141: Best of 2018



As 2018 draws to a close, we reflect back on our first year. 

This podcast launched on March 12, 2018. Since then, we’ve recorded 40+ episodes, on everything from tween boy hygiene to how to talk to boys about sex, consent and masculinity in the #MeToo era. We hosted 11 guests, including Warren Farrell (author of The Boy Crisis), Maggie Dent (Australia’s “Boy Champion”) and Jen’s 12 year old son, Sam Fink. We tried hard to bring you information and inspiration, and look forward to tackling all kinds of topics in 2019.

In this episode, Janet & Jen discuss the 5 most popular episodes of 2018:

Episode 123: The Good News About Bad Behavior with Katherine Reynolds Lewis

This book is taking America by storm, and she is changing the way we are parenting.

Episode 101: Homework and Boys

As parents, we feel we have to conform to the school and the teacher, but that means we’re battling with our sons every night because they don’t want to do another ridiculous math sheet.

Episode 125: Anxiety and Depression in Boys

Anxiety and depression can show up so differently in boys and men than it does in girls and women.

Episode 121: Sibling Stress: How to Handle Bickering, Fighting & More

Part of what we did in this episode was talk about what’s normal, and when bickering and fighting cross the line into a very harmful pattern of behavior.

Episode 104: Anger & Boys

Developmentally, there are really good reasons why your boys are quick to anger.

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 141:

5 Steps to Untangle Your Parenting — Janet’s course to help parents

Down with Homework, Say U.S. School DistrictsWall Street Journal article

We Spent a Year Reporting on Teen Anxiety. Here’s What We Learned – and Why You’re Part of the SolutionDeseret News article. Includes links to many other articles about anxiety.

Minivan Musings: How Parents Should Handle Their Angry Tween, Teen — article referenced by Jen during the discussion of Anger & Boys

Learning Lab: Boys and Anger — 90-minute online workshop led by Janet

Learning Lab: Homework — 90-minute online workshop led by Janet