Happy holidays from The Mother Load to you! Often wonder how to help make the time pass happily with your kids during the holidays?! Well, Constance and Missi are tying a bow on 2019 with some tips and tricks to make winter break a little more interesting, including family-friendly movies, being a tourist in your own city and DIY crafting. They also talk to Helen Hadani, the director of research at the Center for Childhood Creativity. Helen talks about the benefits of stimulating creativity and encouraging risk-taking.   This week's episode is brought to you by:  - Everlane.com/motherload- BeautyCounter.com- ThirdLove.com/TML-  Zola.com/motherload code: SAVE50 - FourSigmatic.com/motherload- ShopFlamingo.com/motherload- Skillshare.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Constance and Missi are joined by their friend, the charming actor and father-of-twins, Tuc Watkins (The Boys in The Band) Tuc talks about everything from choosing surrogacy as a single parent to managing his parental priorities as a sober parent. This week's episode is brought to you by: - Ritual.com/motherload- Native.com/motherload- PolicyGenius.com- Skillshare.com/motherload CODE: motherload - StoryWorth.com/motherload- Candidco.com/motherload Remember to check out: That's What She Did Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Remember:  All feelings are welcome, and all behaviors are not." -  Dr. Aliza Pressman  This week, Constance and Missi talk weed/nicotine and vaping, brain science, child-development, and more with behavioral expert, Dr. Aliza Pressman (Raising Good Humans Podcast) If you’ve ever wondered about how to broach the topic of drugs with your kids using a “healthy delivery system” or communication strategy, then this is the episode for you! Plus, at the end we give some tips on how to deal with tantrums!!’ Stay tuned!    This week's episode is brought to you by:  - ThirdLove.com/TML- hellonoemie.com/motherload- Everlane.com/motherload- Simplehealth.com/motherload CODE: motherload- Foursigmatic.com/motherload  - Beautycounter.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we have the effervescent Shanola Hampton (Shameless). This incredible woman, actor and mother-of-two is bringing her Southern, no-nonsense, parenting perspective to the forefront. Constance and Missi talk with Shanola about strategies for creating boundaries, managing various extracurriculars, and coming to the defense of their kids. This week’s episode is brought to you by:  - StoryWorth.com/motherload- Ritual.com/motherload- Rothys.com/motherload- ThirdLove.com/TML- FourSigmatic.com/motherload- SuperChewer.com/MotherLoad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's “longer than normal” episode is about doing away with the notion of "conventional motherhood.” We didn’t dare cut prolific author and mother-of-four Ayelet Waldman (Bad Mother, Unbelievable & Mommy Track Mysteries) when she had so much to share. Ayelet talks with Constance and Missi about the multifaceted reality of motherhood, by opening up about everything from her abortions, feminism, a writing career that happened because she was a mom, our internal relationship with shame and also her experiences micro-dosing LSD. Settle in for a “holiday-length episode."  This week’s episode is brought to you by: - Shopflamingo.com/motherload- candidco.com/motherload- policygenius.com- foursigmatic.com/motherload- Brooklinen.com code: motherload - Everlane.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, The MotherLoad is putting the spotlight on a DAD and dear friend, father-of-three, actor Mark Feuerstein. Mark talks with Constance and Missi about his experiences with heart surgery on his youngest, transitioning kids’ schools, RIE parenting, and Parenting Therapy.  This week's episode is brought to you by:  - Skillshare.com/Motherload- Thirdlove.com/TML- PolicyGenius.com- Beautycounter.com- foursigmatic.com/motherload- hellonoemie.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode will mark the beginning of something new for The Mother Load…talking to kids, both younger and older, to get THEIR perspective about parenting, starting with Constance’s very own 11 year old daughter. Listen as Constance and Missi ask Coco about school lunches, discipline, social media, and dive into some new, uncharted territory--the questions Coco has for The Mother Load.  THIS WEEK'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:  - Candidco.com/motherload code: motherload - nativedeodorant.com code: motherload - Foursigmatic.com/MOTHERLOAD code: motherload - Everlane.com/motherload- ritual.com/motherload- Rothys.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode is a “special” episode that was taped while Missi was working in Toronto and Constance was back in Los Angeles. This episode is for any working parent that feels serious guilt or thinks they've been shamed by other parents, for not being around. As working mothers, both Constance and Missi have to make difficult choices. They manage erratic schedules and like many parents, strive for balance. So get ready to join the pair in their SHAME-FREE zone, and un-LOAD.   This week's episode is brought to you by: - rothys.com/motherload- skillshare.com/motherload- shopflamingo.com/motherload- thirdlove.com/tml- policygenius.com- ritual.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okay, real-talk. Who is absolutely TERRIFIED of traveling with their kids? Well, Constance and Missi are here to vent with you and to drop some secrets, along with two amazing guests, Amy Smartand Carter Oosterhouse, who happen to be married! On the episode, they talk about the tribulations of traveling with their daughter, working on the philanthropy, Carter's Kids, creating organic mattresses, and more!   THIS WEEK’S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Simplehealth.com/motherload CODE: MOTHERLOAD Ritual.com/motherload Feals.com/motherload Talkspace.com/student code:MOTHERLOAD CandidCo.com/motherlaod Ziprecruiter.com/motherload   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is a reminder that we're all stronger together and to ask for help when you need it.  Listen as Constance finds out WTF Hand in Hand Parenting is as Missi Pyle reunites with her old friend, Abigail Wald, creator of Mother Flipping Awesome and certified Hand In Hand Parenting instructor. She teaches us how important engaging in play is to your child and YOU, as well as understanding tantrums and why it’s important to help them through it. PLUS, they build a "parenting table" together??? Whaaatt? Get excited!   Connect with Abigail Wald: https://www.motherflippingawesome.com/ Learn more about Hand In Hand Parenting: https://www.handinhandparenting.org/ Parenting confessions and questions: ‪Leave a voicemail at (213) 259-3235‬, email us: [email protected], or DM us @motherloadpod on Instagram and Twitter.  This week's episode is brought to you by:  - ThirdLove.com/TML- Skillshare.com/motherload- PolicyGenius.com- Brooklinen.com PROMO CODE: MOTHERLOAD- KiwiCo.com/motherload Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices