Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned about recently, including the story of how a mom on maternity leave saved a major motion picture and a disturbing phenomenon involving a beloved children's toy. Also, Shanna navigates her daughter's last-minute wardrobe crisis, and Laura spends Mother's Day doing exactly what she wanted. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including events that provided some big laughs. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Planning a Mother's Day outing with your kids

• Validating your child's feelings vs. gaslighting them into positivity

• Reclaiming hobbies after having kids

• How a mom saved Toy Story 2

• Why your Owala (and other plastic items) may be melting

• Surprising your partner: tips for keeping a secret in the age of smartphones

• The Netflix Is a Joke Festival: a good excuse to see live comedy in LA

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Next Web article: "How Pixar’s Toy Story 2 was deleted twice, once by technology and again for its own good"

• Reddit post about melting plastic Owala water bottle

• Sad Doll Disease - article in New Scientist

• Owala water bottle

• The Handsome Podcast

• The Wiltern

• Largo at the Coronet

• Flight of the Conchords

• Netflix Is a Joke Festival

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment “Mom Confessions,” Laura and Shanna share the embarrassing or hilarious parenting experiences they have had recently, including an interaction with an unsuspecting stranger, an incident with a curious cat and more. Also, Laura celebrates her 10th wedding anniversary with an out-of-the-ordinary trip, and Shanna recaps a nail-biting end to her 7-year-old's softball season. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a piece of office equipment that had to be rationed like screen time. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking your first overnight trip as a couple after having kids

• Self-driving cars: would you try a Waymo?

• When your child is facing a big moment and you're a nervous wreck

• Kids with ADHD and visual tracking challenges in sports

• Cats and kids: an unpredictable combination

• Regulating your own emotions on a bad parenting day

• Sleep disruption from enlarged adenoids in kids

• Electric pencil sharpeners: a surprisingly divisive household item

• Face painting at kids' sports events

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Line LA - Hotel that Laura and Corey went to for their anniversary

• Waymo - Self-driving cars

• Hard Fork - podcast that radicalized Laura on self-driving cars

• Gwen - Restaurant that Laura and Corey went to for anniversary dinner

• Martin Riese - Water sommelier

• "Mom" by Meghan Trainor - Cece's walkup song

• Spotify Jam

• "Mr. Sun" by Raffi

• "Grumpy Monkey" - Kid's book Shanna mentions

• Robot Electric Pencil Sharpener

• Face Paint Pens (Jim & Gloria)

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 407 - Where Shanna first talked about the Savannah Bananas San Diego trip

• Ep. 410 - Where Laura first discussed Sebastian's ENT follow-up and upcoming ear tube surgery

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment "Out of Context," Laura and Shanna share random text messages they have sent or received that shed light on their parenting lives, including shocking elementary-school auction items, bizarre stovetop contraptions and more. Also, Shanna gives an update on her 7-year-old's daily medication routine, and Laura reports on a last-minute volunteering opportunity that turned into an hours-long commitment. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including an exciting new parenting support program and a long-awaited Disneyland milestone. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Helping your child get comfortable with a daily medicine routine

• Whether or not to use a reward system to help your child take medicine

• When volunteering at school becomes a whole "thing."

• What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?

• Picking your battles with neurodivergent kids

• Shockingly inappropriate items in a school auction

• Kids playing April Fools' Day pranks on their parents

• Disneyland height requirements and the fast pass card hack

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• UCLA PCIT Program - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy individual and group sessions

• Five Below - Shanna's treasure box supply sources

• Wheel of Names - Shanna's homework rotation system

• The Comeback - HBO show Laura watched while babysitting at Nora's

• The Traitors - Peacock reality show (Nora's murder mystery party theme)

• Highlights Magazine - Source of the April Fools' food prank activity

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 410 - Where Shanna talks about her struggle to get Cece to take her new daily medication

• Ep. 411 - Where Laura's BFP was the Long Beach Grand Prix

• Ep. 388 - Where Laura discussed switching the kids' schools

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laura checks in on her 7-year-old's Little League season, and Shanna reports on a volunteer experience at her daughter's school that is somehow both underwhelming and overstimulating. Also, in the special segment "Loose Ends," Shanna and Laura give updates about topics they've talked about previously, including needy phases, screen time, hair care and more! Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including an exciting event in Southern California and an ordinary kitchen tool that can make food exciting for kids. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Letting your partner take the lead on kids' activities

• When your child refuses to go to their sports games and practices

• Volunteering at your kids' school

• Does Laura feel like switching her kids' school was worth it?

• Handling your child's needy/clingy phases

• Dealing with screen time setbacks

• Tips for managing fine hair

• Volunteering as team DJ

• Fixing a broken tooth

• Taking your kids to an exciting car racing event in Southern California

• How an ordinary kitchen tool can make food fun for kids

Products, links, and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Grand Prix of Long Beach

• OXO Peeler

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 388 - Laura shares her decision to switch her boys' schools.

• Ep. 392 - Laura discusses Sebastian's emotional/needy phase.

• Ep. 393 - Shanna talks about the fine hair subreddit.

• Ep. 395 - Laura reports on the PlayStation being introduced to her kids.

• Ep. 401 - Shanna talks about taking on the role of softball team DJ for the spring season.

• Ep. 408 - Shanna reports on losing a tooth crown while flossing.

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shanna and Laura talk bizarre pregnancy infographics and shockingly bad mom "hacks" in the special segment "Internet Insanity." Also, Shanna recounts a tumultuous week of getting her 7-year-old started on a new medication, and Laura reports on some unexpected news from her 5-year-old's ENT appointment. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a spontaneous neighborhood adventure and a long-overdue outing to a beloved Los Angeles children's museum. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Strategies for helping your child start a new, daily medication

• Navigating ADHD medication side effects and adjustments

• Figuring out if your child needs ear tubes put in

• What are adenoids, and why do kids get them removed?

• Terrible AI-generated health content online

• Questionable parenting "hacks" on Facebook

• Getting out of a rut: "capital A activities" for kids in Los Angeles

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• The ADHD Parenting Podcast

• Ruchi Singh - Facebook creator of terrible AI pregnancy posts

• Questionable kids' natural makeup hack

• Questionable swim diaper hack

• Hopia Like It - Filipino bakery Shanna discovered on a neighborhood walk with Cece

• KidSpace Children's Museum - Laura's BFP outing in Pasadena

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 405 - Where Shanna and Laura talk about ADHD

• Ep. 402 - Where Laura talks about taking Sebastian to the ENT to discuss the status of his ear tubes at age 5

• Ep. 266 - Where Laura reports on Sebastian's ear tube surgery at age 2

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.