Parenting Roundabout

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the misleadingly titled Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Lives of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn. It's not, in fact, about the servants, but about the people they serve, and who cares about them?Terri's random recommendation is a rather lukewarm one, more of a curiosity than a gung-ho endorsement: the new Scrubs season, which brings back all the actors from the show's original run (2001-2010). Mentioned: thirtysomething, Once and Again.In the archives, we checked in on an epi...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six have (mostly) reassembled, and we (sorta) find out how they ended up on a plane together, flying back to the island. And we receive what might be the strongest piece of parenting wisdom the show has ever given us: "The results will be unpredictable."Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 6, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Alas, Terri's fervent hope that Maya was simply lost in the crowd at Disneyland was dashed. That sad outcome was only one of several disappointments in this episode, but it did yield some parenting advice that everyone can (and should) follow. Mentioned: "Don't Be Suspicious" on Parks and Recreation.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the first in a new kids' chapter book series. It's called You're a Winner, Gracie Wei, and the author is Kristen Mei Chase. This is another fun case of "Hey, I know that writer!"Terri's random recommendation is also a book, another in her series of Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent memoirs: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. This one's more about Dunne's early life and family, vs. his acting career, but it was still worth a listen.In the...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben is still busy assembling his group of island departees, and Sun has to choose between her kid and her is-he-dead-or-alive husband. On the island, that husband is having a pretty bad day, and Charlotte learns the hard way that she should've listened to her mother.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "316." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This is sometimes a happy fun show and sometimes a sad scary one, and this one tipped the balance a little too far toward sad (at least at the end). However, Candice Bergen knows our podcast motto, so we appreciate that.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a novel that had many blurbs that appealed to her, so she wants to check it out: Like Family by Erin O. White. She also has a follow-up to last week's history of Victorian parenting. It's Hot Victorians: Meet Your Dream Man From the Past by Aaron Radford-Wattley (inspired by an Instagram account of the same name). Mentioned: True Biz by Sara Novic.Terri's random recommendation is Duolingo, where you can learn not just languages used in the real world, but t...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben continues his manipulative efforts to return the gang to the island. On the island, time jumps plague the Sawyer/Locke/Juliet team, and guess who wasn't killed in the freighter explosion? Mentioned: Tom Irwin, who plays Ben's lawyer and also Angela's dad on My So-Called Life.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "This Place Is Death." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Be reassured that no Dereks die in this episode, thankfully. And both parents and kids step up when it matters, but we've got just enough worrying moments to keep us concerned about what's to come.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E7, "I Will Be Grape." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a book of nonfiction that may sound like a parenting book, but doesn't, in fact, contain useful advice for the modern parent. It's Ungovernable: The Victorian Parent's Guide to Raising Flawless Children by Therese ONeill.Terri's random recommendation is a pair of documentaries that are helping her justify her streaming subscriptions: Still, on Michael J. Fox and his life with Parkinson's disease, and BRATS, a look at the Brat Pack from one of its... aggrieved members. Mentioned: "Murder Show" on SNL...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six took a back seat in this episode, so we could follow the island residents as they jumped through time, and Desmond as he walked directly into the path of Charles Widmore. Mentioned: Klingon vs. Ubbi Dubbi on The Big Bang Theory, the '70s kids' show Zoom. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 4, "The Little Prince." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This season is supposed to be about moving on, but our characters are really moving in a one-step-forward, two-steps-back manner. Mentioned: Jason Segel singing "Nightswimming," the Les Mis car karaoke scene from this episode, an earlier rendition of the song by Jason Segel and his How I Met Your Mother castmate Neil Patrick Harris, and the apropos songs "Letting Go" (about making mistakes) and "Bad Decisions."Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E6, "Dereks Don't Die." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a book by Caroline Dooner with a title that appeals: The F**k-It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy. Terri might be skeptical of the advice, but she salutes anyone who's figured out how to make money with their writing.Terri's random recommendation is our old pal Zoom, which allows us to record together from different time zones and even helps us with transcripts.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 on one-star reviews...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode continued the theme of fallout from the Oceanic Six's departure, as Hurley struggles with maintaining the lie that the group told. Back on the island, Daniel's trying to figure out what timeline they're all in, and Frogurt becomes Fried-gurt.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 3, "Jughead." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This time, Liz tried to extend her mom powers by surveilling Brian and Charlie, but crashed and burned with her actual offspring at a critical moment. And Derek learned a lesson about taking candy from children.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E5, "Hold Your Horsies." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a book to read to your dog (probably while your child is listening): The Bedtime Book for Dogs by Bruce Littlefield. She also made the happy discovery of a fourth title in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mysteries series: The Rushworth Family Plot. Mentioned: The Book with No Pictures, The Monster at the End of This Book.Terri's random recommendation is the music video for Taylor Swift's "Opalite," which is a charming little rom-com that got its start when Tay...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. We kick off season 5 with a check-in on the Oceanic 6. How are they doing? Not that well, as Kate has to flee from a pushy lawyer, Hurley's going viral in a compromising photo, and Ben's popping up to be menacing.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 2, "The Lie." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This episode brings us that old sitcom standard: A new baby! And a huge crowd of people hanging around nervously (Brian) and bossily (Liz). Mentioned: Childbirth scenes on thirtysomething and ER.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E4, "The Field." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a cozy mystery inspired by the Bernie Sanders mittens meme. It's called Feel the Bern (of course), and the author is Andrew Schaffer.Terri's random recommendation is a browser add-on called Wakeout, which prompts you to do a minute or two of exercises every time you open a new tab. (It's also available as an app.)In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on real-life conversation hearts.Next week's lineup:Shrinkin...

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In the final two hours of season 4, the Oceanic Six finally, officially, leave the island. The island also leaves its former location, and Ben beats it, too, leaving Locke in charge. But we also know that that won't last forever. So, a lot to come in seasons 5 and 6. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 1, "Because You Left." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.