Margaret and Amy explore the messy truths about jealousy—why moms feel it, how shame adds fuel to the fire, and what we can actually do about it. From parenting pressures to social comparisons, they discuss how jealousy is normal, but how we respond to feelings of envy can make all the difference.
Margaret and Amy discuss:
😬 Why jealousy feels so shameful for moms
🧠 “The Second Arrow” – how feeling guilty about feeling jealous makes things worse
👩👧 How our kids’ struggles trigger our own insecurities
🔄 Reframing the inner monologue: from “I’m jealous” to “I’m overwhelmed”
📉 Why “I'm sure they're not as happy as they seem ” isn’t always a helpful thought
✅ Practical tools to cope with comparison and find joy again
Whether it’s feeling envious of your husband’s solo lunch breaks or wondering how other families can afford breezy summer vacations, this episode validates it all. Margaret and Amy offer practical advice, a lot of laughs, and a reminder that comparing yourself doesn't mean you're doing motherhood wrong—just that you're human.
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
Jenifer Demattia for Scary Mommy: "Why I'm Envious Of These Moms"
Glennon Doyle for Today.com: 'My family hits the lottery every freaking morning:' Blogger gives kitchen a gratitude makeover
ABC news: I Was Jealous of My 'Perfect' Mom Friends
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, jealousy, envy
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46:32
DEEP DIVE: Best Advice for Dealing with Teenagers
How do we raise healthy, loving, polite, and appreciative teens? Is it humanly possible? From remaining "passively available" to taking our adolescents' seemingly trivial problems seriously, our listeners had great advice for bringing up teenagers.
Amy and Margaret discuss:
The blessing of nerd-dom
How to keep your face in check when talking to your teen
Why it's important to let your teen fail sometimes
Here's our Fresh Take with Michelle Icard, author of "Fourteen Talks by Age 14"
Here's the link to the full thread in our Facebook group
Sign up for What Fresh Hell Plus on Supporting Cast to get all episodes ad-free, plus monthly bonus episodes. Supporting Cast works right where you already listen! Go to whatfreshhell.supportingcast.fm to subscribe in two taps for just $4.99 a month, or $39.99 a year.
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly,
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45:58
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45:58
Fresh Take: Shannon Watts, FIRED UP
Amy and Margaret sit down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, to discuss her transformative new book: Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age.
Shannon shares the personal story behind her midlife awakening, how she built the largest grassroots movement to fight gun violence in America, and the life-changing formula she developed to help women find purpose, passion, and courage—no matter their life stage.
Shannon, Margaret, and Amy discuss:
How societal “shoulds” can keep women stuck
The “fire triangle” formula: how your values, abilities, and desires can reignite your life
Why “false fires” (like busyness and performative happiness) burn us out
How Shannon knew it was time to pass the torch at Moms Demand Action—and what it taught her about transitions
The importance of building our own communities of firestarters
Why your fire doesn’t have to “earn its keep”
Here's where you can find Shannon:
www.firedupbook.com (enroll in Shannon's course here)
@shannonrwatts on IG and Substack
Buy FIRED UP: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593831939
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, midlife women, midlife crisis
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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43:38
Fresh Take: Genevieve Kingston, DID I EVER TELL YOU?
A note from Margaret: My family was visiting Kerrville, TX when the flood occurred. Having seen the devastation to the Hill Country first hand, it is impossible to put into words the scope of the disaster. These losses are close to home for my family and I know they have touched so many of you as well. Please join us in donating to the relief efforts by using the following trusted link.
This week Amy talks with author and playwright Genevieve Kingston about her acclaimed memoir Did I Ever Tell You?
Genevieve's mother died of cancer ten days before Genevieve's 12th birthday. Her mother prepared Genevieve for a life spent without her by creating a chest of letters and gifts to be opened on each of Genevieve's birthdays, until she turned 30, plus other life milestones like graduation and first love.
DID I EVER TELL YOU? explores how these profound gifts shaped Genevieve's life and unlocked mysteries to explore as well as healing.
Amy and Genevieve discuss how children process grief—and why it often doesn’t look “appropriate”— and why building a community of trusted adults around children facing loss is so crucial.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone parenting through illness, processing loss with children, or simply wondering how to leave a legacy of love. And the book is a must-read for, well, everyone.
Here's where you can find Genevieve:
www.genevievekingston.com
@genevieve__kingston
Buy DID I EVER TELL YOU: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781668006290
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, grief, grief and loss, grief support, kids and grief, parent loss, parental loss
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33:08
BEST OF: Kids with Big Imaginations
Is there such a thing as a too-imaginative kid? Parenting experts say no. Dr. Paul Harris, professor of education at Harvard and author of The Work of the Imagination, says that kids’ active imaginations are “essentially positive” and represent cognitive work, the way that children make sense of the world.
But if you’ve got a kid who prefers her imaginary friend to making real ones— or who terrorizes the first grade by explaining how zombies can get into one’s home through the radiator— you might still wonder whether there comes a time to tamp it all down and force our kids to deal with reality.
In this episode we talk about
The considerable upsides of a huge imagination
Why some children have imaginary friends
Why some kids engage in “world play” for their imaginary worlds long after the other kids have moved on
How to help anxious kids whose imaginations can become overly active
How to encourage kids to engage in more imaginative play
And here’s links to the books, articles, and research we discuss in this episode:
Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola book series, featuring the kind-of-visible Soren Lorensen
Louise Fitzhugh: Harriet the Spy
Dr. Robin Alter: Anxiety and the Gift of Imagination
Paul L. Harris, The Work of the Imagination
Joshua A. Krisch for Fatherly: Brilliant Kids Visit (and Create) Imaginary Worlds
Michelle Root-Bernstein: The Creation of Imaginary Worlds
Marjorie Taylor: Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them
Deena Skolnik Weissberg: Distinguishing Imagination From Reality
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, imaginative kids, kids playing, kids imaginary friends
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Acerca de What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.
We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.
In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.
If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.
We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.
We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.
If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!
whatfreshhellpodcast.com
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