The Mom Hour

Some days we’re the “Sure, why not?” mom, and other days we’re the “Because I said so” mom - and often we lean more into one side than the other. Meagan and Sarah unpack what the Yes Mom / No Mom binary really means, the why behind our wiring, how it affects our kids, and how it’s not always so black and white. We look at the balance between freedom and structure, and remind you there are many ways to be yourself and be a great mom at the same time. Enjoy! HELPFUL LINKS: * Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy: * Meagan Schools Sarah on Parenting Teens: Episode 310 [https://themomhour.com/310/] * Nurturing Grandparent-Grandkid Relationships: Episode 390 [https://themomhour.com/390/] * Giving Ourselves Credit & Compassion: Episode 506 [https://themomhour.com/ep506/] * We Hate Fun: Episode 109 [https://themomhour.com/109/] OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: * Meagan’s book: The Last  [http://bit.ly/thelastparentingbook/]Parenting [https://meaganfrancis.com/books/] Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [http://bit.ly/thelastparentingbook/] * Visit our website [https://themomhour.com/welcome/] * Check out deals from our partners [https://themomhour.com/partners/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://instagram.com/themomhour/] * Join our private listener group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/themomhour] (be sure to answer the membership questions!) * Sign up for our newsletter [http://eepurl.com/c-ok4T] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Meagan wrote a book—and Sarah has lots of questions. In this episode, we dive into Meagan’s journey from concept to publication. From the initial spark of an idea to the challenges of writing, editing, and getting it out into the world, join us for an inside look at the process behind bringing her book to life. Whether you’re a writer, a non-writer who likes to learn how the sausage gets made, or simply want to offer Meagan your support during launch week, we hope you’ll listen! Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [https://bit.ly/thelastparentingbook] HELPFUL LINKS: * meaganfrancis.substack.com [https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/] * More on Meagan’s book-writing journey: * The Kettle podcast episode Gretchen Rubin on her “open door” approach to parenting young adults [https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/p/an-open-door-approach-to-parenting] * Is it possible to plan a “slow” book launch? [https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/p/is-it-possible-to-plan-a-slow-book] * Meagan shares thoughts about gearing up for book promotion season in One month until my new book publishes! [https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/p/one-month-until-my-new-book-publishes] * Sarah mentioned the podcast #amwriting [https://amwriting.substack.com/] * Meagan took a book proposal writing course from Beth Kempton [https://bethkempton.com/courses/] * Episodes From The Archives On Writing: * Life Of A Writer Mom: Episode 406 [https://themomhour.com/ep406/] * Living A Writerly Life: Episode 454 [https://themomhour.com/ep454/] * More Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative Practice [https://themomhour.com/mtm2021nov21/] OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: * Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [https://bit.ly/thelastparentingbook] * Visit our website [https://themomhour.com/welcome/] * Check out deals from our partners [https://themomhour.com/partners/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://instagram.com/themomhour/] * Join our private listener group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/themomhour] (be sure to answer the membership questions!) * Sign up for our newsletter [http://eepurl.com/c-ok4T] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

What does it mean to “launch” a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you’re still mom, but they’re no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving. Enjoy! GET THE BOOK: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read – Available For Pre-Order NOW! [http://bit.ly/thelastparentingbook] HELPFUL LINKS: * The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read – Available For Pre-Order NOW! [https://meaganfrancis.com/books/] * If you preordered Meagan’s book, email your receipt to meagan@meaganfrancis.com and you will get a signed bookplate later in May. * Join Meagan on Substack [https://meaganfrancis.substack.com/] for her book launch * Find Sarah on Substack [https://sarahjanepowers.substack.com/] * We mentioned this recent episode when talking about time opening up for us as moms: On Balance & Busy-Ness [https://themomhour.com/bonus2025apr18/] OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: * Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [https://meaganfrancis.com/books/] * Visit our website [https://themomhour.com/welcome/] * Check out deals from our partners [https://themomhour.com/partners/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://instagram.com/themomhour/] * Join our private listener group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/themomhour] (be sure to answer the membership questions!) * Sign up for our newsletter [http://eepurl.com/c-ok4T] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Raising creative kids isn’t just about paintbrushes and piano lessons—it’s also about noticing how they think, solve problems, and dream up deas. Both Meagan and Sarah come from creative backgrounds and hope to raise creative kids, but we’ve learned that creativity shows up in unexpected places—from storytelling and party planning to building weird contraptions out of couch cushions. We share what’s worked in our own families, where we’ve had to shift our thinking, and some of the misconceptions we’ve had about what being “creative” really means. Join us! HELPFUL LINKS: * Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy: * More Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative Practice [https://themomhour.com/mtm2021nov21/] * Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits: Episode 484 [https://themomhour.com/ep484/] * More Than Mom: Creative Hobbies (Now … Soonish … Maybe Someday [https://themomhour.com/mtm2021apr18/] OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: * Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-parenting-book-you-ll-ever-read-how-we-let-our-kids-go-and-embrace-what-s-next-meagan-francis/21709100?ean=9781464225161&next=t&affiliate=101234] * Visit our website [https://themomhour.com/welcome/] * Check out deals from our partners [https://themomhour.com/partners/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://instagram.com/themomhour/] * Join our private listener group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/themomhour] (be sure to answer the membership questions!) * Sign up for our newsletter [http://eepurl.com/c-ok4T] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

We’ve heard from so many listeners who say that The Mom Hour helped you through your early years of parenting. Your notes of gratitude got us thinking (and feeling all the feels) about what a uniquely intense and tender season “active mothering” really is—and why it inspires a certain nostalgia when viewed later from a distance. Join us as we share some of your own words as well as memories of our own, reflecting on the pop-cultural, sensory, emotional, and unexpectedly specific things that instantly transport us back. Enjoy! HELPFUL LINKS: * Episodes Mentioned In This One: * The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363 [https://themomhour.com/363/] * Giving Ourselves Credit & Compassion: Episode 506 [https://themomhour.com/ep506/] * Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes): Episode 96 [https://themomhour.com/96/] * Last Firsts & First Lasts (Milestones We Notice, And A Bunch We Miss): Episode 166 [https://themomhour.com/166/] OTHER HELPFUL LINKS: * Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-parenting-book-you-ll-ever-read-how-we-let-our-kids-go-and-embrace-what-s-next-meagan-francis/21709100?ean=9781464225161&next=t&affiliate=101234] * Visit our website [https://themomhour.com/welcome/] * Check out deals from our partners [https://themomhour.com/partners/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://instagram.com/themomhour/] * Join our private listener group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/themomhour] (be sure to answer the membership questions!) * Sign up for our newsletter [http://eepurl.com/c-ok4T] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].