Parenting Roundabout

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).