Ep. 351: Appreciating Your Kids’ Positive Qualities

In the special segment "Mom Wins," Laura and Shanna celebrate their recent parenting successes, diving into the topics of handling your child's selective eating and managing your kids' relationship with your pets. Also, Shanna discusses some changes that have inspired her to focus on her own needs, and Laura reports on giving her 6-year-old a long-overdue haircut. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 4 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Taking care of your mental health when you're a mom -Working on mindfulness and self-care -Giving your kid a haircut at home -Handling your child's selective eating -How long does it take to make progress with a picky eater? -Managing your kids and your pets -Helping your kids and pets get along -Bailing on social activities -Feeling impostor syndrome -Taking your kids to Travel Town in Griffith Park This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned recently, including some "super" facts about nipples, nursing in the wild and more! Also, Laura reports on her 6-year-old's surprising symptom from an otherwise mild virus, and Shanna describes a dinnertime activity she created to celebrate her kids' positive qualities. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 4 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Slapped cheek syndrome -Recognizing your kids' positive qualities -Supernumerary nipples -Elephant seals' nursing habits -Spending one-on-one time with your child -The joy of having spontaneous get-togethers This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "OMG I'm Freaking Out!," Shanna and Laura reveal the current parenting dilemmas that have their hair standing on end, diving into the topics of night terrors, YouTube tutorials and more. Also, Shanna reports on a family trip that went much differently than she had expected, and Laura discusses her attempt to have a relaxing week. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 4 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Taking a weekend trip with your kids -Taking care of pets and kids -When your child has night terrors -Trying to teach your kids new skills This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanna and Laura answer more listener questions in another installment of "Checkin' the Inbox," diving into the topics of gender disappointment, surrogacy, introversion and more. Also, Laura talks about throwing a joint birthday party for her sons at the same time she had to care for her ailing cat, and Shanna reports on her kindergartener losing her first tooth. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 4 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Throwing a joint birthday party for your kids -Losing a family pet -When your child loses their first tooth -Defying gender norms -Handling gender disappointment -Being a surrogate -Traveling during the third trimester -Knowing when your preschooler is ready to nap This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," Shanna and Laura answer listener questions about the most rewarding and most challenging parts of parenting, the best kids' books they've read recently, how to prevent getting peed on during a diaper change and more! Also, Shanna reports on the surprising reason she got a day off of parenting, and Laura discusses her moment of panic at Disneyland. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Getting a day off from parenting -Elle's 9th birthday -Sebastian's 4th birthday -Going to Disneyland with your family -Best and worst parts of parenting during the newborn phase -Best and worst parts of parenting during the toddler phase -Best and worst parts of parenting during the school-age phase -Great kids' picture books and chapter books -How to help your child transition from preschool to Kindergarten -How to handle being an "old" parent -How to avoid getting peed on by your baby boy during diaper changes This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Throwback," Laura reflects on sibling relationships as she recounts the time in 7th grade when she ran for student council and her brother became her political fixer. Also, Shanna reports on all the mishaps at the elaborate escape-room birthday party that she threw for her daughter, and Laura discusses the unexpected challenge that sprung upon her family this week. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Handling unexpected challenges when you're a parent -Planning an escape-room birthday party for your kid -Reflecting on memories from middle school -Ice skating with your young kids -Best kids' party favors This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Throwback," Shanna turns back time to recount the story of the first time she gave birth and all the ways it turned out to be different from how she'd expected it to be. Also, Laura talks about introducing her 6-year-old to stop-motion animation, and Shanna reports on her last-minute scramble to plan an elaborate birthday party for her almost 9-year-old. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Planning an escape room birthday party for your kid -Teaching your kids stop-motion animation -Shanna's unplanned C-section birth story -When your birth doesn't go as planned -Moms supporting victims of the Los Angeles fires -Setting boundaries for your kids' extracurricular activities -Joining a book club This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanna and Laura introduce the brand-new special segment "Would You Rather: Parenting Edition," in which they present hilarious sets of hypothetical situations from their own lives and listeners' lives and then discuss which choices they would rather make. Also, Laura reports on her family's stay in Long Beach when they evacuated Los Angeles due to the wildfires, and Shanna discusses her efforts to maintain stability for her kids during the wildfire week. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Evacuating for the Los Angeles wildfires -Parenting during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires -Difficult choices you have to make as a parent -The hilarious and questionable things you do as a mom -Dig It play space in Torrance -Pour painting class at kids' art studio This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment "Internet Insanity," Laura and Shanna share the wild and wacky parenting-related content they've found online recently, including "Someone's Mom Said No," a hilarious meme that captures the reality of shopping with kids, as well as "Willy's Chocolate Experience," a fantastical children's event gone terribly wrong. Also, Shanna talks about her kids visiting her at work for the first time, and Laura reports on spending her son's 6th birthday in snowy Colorado. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Having your kids visit you in the office -Traveling to Colorado with your family -Laura's son's 6th birthday -When your kid experiences snow for the first time -Someone's Mom Said no meme -Willy's Chocolate Experience debacle -Fun board game for the family -Fun museum for the family This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the special segment, "They Said What?!" Shanna and Laura discuss the funny, outrageous or offensive things people have said to them recently about parenting, including stories about negligent neighbors and movie-theater mishaps. Also, Laura reports on her 5-year-old's surprising new outdoor interest, and Shanna discusses a last-minute pivot she and her husband had to make on Christmas Eve. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6 and 8.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -Christmas with young kids -Doing yard work with young kids -Big-muscle activity for kids -Kids and trampolines -Should I give big gifts from Santa or from parents -Falling asleep during movies as a mom -Rude neighbors This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices