The Mom Hour

Welcome to The Mom Hour, a podcast co-hosted by Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers from 2015 to 2025. We wrapped production in June of 2025, but we’ve left our library of episodes available for anyone who wants to listen. So while you won’t find any new episodes in this podcast feed, we hope you enjoy the archives and that the more than 800 topics we’ve covered over the years remind you that you’re not alone, no matter what’s going on in your life as a mom. Enjoy the show!Want to know more about our decision to sunset the show? Listen to Episode 503.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After more than a decade and over 800 hours of conversation, connection, and community, The Mom Hour comes to a close in this final episode. Join Meagan and Sarah as we reflect on what it has meant to share this space with you—our listeners, fellow moms, and, truly, our friends. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or found us more recently, we hope this episode leaves you with inspiration to carry forward the spirit of The Mom Hour in your everyday life.You’ve let us into your ears and your lives, and we are endlessly grateful. Thank you for making The Mom Hour what it’s been.HELPFUL LINKS:The Mom Hour Listener Community still exists and will not be going away anytime soon!Episodes Mentioned:Self-Care As Self-Preservation: Episode 104Talking About Our Own Kids. Or Not: Episode 364Meagan will be recording an audiobook for her new book The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s Next. Keep an eye out for it in the future!Don’t forget about us—we’re not disappearing! Come find us in our new internet “homes” and let’s stay connected.You can find us over on Substack @ The Kettle with Meagan Francis and Home Again.Learn more about our new podcast Midlife Lady Leisure PursuitsOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would you like to accomplish before your next milestone birthday? Today Meagan and Sarah share our personal “five before fifty” lists, giving ourselves the next few years to check off some aspirations both lofty and silly (think big travel goals, creative dreams, home improvements and outdoor adventures). Whether you’re approaching 30, 40, 50, or just love a good life list, this episode will get you thinking—and maybe even writing your own!HELPFUL LINKS:Listen to our new podcast, Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits, available now on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. You can also follow us on Substack for email reminders and the full show notes experience.Meagan is currently becoming certified through this Tea Sommolier ProgramEpisodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:2022 Goals & Intentions (What We Said, How It Went & Where Life Surprised Us)New Year Mantras For Your Motherhood Era: Episode 498OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Time is slippery—especially when you’re standing in midlife, looking both forward and back. Today Meagan and Sarah continue unpacking one of the most elusive and shape-shifting concepts we wrestle with: time. How do we imagine the future, how do we plan for it (tarot cards, anyone?), and how does our relationship to longterm planning and future-casting change in our forties? We explore the common traps we fall into when envisioning what’s next, the lessons that still haven’t quite landed, and how midlife has reshaped our goals, timelines, and even the way we dream. Join us!This is Part 3 of a three-part series about Time running this spring. Check out Part 1: On Balance & Busy-ness and Part 2: Time-Saving, Time-Shifting, Time-Surrendering.HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan mentioned the author Jon AcuffEpisodes From The Archives About Time7 Habits Of Moms Who Make Time For Reading: Episode 492The Lazy Genius Helps Fix Our Time Management Troubles: Episode 485Time Management For The Season You’re In: Episode 483OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a decade of sharing the ups and downs of motherhood, we're wrapping up The Mom Hour this month—and taking one final episode to update you on the kids who’ve grown up alongside this show. From 12 to 27, our eight kids have been a background-but-constant presence on the podcast, and today we'll share where they are now and how they're each thriving in their own way. Join us!HELPFUL LINKS:What’s Great (Lately!) About Our Eight: Episode 470What’s Great (And Less-Great) About Our Eight: Episode 152Motherhood From "The Other Side" A Commencement Address For Parents by MeaganOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As kids grow up, it’s the littlest reminders that catch us off guard—like discovering a pair of toddler socks or realizing nobody needs a kid’s menu. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share some of the small-but-significant signs that time is, as ever, marching on. It’s a conversation full of warmth, nostalgia, and gentle reminders to savor the stages as they come…and go.HELPFUL LINKS:Sarah mentions Rebecca Woolf’s Substack post on the grief of downsizing when your kids grow up.Episodes from the archives you may enjoy:Mourning The End Of The Baby-Having Years: Episode 418Growing Families, Grown Kids, And The “Someday Family Dinner Table”: Episode 372OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Honi asks how our friends are showing up for us these days. Laura wonders if we ever get recognized in public (and if it's our faces or our voices that give us away!). Aspiring writer Samm is looking for advice on getting started with writing, Lisa wants to know what we’ll miss most about The Mom Hour, and Erica prompts some reflection on what we’re most proud of as moms. And Ann? She’s eager for the scoop on what’s next—listen to find out!HELPFUL LINKS:The Evolution Of Friendships In Motherhood, Part One: Episode 474The Evolution Of Friendships In Motherhood, Part Two: Episode 478What’s Great (Lately!) About Our Eight: Episode 470Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits: Episode 484Books Mentioned About Writing (affiliate links):Ann Patchett's memoir Truth & Beauty: A FriendshipStephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the CraftAnne Lamott’s Bird by BirdOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jennifer wants to hear all our old podcast intros one more time (what a fun trip down memory lane!). Contributor Sarah wonders how Meagan and Sarah’s perspectives on parenting have evolved since episode one. Tricia wonders how to get a kindergartener to open up about hard stuff, while listeners Mel and Lisa each ask how to figure out what’s next in motherhood—and life. Kim wants to know how much she really needs to play with her child—and how to balance being present while modeling healthy phone habits. Plus, we share a quick update on what's next for our amazing contributor team members. Enjoy!HELPFUL LINKS:Listener Question episodes from the archivesHow Do You Know What’s Next?: Episode 503Our team members Katie Gouldner and Catie Parrish launched a new podcast Chasing The SparkA list of podcast recs from The Mom Hour Listener Community on Facebook.OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modern society loves the concept of ‘saving time’ – but at what cost? There’s nothing wrong with streamlining and efficiency, but today Meagan and Sarah push back against the notion that time-saving strategies – and products – unilaterally bring more calm to our days. Instead we look at ways to think about shifting time to our advantage, batching tasks and opting out to free up schedule space, simplifying rather than optimizing, and finding our own peace with our relationship to time.This is Part 2 of a three-part series about Time running this spring. Check out Part 1: On Balance & Busy-ness and come back next month for Part 3.HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes From The Archives Similar To This Topic:The Lazy Genius Helps Fix Our Time Management TroublesTime Management For The Season You’re InHow Do I Make Time For It All?The Life-Changing Magic of Opting OutWe both have this rice cookerOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some days we’re the “Sure, why not?” mom, and other days we’re the “Because I said so” mom - and often we lean more into one side than the other. Meagan and Sarah unpack what the Yes Mom / No Mom binary really means, the why behind our wiring, how it affects our kids, and how it’s not always so black and white. We look at the balance between freedom and structure, and remind you there are many ways to be yourself and be a great mom at the same time. Enjoy!HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:Meagan Schools Sarah on Parenting Teens: Episode 310Nurturing Grandparent-Grandkid Relationships: Episode 390Giving Ourselves Credit & Compassion: Episode 506We Hate Fun: Episode 109OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meagan wrote a book—and Sarah has lots of questions. In this episode, we dive into Meagan’s journey from concept to publication. From the initial spark of an idea to the challenges of writing, editing, and getting it out into the world, join us for an inside look at the process behind bringing her book to life. Whether you’re a writer, a non-writer who likes to learn how the sausage gets made, or simply want to offer Meagan your support during launch week, we hope you’ll listen!Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextHELPFUL LINKS:meaganfrancis.substack.comMore on Meagan’s book-writing journey:The Kettle podcast episode Gretchen Rubin on her “open door” approach to parenting young adultsIs it possible to plan a “slow” book launch?Meagan shares thoughts about gearing up for book promotion season in One month until my new book publishes!Sarah mentioned the podcast #amwritingMeagan took a book proposal writing course from Beth KemptonEpisodes From The Archives On Writing:Life Of A Writer Mom: Episode 406Living A Writerly Life: Episode 454More Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative PracticeOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it mean to “launch” a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you’re still mom, but they’re no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving. Enjoy!GET THE BOOK: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read – Available For Pre-Order NOW!HELPFUL LINKS:The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read – Available For Pre-Order NOW!If you preordered Meagan’s book, email your receipt to meagan@meaganfrancis.com and you will get a signed bookplate later in May.Join Meagan on Substack for her book launchFind Sarah on SubstackWe mentioned this recent episode when talking about time opening up for us as moms: On Balance & Busy-NessOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raising creative kids isn’t just about paintbrushes and piano lessons—it’s also about noticing how they think, solve problems, and dream up deas. Both Meagan and Sarah come from creative backgrounds and hope to raise creative kids, but we’ve learned that creativity shows up in unexpected places—from storytelling and party planning to building weird contraptions out of couch cushions. We share what’s worked in our own families, where we’ve had to shift our thinking, and some of the misconceptions we’ve had about what being “creative” really means. Join us!HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy:More Than Mom: Writing, Motherhood & Creative PracticeMidlife Lady Leisure Pursuits: Episode 484More Than Mom: Creative Hobbies (Now … Soonish … Maybe SomedayOTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve heard from so many listeners who say that The Mom Hour helped you through your early years of parenting. Your notes of gratitude got us thinking (and feeling all the feels) about what a uniquely intense and tender season “active mothering” really is—and why it inspires a certain nostalgia when viewed later from a distance. Join us as we share some of your own words as well as memories of our own, reflecting on the pop-cultural, sensory, emotional, and unexpectedly specific things that instantly transport us back. Enjoy!HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes Mentioned In This One:The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363Giving Ourselves Credit & Compassion: Episode 506Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes): Episode 96Last Firsts & First Lasts (Milestones We Notice, And A Bunch We Miss): Episode 166OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re talking about busy-ness—that always-running hamster wheel we either can’t get off… or can’t seem to climb onto. Meagan and Sarah each look back on times in our lives when our relationship with productivity felt off—whether we were drowning in to-dos or floating in a weird limbo of not-enough-to-dos. Where are we at now on the busy scale? How do our personalities lend themselves to being busy – or not? And is there even such a thing as the perfect balance? Join us!This is Part 1 of a three-part series about Time running this spring. Check back next month for Part 2!HELPFUL LINKS:The Fall Sarah Quit Everything: Episode 233Episodes From The Archives On Time Management:The Lazy Genius Helps Fix Our Time Management Troubles: Episode 485Time Management For The Season You’re In: Episode 483Time Management & Productivity Tips For Savvy Working Moms: Voices 54 With Whitnee HawthorneProductivity & Time Management Tips For Moms: Episode 169OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From sandbox maintenance and the endless cycle of outgrown kids’ clothes to the rise of sourdough starters and evolving gardening ambitions, today's episode is about how our home management tasks have shifted as our kids have grown. We each share a few “then vs. now” snapshots, offering little insights into what domestic work looks like during different seasons of family life. Enjoy!HELPFUL LINKS:Meagan wrote the blog post Organizing Kids' Clothes: Seasonal And Hand-Me-Down Storage Made Simple back in 2014 about the storage and swap-out of seasonal clothes and handmedowns that she used for her four boys for a decade.Meagan mentioned the book The Domestic Revolution by Ruth Goodman (affiliate link) Episodes From The Archives You May Enjoy On Home/Life/Time Management.OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan and Sarah catch up on our latest reading adventures. We share some books we’ve been loving lately, our TBR lists and check in on our library habits. We also discuss how reading habits change when we’re on vacation or just shaking up our routines. Oh, and with Meagan’s book launch on the horizon, we’re giving you a peek into how she’s keeping up with all the new releases and buzz in the book world. So grab a cup of your fav beverage and let’s dive into this bookish catch-up!HELPFUL LINKS:Episodes From The Archives On Reading & Libraries:7 Habits Of Moms Who Make Time For Reading: Episode 492More Than Mom: For The Love Of LibrariesMeagan and Sarah both use the Libby App to borrow books from the local library.Sarah subscribed to The New YorkerMeagan’s Books (book links are affiliate links)The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency SeriesThe Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal into Victorian Homes Changed Everything by Ruth GoodmanA Walk Across America by Peter JenkinsHero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is on Meagan’s TBR listThe Tea Planter’s Wife by Dinah Jefferies is on Meagan’s TBR ListSarah’s Books(book links are affiliate links)Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes by Jessica PanWintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine MayJedidiah Jenkins, author of Mother Nature, was featured on Armchair Expert.Meagan wrote about her current relationship with the library in a new Substack post.Meagan interviews Gretchen Rubin on her podcast The Kettle on April 15OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No April Foolery from us today, but we ARE talking about family culture around jokes and funny stuff. We touch on Sarah’s very strong feelings about pranks and jump scares, the joy of watching our kids’ unique senses of humor evolve as they grow, whether teasing and ribbing fit in our our families’ culture, comedy styles in pop culture that catch on with our teens, and more. Join us!HELPFUL LINKS:Speaking Our Kids’ Love Languages (And Knowing Our Own): Episode 296Staying Connected With Tweens, Teens & Beyond: Episode 482OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Living near other families with kids is a blessing and, occasionally, a challenge. In today’s episode of House Rules, Meagan and Sarah share tips from The Mom Hour community—consider this your go-to guide for making those impromptu playdates a little smoother! From setting boundaries, providing snacks, staying safe, and keeping the peace, we've got you covered. Enjoy!HELPFUL LINKS:House Rules For Neighbor Play ideas from our Facebook Community.Did you enjoy this House Rules episode? Here are a few more from the archives:House Rules For Messy Fun: Episode 468House Rules For Easier Bedtimes: Episode 443House Rules For Tidying Up: Episode 413House Rules For Gifting & Giving: Episode 393House Rules For After School: Episode 380House Rules for Playdates: Episode 340OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we celebrate a decade of The Mom Hour! We asked listeners to tell us the phrases we say all the time – MomHour-isms, if you will – and wow, did you deliver. We own up to our quirks and vocal tics, give backstory to oft-repeated phrases we utter, and share behind-the-scenes details about making and editing the podcast. Join us!HELPFUL LINKS:Did you miss our news about the future of The Mom Hour? Listen to How Do You Know What’s Next?: Episode 503Episodes from the archives mentioned in this episode:Mom Milestones (By Popular Request!): Episode 257We Hate Fun: Episode 109We Hate Fun! (Okay, Not ALL Fun): Episode 10The Muscle Memory Of Motherhood: Episode 363OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Pre-Order Meagan’s book: The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read: How We Let Our Kids Go and Embrace What’s NextVisit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.