Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

In the special segment "Would You Rather?," Shanna and Laura pose hypothetical parenting scenarios involving airplane antics, an irresistible newborn kitten, and more! Also, Laura reports on her 5-year-old's new activity that took some convincing and her 7-year-old's week at Percy Jackson summer camp, and Shanna recaps her family's trip to a 100-year-old lake community in Canada. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7.5 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Getting your kid into a new activity when they're resistant

• How to show your son that gymnastics isn't just for girls

• What is Percy Jackson camp like?

• Travelling to Canada with kids

• Rustic cabin life with sensory-sensitive kids

• Kids and airplane boredom: what happens when the iPad dies

• What's involved in fostering a newborn kitten

• Whether to confront a stranger or just endure the annoyance

• What is valley fever?

• Recording vs. being present at your kid's graduation

• When your kid graduates from preschool

• Occupational therapy

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• Mythic Camps / Camp Half-Blood - Augie's Percy Jackson camp

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+ series)

• Valley Fever information - the fungal illness Laura mentions in connection with dust exposure

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more!

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

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 “Just You Wait,” Laura and Shanna share some of the things that get better as children grow up, including delightful developments on the playground, at birthday parties, in the car and more! Also, Shanna reports on a summer-camp dilemma that kept her up at night, and Laura checks in on her family's second week doing a screen-time ban. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7.5 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• When summer camp drama requires a midnight solution

• Trusting your gut when something feels off

• Week two of a screen time ban

• Building your child's tolerance for independent play

• When can you trust your kids with paint and Sharpies?

• Kids swinging themselves at the playground: when does this happen?

• Actually talking to other adults at kids' birthday parties

• When your kids become generous with their own money

• Getting in the car and going places without a production

• Occupational therapy: what it looks like and why wait lists are so long

• Kids' drama camp: writing and performing an original play

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• Steve and Kate's Camp

• Hurricane Harbor

• Kids Empire

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid animated film

• Chuck E. Cheese

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more!

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

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 "OMG, I'm Freaking Out," Shanna and Laura share what's currently keeping them up at night, including a dental mystery that may require an unpleasant solution and a screen time wake-up call that was impossible to ignore. Also, Laura reports on her 7-year-old's mysterious trend of not eating lunch at summer camp, and Shanna recaps her girls' "Seussical the Musical" performance. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7.5 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Sending your kid to a STEM/STEAM summer camp

• When your kid won't eat lunch at camp

• ADHD medication and appetite

• What it's like watching your kids in a musical theater performance

• When your child has a missing tooth that won't come in

• Screen time and ADHD

• Signs that screen time has gotten out of hand

• Screen-free playdates

• Buy Nothing groups: a great resource for gardening

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• Camp Galileo - Auggie's STEM/STEAM summer camp

• The Executive Function Playbook by Mike McLeod - what Laura was reading that informed the screen time decision

• Cap'n Crunch Chicken recipe - Planet Hollywood copycat recipe

• Shane's Inspiration - inclusive playground where one birthday party was held

• Buy Nothing Project - Shanna's source for free succulent cuttings

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more!

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

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 embark on a tour through history, grilling each other with surprising parenting trivia that takes them from prehistoric cave paintings to a 1974 marketing disaster to a present-day TikTok trend. Also, Shanna recaps a 4th of July fireworks adventure that almost didn't happen, and Laura shares an unexpected summer camp development that required some quick problem-solving. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7.5 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking your kids to their first 4th of July fireworks show

• When summer camp isn't the right fit: how to handle it with your child

• To tell or not to tell: navigating difficult conversations with kids

• Prehistoric cave paintings

• The invention of finger painting

• The TikTok trend that stops toddler meltdowns cold

• Pattern interrupt as a parenting technique

• Why Gerber's attempt to launch a new product line failed spectacularly

• How kids across the world draw people the same way at age three

• How many minutes per year parents spend driving kids to school activities

• Spirit days at camp: making them inclusive and fun

• Preschool yearbooks

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• 4th of July Extravaganza at Warner Center Park

• Ruffignac Cave / Cave of 100 Mammoths

• Ruth Faison Shaw

• Ziplock finger painting

• Gerber Singles

• The "Jessica" TikTok trend

• Camp Galileo

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more!

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

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 "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Shanna and Laura explore the things that have caused their little ones to melt down recently, from snack-related disasters to household accidents. Also, Laura reports on life after her trip to Italy, including a backyard helper who couldn't be stopped and a tooth that went missing in the night, and Shanna shares insights on what separates a good summer camp from a great one after her girls return to a longtime favorite. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7.5 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Recovering from jet lag with kids at home

• Getting kids involved in household chores

• The tooth fairy in 2026: is cash still exciting for kids?

• What to look for in a kids' summer program

• Handling your child's disappointment

• Wound closure strips: why it's a good idea to have them in your medicine cabinet

• Professional theater with kids: is it worth it?

• A classic, must-read chapter book for your kids (and you!)

Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Nocturne Theater

• The Little Mermaid at The Nocturne Theater

• The BFG by Roald Dahl

• Giant - the Broadway play about Roald Dahl

• Wound closure strips / Steri-Strips

• Seussical the Musical

Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more!

• Follow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

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