Parenting Roundabout

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 is 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].

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/].