Manic Rambling Spiral

It's conference season! You know what that means? Our kids get evaluated! Our parenting gets evaluated! Our flaws are highlighted! Time to crawl und-- Wait. She what?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The 2016 Chicago Marathon was Heather's third marathon and John's first. It was marked by perfect weather, an amazing group of people from Every Mother Counts, and a great weekend overall. There was also pain, excitement, regret, no regret, a lost FitBit and profanity at mile 15.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alpacas, like life, are equal parts enjoyable and vicious, but it's the experience that counts. Over the years, we've both decided that experiences are better than things. So with outdated computers and old phones, we look at enjoying life with the voracity of a dominant alpaca. Sort of.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Heather is sick. Full stop. Marlo got sick and, out of love, shared it with Heather. Yes, kids really are fun! We could have cancelled the recording, but there'd be no adventure in that. So we plowed through and rambled on. You're welcome. COUGH. Or we're sorry?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choosing mealtime enjoyment over food fights and frustration. Cooking for one can be tricky. Cooking for one times two or three or more can be downright maddening. But if everyone is happy, well fed, and gathered around a table together, that has to count for something. Right? Fine. Warm your own damn burrito.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Talking to kids about your ex's new relationship. Introducing a new relationship is one thing, talking to your kids about this new person is something else entirely. From the high road and the cheap seats, we're talking about what to say and not say when kids ask questions, apply labels, and hurl insults (that make you laugh).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Because self care definitely doesn't come naturally to kids. We both have 12-year-olds, and that means hygiene is becoming a topic of interest. From shaving legs, to applying deodorant, to a discussion regarding the delicacy of John's nipples, this week is all about physical self care. Oh, and school lunch. But don't worry, it comes full circle.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

School is back in session and we're back in the corner whimpering quietly. Another school year already? How many two pocket poly folders? How about a nice Trapper Keeper? Is this really be happening? What grade? All this and more will be left unanswered in this week's back-to-school spiral. Grab a Lunchable and enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Religion is a personal choice. How parents approach it with their kids should be as well. Amen. Heather is an atheist, John is an agnostic and their kids are little horned heathens. Just kidding. The kids are doing fine. So how do they raise kind, balanced humans without religion at the center of everything? Carefully, respectfully, and with the memory of funeral potatoes and Dan Quayle.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We rambled again and somehow this is where we ended up. It's funny how time away from our kids lets us step back a bit to reflect on past relationships, homework strategies, and being promiscuously Mormon. Even more amusing is how it all spirals into a lament about student loans (Heather doesn't have any and John isn't AT ALL bitter about that).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Co-parents usually enjoy a regular download of information, but  single parents aren't as lucky. This week we're happy to be joined by Assistant Professor Hillary Hyde. As a single - or, rather, solo - parent with considerable professional experience working with children and families, she's got a lot to add to our ongoing conversation. And she's got a theory as to why some of this is so difficult. But just some of it. Photo Credit: Matthew Kulisch Photography  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Yes, we're white. And yes, we're probably wrong about a lot of this. But we need to be talking about race and we need to be talking to our kids about race and we need to try to do be better. To say things better. To be better.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tackling our own mental health with openness, honesty, and kids at our sides. Mental health is important, but it's difficult to maintain and "easy" to ignore (for a while). From deeply entrenched social stigmas to concerns regarding how to address things like anxiety and depression with our kids, it's a lot to juggle. But mental health is one ball we won't drop beca--oh hell. We dropped it. Five second rule!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Discussing that special feeling you get when you resent the wrong people (your children) for the right reasons (maybe?) Is there difficulty and contentment? Yep! But there's also a whole slew of misplaced frustration, resentment, and GUILT when you're trying to do "what's best" - whatever the hell that means - for your kids. Maybe that's what happens when life is a bit like trial and error and error and error and "UGH! Why do you have to work!?"  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Deciding what we share about our kids has some complications now that we're single parents. Deciding what to share in the social space (blogs, social media, PODCASTS) can be a big decision. When you have kids, that decision grows. When you get divorced or separated, it grows again. We've crossed our share of hurdles - and, ahem, mediators - to get to our current sharing state, but it still isn't necessarily easy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.