Parenting Roundabout

After last week's rant about toxic parenting advice [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/toxic-parenting-advice], we thought we should put our money where our mouths are and share advice that actually did work for us (and doesn't shame you for doing the wrong thing). Of course, YMMV!

A tweet from author Holly Bourne [https://twitter.com/holly_bourneYA] lamenting societal pressure to sleep, eat, walk, meditate, care for our homes and more every single day got us complaining about the pressures we feel, especially as moms--since we have to cover that whole to-do list plus parent our children.

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the mega-craft returned to Making It, along with a new project called the procrasti-craft. And we said goodbye to Baseball Blake, whose extremely cool origami door could not save him from a hanging chair that couldn't quite hang.We also said goodbye to Veronica Mars season 4 with "Years, Continents, Bloodshed" (title drawn from this season 2 scene [https://youtu.be/pR5ED-rnruo]). We knew what was coming and we are still annoyed. Next: We will return to Veronica Mars in a few weeks after the Veronica Mars Investigations podcast [https://www.veronicamarsinvestigations.com/] drops their wrap-up episodes. In the interim, we will continue with Making It and, in a tribute to the best season of Veronica Mars (that'd be #1) and its many flashbacks, we'll flash back to a movie from 1998: Practical Magic [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120791/].

After last week's mention of summer camp for kids [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/when-kids-are-incommunicado], we started dreaming about the amenities we'd like to see at mom camp. Let us know if there's one out there that offers robot butlers, doctors on call, and hot tubs for everyone. Mentioned: The luxury suites aboard the Queen Mary, featured in the movie Let Them All Talk [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/what-were-watching-let-them-all-talk-and-veronica-mars-keep-calm-and-party-on].

​It's dry-skin season, at least for the two non-Californians among us, and that means either disgusting greasy lotion stickiness or constant itching. Terri's hoping for some go-to moisturizer tips. Maybe you have some? Help out in the comments. Mentioned: Gold Bond, Kiehl's, CeraVe, our episode on habits [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/18922574].

Too old to fail, but too young to make smart decisions: That's the pickle we find ourselves in as our kids grow up and have to make life-determining choices.

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's curly-hair journey continues; she's now acquired a Kitsch microfiber towel [https://mykitsch.com/collections/microfiber-towels], which makes a fetching hair-drying turban. Nicole's Instagram Minute is back with @samir [https://www.instagram.com/samir/], for celebrity home snooping (we mean, shopping). Terri is enjoying Apple's bundling service, Apple One [https://www.apple.com/apple-one/], and even reassures you that if you sign up, Apple will do the right thing by pro-rating your bills.

A recent conversation on The Bobby Bones Show [https://overcast.fm/+IvaJT4Rsg/5:31]got us obsessing: What would we do if one of our kids' teenage friends showed up at our house dressed inappropriately? First we obsessed over defining "inappropriate." Then we pondered what our house rules are. And finally, we wrung our hands at the thought of confronting a kid, no matter what they were wearing.

No, we're not calling out this article for telling people how to be toxic parents [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/toxic-behaviors-parenting_l_60eec024e4b01f118954bd43?fbclid=IwAR3PEGSyKfCtPhYIBGCEU3I9SA7XA67-Sck_iR_gbLC5gWp3tecJIngNItw]. We're saying, telling parents their behavior is toxic... is toxic! Mentioned: Our recent episode "Moms Have Feelings, Too" [https://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/moms-have-feelings-too].

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2: Making It observed many holidays, which makes sense for a crafting competition. It at least makes more sense than the judges' criteria for sending people home. We'll miss gravy-swilling Gary quite a bit. Next week: Episode 5. What we won't miss, when it comes to a close, is Veronica Mars season 4. Specifically, we won't miss Veronica herself and how cruel she is to the people around her. You don't deserve any of them, Veronica! Next: "Years, Continents, Bloodshed," the final episode of this season (thank goodness).

Catherine's son is away at camp... without his phone! However will she know where he is and what he's doing?? (Turns out, what he is doing is buying candy bars at the camp store.)

For those with petite closets and serious weather shifts, it's the most arduous time of the year when the T-shirts and shorts go away and the sweaters and long pants emerge. No need for that in your life? Know that Terri is super-jealous.

We debate safety vs. strength: Do we want our kids to take risks in order to become strong? Would it surprise you to learn we can't answer such a black-and-white question?

On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Nicole's loving the look, scent, and feel of Cucina Fruits and Passion Regenerating Hand Cream [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWF2GW8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1]. Terri was a guest on the A Bit Above podcast, and she recommends you give it a listen [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/45-parenthood-requires-love-not-dna-with-terri-mauro/id1548787190?i=1000528300295]. And Catherine's resting easy in super-soft bamboo pajamas [https://www.latuza.com/collections/womens-pajamas-set].

After reading about Internet Dad Rob Kenney [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/06/17/pandemic-connection-rob-kenney/], we brainstormed all the services we could provide as Internet Moms: Gentle nagging! Etiquette advice! Affirmations (with a side of gentle nagging)!

We agree with this Scary Mommy writer, who calls herself "a grumpy spoilsport who hates pranks and teasing." We just don't see the humor in someone being tricked or publicly embarrassed (although Nicole does make an exception for the people on Ryan's Roses [https://kiisfm.iheart.com/topic/Ryan%E2%80%99s%20Roses/], who have it coming to them).

On this week's entertainment-themed Round 2, the Making It makers make just one "MEGA CRAFT!!!," which still leaves us with too many comedy bits and personal stories and not enough crafting. We just want to see people making stuff, please!This week's episode of Veronica Mars was titled "Entering a World of Pain," which surprised us because hasn't Neptune been a world of pain for four seasons now? Mentioned: Big Red Machine featuring Taylor Swift and "Renegade," which should be Logan's theme song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_wr-9X47ao], and our episode on parents who sit in first class [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44728571] while their kids are in coach (à la Matty's mom and stepdad).

Collab? It's cute when family members create content together (like Walker Hayes's "Fancy Like" dances with his daughter), but our kids have absolutely no interest. In fact, some of them might implode at the mere thought of appearing online anywhere in the vicinity of their mothers. Mentioned: Terri (sans offspring) was a guest on the A Bit Above podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/45-parenthood-requires-love-not-dna-with-terri-mauro/id1548787190?i=1000528300295].

There's a nostalgic tug that keeps us from throwing away those toys our kids outgrew ... and also a sharp memory of how much money we paid for that stuff. Let's just go with the sentimental angle, shall we?

Thou shalt obey these rules: We set out to make a list of 10 Commandments for How to Treat Parents. Guess how many we actually came up with?