Mom And Dad Are Fighting | Slate's Parenting Show

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth and Aymann discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener who feels she’s being borderline ghosted by other parents after their children’s playdates.  Later, they have some advice for a parent whose 12 year old son is very set in his views as they pertain to religion but his mom worries that this may cause problems down the line for one of his new friendships. How can she help her son navigate this potential conflict?  In Slate Plus: Free-range parenting: what is it and is it for you? Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Perler Bead Craft Bead Sweeper to help you clean up all of those pesky beads in one quick sweep.  Aymann recommends getting a Kodak Photo Printer so that you can join him in instantly printing out all of those adorable photos of your kids that you have stored on your iPhone.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us i

On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Aymann discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener whose 4-year-old daughter has developed some attention-seeking behaviors with the arrival of a newborn sibling. Later, they have some advice for someone whose 6-year-old is struggling to learn table manners. How long will mealtimes be a struggle before the constant and repetitive “chew with your mouth shut and sit at the table” bears fruit? In Slate Plus: What to do with keepsakes and mementos that cause physical and emotional clutter? The group discusses their strategies for preserving, or tossing, those letters, drawings, and awards that accumulate over childhood. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis and Asha Saluja. Recommendations Aymann recommends  the subreddit for Dads called Daddit. Jamilah recommends Shantrelle P. L

On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Aymann discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener whose 6 year old daughter has become fixated on finding a cure for death.  Later, they have some advice for a parent whose own parents are excellent grandparents to her children but who often cross some boundary lines.  In Slate Plus: The latest UN report on climate change. How can we discuss this with our children without scaring the crap out of them?  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends AND8 Fitness for people who love to have fun during their workouts.  Elizabeth recommends Kids Quip -- an electric toothbrush for kids that will help you get them out the door a little faster in the mornings.  Aymann recommends buying an INSTAX Polaroid Camera to hand out polaroid pictures in place of party favors.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should

On this week’s episode: It’s Dan’s last show before book leave! Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dan discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener who is wondering how she should help her son navigate a friendship that’s not so friendly. Later, they have some advice for a mother who would like to avoid talking about her daughter right in front of her, but that’s hard to do when you’re a single parent. In Slate Plus: Summer jobs, entrepreneurial kids, and Dan’s crushing camp counselor file secrets are revealed!  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends the graphic novel Twins by Varian Johnson & Shannon Wright. Elizabeth recommends you pack your kids lunches using the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunchbox, the Yumbox and Bee's Wrap! Dan recommends watching Netflix’s teen show Never Have I Ever with your older kids.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should ta

On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and guest host Courtney Martin discuss triumphs and fails, co-housing and Courtney’s new book, Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School.  Then they answer a question from a listener who is wondering how to help her child adapt to wearing a uniform at school while still encouraging self-expression. Jamilah suggested to mix things up by adding in fun ties, like this one she dressed her daughter in a few years ago. In Slate Plus: When should we talk to our kids about sex? According to researchers, much earlier than you may think! NY Times - Sex Talks Should Start Earlier Than You Think  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends online vintage shopping. And if you’re worried about sizing, pay attention to the fabric! Stretch is key.  Elizabeth recommends pelvic floor PT to help with pelvic weakness. One resource she mentioned is this instagram page. Courtney recommends subscribing to the Substack Newsletter by Sarah Wheeler c

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Dan, and Jamilah discuss how we should be talking to our kids about Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympics.  Then, they answer a question from a listener who is wondering how to deal with their bad babysitter. The problem is, the babysitter is grandma.   In Slate Plus: Is it a faux pas to request no gifts at a child’s birthday party? Or is it OK?  Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends Draw Your World, a sketch book for kids (or adults!) that helps familiarize you with world maps.  Dan recommends the Cat Video Festival, now playing in theaters around the country. Jamilah recommends quarantine, whether you’re sick or not.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.  Hosts  Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three bo

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth and Dan answer a letter from a mother who worries that her 8-year-old daughter may be reading books that aren’t age-appropriate. Then, they share some tips with a listener who wonders if potty training right before vacation is a good idea.  In Slate Plus: The super-moms set to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. Thanks to Goodnight World for their support.  Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends GLOPLAY, a glow-in-the-dark sticker company for your kids, or for you!  Dan recommends reading any book by Patrick deWitt. Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.  Hosts  Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chronicles her misadventures at Dutch, Dutch, Goose. Dan Kois is an editor and writer at Slate. He’s the author of How to B

On this week’s episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Isaac Butler answer a letter from a concerned mother who worries that she’s not able to fill the void of her step-daughter's biological mother.  Then, they share some advice for a listener whose son is having trouble reacting appropriately to gifts he doesn’t like.  In Slate Plus: 14-year-old Zaila Avant-garde wins the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the Brickit App: an app that helps you find your missing Lego pieces. Jamilah’s daughter Naima recommends cooking turkey legs for your kids! Isaac recommends reading A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself, by Peter Ho Davies.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.  Hosts  Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chr

In a special episode, Dan shares his new episode of Slate's Decoder Ring documentary podcast about his time as a junior book agent working on selling a secretive book proposal called IT, a codename for what would eventually be revealed as the Segway personal scooter. This is the story of the invention and development of a potentially revolutionary device, how Dan may or may not have doomed it, how the hype got out of control, and how that speculation helped birth the modern internet. If you like this episode, go subscribe in the Decoder Ring feed, there's plenty more stories there you'll love. If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you can binge the whole season of Decoder Ring right now, plus ad free podcasts, bonus episodes, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a letter from a concerned partner who’s sick of watching a significant other pick fights with their kid — but doesn’t know if or how to step in.  Also, Rachelle Hampton and Madison Malone Kircher join us for a new edition of In Case You Missed It, Mom and Dad. This week they’ll be explaining what the deal is with someone your kids probably know but you might not: YouTube star James Charles, and his return to the platform after sexual misconduct accusations.  In Slate Plus: Brand new dad Aymann Ismail joins us to talk about his great piece on giving his son a Muslim name. Sign up for Slate Plus. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the Small Animals of North America Coloring Book and The Burgess Animal Book for Children. Jamilah recommends pole dancing classes. Dan recommends buying cheap cherries at your local grocery store. They’re on sale right now!  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you

Hi Mom and Dad Are Fighting listeners. We recently relaunched The Waves, Slate's podcast about feminism and gender, and this week's episode--a conversation with Atlantic writer Elizabeth Bruenig about her decision to have kids when she was young--seemed like something you might enjoy. If you enjoy it, please consider subscribing to The Waves in your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Dan, and Jamilah answer a question from a parent who is wondering how to help her 10-year-old who struggled to learn during this last year of school. What can she do to help her daughter catch up this summer?  Then, they advise a hard-working architect who really wants some architect-mom role models to look up to when trying to figure out work-life balance. Stepping in to help is Dr. Barbara Faga, who has blazed her own trail, as a professional, parent and an urban planner.  In Slate Plus: You get an extra special bonus question about a girl who kicked her brother in the balls. Sign up for Slate Plus. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Diahann! By Diahann Carroll and Ross Firestone.  Dan recommends the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride at Hollywood Studios in Disney World.  Elizabeth recommends the Barrel of Fun Two Gallon Water Jug from Igloo.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s s

On this week’s episode: Jamilah is joined by former Mom and Dad are Fighting co-host, Rebecca Lavoie. They weigh in on whether or not an older stepchild should be forced to babysit their stepsiblings. They also counsel a mom who is concerned about her husband’s theatrical and rather upsetting behavior.  As mentioned in the show, our second question does contain discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. So if you’d prefer to skip the question, jump ahead 17 minutes.  If you, or anyone you know, are in crisis, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Since we talk about thoughts of suicide, if you, or anyone you know, need help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).  In Slate Plus: The unsurprising sharp decline of new babies being named ‘Karen.’ Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Rebecca recommends gi

On this week’s episode: Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth have advice for a mom who is less than pleased at her in-law’s ongoing joke with her toddler. Let’s just say the joke involves knuckle sandwiches and a fake punch to the eye. Can she raise her concerns without causing conflict? Or should she just let the joke slide?  Then—a very special guest joins the show… Jamilah’s mom, Isoke! She chats about what it was like raising little Jamilah and tells a hilarious story about the time Jamilah decided to run away.  In Slate Plus: What should parents do when their kids become obsessed with something that you can’t stand? Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends GoCube Smart Rubik's Cube.  Jamilah recommends Ruffles Queso Potato Chips Dan recommends the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us wha

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Dan, and Jamilah counsel a mother who is feeling guilty that she’s having a hard time bonding with her second child. She, of course, loves her son very much. But sometimes wishes her family could revert back to happier days when she had only one kid.  Then, you are hopping in the Newcamp minivan to travel from Florida to Colorado and hopefully pick up a few useful tips for the next time you decide to spend days in the car with your kids.  In Slate Plus: Of course they are talking about the Texas mom posed as her seventh-grade daughter for almost an entire day of school. How could they not? Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Dan recommends My Begging Chart by Keiler Roberts.  Jamilah recommends Morcheeba’s new album, Blackest Blue.  Elizabeth recommends sleeping headphones.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions,

On this week’s episode: Jamilah and Elizabeth are joined by Isaac Butler, co-host of Slate's Working podcast. They advise a family who just moved into a new building. Not even 24 hours after meeting their downstairs neighbors, they received a potentially passive aggressive note about their kids’ noise level. How can they maintain peace in the building while letting their kids play? Then—what should you do when your kid wants to quit a sport midseason?  In Slate Plus: Will the slower pace of family life stick around after the pandemic? Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends signing up for summer reading at your local library.  Isaac recommends BOB books. Jamilah recommends catching up on reading and may she humbly suggest some pieces to get you started: Can I Bring My Very New Boyfriend to a 4-Year-Old’s Birthday Party?, My Daughter Sees Herself in Her Black Role Models a

On this week’s episode: Dan and Elizabeth are joined by Doyin Richards, Care & Feeding columnist, bestselling children's author, and founder of the Anti-Racism Fight Club. They counsel a mom who had terrible acne growing up and now is stressing over her son’s breakouts. Then they have a question about a little boy who is obsessed with gender norms and a mom who’s worried she’s obsessing about it too much.  In Slate Plus: How has giving advice changed the way the hosts parent? Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends the Loóna: calm, relax, and sleep app. Doyin recommends Anti-Racism Fight Club for Kids.  Dan recommends The Fifth Quarter by Mike Dawson.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Rosemary

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth and Jamilah are joined by Emily Flake, cartoonist and author of Mama Tried and That Was Awkward. They advise a parent whose husband is ignoring their teens and giving them the silent treatment when they anger him. Then they have some tips for a mom who is desperate for some alone time.  In Slate Plus: The hosts try to predict what their kids will be up to in five years time. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Emily recommends The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix.  Jamilah recommends Girls5eva on Peacock.  Elizabeth recommends the Peapod Plus ids travel bed.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode: Dan and Jamilah are joined by Gabrielle Horton, co-host and executive producer of NATAL. They advise a mom who is sick of searching for her kid’s lost stuff, especially because she, too, often misplaced things as a child. She learned to develop routines that work for her. But she wants to opt out of helping her kid with finding lost items. They also answer a question about a girl who is feeling left out. Her bestie and her mom both go to therapy and she now wants to go too. What are the things her parents should consider when determining whether or not to send her to therapy?  In Slate Plus: Dan and Jamilah talk to Gabrielle about her work on NATAL and what it’s like as a non-parent to tell stories about birth. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Gabrielle recommends The Circle on Netflix.  Dan recommends Girls5eva on Peacock.  Jamilah recommends Nuudii System bras

On this week’s episode: Dan and Jamilah are joined by Slate’s Allison Benedikt. They debate if a letter writer’s bickering parents need to knock it off or if it’s okay to squabble in front of the grandkids. Then, they sit down with Dr. Tova Walsh, professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin, to discuss her new research about how moms who gave birth in March 2020 are coping with a very strange first year of parenting.  In Slate Plus: What to do about kids' expensive—but oh so delicious—berry habits. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Recommendations: Jamilah recommends Gonanas Banana Bread Mix from Nordstrom Rack.  Allison recommends Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri.  Dan recommends I Was Told There Would Be Mom Friends by Lauren Bans Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give