Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey

In the special segment "Mom Wins!," Laura and Shanna celebrate their recent parenting achievements, including surprising successes inside a hotel lobby, at a big-kid's birthday party, in the presence of a claw machine and more! Also, Laura dives into a late-night crafting project that blows the minds of many children (and adults), and Shanna hires a non-family babysitter for the very first time. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-KPop Demon Hunters

-Making crafts on the Cricut

-Hiring babysitters

-Allowing self-expression in your children

-Managing your kids' meltdowns

-Hiring food-delivery robots

-Finding time and space for hobbies when you're a mom

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

-KPop Demon Hunters Movie on Netflix

-"The Carpool Detectives: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case" by Chuck Hogan

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

-Ep. 350 (For the episode where Shanna talks about her family's trip to Lake Arrowhead)

-Ep. 347 (For the episode where Shanna talks about taking Cece to an ice-skating party)

-Ep. 371 (For the episode where Laura talks about discovering food-delivery robots in her neighborhood)

-Ep. 19 (For the episode where Laura talks about spinning wool - before it made her nauseous)

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.

https://bit.ly/bfp-inito

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment “Stump the Moms,” Shanna and Laura quiz each other with parenting-related trivia questions about gender representation in kids' books, the cost of high-end summer camps and more. Also, Shanna talks about the passing of a beloved family member, how she told her kids about the loss and how they processed their grief. Laura discusses the ups and downs of her 4-year-old's first week in TK at a new school. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Telling your kids about the death of a family member

-Surprising ways that kids process and handle grief

-Easing your 4-year-old into their first week of elementary school ever

-Fun facts about kids' books authors

-Summer camp trends

-Gendered characters in kids' books

-Sensitive vs. resilient kids

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

-"Bears Will Be Boys: A data analysis of animal gender in children’s books" article in The Pudding

-Port O'Pines Summer Camp

-"The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive" book by W. Thomas Boyce, M.D.

-Different Pointe of View restaurant

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

-Ep. 375 (For the episode where Shanna talks about her family's trip to Phoenix)

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.

https://bit.ly/bfp-inito

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laura and Shanna reveal the funny and unusual things they've asked the internet recently in the special segment "What I Googled This Week," diving into the topics of puberty, kids' casinos, inappropriate words and more. Also, Laura reports on her family's action-packed week without childcare, and Shanna discusses how she handled taking her children on a trip to visit an ill grandparent. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-How to fill time with your kids during summer break

-Fun things to do around LA with kids

-Taking a family trip to visit an ill family member

-How to tell my child that their grandparent is sick?

-Questioning whether words and phrases are socially acceptable

-Deep diving into the world's cutest animal

-Educating your kids about puberty, periods and the menstrual cycle

-Video-game strategy (for moms)

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

-Peterson Automotive Museum

-La Brea Tar Pits

-Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

-Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific

-Free LA Philharmonic rehearsals at the Hollywood Bowl

-LA East Side Parents Instagram Account

-Bush babies jumping on TikTok

-KPop Demonhunters Movie on Netflix

-KPop Demonhunters Soundtrack on Spotify

-Improvised Shakespeare Company

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.

https://bit.ly/bfp-inito

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment "Gripe Water," Laura and Shanna share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of volunteering, school-attendance policies, parties and more. Also, Shanna reports on the highs and lows of helping out at her kids' summer camp, and Laura discusses the surprising activity that captivated her kids on their recent vacation to Portland. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-Volunteering at your kids' events and activities

-Hiring teachers/counselors as babysitters

-Taking a summer vacation with kids to Portland, Oregon

-Going to the most amazing pinball arcade

-Going hiking with your kids

-Setting boundaries when it comes to volunteering

-Stringent school-attendance policies

-Feeding your kids at parties

-Frustrating experiences at kids' sports and extra-curricular activities

-Back-to-school shopping with your kids

-Taking your kids to an immersive art experience

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

-Next Level Pinball Museum and Arcade

-Forest Park in Portland

-Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

-Ep. 373 (For the episode where Laura determines that going to Portland every summer is her family's tradition)

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.

bit.ly/bfp-inito

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2 of “Checkin’ the Inbox,” Shanna and Laura answer more listener questions about everything from embryo storage to family traditions, to friend jealousy and more! Also, Laura reports on how her family managed a week without childcare after her kids finished preschool and camp for the summer, and Shanna talks about going to a mom meetup in an unexpected place. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9 years old, and Laura’s kids are 6.5 years old and 4 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

-How do you manage work and childcare during the summer when your kids are out of school?

-Managing work-life balance as a mom

-Finding ways to connect with other parents at work

-Did Shanna ever make a decision about what to do with her embryos?

-Our favorite off-the-radar family traditions

-Jealousy vs. FOMO with your adult friends

-Some of our favorite TV shows of 2025

-An excellent audiobook that Laura recommends

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

-Menchies - The oft-mentioned frozen yogurt shop that Shanna and her kids love

-"Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings" by Laura Markham

-"What We Do in the Shadows"

-"The Ultimatum: Queer Love"

-"Severance"

-"Dying for Sex"

-"Dead Flowers" by J.M. Petrick

Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

-Ep. 37 (For the first episode where Shanna talks about being unsure what to do with her frozen embryos)

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.

bit.ly/bfp-inito

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.