Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

In the new special segment “Just You Wait,” Laura and Shanna flip the usual fear-mongering script about parenting older kids and share some of the things that get better as children grow up. Also, Shanna gives an update on Cece’s ear-piercing saga, and Laura reports on her 5-year-old's ENT appointment to discuss his ear tubes. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a family board game that turned out to be a huge hit and a delightfully bizarre piece of "junk mail." 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:
Following through on something scary and being proud of yourself
Going to the ENT to discuss ear tubes for your child
Using a digital otoscope at home
The things that get more fun and entertaining as kids get older
The joy of kids becoming more independent with snacks and bedtime reading
Sweet ways older kids show love and affection
How much easier life gets when you can leave the room without constant worry
Watching your child stick with an activity and build real skills over time
A family board game that helps kids practice money skills
A hilarious prank-mail

Products, links, and resources mentioned in this episode:
Digital otoscope
The Allowance Game
Lakeshore Learning
Coin rollers
Alan Wagner on Instagram
TrueWagner.com

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 401 - Where Shanna originally takes Cece to get her ear pierced

Connect with Us
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: [email protected]
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 "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Shanna and Laura explore the things that have brought out the waterworks in their little ones recently, including situations in the distant past that seem to have induced an anxiety attack and a jealousy-induced meltdown. Also, Laura is skeptical about her son's newest extracurricular activity, and Shanna is surprised by the incident that leaves her daughter looking "like a pirate." Finally, the moms wrap up with their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a joyous celebration at the park and a volunteer position that actually sounds fun. Shanna’s kids are 10 and 7 years old, and Laura’s kids are 7 and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:
Signing your kid up for an extracurricular activity that requires a big time commitment
Dads taking the lead on planning activities for the kids
Getting your kids' ears pierced
Handling your child's anxiety and allowing them to make their own decisions about their body
Can a traumatic situation that happened when your child was a baby or toddler still affect them?
When your child feels extreme jealousy toward their sibling
Navigating your kids' big feelings about something seemingly trivial
Setting rules about screen time and how your kids handle those rules
Having a joint birthday party for your kids
Volunteering for your kids' extracurricular activity

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:
Little League
2023 Writers Strike
The Simpsons

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 271 - Where Laura talks about how the Writers' Strike is affecting her family

Connect with Us
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: [email protected]
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 and Shanna celebrate their 400th episode of "Big Fat Positive" with a very special "Checkin' the Inbox" segment, in which they answer listener questions sent in via voice memo! They dive into the topics of baby naming, deciding whether to have a second child, the parenting “rules” they swore they’d never break and more! Also, Shanna recaps Elle’s 10th birthday celebrations, and Laura shares a sweet sibling moment during Sebastian’s 5th birthday trip. Finally, the moms wrap up with their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a party activity that will excite all your guests and an ingenious way to brush up on your foreign-language skills during your kids' bedtime. Shanna’s kids are 10 and 7 years old, and Laura’s kids are 7 and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:
Celebrating 400 episodes of Big Fat Positive
Big birthday milestones
How the podcast has changed our lives
Handling the decision about going from having more than one child
Baby names we love
Fun ideas for your kids' birthday parties
Graphic novels to read with your kids
A unique idea for brushing up on your foreign-language skills

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:
Speakpipe - Leave us a voice message!
Doc Martens Girls' Sparkly Black Boots
Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland
"The Ghost Ship That Didn't Carry Us" by Cheryl Strayed
Clawsome claw machine rentals for events
"Ghosts" by Raina Telgemeier
"Fantasmas" by Raina Telgemeier

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 399 - Where Shanna talks about the name Elara Jane
Ep. 396 - Where Laura surprises Auggie with a birthday trip to Disneyland

Connect with Us
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: [email protected]
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 “Internet Insanity,” Shanna and Laura share the wild and wacky content they've found online recently, including a baby name that has risen to fame for a surprising reason and a mom-group breakup of epic proportions. Also, Laura shares how a Percy Jackson obsession turned into a spontaneous after-school trip with her kids, and Shanna talks about the device that enabled her 9-year-old to arrange her own play date. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including family outings at two Los Angeles landmarks, one beautiful and one bizarre. Shanna’s kids are 7 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 7 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:
A spontaneous after-school adventure with your kids
When your kid starts planning their own social life
Giving your child a “just enough” phone for safety and texting friends
2025's name of the year and what it says about baby naming trends
Toxic mom-group drama, celebrity edition
Keeping longtime friendships going as parents
Fun, unusual day trips around Los Angeles with kids

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:
Percy Jackson book series
Percy Jackson series on Disney+
Percy Jackson end credits
Griffith Observatory
Tracfone
"The 2025 Name of the Year is Elara" by Laura Wattenberg
"How a ‘Splash’ Joke Led to the ‘Madison’ Baby Name Boom"
Perez Hilton
"Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group" by Ashley Tisdale French
"Matthew Koma (Hilary Duff's husband) getting in on the 'mom group' drama"
Huntington Gardens
Old Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 397 - Where Shanna's kids go to "field trip" camp
Ep. 305 - Where Sebastian fell and got a gash on his nose at the Huntington Gardens

Connect with Us
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: [email protected]

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 Wins,” Laura and Shanna celebrate their recent parenting achievements, including a clever chemistry-based solution that saved bath time and a surprising moment of jumping into action to help a stranger. Also, Shanna checks in about adjusting to a new chapter now that the kids are back at school and she must figure out what’s next after leaving her job, while Laura shares an unexpected weekend saga that took a sharp turn. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a full agenda “mommy camp” day and a new hobby that’s quickly becoming a kid’s entire personality. Shanna’s kids are 7 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 7 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:
Adjusting to life after leaving your job and figuring out what's next
Giving yourself permission to have a “fallow period” after a big work/life shift
Handling your kid's sudden and mysterious medical symptoms while far from home
Solving kid “fairness” problems before they become full-blown meltdowns
Citric acid: what it is, how to use it and why Laura swears by it
When motherhood changes how you respond in an urgent situation
Planning an all-day outing with kids to avoid a wide-open day at home
Watching your kid fall in love with a new hobby

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:
Piccle P street artist
Chuck E. Cheese Fun Pass
Bath Bomb Potion Kit
Citric Acid
Trails Cafe
Jesse Owens Park
Zootopia 2
Guitar Ninjas
Fender Squier 3/4-size electric guitar
Guitar strings mnemonics

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:
Ep. 397 - Where Laura talks about the bath potions as her BFP for the week
Ep. 384 - Where Sebastian wonders why Laura didn't marry Tom York of Radiohead

Connect with Us
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: [email protected]

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.