Too Many Toddler Germs
Speaker 1: We live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Speaker 2: I’m Jamilah Lemieux, a writer contributor to Slate’s Care and Feeding parenting column and mom to Naima, who’s almost ten. And we live in Los Angeles.
Speaker 3: I’m Zak Rosen. I make the Best Advice Show podcast, and I am dad to Noah, who’s five, and Amy who’s two.
Speaker 1: Plus. Okay, we’re going to dive into our weekend parenting, but not before a quick break. See you back here in a second. All right. Zach, can you get us started? What’s going on with you and the family?
Speaker 3: Yes. So we are visiting my dad and step mom this week in Arizona. And my sister and her husband and their two kids are here with us. And we’re all staying with with my dad and step mom. It’s really nice to be here. I guess the weather’s going to turn shitty starting tomorrow, but we’ve had three days of sun at least. And honestly, like 5 minutes even is feel so good.
Speaker 3: I just got back from a really nice hike where we left the kids with their older cousin, and so it’s just some of the adults and my nephew Brody, and I just wanted to report this quick thing first because it was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. We’re finishing up the hike, and my nephew Brody, who is 13 and, like, just as tall as his dad, my brother in law. They’re walking hand-in-hand, just like toward the parking lot. They’re just holding hands. And it was so sweet and so nice. And just like my sister and brother in law are doing something right for their son at 13 to still feel comfortable holding his dad’s hand. And I know, like, he likely wouldn’t have been doing it in front of all his friends. But still, I found that so tender and aspirational for me.
Speaker 3: But I’ve got a fun travel failure for you. We got dropped off at the Detroit airport a couple days ago by my very generous mom and have like a big suitcase and a carry on suitcase and our stroller. The luggage line is like pretty short, like surprisingly short. And I was like, Oh, this is great. And the security line is so short. And I was like, Oh my God, this is amazing. It was going too well. Some. It was just like.
Speaker 1: Hell, yes.
Speaker 3: This feels this feels great. And then we have like, all this time because we got there way early, expecting like a big spring break flood of people. And so Shira starts talking to this other mom at like a little playscape. Shira was admiring this mother’s stroller and then they were talking about strollers. And then she was like, Zach, the car seats. We forgot the fucking car seats, which we need because we’re driving all over sprawling Phoenix here. And then we’re driving to California in a couple of days. So, like, we needed those car seats. I’ve always heard that a lot of rental places have car seats, but they can’t guarantee that they’ll be there and like, we just would have been screwed without them.
Speaker 3: And thankfully, my mom only lives about a half hour from the airport, so I called her up. She was just getting home. I’m like, Mom, I’m so sorry you got to turn around because the car seats were just in the car. You know, the kids were sitting in them on the way in. I was going to uninstall them and being the amazing woman she is, she’s like, Of course I’ll come back. She turns around. Fortunately, there’s no traffic. I go back out through security, you know, watch her pull up 30 minutes later, grab the car seats. Fortunately, the luggage line is still short. The security line is still short. And by the way, I recall I can made it back for our flight. My mom was the hero of that one. And yeah, the good people at American where we’re really efficient and quick. So thanks.
Speaker 1: Like your mom’s still saving the day.
Speaker 3: Saving the day.
Speaker 2: Great. Yeah.
Speaker 3: And I was I called her right after I got back through security for the second time. I’m like, Mom, thank you so much. Like, you really saved us. She’s, like, sick. Of course I would do anything for you. It was so nice. And she’s listening right now. Thanks, Mom.
Speaker 1: Are you thinking next time I’m with her, I’m going to hold her hand? That’s.
Speaker 3: Oh, that’s. That’s my gift. The next time I see your mom, for sure.
Speaker 1: Good job. What a good team, though. See, I think this is great. You have a you have a great support system. You had a great team. You got there. You have the car seats. That’s a great story.
Speaker 3: Yes.
Speaker 1: Jamila, how is your week? Try out, fail. Share with us.
Speaker 2: I actually have a triumph for once, So I mentioned a while ago that I’ve been taking standup comedy classes and I took them this fall and I started again about a month ago for the current, you know, semester, if you will. And part of what we’re asked to do as students in the class is to go to open mics and tell jokes. And I know, I know and I have not.
Speaker 1: So I’m panicking for you.
Speaker 2: I mean, in.
Speaker 4: My heart, I think, okay.
Speaker 3: Okay, you got this.
Speaker 2: There’s a number of open mikes each week at the Comedy Club where I’m taking classes, but they don’t generally fall at very convenient times for me. So anyway, my teacher mentioned to me that it would be okay if I brought Naima with me, which I was kind of like, I don’t know, like my jokes have some adult content in them too, but whatever. Nothing too crazy.
Speaker 2: And so there’s a Sunday open mic at 5:00, and I. She did it this week and it was a pretty full house, but not too crowded. And I brought Naima with me and originally, like the T-shirts said, I can, like, leave her in the green room. But she’s like, Oh, she can listen, if you don’t mind. So of course, everybody was telling sex jokes. I was like, Why? Like, this never happens. I like to send her with some headphones and she’s on device punishment. So there’s that. So she had a book with her and I thought she was just going to sit and read, well, you know, and like, just not listen to the jokes. But she was like, I can stay in the room. And so, of course, people saw all these variety jokes and spy. But like I told my jokes and they went well and I did not die. So that was my first ever open. My oh, my God.
Speaker 3: 5 minutes.
Speaker 2: That’s huge. Wow. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Was it fun at any point?
Speaker 2: I did have fun. You know, one challenge I have is that I am not off book with any of my jokes. Like I don’t have them completely memorized. So I refer to notes, you know, like even during the graduation show last time I had notes, I just don’t have a great memory. In addition to just not having the amount of time that I really need to be practicing this, you know, like, it’s not a huge part of my life, but I felt comfortable, like I was able to do a really good job of, like, scamming my notes, you know, like getting things off my notes without, like, being on the page the whole time. So, you know, I felt like it went better than it had in class. So I was pleased.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: The name is anything about your set?
Speaker 2: No, She you know, she seemed pleased enough, like.
Speaker 1: She’s like, you didn’t tell the sex jokes.
Speaker 2: Right? And there was, like, a little bit of a like, a hint of sex in one of my jokes. So, like, I closed the set by apologizing to her for it.
Speaker 3: Oh, that probably did really well.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: That’s so funny.
Speaker 1: That’s so great. Are you going to do it again?
Speaker 2: I am. I don’t know if we’ll do it, like, next weekend. If I, like, put her through that two weeks in a row or if I’ll, like. I was thinking about, like, getting it together for either Wednesday or Friday this week. I’m going to try to make myself do another open mic this week. I use like the open mikes usually fall during like the times where I try to schedule dates. Can I have just a brief tangent real quick? Not a chance.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Do it. Do it. I’m here for this.
Speaker 2: Like you guys, like mom and Dad or fighting listeners. I think we’ve told you before that I was single and I was looking for somebody, and I thought you all were going to help me.
Speaker 1: And I didn’t ask specific. You know, like when you manifest, things got to be really specific. So here.
Speaker 2: Really, let’s be.
Speaker 1: Really specific.
Speaker 2: So I’m looking to meet somebody and like I know a lot of you guys are white and like, one thing I’ve always heard about white people is that they want to hook their black friends up with each other. And I’ve never had any of my white friends try to hook me up with any black guys. And I know I understand. And so I’m putting this to you all again. I’m looking for a nice black guy. Six feet and above would be ideal in L.A. Who’s a good guy? Like, find him. I’m tired of looking. I’m really tired.
Speaker 3: Okay, we’re looking. We’re going to start looking out there. And then so if if people have folks in mind, is it what should the subject line be in the call?
Speaker 1: Our phone number 663579318.
Speaker 2: Call us, please.
Speaker 3: Or you can e-mail or you can email us at mom and dad at Slate.com. This is going to work.
Speaker 1: Let’s go to our now listeners. For five years, she has shared her life with you and us. The least we can do is find her some great dates. The least.
Speaker 2: The very least you can do for me.
Speaker 3: I mean, we all know what a great catch you are, Jamilah now that we actually have have put this question out there.
Speaker 2: This is I was excited the last time we mentioned it. I thought we were going to get some hits then. So now I’m a little I’m not optimistic.
Speaker 3: But we didn’t we didn’t do a I don’t think we did a proper ask last time.
Speaker 2: Okay. Love that.
Speaker 3: What’s the phone number? One more time. Timeless.
Speaker 1: All right. The phone number one more time is 6463579318. Or, of course, you can email us at mom and dad at Slate.com. All right. Well, this is now. Now mine is. I’m taking a triumph, too.
Speaker 3: Yeah, take it, Take it.
Speaker 1: I’m going to take your time to Zach. I was really thinking about that the other week. You shared about being in the hallway and the woman saying, like, this is such a precious time. And like, just really thinking about that. And I had this moment with Henry that we were sitting. I had taken him to something. Jeff was home, so I only had him in the car and he was doing this silly like, like he’s the start up to a video game, I guess it’s like popular on kids Tiktoks He kind of like moves his body around and he does different things like choose your character and he’s wearing this ridiculous. He wears this like neck gaiter, but he wears it as a headband. It is weird. Hair is like sticking up. Like he just looks totally ridiculous. But he is ten and he is just like very much himself.
Speaker 1: And his jokes are so much more tailored, not just to me, but like when we’re together, like he knows how to tailor to the things I find funny. Like this whole this whole two year game thing was like I had just asked him, like, you know, please get out your book while you wait. And so he was like, This is like math, Henry. This is like the Henry that’s going to read. This is like, like choose which. HENRY You want to spend the time. Is it just, like, very cute, sweet things.
Speaker 1: And then on the same day, so I had this great experience that night. He had a nightmare and came into our room to kind of ask for help, you know, Didn’t climb in like he used to, but like, mom, I just got really scared. Can you just come back in and tuck me in? Can I have a hug like all of this? And I thought, ten is so sweet. Like, I still have this kid who needs me and isn’t afraid to ask. Because it’s not not cool. But he also is kind of like becoming his own person and doesn’t care that I think the neck gaiter over the hair is totally ridiculous. He thinks it looks cool. I felt like I got to take this kind of snapshot of him in this one day and be like, Henry at ten is really great.
Speaker 3: Oh, it doesn’t sound so great. Sounds like a fun guy to hang out with.
Speaker 1: He some days this particular day. Yes, we’re going with that. Well, guys, on that note, we’re going to take another quick break and we will see you back here for our listener questions.
Speaker 1: All right. It’s time for our question.
Speaker 4: To your mom and dad. Is anyone else basically sick all the time this winter? We’ve got a four year old who’s in preschool and an almost one year old who stays home with me. We’re all vaccinated, generally healthy, visibly German conscious people. And yet it seems like we’ve been sick constantly since September. We’ve had RSV strep multiple year infections, covered general colds and stomach bugs in between.
Speaker 4: It’s not just the kids. The adults are getting the super sick, too. I can’t remember the last time everyone in my house was healthy at the same time. I’m sad and exhausted. It disrupts everyone’s routine and it’s starting to weigh on me emotionally. I feel like a failure because I can’t keep my family healthy. I’ve been inconsistent at work. I’ve been asking family and friends for help for months now, and I’m starting to feel embarrassed that my family is getting sick so often. I keep hearing it’s a record cold and flu season. Are other people dealing with this, too? How do you keep your sanity and help your family feel better when you’re all sick? Thanks. Always sick, Mom.
Speaker 2: So from what I remember about my daughter, being in daycare for three years is that we were always sick. I mean, she was sick. I was sick. We were sick. I mean, four year olds are very germy. Like they pick up germs. They spread germs. Yeah. That is a germ season in your life. So this is completely normal. And I’m sorry that is making you sad. And I’m sorry that it’s taken an emotional toll on you because you’re not failing at anything. You’re being a totally normal parent of a totally normal child who’s just at an age where their immune system, you know, is really susceptible to certain things. And also they’re really good at passing them on to younger siblings and to their parents. All you can do is your best.
Speaker 2: So, one, you should be masking something that most people in America were not doing prior to the COVID pandemic. But in other parts of the world, it’s common and it’s common during flu season. You know, we’ve all you’ve always seen people wearing masks and perhaps wondered why. And it’s because they work. It’s annoying. It may not be the easiest thing to pull off with your little one at school, but the more you all can be masked, I think the better your chances are that you won’t be picking up something that you don’t already have or spreading germs to other people. Take vitamins. Eat healthy. Try to get as much sleep as possible. That’s really it. There’s no magical salve to this. You know, like you’re not going to completely prevent your family from getting sick. But masking does give you perhaps your best hope and limiting how frequently it’s happening.
Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, Ami is to he’s in daycare and he brings home something different every week. There’s always a booger and that guy’s face and we sometimes get it, sometimes we don’t. But now I agree with everything you said. Jamilah take care of yourselves as best as you can and know that this, I think. I mean, my wife always tells me this. She’s a pediatrician. I don’t think it’s just wishful thinking, but like your littlest one’s immune system is getting stronger each time they get sick and move through it. And this period of booger mania will end. And yeah, I mean, this daycare period is just we’re in it, too. I totally feel it. You it can be so stressful. Like as soon as you think you’re getting over something, you get, you know, you bring home something else. It’s it’s tough, but it will end.
Speaker 1: I think the only thing I can add to Jamilah is kind of list of recommendations is the hand-washing. Like if you can get your kids to be fanatical hand washers, that will help when they’re at school too. So you can we have done like stamps on their hands in the morning and just by the end of the day, trying to make sure that they’ve gotten them off like as just a reminder, like, did you wash this off today? Just things to remind them. And then at home, you know, like making sure are they setting up? Do you have a song? Can you get it like as a family practicing those And of course you can check with their schools or whatever that they’re doing it to. But if you can kind of motivate them to wash their hands, I think that’ll help.
Speaker 1: You know, some of this letter is disheartening because fundamentally the issue is like this is something everyone goes through and we don’t live in a society where people are like, oh, they have little kids, they’re just going to be out more because there’s just more sickness in these in these age groups. And I think in other places it’s just more expected that this happens. And so there’s more leeway.
Speaker 1: So I think to the best of your ability, don’t feel bad about asking for help when you’re out of this phase or even now and can provide help to the other people that are in. That’s like that is the way to that. You pay it forward. But just know this too shall pass. And it’s the worst when you’re sick too. And the best thing you can do is just kind of lower your expectations where you can, right?
Speaker 1: So if laundry becomes just like we pick up clean laundry from the pile in the laundry room because there’s just not time to do the folding and the putting back or whatever that is for you, right? Like, maybe you’re a person that dishes are never in the sink. And now it’s just that’s how we were doing it, right? Or the dishwasher doesn’t get emptied. Whatever those little things are that you can give yourself in these moments to make the the important stuff still work. I think this is the time to let go of those, right? If you’re sick, no one’s coming over anyway, so just cut yourself some slack. Wash those hands, mask up. Even in the house. That’s something we’ve started doing. Once the kids come down, I’m like, Hello? You know, like, I don’t want your germs. Someone’s got to stay healthy to run this place.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Yeah. Because, I mean, moms are so strong, but they’re not strong enough to defeat all viruses. Viruses are going to win most of the time. So don’t have these unrealistic expectations. It’s like Jamila was saying, it’s your to keep your family healthy to the best of your ability.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and some of keeping you healthy is getting these things a healthy immune system. Gets these mild colds, particularly when you’re young and gets these diseases and builds immunity to them. So I don’t think you can fault yourself for getting sick. That’s not something you did or chose or are putting your kids at a greater risk for. I don’t know. These terms are out there. Kids like lick things and touch everything. Well, I’m always sick, mom. Definitely hang in there. Listeners, if you have any tried and true tips for our sick mom, please send them and you can email us at mom and dad at Slate.com or send us a voicemail at 6463579318.
Speaker 1: All right. Can we hear our second question?
Speaker 4: Dear mom and dad, I need some recommendations. My four year old has started sleeping under her covers with a toy flashlight. Always on. She’s safe enough. She unconsciously whips the covers off in her sleep and often ends up getting us in the middle of the night to put the covers back on her. I’m just wondering if there’s an alternative where she can have the same feeling, like sleeping in a tent or a cave or something that isn’t her burrowing under the covers. Thanks. Looking for a sleep cave?
Speaker 1: Okay, well, I’m just going to jump in and take this, because, first of all, all of my kids are like weird sleepers like this. Like one of them keeps a million stuffed animals on the bed and likes to sleep under them. And I really believe that a lot of this is that sensory input. So my suggestions for you are first of all, there’s something called a hugger roo pouch, and it is like a sheet that is a circle and it goes over the mattress and then your kid can get under it. So it like kind of holds them to the mattress but provides that same pressure. But it’s very easy. They can get out of it. They they’re not going to get stuck in it like slips over the beds, kind of like a fitted sheet that goes under, too. So that’s called the hugger roo pouch.
Speaker 1: You could also look into things like a weighted blanket or there’s a product called a sleep pod, which is similar to the hug roo pouch. But you get into it, it’s kind of like a a lite sleeping bag blanket. As I’m saying this a sleeping bag might actually work. They also do have there’s something called the privacy pop, which we have used when traveling that pops up over the bed and makes it kind of dark in there. But I don’t know that that’s going to give them the same feeling of being in a tight space, if that’s really what they’re seeking.
Speaker 1: I think you should Google sensory diets and look up and see if maybe you can replace what they’re trying to get at night with just before bed. So a lot of these things are feeding your body with the right kind of sensory input to feel really regulated. And a lot of times kids who are unregulated at night, I mean, listen, adults, right, Like who doesn’t love getting in under a weighted blanket or when you’re feeling anxious or something, getting that cozy feeling. So if there’s any way that you can meet some of those needs during the day, there may be less of an issue of it at night. And I think if you’re honestly worried, like it sounds to me like in the letter, you’re concerned with it being over your head and face, like it’s okay to tell your kids we can’t sleep with this over our head. Like, it’s not good, it’s not safe.
Speaker 1: Let’s find a different way for you to feel cozy, right? Like, are there pajamas with a hood or something that is is safer or it makes you less worried? I don’t know. I think kids are weird sleepers. Kids have anxiety at night. I mean, have you guys experienced any of that kind of stuff and how to deal with it? Because I think this is like a symptom of that greater nighttime anxiety and needing to calm down and how kids regulate themselves.
Speaker 3: Totally. Like Amy insists on having like as many pacifiers as there are in the house, like right next to him in his bed. And he likes, you know, a particular type of blanket, not another.
Speaker 3: Yeah, there’s all sorts of weird idiosyncrasies, but I just want to go back to the Ford for a second because there are some really cool forts, like just actual sleep for it. Building on kind of what Liz was saying. There’s one for like 50 bucks called the air fort. And if you just Google like sleeping for it, you’ll come up with some stuff. And so if you have this this fort around them, when they throw their blankets off, they’re not going to get as far as like, you know, the floor because the fort is going to fortify them. And so that that could be a fun thing. And also, your four year old is Noah wasn’t quite there at four, but depending on your four year old, I’m wondering like you’re saying that they throw the covers off, does that then wake them up and then you have to come in and put the covers back on? Because if that’s what you’re saying, that’s definitely something that we went through. But at a certain point you can start practicing with your kid, them putting the covers back on themselves. But yeah, kids definitely have weird sleep stuff. You’re not alone there.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah. We’ve dealt with plenty of weird sleep stuff I would recommend. And this is something that helps Naima. At one point when she had some trouble sleeping. A sleeping mask, I think part of. What they’re getting from having the covers over on top of them is like the light being blacked out. You know, even though they want the toy flashlight on, which is a little strange, but I get it. No judgment. But I think that, you know, they want the covers over on top of them. And the sleeping mask might kind of give them some of that same sensation of like not really being able to see what’s going on and might hopefully keep them asleep.
Speaker 1: That’s it. That’s it. I didn’t even think about what a good idea a sleep mask is like for that dark and that pressure on your face. And combine that with some, like a good blanket. I do read the letter to say that the covers are like they’re getting up in the middle of the night because the covers are gone. Yeah. So, Zach, you like actually you like, practiced pulling up the covers or trying them when they fell off the bed?
Speaker 3: Yeah, we are practicing, and she’s calling me on less in the middle of the night to put her covers back on than she used to. Which I take. And I take that to mean that she is starting to get it herself. But she’s five and a half.
Speaker 1: Okay, so looking for a sleep cave. Thank you so much for writing in. I think this is one to put to the listener. So if you guys have some advice for our letter writer, you can email us at Mom and Dad at Slate.com or send us a voicemail at 6463579318. That’s, of course, also where you can send in any questions of your own. And that’s it for our show. We will be back in your feed on Monday. Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts so that you never miss an episode. This episode of Mom and Dad, Our fighting is produced by Rosemary Belson and Maura Currie. Alicia montgomery is VP of Slate Audio for Jamilah Lemieux and Zak Rosen. I’m Elizabeth Newcamp. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 1: All right, Slate Plus listeners, we have been getting a lot of good letters from you recently, so we figured we’d share. First up is a response to our discussion from last week about a Valentine’s Day should still be celebrated at school.
Speaker 4: Mom and Dad, I was really struck by your discussion of celebrating Valentine’s Day at school. I really appreciate your emphasis on parental love around the holiday in elementary school. You always had classroom parties for Valentine’s Day. If you’re to bring in Valentine’s, you had to bring in the same one for every person in the class. And no candy for allergy reasons. I absolutely hate it. Valentine’s Day in middle school where it seemed like only the people who got Valentine’s Day were the popular girls who received extravagant four foot tall teddy bears from their boyfriends who they barely spoke to. It was very distressing to me, especially as a pre-teen who was struggling to understand my sexuality. Now, as a high schooler, I’ve come to really appreciate the holiday because of my family. My parents always buy my sister and I an assortment of our favorite candies, as well as a very sweet card. My grandparents also some lovely cards with handwritten notes in the Druid as of February. It’s so nice to feel loved and appreciated by my family. It’s now a holiday I look forward to every year. I love the show. Thanks, Alex.
Speaker 3: I’ve just got to say, if my teenager has the the insight and wisdom that Alex does, I would be so thrilled. I can’t believe a teenager is listening to our show and getting so much out of it. And then this is amazing. And I love how your family handled Valentine’s Day. That’s that’s really sweet. That’s a good idea.
Speaker 1: I know it sounds like such a nice thing that is clearly so appreciated, Like even by this teen. I love it so much.
Speaker 3: Thanks for listening, Alex.
Speaker 2: Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1: All right. So next we have a book recommendation from Ellen.
Speaker 4: Zach, you need to read Noah one morning in Maine, which is a pleasing book about a kid who loses her tooth while digging for clams with her dad. It’s one of the very best kids books, in my opinion. Enjoy.
Speaker 3: Alan, thank you so much. I am definitely going to get one morning in Maine from the library when we get back from our trip. Very excited.
Speaker 1: And finally, we are going to end today with a letter from MIA. In response to a letter we tackled about a dad who couldn’t handle his kids constantly fighting after school.
Speaker 4: Dear Mom and Dad, I’m writing in solidarity with the dad who is struggling with the after school squabbles. I feel your man. Our kids are 11, eight, and six, and they’re fighting completely overwhelms me sometimes. I just wanted to co-sign the advice of taking a few minutes to get their place started before moving on to whatever grown up thing that needs to do. I find if I invest in the special one on one time and name it with my kids, they play so much better together.
Speaker 4: I’d also like to offer another piece of advice that’s arguably harder to pull off because it requires us parents to do some internal work on ourselves rather than tactical work with our kids. On a recent episode of her podcast Unruffled, Janet Lansbury offered that we as parents don’t need to solve every argument for our kids because that’s not our job to keep the peace at all times. Like I said, it’s not easy for me to do because I’m so prone to want to fix things. And also all that shouting for the love of. But when I manage to stay out of a squabble between the kids, they generally resolve whatever they’re arguing about in a pretty short time and then keep on playing as they were before the argument. I hope this helps because I know I just want to say how much I appreciate you all being here. I’ve listened since the very beginning. I’m pretty sure I actually haven’t missed an episode and I know for sure I am a better parent and better human because of it, most sincerely.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I really like this. This notion of having to do the internal work to step away and let the kids handle it themselves, which is not instinctual, at least on my part. That’s a really good that’s a really good note that I need to follow. Mm hmm.
Speaker 1: It’s easy to forget that we’re part of the equation, right? Because we’re like the adult overseeing, you know, like the chaos, Right? But being like, Oh, yeah, I’m. I also may be contributing to what’s happening here.
Speaker 3: And lastly, Mia, that you’ve listened to every episode from the beginning, that is some super fan status. What an honor. Thank you, super fans.
Speaker 2: That is for real. There have been a lot of us on the show. I don’t even know how that’s messed up. I should probably know this now that I’m the elder stateswoman. Mom and dad are fighting, which is crazy, but it was on for quite a while before I joined. So you’ve really been rocking for a while. We appreciate you very much.
Speaker 1: Well, we just want to thank you all so much for your thoughts and thank you Slate Plus for joining us. We really appreciate the support. We’ll be back here on Monday and be sure to join us on Thursday for another bonus segment by.
Speaker 3: We are on the road this week in Arizona. Fun? Yes.
Speaker 1: Of your hopefully warm weather. Today we have two listener letters for the price of one. We’re first going to talk about a family that can’t stop getting sick. If it’s not one cold, then it’s another. Then we’ve got a letter about a kid looking for a sleep cave. What that means, we’ll find out a bit later. Four plus. We’re going to open up our listener mailbag. Here’s what you’ll hear if you have Slate Plus. It’s easy to forget that we’re part of the equation, right? Because we’re like the adult overseeing the chaos, Right? For being like, oh, yeah, I’m. I also may be contributing to what’s happening here. Sleepless is the best way to support the show. Besides our undying appreciation, you get a whole bonus segment from us every week. Zero ads on any Slate podcast and unlimited access to the Slate website. Sign up now at Slate.com slash mom and dad.
Speaker 1: Welcome to Mom and Daughter Fighting Slate’s parenting podcast for Thursday, February 23rd. The Constant Colds Edition. I’m Elizabeth Newcamp. I write the Homeschool and Family Travel blog that stats goosed and the mom of three littles Henry who’s ten, Oliver who’s eight and Teddy who’s six.
