Mom's Secret Fort

19/06/2023

Update #3: "What happened with the return to school in Germany?" As a reminder, my daughter was at one of the first schools to open after closing during the pandemic. It was terrifying but they handled it beautifully. Her school had modified schedules and short periods of closing in the year or so after, but for the most part children had some form of in-person connection. I am immensely grateful, particularly with respect to social-emotional development. Speaking of being a student, I'm a student once again! I'm an MSc student at the University of Edinburgh's Data, Inequality & Society program. It's a mixed in-person/online model and I did have the opportunity to attend in person in Feb. Here's beautiful Edinburgh! See update #4 (last one for now) for the most recent news...

19/06/2023

Update #2: In answer to the very important question, "did you end up growing your hair out?" - YES! I backtracked once, which cost me about 6 months of progress, but eventually let it grow and it's a relief! No more appointments, no stressing about roots, no chemicals. My heart still pangs when I see photos from just a few years ago where I look strikingly younger, but the gray is beautiful and goes with who I am at this moment in life. Please see next update for more questions answered...

19/06/2023

Update #1: It's been a bagdillion (sp?) years since my last MSF episode. Life opened up some in May 2020 (at least in Berlin) and I scurried out from the fort into the sunshine. Then a lot happened in our communities and across the world and it all seemed like more than I could meaningfully talk about in 5 minute episodes. I feel the pull to come back to podcasting frequently but it's competing for time with the pull I feel to help make stronger communities back here in the US, where we live again. I'm honored that so many people are still listening to the podcast and asking for more, so I will give a few updates here and maybe even find the time to drop it into audio😊. Please see my second post for more updates...

29/05/2020

Bonus episode: "see" behind the scenes at a primary school that came out of lockdown. How on earth are they keeping kids apart? Are the kids laughing and having fun despite the restrictions? (Spoiler, yes!)

How does a primary school open during a pandemic? Janel takes us on a step by step tour of the social distancing and hygiene protocol at her daughter's primary school in Berlin, Germany.

29/05/2020

There's something about memories of the kids you grew up with. Will our kids get back to a carefree childhood? Check out the latest episode: Fourth Grade Flashback.

There's something about the kids you grew up with. Janel gets tagged in her fourth grade class photo during the coronavirus pandemic and the nostalgia hits hard. Will our kids ever get back to a carefree childhood?

20/05/2020

Anyone else sporting a skunk stripe in your hair? A couple months of closed salons will do that. I was all set to have mine wiped out, but am feeling a little sad about it. Am I nuts? To hear the story, subscribe to Mom's Secret Fort in your podcast app or listen here.

Nine weeks of closed hair salons during coronavirus lockdown means many of us have a big gray stripe in our hair. Janel has an appointment to get rid of hers but is hesitating. What on earth could be so important about some gray hair?

14/05/2020

I'm SOOO happy to tip-toe forward out of lockdown, but the rules of re-entry are a hot mess of confusion. I really don't want to step on a crack and break my mom's back. Subscribe to Mom's Secret Fort on your fave podcast app, or listen here!

Coming out of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic can be messy. Janel shares talks about navigating the many contradictions and the few things she knows for sure she can do to stay sane.

06/05/2020

My daughter had her second first day of 5th grade today! In the past three weeks, I went from not wanting to send her at all, to happily holding her hand all the way. Access all stories through your favorite podcast app or enjoy this latest one here.

Janel faces sending her 10-year-old daughter back to a school during the coronavirus lockdown. A school whose initial hygiene plan wasn't exactly awesome. But with new information and perspective she happily walks her to school and even gets a second chance at a sweet moment she had missed last fall...

30/04/2020

I know you probably NEVER turn off KCRW Berlin 104.1 but just in case you did, turn it back on at 2:45pm! Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson interviewed me about life in lockdown and starting up a podcast. I'd say the most flattering bit is where she tells everyone about my squirrel pajamas - ha!

Building a pillow fort in the basement with her daughter for a school assignment inspired Janel Rogers Schermerhorn to do something she’s always wanted to do: Podcast. “Mom’s Secret Fort” was the result - An often humorous exploration of her family life during the pandemic.

29/04/2020

Have you guys been craving your separate lives back too? My husband will be working from home from the rest of the year. Working…yay!!! From home…gulp.

It's not always easy, but we're making the most of it. Check out the latest episode of Mom’s Secret Fort: Lovely Day

Janel wonders if she'll know exactly how many cups of coffee her husband drinks for the rest of her life. Having the whole family home during the coronavirus lockdown isn't always easy, but the good side can sneak up at any moment and point a water gun at you.

24/04/2020

If you scream at the top of your lungs in a forest, will the owners of the dogs trying to attack you call their dogs away? Nope. I recently went into a slump after a peaceful walk ended in tears. But I found some perspective and am on a campaign to build community. To hear more about the enormous beasts...fine, lap dogs...that I thought would send me to the hospital, check out Dog Days.

Apr 23, 2020 - Janel goes into a slump after being attacked...well almost...by vicious lap dogs during a peaceful walk in the forest. She turns her slump into a campaign to show appreciation to those that are building community during the coronavirus lockdown.

16/04/2020

This woman gets me.

14/04/2020

Let's bring it in for a hug, people! At least with anyone you can right now. I'm realizing how much I miss hugs and needed a good reminder the other day of how easily a hug can turn bad feelings into good ones right here at home. Enjoy the latest episode: Social Distance.

Janel talks about how hard it is to stand directly in front of good friends and not hug them during social distancing. But why hadn’t she been hugging her family as much as usual? After a grumpy exchange over breakfast, she realizes what she’s been missing and remembers to hug it out with the on...

05/04/2020

Have you guys been watching way too much Netflix? We're scraping the bottom of the barrel in our house. I'm letting you know what I found down there in this next episode: Eddie Murphy's Home School. Enjoy! And don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast site.

Sooo much screen time, means seeing things we shouldn't. Oops. Janel shares how her lack of screening movies leads to an awkward conversation with her daughter. You'll end up with recommendations for what to watch and what not to (with kids) while we all start scraping the bottom of the Netflix barr...

03/04/2020

Doesn't it feel great when you know someone is thinking about you? Share this link to at least 5 friends on Facebook (or why not all of them) and I'll mention you in an upcoming episode!

Janel Schermerhorn is an American living in Berlin, Germany. She tells personal stories from her secret fort to talk about adjustments to daily life while being locked down during the coronavirus pandemic.

01/04/2020

Has anyone else figured out how to take it down a notch on the snacking in your home? I think we've got it under control now. Mostly. The latest episode of Mom's Secret Fort is all about it. Check out: Fifth Snack.

Janel reports on how her family's excessive snacking during the coronavirus lockdown has driven her to lay down the law. From Mom's Secret Fort she confesses to her role in the problem and shares what she's doing about it.

29/03/2020

New logo, new music and new episode! If you're a regular podcast listener, please subscribe through your favorite podcast app. Otherwise, feel free to enjoy episode 3, Hamster Purchases, right here.

Janel sneaks down to Mom's Secret Fort to talk about gaining perspective when her daughter starts kicking the most valuable item in the household like a Hacky Sack. What's round and square and making perfectly nice people say judgy and awful things about other perfectly nice people during the corona...

26/03/2020

Here is is - Episode 2. What have you been wearing around the house these days?

Please consider subscribing to Mom's Secret Fort on your favorite podcast app (you may have to scroll to find it). It will help others find it!

It's day 11 of the coronavirus lockdown in Berlin. Janel shares how an uptick in video calls means being okay with letting friends see who she really is when she's lounging around the house.

24/03/2020

Hey everyone, take a listen to episode 1 of Mom's Secret Fort.

24/03/2020

Welcome to Mom's Secret Fort!

Podcasting is new for me, so thank you for your patience while I figure this out. Please feel free to leave comments or requests. Lots of love to you!