It’s been a year since everyone’s lives were flipped upside down because of Covid-19. Working from home, home-schooling our kids, and managing family expectations. It’s been hard. Now imagine getting pregnant and delivering a baby during a pandemic? OH wait…that’s exactly what happened to many of us this past year. Including our very own Evanka! In this episode, we dive into the world of pandemic pregnancy to share the ugly truths everyone is scared to talk about.

Moms in the Middle

The truth about pandemic pregnancy

At this point, the pandemic is feeling like a marathon with no finish line in sight. If you’re a parent struggling to keep up with virtual learning, a spouse finding it hard to keep the peace with your partner, an employee fighting distraction while working from home, or all three (!!), the burnout is real. So how do we carry on and ensure that our mental health is taken care of? 

Taking care of mom’s mental health

Since the pandemic began, millions of Canadian women are struggling to juggle child care, household responsibilities, and paying jobs. Saying it hasn’t been easy is an understatement. Trust us, we’re right there with you! Now, recent reports are coming out with discouraging data that shows women are leaving the workforce. What does this say about our fight for gender equality? And how can we stop the backwards slide? To help us answer these tough questions we’re joined by Dr. Sonia Kang. Sonia holds the Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, & Inclusion and is an associate professor of organizational behavior and human resources management at University of Toronto. She’s also the host of her own podcast, For the Love of Work. 

Keeping women in the workforce

If you said no, you’re not alone. Maybe this sounds familiar: As you head off to bed late at night, you have to remind your pre-teen (for the millionth time) to also hit the sack. In the other room your wee toddler can’t seem to get into a bedtime rhythm. Or maybe all the heavy news has you tossing and turning. Sleep has become one of the biggest challenges during COVID-19, so we turned to the go-to sleep expert, Alanna McGinn, to help us catch some much needed Z’s.

Are you getting enough sleep during the pandemic?

We, like many of you, have been watching the protests around the world, reading and listening to Black voices and having challenging conversations about race and racism in our lives. Systemic racism and social injustice have been happening for centuries but it’s only been a problem for some. And finally the world is waking up to it. But in order for this revolution to have positive change on our futures, and the futures of our little ones, parents need to include their kids in the conversation. So how do you do that? How can you engage them in meaningful and effective ways that they will understand? This episode we’re joined by Sportsnet personality and father of one, Donnovan Bennett, and writer and mom of two, Natalie Preddie.

How to talk to your kids about racism

We’ve all been affected financially by COVID-19. And when times get tough it’s easy to feel like you’re spiralling out of control. So how do you rein in your spending and rethink money to regain your power? Is it by deferring your mortgage? Or cutting subscriptions? Even if you’re still getting a paycheque, what can you do to make the most of this extraordinary time? This week we’re talking to certified financial planner, author and mother of two, Shannon Lee Simmons.

Making sense of money in a Pandemic

Since the pandemic started we’ve all been feeling a little cooped up and part of that is seeing our families a lot more than we’re used to. We love them, but if we’re being honest it’s starting to put a strain on the connections we have. So how do we use this new situation to help build stronger relationships, instead of tearing us apart. 

Building stronger relationships in challenging times

We were in the middle of recording new episodes when the pandemic hit and disrupted our lives, and yours. Now that we’re finally settling into this “new normal,” we wanted to check-in and give you an update on what’s been going on in the last few months. And there’s been A LOT. Including a new addition to the Moms in the Middle family! We’ll also hear how some of our favourite guests from past episodes are surviving lockdown.

How we’re surviving parenting during lockdown

Did you just roll your eyes at this episode title? Yeah, we know how it goes – you’re starry-eyed and hopeful on January first, ready to keep up with all of your New Year’s resolutions. But before the end of February (definitely by March) you quit it. Why is it so hard to stick to the promises we’ve made to ourselves? And how do you really, like actually, stick to one? Hina Khan is a personal development coach and she’s on this episode to coach you through making a resolution you can keep.

New Year, New You

Did you know Canadians produce about 25 per cent more waste during the holidays? Think about it – there’s the wrapping paper, the decorations, the toys! We consume more, which means we waste more, too. So what can we do this year to reduce our carbon footprint? Award-winning environmental journalist, Candice Batista is on this episode to help you adopt better habits that you can pass on to your kids.

Why we’re dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

You’re in the thick of the holiday planning. Grandma wants to be with the grandkids on Christmas morning. Aunt Cindy wants everyone over on Christmas Eve. The in-laws are planning a Boxing Day feast and you consider yourself lucky because at least nothing falls on the same day? You should go to everything. But none of it is close to home, or what you want to do… But you have to. Emotional fitness expert and mom-of-two, Dr. Natasha Sharma, says maybe you should not and, actually, you don’t have to. It’s time to stop should-ing and hav-ing all over the holidays and she’s here to help.

How to deal with family during the Holidays

Have you been telling yourself that you’re going to hit the gym as soon as the holidays are over? Well, this episode we’re here to tell you that…maybe you don’t have to? I mean, you can if you want. But that’s the point: Only if you want. We are tired of the guilt and self-loathing that comes with the holiday parties and get-togethers and we just want to enjoy. So how do you do that? Cookbook author, restaurateur and super-mom-of-two, Devin Connell, is on this episode to help you figure it out. Spoiler alert: She shares the best idea for a fun and wacky holiday party everyone will remember!

The secret to a guilt-free holiday

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, right? Ha! For moms it’s easily the most stressful time of year. There’s the gift giving, schedule planning, cleaning, decorating, hosting and often times the managing of family politics – all of the behind the scenes work that make the holidays magical. Not to mention, this is on top of our daily chores and responsibilities! Intentional or not, most of us have morphed into MOMAGERS and that is where the concept of EMOTIONAL LABOUR comes into play. So, what is emotional labour and how do we tackle it? Gemma Hartley, author of Fed Up, a book about emotional labour and the mental load, is on this episode to break it down.

Mom works the holidays

We all do it. We tell our kids those little white lies to get through the day. “The iPad is broken.” “If you make that face for too long it will stake like that forever.” But those lies get a little more complicated around the holidays. “A man is going to come down the chimney with presents!” And, “There’s a little Elf who’s watching to make sure you’re behaving!” Alana Keyfetz and Dr. Dina Kulik, from the “Moms That Say F*ck” podcast, are here to help us figure out when these fibs are helpful and when could they be harmful.

Should you be lying to your kids?

Gift giving is somewhat of a skill. You’re either a pro, or an amateur. But stress no more, whatever your skill level, this episode will help you be the greatest gosh darn giver there ever was. From this year’s hottest trends to meaningful experience-based gifts, guest Kim Shiffman brings the best advice. And she has the research to back it up. Not only is she the mom of two boys, she also comes armed with the Today’s Parent gift guide!

Best gifts for the kids on your list

This is the podcast for moms who feel like they’re in the middle of it all—the chaos, the joy, the struggle—and are ready to get real about it all. Evanka Osmak hosts a national sports show late at night, and Melanie Ng is a news anchor on a morning show at the crack of dawn. Each week, these two friends will meet in the middle of their busy days to talk all things parenting. Tune in for Evanka and Mel’s own stories about the good and the bad, advice from experts and honest discussion. The reality is whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home dad, mom of many, mom of one, aunt of some, godmother of any—it’s hard! And it helps to know you’re not alone.

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Moms in the Middle

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