Manic Mommies

29/12/2023

Hello, friends! It’s been a while. How is everyone?

Sharing two pics from the last two weeks that demonstrate how relationships started with Manic Mommies have lasted longer than the podcast. In the first photo is our reunion in Boston that we allowed our husbands to attend. Seriously, Mike and Steve had not seen each other in years. The second photo is with Rebecca, one of the primary architects of our multi-year sponsorship with GM. She was passing through town and called to see if I’d be around, never imaging I’d actually be available the week after Christmas!

All day I’ve been reflecting on what we created back in 2005. Our kids are now adults, the older ones legally able to stop and pick up a bottle of wine when mom asks.

I keep thinking about a Reunion Escape. Maybe we plan one in 2025 to celebrate 20 years since our first episode? If we start now perhaps we can actually make it happen.

Take this as a sign to reach out to an old friend and make a plan to visit when passing through. It is so worth it!

Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy, and peaceful new year. -Erin

03/10/2022

With the support of our listeners and friends, Kristin and Steve are well on their way to their final fundraising goal (Venmo donations appear to be pending making reconciling a bit harder).

Today we are resting and catching up on thank you notes and stickers.

Thank you!!

01/10/2022

Here we go! Preparing to ride in the rain for to benefit . Thank you for your support!

28/09/2022

Erin and Kristin return to the microphone to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Pan-Mass Challenge, as well as to share stories of empty nests, college transitions, parent Facebook groups, and room detoxes!

The show is NOT on your favorite podcasting app. Instead, you will need to listen through our Buzzsprout link, which will expire in 90 days (because the account is free).

Erin and Kristin return to the microphone to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through the Pan-Mass Challenge, as well as to share stories of empty nests, college transitions, parent Facebook groups, and room detoxes! Links: Steve’s...

26/09/2022

Are you a Manic Mommy who has just sent your child to college, or are preparing to do so in the next year? If so, are you Gen Xer or an “elder millennial”?

(Kristin saw something marketing related online that got her thinking).

For the record, Gen Xers were born between 1965 and 1980.

23/09/2022

Multi-tasking is editing the show while making stickers (Kristin has a Cricut and stickers are her new favorite thing to make).

Mention Manic Mommies when making a donation to Kristin or Steve’s PMC fundraising and get three astermanikist stickers! (Already donated? Just message us and we will connect the dots).

https://stevethebikeguy.com/2022/08/21/joining-pmc-unpaved/

20/09/2022

A reunion show, inspired by Kristin's fundraising for the Pan-Mass Challenge to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is coming soon(ish)!

In preparation, we've set up a new account which, we think we can use for all future reunion podcasts. Not sure if we will be adding it to directories (likely not), but you should be able to listen, and maybe even download, from this site.

The URL is: https://manicmommies.buzzsprout.com/

Stay tuned! Tell a friend!

05/09/2022

Moms of new college students: Erin has started a new Instagram account with daily tips for managing the transition to college life. Please share with any college friends. Parents are always welcome to follow, too!
protips

09/08/2022

Hello Old Friends. It’s been a minute. How have you been? Hope you’ve been well. Is anyone else staring down an empty nest in a week like Erin? What have we missed? Spill the tea in the comments.

14/05/2022

Reporting in from Kristin’s kitchen - what do you think the odds are this note above the kitchen sink will be ignored?

25/03/2022

Any Class of 2022 moms dealing with more college rejections and fewer merit scholarships than you or your kid expected? Are others receiving multiple letters citing “a record number of applicants.” Here’s a helpful tip for current juniors. If you want any shot at merit scholarships, be ready to apply early action everywhere. That means by Nov. 1 at many flagship public universities.

11/03/2022

Happy Friday Manic Mommies. Is anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the boulders they are pushing up the hill? (I've decided juggling doesn't quite capture the weight of it all).

And yes – I (Kristin) and giving TikTok a try. Because it's faster than blogging.

How many boulders are you pushing up the hill? Shout out and check in with my

11/02/2022

Moms of first-year college students: Would you be willing to ask your student to take a quick anonymous survey about their college experience?

Erin is creating a short course and is seeking feedback on the most common struggles college students faced in their first year, aside from covid.

Should only take about 5 minutes. Here’s the link to copy and paste into a text. Can easily be done on a phone.

https://forms.gle/G4d4gqAnLZjSk6P29

The course is for college-bound students and if all goes well, a digital version will be made available.

Thanks in advance!

03/02/2022

Manic Mommies: How are you all? It’s 2.2.22 and it feels like Groundhog Day. Because it is. Some of us are working from home again. Some of us are still wearing masks in school and in public. Some of us had covid rip through our household. Some of us dodged it, miraculously. Some of us have lost our beloved pets (Casey, RIP). Some of us have lost our minds over college applications. Some of us can’t pull away from Ozark or Yellowstone. This is a wellness check. Report in.

07/11/2021

Having regrets about my white cabinets…

12 Likes, 5 Comments - Manic Mommies The Teen Years () on Instagram: “Some of this is not coming off…”

05/11/2021

Currently reading this book by and wishing I started it before those early action deadlines sprung up on us. Even after working in higher ed for 10 years and having already assisted (OK, managed) #1 son’s college application process, I’m finding valuable lessons here for #2. Get this book ASAP if you are in the middle of all the college application stress and put it on your list if you still have the luxury of time. -Erin

03/10/2021

Anyone else following ? We have a few pros offering tips in our house starting with … if there is a laundry hamper, do not use it.

18/08/2021

The Teen Years Pandemic Edition of Manic Mommies is coming to a close. Our firstborns are heading off to college so it seems only appropriate for us to graduate from podcasting a second time. But we couldn't leave without saying Goodbye, for now. https://buff.ly/3gdRrQ1

16/08/2021

Experienced moms: Best, most useful dorm purchase vs. complete waste of money. Discuss.

15/07/2021

The memo has arrived. Get ready to go back. Whether you’re excited, filled with dread, or anticipating the perks of a hybrid schedule, one thing’s for sure—it feels different. And yet… for all the promises of how life would change post-pandemic, we’re not seeing it. It’s all happening so fast and for some of us it’s just too much too soon.

New episode available wherever you listen! Show notes here: http://manicmommies.com/2021/07/returning-to-the-office/

27/06/2021

Some feelings are processed more fully when the microphones are off. Read Erin’s essay on Grown & Flown. Can you relate?

Now that I see pandemic time evaporating so very quickly, I can’t help but feel I did not fully seize the opportunity before me.

17/06/2021

Took us a little while, and there were some technical difficulties, but we finally managed to get a show done.

Graduations, senior banquets, prom. The end of a very strange academic year is finally here! A listener asks for our reaction to a particularly sticky graduation situation and we’ve got opinions. We also announce our plans to re-retire in August (we will record a few more shows) now that we’re fully vaccinated. The next chapter awaits. 3, 2, 1…Ready or not, here we come.

http://manicmommies.com/2021/06/ready-or-not-here-we-come/

06/06/2021

We made it - and clearly it was perfection.

Congratulations to all the graduates - and all the families, teachers, coaches and friends that helped get them over the finish line.

01/06/2021

When your husband tries to get a photo of you hugging your son before his leaves for “prom.”

01/06/2021

Graduation weekend approaches - and these are all the things that need to be done in my (Kristin) house before Friday. The plan - everyone grabs a card and completes a task when they have some minutes during the week.

Did I miss something? Absolutely.
Will it work? We will see…