Parenting Roundabout

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 2The Gilded Age S3 E7, "Ex-Communicated," on Wednesday, September 3Weekly roundup on Thursday, September 4Until then (and anytime you're in need), the a

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 12The Gilded Age S3 E4, "Marriage Is a Gamble," on Wednesday, August 13Weekly roundup: On vacation until A

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

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 29The Gilded Age S3 E1, "What the Papers Say," on Wednesday, July 30Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 31Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.This episode was recorded

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 22The Gilded Age S3 E1, "Who Is in Charge Here?," on Wednesday, July 23Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 24Until 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.