What errands do you most hate (or love, for that matter)?

An experienced mom recently told Catherine that she felt it was important for kids to have a talent, skill, interest, hobby — whatever — that they know they are good at. We certainly do agree, and yet ... as with so many things about parenting, it’s easier said than done.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, online entertainment galore: Catherine shares writer Melisa Wells's updated-daily list, Creative Ways to Connect and Learn While Social Distancing [https://www.melisawells.com/2020/03/22/creative-ways-to-connect-and-learn-while-social-distancing-a-guide-to-the-silver-linings/]. Nicole's found another Instagram account that makes her chuckle: @onefunnymommy [https://www.instagram.com/onefunnymommy/], while Terri's giggling at the dogs on Reddit's WhatsWrongWithYourDog [https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatsWrongWithYourDog/].

It's hard to stay connected while also staying socially distant, but our kids and communities are getting creative. We'd love to hear how your family is bridging the gap between keeping safe and keeping in touch.

Social isolation judginess is all the rage, but are we judging those who are doing it wrong or judging the judgers?

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, "Zoey's Extraordinary Glitch" was, as predicted, that instead of hearing songs and seeing dances, Zoey was now performing them herself. So we got lots of fun dances, but the downside: No Neighbor Mo to help out, as nearly the entire episode was set at Zoey's workplace. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Silence."

In Neptune, Veronica Mars sorted out an awful girl-shaming situation at her school, and also took a field trip to Death Row to see the man convicted of killing her friend Lilly. He had some unrelated, and devastating, exposition to share. Next: "Drinking the Kool-Aid."

Inspired by a slippery stairs competition (that ESPN has to air because there are no other sports), we talk about what records our family is going for as we shelter in place: Most chocolate chips used, best Coronavirus Scurry while walking, deepest freezer dive... What events are happening at your house?

Our first cars were largely large—the ones we learned to drive on, anyway. The first cars we bought were smaller, possibly explosive, and in one case not purchased until after marriage and family.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share some fun moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure. This one's from a time when staying in was actually optional. Thanks to social media, it’s all too easy to get the illusion of a social life without actually, you know, leaving the house and interacting with in-person humans. We consider how much our kids’ schedules and contacts construct our social world, and whether our parents had more fun when we were growing up than we manage to have now.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, stuff to do, eat, and watch while you're stuck at home. Nicole recommends paint-by-number projects, Catherine suggests Dot's Homestyle Pretzels (https://dotspretzels.com/; from North Dakota, not Maryland!), and Terri's shouting out Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show: At Home" editions [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLykzf464sU98lwxyHHBqnqx-r0xtOMLjt]. Also heartwarming: the #SunshineSongs effort from Laura Benanti on Instagram, and the similar #heyJenlookatme from Jennifer Garner.

Life under house arrest is hard for adults. Add little kids into the mix and the degree of difficulty goes up considerably. This is your permission slip to skip structure (and constant sanitizing) and just do what works for your family.

It's hard enough for kids to make the transition from college life back to the family home under normal circumstances. When they have to do it under the threat of COVID-19, it's an even rougher re-entry.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: We got some heavy, heart-to-heart talks on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, but also lots of singing and dancing, up to and including an actual flash mob. Mentioned: The Good Place Podcast. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Glitch."

Heavy themes are par for the course on Veronica Mars, but "The Girl Next Door" (played by Jessica Chastain!) went extra far in that direction. We did appreciate the Weevil-Logan buddy comedy, though. Mentioned: Veronica Mars Investigations podcast. Next: "Like a Virgin."

We check in on life under lockdown in California, New Jersey, and the Midwest. We're united in our lack of toilet paper and our surplus of people in our space while we try to work.

Shower? Breakfast? Paper? Yelling at kids to hurry up and get ready for school? There are all sorts of ways to start your day, but it shouldn't surprise you that ours involve electronics and dogs. What do you do first thing?

Borrowing a refrain from the Extra Hot Great podcast, we declare "I am not a crackpot" when we insist that buffets must have more than one item, Terri's dishwasher is freakin' LOUD, and teachers ought to, you know, like children.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine recommends the book My Sister the Serial Killer [https://www.amazon.com/My-Sister-Serial-Killer-Novel/dp/0525564209/] (it's not what you think), while Terri suggests snacking on Pretzel Pop Tarts [https://www.amazon.com/PopTarts-Pretzel-Cinnamon-8-Toaster-Pastries/dp/B082Z9K1TL/]. And on Nicole's Instagram Minute: Best of NextDoor [https://www.instagram.com/bestofnextdoor/].

We like the idea of houseguests, as long as they're very occasional. And don't stay too long. And don't mind doing some cleaning and minor repairs while they're here.

Just like this writer at Grown and Flown [https://grownandflown.com/rethink-follow-your-passion/], we have some issues with the career advice that urges seekers to "follow their passion." Because sometimes your passion just isn't a job, and sometimes you don't want to ruin your passion by turning it into a job.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Zoey has an Extraordinary Night Out, with an extraordinary amount of singing and dancing (yay). Next on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: "Zoey's Extraordinary Confession." On Veronica Mars's "Return of the Kane," the Bad Dads of Neptune show their true colors, and Jane Lynch pops in too. Next: "The Girl Next Door."

Since the coronavirus is definitely the only thing anyone is talking about, we talked about it too. But this was way back on Wednesday, March 11. Things have definitely changed since then: Two of Terri's family members were laid off from work, Catherine's kids schools are converting to digital learning this week, most churches have gone virtual, and Nicole's daughter won't get to become a citizen at the LA Convention Center with 10,000 other people.

Our couches get a workout, between dogs and kids and grown-ups who fall asleep there. We assess the sorry state of our sofas and congratulate Nicole on her shiny new, though still problematic, addition to the furniture family. What shape is your couch in?

Sure, we like our kids to do well in school. But should parents be obsessing about their kids' grades? And fighting every dent in the GPA? And crowing about great grades on Facebook? We're trying for that A in laid-back parenting, but it's a super-hard class.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's back with another funny, inspiring Instagram account: Fruits of Motherhood [https://www.instagram.com/fruitsofmotherhood/]. Catherine discovered a miracle-worker for her daughter's painfully tight muscles, the TENS unit [https://www.healthline.com/health/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-unit]. And Terri learned that a TV show can be hilarious entertaining even when you don't actually watch it: The Stranger on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81001209].

When kids say something like "I'm stupid," a parent's first instinct is to tell them they're wrong. But in this case, our instincts are, well, wrong and stupid. What's the best way to help kids who are down on themselves? Mentioned: The "growth mindset" concept [https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/].

It's time for one of our trademark rants, and this time we target a school grading system that is confusing, impractical, and just generally a nightmare for students and parents (and we're guessing for teachers too). We give it an F.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: On Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, "Zoey's Extraordinary Failure" seems to be betraying her brother, but for us it's the lack of production numbers and laughs. Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Night Out." On Veronica Mars , last week we didn't get enough Keith Mars, and this week we didn't get enough Wallace. However, we did get rid of Troy, which is a win {"You Think You Know Somebody"). Next: "The Return of the Kane."

Who's the better parent, you or your own mom or dad? After we read about a survey that asked parents this question [https://www.studyfinds.org/survey-3-in-4-parents-believe-theyre-better-moms-dads-than-their-own-folks/], we had to jump in with our thoughts. Nicole has a clear answer, but Terri and Catherine weren't quite ready to declare victory.

We all agree that covering your windows is important (though some of Nicole's neighbors? Not so much). But what are we covering them with? Blinds? Fresh new curtains? Old dirty curtains? Maybe a bedsheet in a pinch?

It should come as no surprise that teens want their parents to be available but not intrusive. A New York Times article [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/well/family/what-do-teenagers-want-potted-plant-parents.html?_r=1] considers that a good thing, but some of us aren't so sure.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine shouts out the Alex & Ani store in Cranston, RI, for giving her daughter's team the VIP treatment. Nicole's keeping up with the kids on TikTok, while Terri is reliving her youthful love of Banana Republic on Abandoned Republic (also on Facebook). Mentioned: Periscope was the app Grandma Terri was trying to recall. Visit https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog for links to everything!

Go read the caption on this adorable photo James Van Der Beek posted on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/B9CRnBQprAu/], then come back here for our discussion of just how right we think this dad of five gets it. He's probably been listening to our podcast to acquire this wisdom.

Catherine's about to enter semi-retirement from all her sports mom volunteer jobs, and Terri and Nicole are already there. We wonder what we'll find to complain about now!

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: On Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Zoey's powers get her in trouble with neighbor Mo, and we trade growing complexity of plot (thumbs up) for big production numbers (thumbs down). Next: "Zoey's Extraordinary Failure."

In Neptune, Veronica dons an array of costumes to solve the Veronica Mars case of the week, "The Wrath of Con," and we trade Keith Mars screen time for lots of Lilly flashbacks. Next: "You Think You Know Somebody."

Last week's mention of "The Repair Shop" [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-apple-music-playlists-sheraton-hotels-linens-the-repair-shop] got us talking about family heirlooms: What we have, what we care about, what we might pass on to our kids (whether they like it or not).

We hope you're not surrounded by people who make you feel like something's wrong with you. But come to think of it, there might be something we'd like to change about our appearance, just if we could do so magically, no big deal. Not to be ungrateful or anything. If you could change something, what would it be? Theoretically speaking?

Do your kids represent themselves to their pediatrician, or are you the one doing all the talking? How can you transition teens and young adults to self-advocacy so you can be released from the room where it happens (and the pressure of being the family medical caseworker)? Finding the right doctor helps, unsurprisingly.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Terri enjoys listening to and creating playlists on Apple Music (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207542 or follow her at temauro [https://music.apple.com/profile/temauro]). Nicole enjoyed some restful sleep thanks to Sheraton Hotels' linens [https://www.sheratonstore.com/category.aspx?bedding], and Catherine enjoys the sweet TV show The Repair Shop on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81224128].

How do you cope when you and your kids have a different idea about the ideal frequency of saying, or hearing, the words "I love you"? We obsess about what's enough, too much, and just right.

This article on parents staying up too late (in an attempt to get some kid-free time) got us complaining about how the bedtime struggles never really end when kids get older [https://www.parents.com/news/can-we-talk-about-the-fact-that-parents-stay-up-too-late/]. They're just different. As in, parents of older kids struggle to stay up past their kids' bedtimes, instead of the other way around.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist delivered a little less singing and a lot less dancing than we'd like, in "Zoey's Extraordinary Boss." We're hoping next
week's "Zoey's Extraordinary Neighbor" brings back the razzmatazz. Meanwhile, in Neptune, the Veronica Mars case of the week had a rather heartwarming ending. At least her client found his parent, while Veronica is still searching for hers. Next week: "The Wrath of Con."

After reading about this mom, who checks in with other parents when her teen goes to their homes [https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/teenagers/i-dont-care-if-other-parents-dont-do-i-do/], we talked about whether we do the same (or do anything else that might make us Those Weird Parents).

Today's question asks about how much we can bear to pay for hair cutting (and styling and coloring and what-all). Looking at our pictures, perhaps you can guess who among us cuts her own hair in order to avoid the $20 fee at the cheapest haircut place. Do you pay big bucks or pinch pennies when it comes to haircuts?

When one loving parent thinks that gentle teasing is the best way to help a child get used to the way others may joke around, and the other loving parent knows that even gentle teasing is unappreciated by said child and should be cut out immediately, you wind up with escalating tension, and who needs another source of that?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole found a smelly-dog solution in Wahl Deodorizing and Refreshing Pet Deodorant [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZQYKWW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], Catherine is stockpiling a lifetime supply of Plackers flossers [https://www.amazon.com/Plackers-Micro-Dental-Floss-Picks/dp/B07S3B9YNX/], and Terri's finding comfort in Luden's Wild Cherry cough drops [https://www.amazon.com/Ludens-Cherry-Throat-Soothes-Tastes/dp/B005GECIAU/].

A tweet from @jdesmondharris on weird little things we just can't manage to do got us obsessing about our own life skill failings, from legitimate flossing to whistling to following a recipe. What can you just not do?

You know all those annoying life admin tasks you have to do, like paying bills, filling out forms, and doing your taxes? We're ready to handle them book-club style, with friends, coffee (or wine, pick your poison), and commiseration. Except Nicole. She's not a team player! Mentioned: Young House Love Has a Podcast [https://www.younghouselove.com/podcast-161/], NPR's LifeKit podcast [https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763605807/paperwork-appointments-and-repairs-managing-adult-responsibilities], and Life Admin by Elizabeth Emens [https://www.elizabethemens.com/].

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: On Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist ("Zoey's Extraordinary Best Friend"), Zoey tries to untangle the whys and hows of her power, and then thinks better of it. This is a good strategy for the viewing audience too. Next week: “Zoey’s Extraordinary Boss." Over in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars solves a case of credit card fraud in “Credit Where Credit’s Due,” featuring a (mercifully, one-time-only) appearance by Paris Hilton. Next week: "Meet John Smith."

Yes, we've heard the mantra about praising effort, not outcome, and we get why it's important. But we still think there's a time and a place for a good old "Way to go!"

Continuing on our grooming theme from last week, we look at shampoos and wonder how much is appropriate to spend. Our preferences range from pricey salon selections to the bottom of the supermarket barrel. How much do you spend on shampoo?

Your kid made the team—hooray! Your family is putting loads of money and time into making your athlete successful — yay! go! And then the coach bullies your child in a way you wouldn't tolerate from any other human on the planet. Do you quietly take one for the team? Or do you become That Parent who people will later say ruined it for everyone?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Since it's Valentine's Day, check out Terri's Love Notes for Special Parents [https://www.byterrimauro.com/]. Nicole's loving the Instagram account Pups of UPS [https://www.instagram.com/pupsofups/], and Catherine recommends the lovely movie The Farewell [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8637428/].

We're so glad to be past the Classroom Valentines stage of life, but we still have plenty of suggestions for how Valentine's Day could be improved. For one thing, let's keep kids out of it!

We complain about ghosting (new name, old phenomenon) but also concede that sometimes, we'd like an "unfollow" feature IRL.

With both of our TV watches over (sniff), we've lined up two replacements. First up, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, a high-concept drama that involved enough singing, dancing, and Mary Steenburgen to convince us to watch episode 2 ("Zoey's Extraordinary Best Friend").

And then, to fill the Kristen Bell-shaped hole in our hearts now that The Good Place is over, we're watching Veronica Mars (set in the pretty bad place of Neptune, California). If you missed this dark teen detective drama the first time around, join us now. We're also listening to an accompanying podcast, Veronica Mars Investigations [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/vmi/1-01]. Next week: "Credit Where Credit's Due."

When we read this list of 7 Things Moms of Teens Don't Give a Crap About [https://grownandflown.com/moms-teens-dont-care-about/], we discovered we actually still do give a crap—especially when it comes to being friendly with our kids' friends.

On today's speed round, we debate the merits of good old-fashioned bar soap vs. fancy and fragrant body wash. It was two against one, but you'll have to listen to find out which won out. Do you have a shower-soap preference?

Our podcast is dedicated to the topics parents complain about, so we thought we’d discuss what can happen when you’re just overwhelmed with how much work parenting can be — physically, logistically, emotionally. Do you ever feel burned out as a parent? Are you already weeping in a dark room while you listen to this? Us too.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine makes the case for checking luggage when you fly (mentioned: her shout-out of Wheresmysuitcase.com [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/roundabout-roundup-wheresmysuitcasecom-keurigcom-and-doordash]). Nicole has another funny Instagram account for us: Influencers in the Wild [https://www.instagram.com/influencersinthewild/]. And Terri's sipping her coffee-and-apple-cider substitute, Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice Herbal Tea [http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/cinnamon-apple-spice-herbal-tea].

Just about any reality competition or game show would be way more challenging if you had kids in tow, so shouldn't we be earning cash prizes and bedroom sets for everything we do each day?

On today's Round 3, we're complaining about friends who postpone plans again and again, and about how to teach our kids not to be those people.

We weren't, in fact, ready, but both of our show watches have come to an end. The Good Place's series finale, "Whenever You're Ready," brought the series to a satisfying conclusion (Terri needed some convincing, but she got there). We appreciated the official TGP Podcast's final episodes, featuring series creator Mike Schur sharing a ton of background information about the making of the entire series [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast].

Less successful and satisfying: The West Wing Weekly podcast's final episode on the West Wing series finale, "Tomorrow." Kudos to the podcast team on getting 30 (yes, 30!) WW cast and crew members to appear on their show, but it turns out we like our discussions to be a little more intimate [http://thewestwingweekly.com/episodes/722].

Next up, we are going to dive into something new and something old(er): Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, which recently debuted on NBC [https://www.nbc.com/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist], and Veronica Mars (hi, Kristen Bell!) from 2004. The latter has an accompanying podcast co-hosted by Helen Zaltzman of The Allusionist, so we'll check that out too [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/].

When you return home after a vacation or some other disruption to your routine, do you unpack and re-combobulate immediately? Do you shove your suitcase in a corner and ignore it for a week? Or do you freeze, overwhelmed and unable to decide what to tackle first? We talked it out in this week's Round 1.

Terri's having a fight with her dentist. Nicole's always shopping around for a better one. Catherine lives in dread of being sent back to the gum surgeon. We're doing our best here to honor the concept of dentistry, but it's complicated. Are you a faithful dentist-goer?

Catherine got a worrisome letter from her daughter's school, and the fact that it turned out to be part of a giant clerical error didn't keep her from wondering if there shouldn't be a better way to deliver big bad news than a cold white piece of snail mail. But is there really any good way to get bad news about your kid?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri has an organizational tip that helps you give older clothes some love. Meanwhile, Nicole's loving her new Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer hot air brush [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LSUQSB0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and Catherine recommends Caulipower pizza [https://eatcaulipower.com/our-food]. Also mentioned: Noodles & Co. cauliflower noodles [https://www.noodles.com/dish/cauliflower-rigatoni-in-light-onion-cream-sauce/].

When our kids were small, we couldn't wait to get beyond hours-long bedtime routines and driving them all over the place. But now, we kinda miss those times—and enjoy revisiting them once in a while.

On today's episode, we complain about the division of household labor that puts us squarely in charge of all telephone transactions. Why, oh why, can't anyone else in our house ever place a call?

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: After watching "Patty," the penultimate episode of The Good Place, Terri's hoping for one more holy-mother-forking-shirtballs twist to make the show work for her. Next week: "Whenever You're Ready."

On The West Wing, we said goodbye to all our favorites as the Bartlet administration headed off into the sunset on "Tomorrow," the series finale. But we're not quite done with this show. Next week, we'll share our final thoughts on the series and the podcast that inspired us to watch it, the West Wing Weekly [http://thewestwingweekly.com/].

We talk about ourselves and our families a lot on this podcast. But off the air, we're talking about other families we encounter out in the wild. Mentioned: Ellen Seidman's blog, Love That Max [https://www.lovethatmax.com/].

Earthquakes. Fires. Tornadoes. Floods. Hurricanes. Hurricane panics. We've seen 'em all, and in some cases bought the insurance. What is Mother Nature up to in your part of the world?

A Washington Post article about the science of why your child is such an entitled brat [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/how-to-raise-kinder-less-entitled-kids-according-to-science/2016/10/03/1a74fa3a-7525-11e6-b786-19d0cb1ed06c_story.html] got us talking about the ways our kids have come to expect a certain level of rewards, merchandise, and entertainment, and what we can do to get them to cut that out. (Mentioned: An earlier discussion of fancy underwear [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923055].)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine is cautiously optimistic about air frying (in this Breville Smart Oven [https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/ovens/bov900.html]), and Terri is enjoying lemon cookie mini bars [https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/shop/lemon-cookie-mini-bar] and iced cinnamon puffs [https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/shop/iced-cinnamon-puffs] from WW (formerly WeightWatchers). Continuing our food-and-drink theme, Nicole recommends Bolthouse Farms smoothies for sneaky vegetable consumption [https://www.bolthouse.com/products/beverages/].

Nicole had to deliver a birthday celebration to her away-at-college daughter, which got us obsessing about how we celebrate special days for special people in our lives, whether they are near or far.

Yes, we know kids should be involved in activities, but does it have to be so hard to make time for practices/games/meetings/events, and transport everyone to and fro? (And the parking. Oh, the parking!)

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, we're charging toward the finish line with both of our shows. Our heroes are suddenly ballooning into the afterlife on The Good Place, and on The West Wing, we dive deeply and swoonily into the post-White House lives and careers of many of our faves. Next week: "Patty" on The Good Place and "Tomorrow" on The West Wing.

When we read about the Dutch concept of niksen, or basically doing nothing [https://www.scarymommy.com/we-all-need-niksen/], we had to talk about whether we can actually single-task, let alone zero-task.

Hobbies like sewing, knitting, and crocheting theoretically have as their end product something somebody can wear. For today's question, we wanted to see if any of us are quite that industrious. Maybe our moms were, and maybe our daughters, but us? Listen and see.

Kids will never learn how to survive failure if we don't let them fail, sure, we know that, absolutely, and yet, who wants to stand back and let your kid fail? We're finding the not intervening thing to be easier said than done, but on occasion we do manage to foster a little independence and admire the power of shame.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole loves the beautiful pictures of her home country at Images of Canada on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/imagesofcanada/]. Catherine is shouting out Wisconsin Public Television's shout-out to her daughter's skating team [https://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/practice-makes-perfect-for-the-fond-du-lac-blades-on-the-world-stage/]. And Terri finally found a good vitamin source at Healthwarehouse.com [https://www.healthwarehouse.com/].

Sending our kids out into the big wide world everyday is tough, especially when we know all the little things they don't quite know or aren't quite good at. So how do we do it? We'll meet you in the surveillance van. Bring some snacks.

To quote Free to Be You and Me, "Some kind of help is the kind of help we all can do without." Specifically, when we ask for help, we would like to be relieved of the mental burden of whatever it is you're helping us with. Please!

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, The Good Place is back with "You've Changed, Man," which ends with yet another plan for the afterlife, as well as a jar full of marbleized Janets. There's also plenty of planning on West Wing's "The Last Hurrah," as Arnie (or was it Ernie?) Vinick ponders his next move and the incoming Santos administration aims to fill its cabinet posts. Mentioned: Becoming by Michelle Obama [https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/1524763136]. Next week: "Mondays, Am I Right?" on The Good Place and "Institutional Memory" on The West Wing.

We've all heard the buzzword, and we all know it's good for us. That doesn't make it any easier to make time for self-care--especially when our culture is all about toughing things out [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/12/16/moms-are-putting-off-care-themselves-our-tough-it-out-culture-isnt-helping].

Being sick is no fun, but sometimes, we wish for the ability to just put school or work on hold for 24 hours and take good care of ourselves. Sick days are few and far between for freelancers, alas, and even sparser for parents. Do you get a sick day sometimes?

Watching the NBC drama This Is Us got us thinking profound thoughts about the way our childhoods have formed the people we are now ... and shallow thoughts about whether our own families would make for good TV shows. We take up that latter point today, and also contemplate how we'd make best use of the power to flashback.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine's feet are cozy thanks to Uggs insoles [https://www.ugg.com/women-footwear/sheepskin-insole/1101443.html], Nicole's following her felines with a GPS pet tracker [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07THKNGGP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1], and Terri discovered the dice game Left Right Center [https://www.amazon.com/George-GEO00001-Single-Blister-Game/dp/B00EO74GQY] during her family's stay at the Villa Roma resort in the Catskills [https://www.villaroma.com/].

Not only are we obsessed with embarrassing things that happened to us in high school, we're obsessed with trying to protect our kids from having the same obsession (and some of the other growing pains that come with adulthood).

New phone frustration has us wondering if we're too old to be technically savvy, or if it's technology that needs to do a better job meeting our needs.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Catherine saw Star Wars: The Newest One and shares her thoughts. Then, she and Terri discuss West Wing's "Transition." We're nearing the end of the series, but these last eps are a joy to watch. (We're ahead of the West Wing Weekly podcast for now, since we were anxious to continue watching.) Next week, it's "The Last Hurrah" on West Wing, and hurrah! The Good Place is back, with an episode called "You've Changed, Man."

2020 is going to be a big year for both Catherine and Nicole: They'll both be celebrating (maybe observing is more accurate?) their 50th birthday. One thing we know for sure: They're not having a wedding dress party [https://www.scarymommy.com/wedding-dress-party/] for the big 5-0 fete.

Harry Potter had his invisibility cloak, and we're jealous. If we had the power to move about undetected, just think of all the good intel we could gather about our kids' school experience! What would you do with the power of invisibility?

As moms who work at home, we depend on some semblance of routine to keep us on task, and as much as we love our kids and spouses and want them to be around us every moment, forever and always, they do tend to mess with the way we do things. We talk about our frustration over disrupted workflows and strategize ways to keep things on track.

Terri's keen to keep things status quo in this new year; Nicole is looking ahead to some professional changes and travel. Catherine is both excited for and dreading what's coming in the fall of 2020.

We always say that when it comes to parenting, we've been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. So today we share our hard-won advice with those new parents who are just joining the club.

This is a Speed Round with consequences, as we reveal our parenting resolutions for 2020. Two of us are trying to back off, while the third feels like she needs to lean in.

Today's speed round topic: New Year's Eve (and New Year's Day) traditions and memories, like narrowly avoiding Y2K disaster and giving Times Square a wide berth. How do you celebrate?

We're closing out 2019 and welcoming in 2020 with a week of speed rounds. Today's topic: What's something you did right in 2019?

Whether it's moving to a new country at a moment's notice, moving to the big city with big dreams but no job, or traveling abroad without really being sufficiently worldly, we've done some things in our lives that still leave us a little aghast.

We lament the fact that we have to make all the decisions in our families, at least partly because we won't let anyone else do it. Well, two of us handle decision-making that way — find out which of us has discovered the blissful state of decision freedom. You'll also learn about Nicole's Mexican-food ordering strategy and why Catherine does the laundry in her kitchen.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Catherine sings the praises of the simple apple slicer [https://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Easy-Apple-Corer-Slicer/dp/B000SOAT0Y], while Nicole enjoys Mrs. Fletcher on HBO [https://www.hbo.com/mrs-fletcher] and Terri recommends the new podcast Movie Mike's Movie Podcast [https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/movie-mikes-movie-podcast-nashville-podcast-zfICTxG7B_u/].

According to an article in US News and World Report [https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/foods-for-anxiety-lower-kids-stress-levels-with-these-healthy-choices], eating foods including salmon, chickpeas, watercress, and sauerkraut could help soothe anxiety and stress. We note that chocolate, cookies, and Cheez-its seem to work equally well. At the very least, they don't add stress. Mentioned: Jameela Jamil on Justin Long's podcast, Life is Short [https://wondery.com/shows/justin-long/].

On this day of gift-giving in honor of a baby, we discuss whether nontraditional baby shower gifts are an improvement on the basic baby blanket and onesie. Plus: Bonus complaining about how it's harder than ever to buy gifts for our families.

Special guest Nicole joins Terri and Catherine to talk seasonal entertainment... which she's not actually consuming, as it turns out. Still, we manage to list a lot of our faves. For our holly jolly list with links, see https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog.

Home Alone may be a hit holiday movie, but in our homes, the kids definitely want (or need) company, with one notable exception. A survey of social workers says 12 is the magic age [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191025075904.htm]. We say one size never fits all. Mentioned: Parenting horror movies we made up [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/grab-bag-zombie-skillz-and-parenting-chills], and a terrifying real one starring Sally Field [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116260/].

In appearance, in temperament, in lying-down-in-a-dark-room-with-a-wet-rag-over-your-eyes anxiety, we all take after one or the other of our parents. Find out which side of the tree our apple doesn't fall too far from, and then tell us who you take after

Is your clan starting to look like something from "Modern Family"? Are you close to aunts and uncles and cousins and siblings, or happy staying as far away from any feud fodder as you can? Are your friends more your family than your family? We have an extended talk about extended family.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's thankful for the cloud's magic ability to make her life easier, while Nicole's praising Costco Travel for saving her money on car rentals [https://www.costcotravel.com/Rental-Cars]. And Catherine enjoyed the mother-daughter movie Where'd You Go, Bernadette [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2365580/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1] (she also talked up the book on a 2015 Round 2 episode [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923320]).

Inspired by John and Sherry at Young House Love Has a Podcast [https://www.younghouselove.com/podcast-155/], we discuss the Rule of Age 10, which posits that your youthful obsessions can identify your calling in life. Turns out, this rule might be right on.

With the 2010s coming to an end, everyone's talking about the bests of the decade. We, of course, had to talk about this topic our way: By complaining about parenting trends that trouble and annoy us. Mentioned: Our episode on college reveal events [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922238]—and happy birthday to us!

NBC made Making It into a two-week-long "event" instead of a season, and the show felt overpackaged. But we still enjoyed watching creative makers make things. Mentioned: The Extra Hot Great podcast discussion of the season [https://www.extrahotgreat.com/280]. On The West Wing's "Requiem," we said goodbye to both Leo McGarry and John Spencer, with lovely tributes both on the episode and on the West Wing Weekly podcast [http://thewestwingweekly.com/episodes/718]. And here's the ID on the mystery pallbearer at the funeral [https://westwing.fandom.com/wiki/Requiem].

Sure, there are things we can (and probably really should) teach our grown and nearly-grown kids how to do. But then we'd be out of a job, and we kind of like this parenting gig.

A while back we talked on a Speed Round about places we'd like to visit, and thinking a little more along those lines, we share some other things we'd like to do before it's too late, from education to travel to all being in the same room. Do you have a bucket list?

Is moving away from home an absolute rite of young adulthood that we must force our kids to engage in above all else? Or can we give the kids a break and let them stay in the nest while they struggle to get started in a crummy job market? We share our own movin' out stories and wonder what's next for our kids.

It's time for one last rummaging through the grab bag to end the week. Today, have some fun with a chat on our fave songs to entertain or maybe annoy our kids with, plus our thoughts on dogs’ birthday parties.

From the grab bag today: Chats on comfort food and weird things we’ve found. But first, we’ll look back on that time when Nicole wore two different shoes. (While we’re at it, you might want to take a quick look to make sure yours match; we know how things can get this time of year.)

For today’s grab bag selections, we have an important conversation from earlier this year on … um … Kim Kardashian’s bathroom, plus an emotional look at our favorite … emojis. Yeah, we’re a little goofy this week. Hope you can use a little of that today.

We’ll be back next week to chat about the whole season of "Making It," along with the “West Wing” episode “Requiem.” Meanwhile, we pulled a couple of entertainment-related episodes out of our grab bag for today: a discussion of our relative merit in a zombie apocalypse and a brainstorming of parenting-related horror movie concepts inspired, back in April of 2018, by the movie A Quiet Place.

Last week we talked about releasing ourselves from unrealistic expectations and going for good-enough. Thanks to some unexpected travel and computer crises, our good-enough this week is a grab bag of past conversations that we found particularly silly and goofy and perfect for listening to again at this stressful time of year. On today’s episode, we chat about irrational anger, our pets’ home-security skillz and a discarded muffin dilemma.

From high cliffs to dark forests to a scene right out of a suspense movie, we share some scary spots we've found ourselves in.

We've all had success with picking the issues we want to focus on with our kids, sure, of course we have. But when spouses choose different battles, kids get in on the action, and we can't even win the fights we choose to engage in, things get complicated.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Nicole's binge-watching Nathan for You on Comedy Central [http://www.cc.com/shows/nathan-for-you], while Catherine enjoys SkinnyPop's seasonal kettle corn [gingerbread cookie flavor; https://www.skinnypop.com/our-popcorn/#popped] and Terri shouts out Olive Garden to Go [https://www.olivegarden.com/order-online].

After complaining yesterday about obligatory holiday traditions, today we obsess about what makes a holiday good enough for our families (or, really, ourselves).

A post at Scary Mommy [https://www.scarymommy.com/things-you-must-do-holidays/] got us talking about all the holiday stuff we once did--or did once, and decided that was plenty. Turns out we're pretty good at pruning out unhappy seasonal obligations. Ho ho ho!

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, Making It [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922331] is back for a second season (well, a two-week "event" [https://www.nbc.com/making-it]), and we're still all in, because Nick Offerman! Amy Poehler! Overalls! Lovely people making lovely things! We recommend following all of the makers on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/B40l4ZVAgKh/].

Meanwhile, over on The West Wing, things are both very sad and very happy all at once in "Election Day, Part 2." The campaign is over, and we are perilously close to the end of our time with the show too.

Next week, we'll watch West Wing's "Requiem" and discuss Making It's first week of episodes (through Monday, December 9).

A post on the blog Grown and Flown [https://grownandflown.com/dear-santa-15-things-mom-wants-christmas/?] got us thinking about our real Christmas wish lists, full of things you'll never find at the mall or in Santa's workshop.

Used to be, family photo clutter meant shoeboxes full of snapshots to sort through. Now it's more likely to be thousands of phone-snapped images clogging up your cloud storage. We talk today about how and if we organize those precious pictures and whether we ever look at them again.

On Second-Listen Saturday, we share some fun moments from past episodes for your weekend listening pleasure.

It's just a love of efficiency, really. An enforcing of good manners, and why wouldn't you? A fight to gain needed services and accommodations for one's child, as any good Mama Bear would do. So why do people say “control freak” like it's a bad thing?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, Terri's shouting out our new weekend schedule (look for Second-Listen Saturdays and Speed Round Sundays in your feed). Catherine's counting on Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/] a lot these days, while Nicole's surfing OpenTable [https://www.opentable.com/]. Also mentioned: a citation generator [https://mickschroeder.com/citation/], the Cite This for Me plug-in [http://www.citethisforme.com/], and Nicole's book, Inclusion in Action [https://products.brookespublishing.com/Inclusion-in-Action-P1050.aspx]!

We have so much to be thankful for upon this Thanksgiving Day: College and job opportunities for our kids, each other, our dear listeners ... and GIFs. We love GIFs.

We provide our kids with all the essentials, from electricity to staving off disaster with our constant worrying, and we get nothing but grief for our grief!

On Dancing with the Stars, we have a winner: Hannah Brown, who triumphed over the judges' barrage of 10s for Ally Brooke. Congratulations, Hannah (and her pro partner, Alan).

On The Good Place, "The Answer" was all about love, and we loved this beautiful episode centered on Chidi and his inevitable, timeless romance with Eleanor. Mentioned: Alan Sepinwall's recap at Rolling Stone [https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/good-place-recap-season-4-episode-9-answer-913937/].

Over on The West Wing, there's more love and romance as Josh and Donna finally acknowledge their years-long feelings--and the rest of the Santos campaign staffers pair up too.

Next week, we'll continue with West Wing's "Election Day, Part 2," and also watch the debut of season 2 of Making It, the Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman-hosted reality crafting show [https://www.nbc.com/making-it].

We’re kicking off a week of gratitude by extending thanks and shout-outs to all of those people who have helped make our parenting journey just a little easier, from spouses and grandparents to pediatricians and carpool buddies.

Home TV screens are getting bigger, yet phone-size screens are more and more becoming the place our eyeballs soak up entertainment. We talked today about which screens we're most likely to watch TV and movies on—theatre? television? laptop? iPad? phone? Where are you doing your viewing?

We lament the dilemma of having to choose between two kids and their activities/events, and wish someone would get going with some cloning or time-travel tech to help us out.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we each shout out a handy-dandy delivery service. Catherine’s pick is WheresMySuitcase.com [https://wheresmysuitcase.com/], Terri’s is Keurig [https://www.keurig.com/content/beverages], and Nicole's is DoorDash [https://www.doordash.com/].

It stinks for us moms when kids are discouraged and all the Band-aids and hugs in the world don't make things better. And since their discouragements are our discouragements, we experience contact trauma.

We've found that just like adulting, parenting isn't always everything we thought it would be. (But we're never disappointed by these kids of ours.) Mentioned: the FUBAR podcast [https://fubarpod.libsyn.com/].

On Dancing with the Stars, remember last season, when Bobby Bones won [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922326] and everyone freaked the heck out? This season, the semi-final prompted the freaking out when the judges, having scored themselves into a corner, eliminated James Van Der Beek. Next week: The finale, which we'll watch but won't be happy about.

On The Good Place, "The Funeral to End All Funerals" was actually three funerals and a courtroom drama. Mentioned: The Good Place podcast (https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast; please don't try Terri's drinking-game idea). Next week: "The Answer."

On The West Wing's "Welcome to Wherever You Are," we got sympathetic indigestion just watching the Santos team criss-cross the country in the last days of the campaign, even if they did take Jon Bon Jovi along for the ride. Next week: "Election Day, Part 1."

We're so overwhelmed by all the streaming services, cable channels, and other ways to procure and watch TV that we might just stick to podcasts.

TV commercials for Alexa have got us thinking about our personal degree of home automation and whether we wish we were more hooked up. Are you living it up in a smart home?

A story about Nicole’s son’s internship in Japan leads into a discussion about young adults who don’t quite get that you can’t max out your credit cards, use up all your savings, run up an emergency-room bill, and not expect your Mom to freak the heck out. For younger kids, the dilemma is differentiating between needs, like underwear; wants, like underwear from Pink; and impossibilities, like buying an alpaca to live in your backyard. Though we don’t have all the answers, Catherine recommends the iAllowance app [http://www.jumpgapsoftware.com/allowance/index.html], Terri recommends iTunes allowances, and Nicole advocates for pay-as-you-go. (And back to young adults and budgeting, our faithful listener Mike has some good advice in his Facebook comment [https://www.facebook.com/terri.mauro/posts/10209480167308345?pnref=story].)

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup, we each shout out a TV show we’re enjoying (see our Tuesday Round 2s for more). Catherine’s pick is Queer Eye on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/80160037], Nicole’s is Modern Love on Amazon Prime [https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Love-Season-1/dp/B07VNF5351], and Terri’s is Mom (https://www.cbs.com/shows/mom/; currently airing on CBS, plus streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime).

We’re still trying to understand what VSCO girls are, while helping kids navigate (or ignore) what’s trendy and what’s not.

An article about addressing kids’ annoying habits (through positive reinforcement only, please!) got us complaining about just how hard it is to break our kids’ habits—and really, our own too [https://parenting.nytimes.com/preschooler/scolding-children].

On Dancing with the Stars, the dances were short, the evening was long, and Sean Spicer finally reached the end of his run. Next week, the five remaining dancers (Lauren Alaina, Ally Brooke, Hannah Brown, Kel Mitchell, and James Van Der Beek) face off in the semi-finals.

On The Good Place, this season's grand experiment came to an abrupt end, and we have no idea what to expect next week in "The Funeral to End All Funerals." Mentioned: Through the Looking Glass: A LOST Retrospective (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/through-the-looking-glass-a-lost-retrospective/id1480278215, Mo Ryan's Lost podcast).

We returned to The West Wing with the campaign episode "Two Weeks Out," aka The One With the Missing Briefcase. Next up: "Welcome to Wherever You Are."

Nicole’s dreaming about a few parenting decisions she’d like to do over, but Terri’s not ready to commit unless she can foresee all the possible outcomes.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Nicole and Terri discovered Yogibo beanbag furniture [https://www.yogibo.com/] during their mall meet-up; see photos at parentingroundabout.com. Terri's also branching out from her beloved Converse shoes to PF Flyers [https://www.pfflyers.com/pd/made-in-usa/made-in-usa-sandlot/PM16UH1.html?dwvar_PM16UH1_color=Sandlot#color=Sandlot], and Catherine's enjoying Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars from Williams-Sonoma [https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/ooey-gooey-pumpkin-bars.html].

A post about the importance of having a "vent buddy" in your life [http://wellbody.net/posts/2019/05/20/why-having-vent-buddy-important-health/] got us obsessing about our own vent buddy situations, and our kids' too. (That's vent as in "rant and complain," not "heat and cool.")

If you haven't heard the new and "improved" (ahem) version of the ABC song, you can listen to it on Bobby Bones's show [https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2019-10-28-viral-post-showing-new-abc-song-frustrating-the-internet/]. Then join us in complaining about the fixing of things that aren't broken.

On Dancing with the Stars, the dance-offs sent Kate Flannery dancing off into the sunset. We'll miss her!

On The Good Place, "A Chip Driver Mystery" was more misery than mystery, in our opinion, even if Brent did get punched in the face. Next week: "Help Is Other People." We'll also watch the next West Wing episode in our series watch, "Welcome to Wherever You Are."

After Terri and Nicole visited a Tesla showroom (during their historic IRL get-together [https://www.facebook.com/parentingroundabout/posts/2454339961288179]), we talked about all the ways we think our cars should be working for us. It's another in our long-running series, "Here, business and industry: Free ideas!" Mentioned: Our 2016 Speed Round on dream cars [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18923092], which includes former co-host Amanda Morin.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Nicole raves about her Hydroflask (https://www.hydroflask.com/, but she's not a VSCO girl). Catherine and Terri both have memoirs to recommend: Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/140041/tender-at-the-bone-by-ruth-reichl/] and When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People by Jeannie Gaffigan [https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/jeannie-gaffigan/when-life-gives-you-pears/9781538751046/].

On this Halloween day, we talk about what really makes parents scream, from head lice to forgotten homework to Caillou. Visit the Parenting House of Horrors... if you dare!

Today we reveal ourselves to be, on the whole, Scrooges when it comes to Halloween—at least the answering-the-door-for trick-or-treaters part. Not the eating candy part, though.

On Dancing with the Stars, Halloween Night gave the hair and makeup folks license to go even crazier than usual, and group dances meant a heroic performance from Kate Flannery as the sole female star on her team. Next week: Dance-Offs.

On The Good Place, we take a quick detour to the Bad Place as Michael and Jason rescue Janet from captivity, while Tahani undergoes an existential crisis regarding party hostessing. Next week: "A Chip Driver Mystery." Mentioned: The Good Place podcast [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast].

On The West Wing, the episode of the week is technically called "The Cold" due to candidate Arnie Vinick's case of the sniffles. But it really should have been called "The Kiss" after the one that kicks off the episode (the one that fans have waited seven years for). Next week, we'll skip watching an episode in order to stay aligned with the West Wing Weekly podcast [http://thewestwingweekly.com/].

Buzzfeed posed a series of Would You Rather questions on parenting topics to Jimmy Fallon [https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/we-made-jimmy-fallon-answer-impossibly-hard-would]. This is right in our wheelhouse, so we challenged each other to some tricky "this or that" queries. Mentioned: The "ghost baby" viral post [https://www.parents.com/news/mom-freaks-out-ghost-baby-monitor/].

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine finally (finally, finally) got a new laptop: A Lenovo Yoga 730 [https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/]. Nicole recommends Blundstone boots [https://www.blundstone.com/] for rainy weather (Terri also likes Bogs [https://www.bogsfootwear.com/shop/index.html]), and continuing the footwear theme, Terri shouts out Stegmann clogs [https://www.stegmannusa.com/].

How much influence can, and should, and did, we have over our kids' social lives and choices? Like everything else in parenting, there's never an easy answer.

Should "fiver" birthday parties [https://www.popsugar.com/family/What-Fiver-Birthday-Party-45660067] replace the old-fashioned kind, where kids get 20 gifts of wildly varying desirability, appropriateness, and cost? Two out of three of your podcast hosts say yes. Mentioned: A discussion of birthday parties on Bobby Bones's radio show [https://overcast.fm/+IvaKplgyM/29:35].

This week's Dancing with the Stars mystery theme turned out to be "80s Tunes and Uncontrollable Sobbing," so that was fun. Our rooting interests are still hanging in there, so we'll be back for next week's Halloween Night.

On The Good Place, Terri's hunch was proven correct as a Bad Place spy was outed! Next week: "Employee of the Bearimy."

On The West Wing, we enjoyed a snappy procedural episode, even if it was about a looming nuclear disaster. Mentioned: "Atomic Tattoos" on 99% Invisible (https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/atomic-tattoos/; on how ducking and covering might actually be a decent strategy). Next: "The Cold."

As a blog post from Swistle [https://www.swistle.com/2019/10/15/one-of-the-big-reliefs-of-parenting-the-stage-of-kids-making-their-own-plans/] so rightly points out, there are some kid milestones that are accompanied by a huge sigh of parental relief. Of course, knowing us, you will not be surprised to learn that sometimes we're just sighing.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's checking out consumer site The Inventory [https://theinventory.com/]. Catherine read Susan Orlean's The Library Book [https://amzn.to/2qa2LFX], and Terri's enjoying Sarah D. Bunting's new podcast, Quaid in Full (https://quaidinfull.fireside.fm/episodes; here's the GoFundMe [https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-quaid-in-full-podcast] if you'd like to support the project).

Nicole is obsessing about how to stay close to her daughter, who's away at university, while Catherine anticipates that looming departure. (Terri, meanwhile, would like to disconnect just a little.)

After listening to a Freakonomics podcast episode [http://freakonomics.com/podcast/math-curriculum/] on high school math, we took on the topic as well, asking whether the current curriculum really serves kids' needs today and for their future.

On Dancing with the Stars, we saw 20 minutes of dancing amid two hours of Disney promos and lots of faffing-about filler. And then nobody was eliminated!

The Good Place's "Chillaxing" gave us more Chidi (yay!) but also more worries about what the Bad Place demons might be plotting (boo). Mentioned: The Good Place podcast [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast].

Next week: Dancing with the Stars Week 6, "Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy" on The Good Place, and "Duck and Cover" on The West Wing.

A HuffPo article on the sometimes unsung benefits of parenting [https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/amanda-haas/i-never-appreciated-these-parenting-perks-until-i-became-a-mom_a_23321700] had us reminiscing about naps, yoga pants, Arthur the aardvark, and dining out with toddlers (really).

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine wouldn't have survived the past week without Signup Genius [https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm]. Nicole found yet another sarcastic Instagram account to follow: satiregram [https://www.instagram.com/satiregram/]. And Terri enjoyed many, many delicious treats [https://mamatude.blogspot.com/2019/10/tweeting-nourished-festival.html] at the Nourished Festival in Secaucus, New Jersey [https://nourishedfestival.com/expos/new-york]. Some highlights: Skylar Project [https://www.instagram.com/theskylarproject_/], Deliciousness [https://deliciousness.com/], Nature's Yoke [https://www.naturesyoke.com/], Against the Grain [http://againstthegraingourmet.com/gluten-free-breads], Wunder [https://www.wundercreamery.com/], and Gee Free [https://www.geefree.com/products/gluten-free-everything-bagel-puffs].

Sometimes as a parent, you accidentally raise your hand at precisely the wrong time, and then you find yourself in charge of catering six meals for 130 hungry high school students.

On Wednesdays we complain, and this week our target is care packages for kids away at college or camp. Turns out, we are not the kind of moms who care enough send care packages.

On Dancing with the Stars, there was no advertised theme, but we declared it "Songs Inappropriate for the Dance Night." We're still backing James, Kate, and Lauren as we roll into Disney Night next week.

On The Good Place, we hope the gang is starting to get their groove back. Mentioned: The Good Place Podcast [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast]. Next up: "Chillaxing."

On The West Wing, we enjoyed "Internal Displacement," an episode that featured Will Bailey as comic relief and the return of Danny Concannon (yay!). Next: We'll take a week off to catch up with the West Wing Weekly podcast [http://thewestwingweekly.com/].

After we read the viral post [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-watch-saves-life-hard-fall-apple-watch-series-4-falling-emergency-bob-burdett/] about how an Apple Watch can call 911 if it detects a "hard fall," we came up with plenty of times and places a parenting-themed feature like this could come in handy. Mentioned: Teen driver technology... that already exists! [https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/technology/teen-driver-technology/]

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Terri's enjoying Lauren Alaina's new single, "Getting Good" [https://youtu.be/xebJj6ONjks] (and Lauren on Dancing with the Stars [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-dwts-week-2-and-west-wing-the-wedding]). Catherine found a new option for photo gifts called CanvasChamp [https://www.canvaschamp.com/]. And Nicole's laughing at Rob Lowe on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/roblowe/]--or rather, his sons' sarcastic comments there. Another funny celeb follow: Jennifer Garner [https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.garner/].

Of course we want our kids to be independent. In theory. In reality? We need rosaries and bubble wrap to get through it.

Carpooling is a blessing and a curse, and a new app called Floc [https://www.myflocapp.com/] is trying to make it easier for parents. We can still find plenty of ways to complain about our own carpooling experiences (or lack thereof).

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, we keep busy with three episodes of TV and two accompanying podcasts. On Dancing with the Stars, the annoyingly dragged-out elimination was even more annoying because it was 100% unnecessary, as Ray Lewis withdrew due to injury. But in the meantime, don't sleep on Kate Flannery. You go, girl!

The Good Place premiered ("A Girl From Arizona") with a little too much angst and worry for our heroes, although we very much enjoy the show's podcast [https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place/exclusives/tgp-podcast], hosted by Marc Evan Jackson and featuring this week actors D'Arcy Carden and Kirby Howell-Baptiste and writer Andrew Law.

On The West Wing, it was a Leo-centric episode that is unfortunately one of John Spencer's last ("Running Mates"). Mentioned: The West Wing Weekly podcast [http://thewestwingweekly.com/] and Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming [https://amzn.to/2ntUr2f].

A survey of teachers [https://www.corgan.com/story/lessons-from-teachers-how-classroom-design-impacts-teachers/] from architecture firm Corgan got us talking about classroom design, which Nicole turned from a passion into a day job (her blog, The Inclusive Class [http://www.theinclusiveclass.com/]). Mentioned: A story about a school in Washington that gave a boy with special needs a desk in a restroom [https://www.newsweek.com/school-places-special-needs-students-desk-bathroom-blames-space-limitations-1460601].

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's excited about the Downton Abbey movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6398184/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1], in theaters now; here's a recap [https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/where-downton-abbey-characters-left-off-before-the-movie.html] of where the show left off). Terri will soon be attending the Nourished Festival in Secaucus, New Jersey [https://nourishedfestival.com/expos/new-york], and she can get you a free or discounted ticket; contact her on Twitter [https://twitter.com/roundaboutchat] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/parentingroundabout/]. And Nicole surprised us with an unexpected beauty product: Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs [https://amzn.to/31JBcko].

Are you a stickler for rules, or the benevolent leader of a lawless land? Guess which one applies more to each of us.

Ever notice that moms are such good listeners that it basically becomes our full-time job? Sometimes we wish our kids would realize that dads have ears, too.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, we said goodbye to our first star on Dancing with the Stars. We think we're in favor of the new voting system—but definitely not the protracted elimination scene.

On The West Wing, President Bartlet got two world powers to put their disagreement on hold long enough for his daughter Ellie to be married (in "The Wedding"), while Josh's confidence cratered on the campaign trail. Mentioned: The West Wing Weekly podcast [http://thewestwingweekly.com/].

Next week, we'll continue with DWTS (Movie Night!) and The West Wing ("Running Mates"). We'll also enjoy the return of The Good Place, with its season four premiere.

When we heard that Disney has a bedtime hotline [in which characters tell kids to go to bed; https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/09/17/disney-bedtime-hotline-back-elsa-and-anna-yoda-more-get-kids-sleep/2346853001/], we started dreaming about other hotlines we could use—and which pop culture celebs should staff them.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's enjoying the latest iteration of The Great British Baking Show [on Netflix; https://www.netflix.com/title/80063224]. Nicole's watching The Righteous Gemstones on HBO [https://www.hbo.com/the-righteous-gemstones], and Terri's singing the praises of that modern marvel, IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/].

Mom stress and worry is eternal, but we have some modern ways of dealing with it, from meds to apps and other tech. We also depend on those old stand-bys, fresh air and vegetables. Well, some of us do. [Mentioned: Trello, https://trello.com/en-US]

A McSweeney's list of surprising ways to injure yourself when you're over 40 [https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/16-surprising-ways-to-injure-yourself-when-youre-over-40] prompted us to recount our own aches and pains, whether they're age-related or of other mysterious origin.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, it was a double dose of dancing. So You Think You Can Dance crowned a winner (https://www.instagram.com/bailrok/, the one who's been our pick all along!). And Dancing with the Stars returned with a new set, a new crop of "stars," some new pros, and the usual potential for a fun season. Mentioned: Comedian Ryan Hamilton's "adult fall" routine at https://youtu.be/QncQNabfRL0, in honor of Christie Brinkley, and Annie Barrett's blog at http://www.anniebarrett.com/blog. Next week, DWTS week 2 (when we'll actually get to vote for our faves), and on West Wing, "The Wedding."

A New York Times article on Facebook groups for parents of college students (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/style/facebook-groups-college-parents.html) got us chatting about whether these groups are a good idea for kids, parents, and us specifically (Nicole says Nope! but Catherine's keeping an open mind.)

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Terri's loving Taylor Swift's latest album (music collection? bunch o' songs?), Lover (https://amzn.to/2ZIwj9C). Catherine approves of the redesign of the Infinite Campus parent portal (https://www.infinitecampus.com/). And Nicole enjoys following the British royals on Instagram at KensingtonRoyal (William and Kate; https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal) and SussexRoyal (Harry and Meghan; https://www.instagram.com/sussexroyal/).

Terri has found the ultimate stool—er, tool—for thoroughly embarrassing her children. And she's sharing it with all of us!

Nicole is reeling from a string of unexpected, untimely bills, giving us a reason to complain about unnecessary emergency-room visits, overly thorough car mechanics, and other surprise hits to our budgets.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week, there was so much dancing on So You Think You Can Dance. Yep, we think these kids can dance! The top 4 proved it by doing about a dozen routines each (or so it seemed). On The West Wing, we jumped ahead of the West Wing Weekly podcast to discuss the episode "Undecideds," which we decided we liked a lot more than the previous debate episode. Next week, there will be so much dancing that there will be no room for a West Wing. We'll watch the SYTYCD finale and the debut of the latest season of Dancing with the Stars.

We follow up last week's food fight chat (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18971910) with more on WW (https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/; formerly known as WeightWatchers): How it works (or doesn't) for us, how it could be improved, and how in the world they thought "WW for kids" (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/weight-watchers-has-an-app-for-kids-some-parents-are-upset) was a good idea.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Nicole shouts out the Ikea bags beloved at college move-in time (https://amzn.to/2NI8Nal). Catherine's enjoying The Chef's Line on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/81103517), and Terri tells us more about our new podcast home on Spreaker (https://www.spreaker.com/explore). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

We try to set our kids up for success, one storage bin and phone alarm at a time. But they don't always appreciate (or, let's face it: notice) our efforts. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

We complain about how hard it is for people with different priorities, preferences, and metabolisms to share a kitchen. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: There was much dancing as the SYTYCD Top 6 showed off their stuff alongside several all-stars, including one of our faves, Gaby. We also read Linda Holmes's debut novel, "Evvie Drake Starts Over" (https://amzn.to/2Hnkyii), and found it just as charming as we'd hoped it would be. Next week, it's the SYTYCD Top 4 and West Wing's "Undecideds." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Nicole has done it: She's dropped off her baby at college! She fills us in on the logistical and emotional details. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Catherine had a good experience selling through StubHub (https://www.stubhub.com/sell/hub/). Terri got a warm welcome and some free electricity at a FedEx Office store (https://www.fedex.com/en-us/office.html). And Nicole's laughing with Sarcastic Mommy on Twitter (https://twitter.com/sarcasticmommy4). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

It's easy to obsess when our kids make big choices, like what college major to declare or what career to pursue. The hardest part might be deciding when to let it become their obsession instead of ours. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On today's Round 3, we complain about high school schedules. Should teens really have to wake up so early? And what about block scheduling, where they're in one classroom for 90 minutes straight? Mentioned: The Start School Later campaign (https://www.startschoollater.net/). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On SYTYCD, the top 8 performed, and performed, and performed: Five dances each, in solos, duos, and groups. We're tired just watching. Mentioned: To the Pointe with Kristyn Burtt (https://www.podcastone.com/To-The-Pointe-with-Kristyn-Burtt) and The Dance Room (https://www.podcastone.com/the-dance-room), both podcasts where you can hear from the eliminated contestants each week. On our West Wing Watch, "The Al Smith Dinner" was a refreshing return to a rock-solid, political-procedural episode of the show. We also enjoyed the returns of Donna Moss and Will Bailey. Next week, we'll skip West Wing and discuss Evvie Drake Starts Over (https://amzn.to/2Hnkyii), the new novel from our podcast inspiration Linda Holmes (http://www.thisislindaholmes.com/). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On today's Round 1, we compare and contrast our own weddings with those of the Kids Today, with their barn venues and their candy buffets and their gender-switched wedding parties. Mentioned: This McSweeney's Monologue (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-a-barn-and-i-dont-want-to-host-your-wedding) from a barn that would prefer not to host your Pinterest wedding, thanks anyway. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, Nicole shouts out the Rome Cavalieri Hotel (https://romecavalieri.com/), where she spent her anniversary. Catherine's hooked on Money Heist on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/80192098), and Terri shares a guitar instrumental playlist by Austin VanDeSteeg (https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/guitar-instrumentals/pl.u-MDAWvJjFWLjbR8P); it's perfect music to work to. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

When you're juggling as many balls as we are, sometimes one or two get dropped. We obsess about these mistakes, and particularly the shame of admitting to them right when we've worked up a good rant about how they're someone else's fault. Mentioned: Low-Effort Ways to Annoy Your Teen (https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Bpr_XAUTC/) from Annie Get Your Gum. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

A report on how much our little darlings cost us (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090415/cost-raising-child-america.asp) got us complaining about all the expenses we've covered over the years, from the predictable to the (unpleasantly) surprising. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On SYTYCD, just when we'd kind of gotten over the heartbreak of eager young dancers not being chosen for the show, now we get the heartbreak of eliminations. So long, Eddie and Stephanie (but see you on tour). Speaking of heartbreak, West Wing crushed us with "Here Today." This episode is hard to watch, and not just because it's poorly lit and shot from weird angles the entire time. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Nicole's back from vacation and now she's getting her daughter packed up for college. Which means discussing the difference between "essentials" and "stuff that takes up a lot of space but won't ever be used." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, it's a supersized edition with Mimi and Stacy from Living the Second Act (https://livingthesecondact.com/)! At the time of recording, Stacy was eagerly anticipating BH90210 (https://www.fox.com/bh90210/), plus reading Elin Hildebrand's Summer of '69 (https://amzn.to/2YNu1cN). Mimi's binge-watching Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2817246/) and slathering on Elta MD sunscreens (https://amzn.to/31nwMiP). Catherine is virtuously listening to Duolingo's French podcast (https://podcast.duolingo.com/french). And Terri? Terri is singing a love song to jorts (https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2019-06-14-bobby-bones-and-the-raging-idiots-wrote-a-new-song-called-jorts/). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

We're moms, so we obsess about our kids' safety. And there's really no point at which we will relax and just assume they're good. Mimi Golub and Stacy Feintuch of Living the Second Act (https://livingthesecondact.com/) join us for this episode, and guess what? They live and die by the GPS tracker, just like we do. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

You know it's getting bad when a mom wishes her daughter would just meet a guy in a bar already. Mimi Golub and Stacy Feintuch of Living the Second Act (https://livingthesecondact.com/) join us to complain about kids making real-life connections in today's tech-centric world. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On SYTYCD, we finally get to exercise our voting powers after this week's episode! We're choosing based on short-person solidarity and people we feel sorry for because of how they were judged and/or costumed. On The West Wing, we don't just feel sorry for the way the writers treated the character of Toby in "Mr. Frost." We feel MAD! Next week, two dancers will be eliminated on So You Think You Can Dance, and we'll seethe through West Wing's "Here Today." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

With Nicole enjoying a much-deserved vacation (happy anniversary!), we asked Mimi Golub and Stacy Feintuch of Living the Second Act (https://livingthesecondact.com/) to sit in for her. Today, we talk about their partnership and their site, devoted to telling the stories of women and men who are in that second act stage of life. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

(While we take a brief summer vacation, we're sharing rules-related replays all week. Because what do parents love to talk, complain, and obsess about? Rules!) From March 6, 2019: We've tried cute little notes, temper tantrums, and repeating ourselves over and over (and over) again. And yet, our families ignore our wise counsel and basic rules. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

(While we take a brief summer vacation, we're sharing rules-related replays all week. Because what do parents love to talk, complain, and obsess about? Rules!) From February 5, 2018: Let's say you've been lax on enforcing family rules, or realize you need some different ones. Is there a way to steer the whole crew in a new direction? For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

(While we take a brief summer vacation, we're sharing rules-related replays all week. Because what do parents love to talk, complain, and obsess about? Rules!) From September 10, 2018: On today's Round 3, we follow up on Monday’s 10 commandments talk with our plans for the consequences we think rule-breakers should face. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Just like last week (http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-sytycd-top-10-girls-and-west-wing-message-of-the-week), "So You Think You Can Dance" brought us another perplexing round of cuts as the top 5 guys were named: Bailey, Benjamin, Eddie, Ezra, and Gino. Goodbye, tapper we've never seen before (Aleksandr)! Goodbye, professional DWTS troupe member (Vlad)! Then, instead of a "West Wing" episode, we got our dose of Alan Alda this week in the form of his 1981 movie, "The Four Seasons." He does just about everything except dance in this one. Next week on "So You Think You Can Dance," the top 10 perform. On "The West Wing," we'll watch season 7, episode 4, "Mr. Frost." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

While we take a brief summer vacation, we're sharing rules-related replays all week. Because what do parents love to talk, complain, and obsess about? Rules! (The exception to the rule: Watch for a brand-new Round 2 tomorrow.) From September 10, 2018: We set out to make a list of 10 Commandments for How to Treat Parents. Guess how many we actually came up with? For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, Catherine checked out TV writer Liz Astrof's memoir/essay collection/parenting book, Don't Wait Up: Confessions of a Stay-at-Work Mom (https://amzn.to/2MfKwaQ). Terri read "Evvie Drake Starts Over" (https://amzn.to/2LJiHs6) by Linda Holmes (http://www.thisislindaholmes.com/), which we'll discuss on a future Round 2 (http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/round2.html). And Nicole got to ooh and aah over Louis Vuitton goods (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louis-vuitton-x-exhibition-tickets-63823081555)—while proudly wearing her $10 crossbody bag. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Last week, we obsessed about (offline) manners and etiquette (http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/iffy-etiquette), and today we focus on online manners that people really should know: Like, don't steal other people's stuff (text or images), even if it's "for a good cause." Don't send out automatically generated emails that don't make sense. And never, ever, try to be hip when contacting Nicole! For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On today's Round 3, we complain about all those sports, activities, camps, and classes that we thought would be the answer to our prayers, but fell short (sometimes, way short). Who knew trying to help our kids find their passion and their tribe would be so hard? For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On SYTYCD, there was 55 minutes of dancing, and 5 minutes of "huh?" as the top 10 girls were reduced to the top 5: Anna, Madison, Mariah, Sophie, and Stephanie. On "The West Wing," the message we took from "Message of the Week" (season 7) was, not surprisingly, that we're not cut out for politics. Next week, we'll see the top 10 guys on "So You Think You Can Dance." And instead of a "West Wing" episode, we'll get our Alan Alda fix in the form of "The Four Seasons" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082405/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1), a 1981 movie he wrote, directed, and starred in. And cast our beloved Rita Moreno (http://parentingroundabout.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=one+day+at+a+time) in, as well! For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On today's Round 1, we talk teensplaining: That lovely way that adolescents have of knowing everything and not being the least bit shy about sharing that knowledge, especially with their ignorant parents. From laundry to driving to law enforcement, our (completely uncredentialed) kids are the experts! For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup, Nicole is fascinated by the YouTube channel Cargospotter (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA6aJAT9rH8vRwWGiGr2iqQ). Terri enjoys The Ensemblist podcast (http://www.theensemblist.com/), and Catherine's watching "Blown Away" (https://www.netflix.com/title/80215147) on Netflix. They're all showcases for people who excel at doing cool stuff. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

We obsess about all those little details of social interactions that we feel unsure about (which means we are also worried about what we have, and haven't, taught our kids about manners and etiquette). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Another parent's college admission post (in July!!) sent Catherine into a shame spiral. That prompted us to complain about not just mom bragging, but our irrational response to it. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On our entertainment-themed Round 2 this week: It was part 2 of the "So You Think You Can Dance" Academy, and a bunch of dancers thought wrong and were sent packing. Over on "The West Wing," Santos hits the campaign trail hard in "The Mommy Problem," a not-your-father's-West-Wing type of episode. Next week, SYTYCD will select its top 10 female finalists, and on "The West Wing," it's "Message of the Week." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

We talk about a survey of major milestones (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/life-events-age-study-marriage-first-home-poll-revealed-a8958996.html), and question how big of a milestone "learn how to iron" really is. Along the way, we get a peek at some of our dark secrets (like the real reason Terri learned how to ride a bike, and the anti-vampire dinner party Catherine held). For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's Roundabout Roundup: Terri found a Catholic-friendly meditation app called Hallow (https://hallow.app/). Nicole's following Allie Fisher, a funny (and helpful) mom on Twitter (https://twitter.com/momEconfessions) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/themommyconfessions/). And Catherine's working out with Dirty Yoga (http://www.dirtyyogaco.com/index.html), which is not as bad as it sounds. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

An article on young people starting businesses (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/business/mom-can-i-stay-up-to-prepare-for-my-pitch.html) led us to ask whether our kids could capitalize on their obsessions. Either we don't have enough imagination, or the market hasn't caught up to their passions just yet. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

Terri may have just had a milestone birthday, but today Nicole is complaining about the little annoyances of aging. This is our reward for 20+ years of raising kids?! For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: 79 of the most wonderful dancers in the world arrive at the “So You Think You Can Dance” Academy, and many of them are quickly shooed out the door. Over on “The West Wing,” candidate Matt Santos is trying to get in the door (of the White House) and seems to be wondering if he should take Leo McGarry with him after all in the season 7 premiere, "The Ticket." For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.

AMC Theaters' Summer Movie Camp (https://www.amctheatres.com/summer-movie-camp) got us talking: What other businesses would we like to see offer a summer deal for kids? We're ready to drop our children off at any shopping mall, bowling alley, ice rink, or hair salon that will take them. For quotes, archives, and more, visit us at http://parentingroundabout.com.