Parenting isn’t just a phase—it’s a full-blown adventure. In Episode 20, Nancy and Matthew open up about what it was really like to raise three kids: from newborns in strollers to sweaty teens dodging showers, from stacking firewood to crashing college budgets.

They talk through the parenting stages—infants, toddlers, middle school, teenage rebellion, and finally, the bittersweet reality of launching adult children into the world. You’ll hear how they navigated sibling drama, computer time limits (and how their kids outsmarted them), college life, money mistakes, and the all-important family dinner rule.

Whether you're in the trenches with toddlers or figuring out how to parent adult children, this episode offers laughter, lessons, and a little relief: You’re not alone.

Takeaways:

• Parenting encompasses various stages, each presenting unique challenges and learning opportunities.
• The journey from infancy to adulthood involves navigating sibling dynamics and individual growth.
• Maintaining open communication during family dinners fosters stronger relationships among family members.
• Financial literacy is crucial; teaching children about money management prepares them for future independence.

When you’re raising kids, vacations are less about perfection and more about presence. We talk through our most memorable trips—from 22-hour drives to Florida (hello, Disney employee pass) to Maine island cottages with pets in tow—and the systems that helped us survive: packing snacks, bringing backup water/towels, rigging a portable TV/VCR, and budgeting with creativity. We also share a hard-earned lesson: if you’re lucky enough to go, disconnect and actually be with your people. Now as empty nesters, we’re relearning how to choose a destination, set a budget, and just…book it.

You’ll hear about:

• Budget hacks (free lodging with family, passes, packed lunches)
• Long-haul road trip logistics with kids + pets
• The cat-on-the-pillow incident (never again 😅)
• Holiday flight chaos (the legendary “hacking guy”)
• Why being present beats being “productive” on vacation
• Our struggle to plan trips as a duo—and how we’re fixing it

Maintenance means very different things depending on who you ask. For Matthew, it’s shaving his head, trimming a beard, and avoiding anything that involves flip-flops or pedicures. For Nancy, it’s a lifelong relationship with her hairdresser, regular manicures, facials, and even eyebrow tattoos. Together, they reveal the realities of self-care in marriage, from routines to surprises, and how Covid even changed their approach. Funny, raw, and relatable—this episode shows that behind every couple is a very different definition of “maintenance.”

Takeaways:

• The concept of maintenance varies significantly between individuals, illustrating personal preferences and routines.
• Matthew's maintenance routine is minimal, focusing on shaving his head and trimming his beard.
• Nancy emphasizes a more elaborate maintenance regimen, including regular visits to her hairdresser and manicures.
• The pandemic altered both Matthew and Nancy's approaches to self-care and maintenance routines.
• Their discussions reveal how maintenance reflects deeper personal values and relationship dynamics in marriage.
• The episode highlights that self-care is not monolithic; each partner defines it differently based on past experiences.