Motherhood, Mayhem, & Medical Mysteries

Calling all Mayhem Mommas! You won't want to miss this super informative episode all about the challenges and chaos of BACK TO SCHOOL Season!! Mel gets us prepared to ward off those pesky B2S illnesses-- everything from the common cold to the stomach flu-- and Miranda shares some tips and tricks to kick off the school year successfully. Plus, find out how the Gal Pals rescued Miranda's husband after a cycling mishap, just in time to take the kiddos to the museum. It's wild, it's wacky, and it's just a downright weird time on this week's episode of the 4M podcast! #backtoschool #B2SSpotlight:Kids in Need Foundationwww.kinf.org Kids In Need Foundation is the only national nonprofit focusing on the nation's most under-resourced schools: those where 70 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program.Sources:Mel-https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2023/aug/how-to-prevent-back-to-school-illnesses/https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/back-to-school-health-tips-for-parents-infographic Miranda-https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/Back-to-School-Tips.aspx

The Gal Pals are celebrating Jonah's birthday this week by reminiscing on the day he was born. Mel shares all about her wild (but wondrous) birth story and enlightens us about her firsthand experience with gestational diabetes. Fast forward a few years, and before you know it, these itty bitty babies are staying home alone for a few hours after getting off the bus from school. Learn some tips from Miranda about how to prepare your age-appropriate youngster to confidently-- and safely-- stay home after school. SPOTLIGHT:National Child Safety Council (NCSC) is the oldest and largest 501(c)(3) federally, tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization dedicated entirely to the safety of children in the U.S. However, over the years, NCSC has expanded its scope to include adults and seniors. https://nationalchildsafetycouncil.org/SOURCES:Mel-https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/gestational-diabetes-a-to-z Miranda-https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/Red-Cross-Offers-Safety-Tips-For-When-the-Kids-Are-Home-Alone.html#:~:text=A%20general%20rule%20of%20thumb%20is%20that%20no,call%20to%20check%20in%20when%20they%20get%20home.https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Is-Your-Child-Ready-To-Stay-Home-Alone.aspx

(Re-Release) Ever have to speak loudly in public to clarify something your child said to people who may have overheard… we all have, right? Mel gives us the rundown on what we need to do about head lice. And Miranda takes a departure from her usual to talk about the fascinating topic of feral children. Spotlight - Feral Cat Helpershttps://www.feralcathelpers.com/ ​We are a non-profit cat rescue organization located in Mount Pleasant, SC. Founded in August 2015.  Our program TVAAR (Trap, Vaccinate, Alter and Return/re-home) is set up for the feral and stray cats in our community enabling them to be Charleston County protected Free Roaming Cats.Sources - Mel - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_louse https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/symptoms-causes/syc-20356180 https://www.consumerreports.org/children-s-health/myths-and-facts-about-head-lice/ Miranda - https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/feral-children https://www.urbo.com/content/modern-cases-of-feral-children-raised-in-the-wild/

Rub those eyes, Momma, and join us for this week's episode about Pink Eye, also known as "conjunctivitis," and the benefits of reading with your kiddos!! Plus, Miranda spills the beans about a recent trip downtown that cost her a new tire and a phone call with the Mayor. Melanie informs us about the three types of Pink Eye and how to best prevent this crusty, goopy illness. Next up, Miranda discusses the many benefits of reading with your children on a regular basis. From regulated hormones to better cognitive performance, there's a lot of pros to turning the pages! Settle in with a nice eye mask and let's laugh and learn together this week on the 4M Podcast! SPOTLIGHT:Dolly Parton's Imagination Libraryhttps://imaginationlibrary.com/ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland.SOURCES:Mel-https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/pink-eye-myths-facts-conjunctivitis https://www.rchsd.org/health-safety/growing-up-columns/viruses-most-common-cause-of-pinkeye/#:~:text=Viral%20pinkeye%20is%20most%20common,or%20slightly%20thick%20whitish%20drainage. Miranda-https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/reading-to-children#benefitshttps://childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/ 

Hello Mayhem Mommas!! You won't want to miss this episode where Melanie confesses to why she licked a car that was parked near the beach. Then, Miranda describes all the nauseating in's and out's of the first trimester. Ever wonder why you had to pee so much, or why everything smelled?? Learn how rapidly a fetus grows during these first 90 days of pregnancy. And, to wrap up another zany episode, Mel breaks down the 3 H's that Miranda always got confused... what is the difference between Hernias, Hemorrhoids, and Hemorrhages?? You're about to find out, and you likely won't be able to forget them again after this deep dive! Join us for some laughs, some bestie friendship energy, and maybe a few fun facts along the way!! Spotlight:Catch Global Foundationhttps://www.catch.org CATCH Global Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity founded in 2014 in partnership and with support from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our mission is to empower school communities to cultivate Whole Child wellness as a lever for student success and social equity. The Foundation links underserved schools and communities to the resources necessary to create and sustain healthy change for future generations with their health education programs.Sources:Mel-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15757-herniahttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15120-hemorrhoidshttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hemorrhageMiranda-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9699-first-trimesterhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045302https://mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208

This week on the 4M Podcast, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of potty training and beyond! Join us as we navigate the treacherous waters of teaching our toddlers to use the bathroom like pros (fingers crossed!). But wait, there's more! Mel dives into the world of gastrointestinal adventures with a dash of humor and a lot of respect. Tune in as we share our own hilarious mishaps (trust us, we've had a few!) and learn about ulcerative colitis, Chron's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. It's a podcast episode full of laughter, support, and solidarity for all the superheroes out there balancing parenthood and health challenges. So grab your headphones, hide in the bathroom if you have to (no judgment!), and join us for another episode. You've got this, mama!Spotlight:Crohns & Colitis Foundation https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/The mission of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. Sources:Mel-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15587-inflammatory-bowel-disease-overview https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/Miranda-https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202205/evidence-based-approach-potty-traininghttps://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/potty-training/art-20045230https://www.chhs.niu.edu/child-center/resources/articles/toilet-learning-stages.shtml

(Re-release) The girls reminisce about a spectacular-- and possibly haunted-- piece of folk art they once found at an antique store. Miranda shares statistics about "Summer Slide" when children forget a lot of what they learn in school over summer break. And, just in time for the 4th of July, Mel shares about fireworks safety!! This episode is sure to be a blast!Spotlight:https://www.nokidhungry.org/who-we-areNo Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. After 25 years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010.Sources:Mel--https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworkshttps://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/skin-hair-and-nails/burns/types.html Miranda:https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2022/february/food-insecurity-for-households-with-children-rose-in-2020-disrupting-decade-long-decline/https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/summer-slide.htmlhttps://blog.prepscholar.com/what-is-the-summer-slide

It's the 4M Podcast TEENAGE edition! This week, we're dishing about our first jobs... believe us, we had some weird experiences. Miranda shares about the teen employment rate and benefits of teens flipping burgers and slinging lattes. Spoiler alert: it's not just about the paycheck-- there may be some long-lasting advantages of working hard for the money before you graduate. Lastly, Mel teaches us about the dreaded and mysterious teen illness of mononucleosis. What is it, how do you treat it, and why does it always strike at the worst possible moment? Pop in your earbuds, pour yourself some wine, and prepare to laugh and learn again this week on the Motherhood, Mayhem, and Medical Mysteries Podcast! Spotlight:Jobs for the Futurewww.jff.org Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a national nonprofit that drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. We do this by designing solutions, scaling best practices, influencing policy and action, and investing in innovation.Sources:Mel- https://www.verywellhealth.com/common-illnesses-in-teenagers-4159751https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13974-mononucleosisMiranda-https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/catoj36&div=12&id=&page=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/month140&div=14&id=&page=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/06/07/during-the-pandemic-teen-summer-employment-hit-its-lowest-point-since-the-great-recession/https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS11300012https://www.webmd.com/parenting/benefits-of-a-teenager-getting-a-job

This week, grab your floaties and join us as we tackle two major topics that affect every mom out there: Swim Safety for Kiddos and the dreaded CURSE of Cellulite. First up, Miranda will splash into the topic of swim safety because, let’s face it, toddlers are like mini Aquamen and Aquawomen. They’re fearless when it comes to water, which simultaneously gives us heart attacks and makes us super proud. We’ll share tips, tricks, and probably some hilarious fails from our own poolside adventures. Then, Mel wades into the deep (no pun intended) waters of cellulite—the not-so-pretty reality that no amount of kale smoothies seem to fix. We’ll laugh about the weird creams we’ve tried, the moments we’ve caught our reflection and thought, “Did a waffle iron attack my thigh?” And best of all, Mel will share some legit tips on how to embrace those tiger stripes because, let’s be honest, they’re a part of us now. So, grab your headphones (and maybe a glass of wine, because we’re keeping it real), and join us for this episode that promises to be equal parts informative, hilarious, and, of course, relatable AF. Because in this journey called motherhood, laughter truly is the best swim safety device and the most effective anti-cellulite treatment. See you in the deep end! Spotlight:https://www.hopefloats.foundation/Hope Floats partners with high-quality swim schools to provide scholarships for swimming lessons for children living in poverty. Hope Floats raises money by partnering with individuals, businesses, and foundations that want to be a force for good in their communities.  Scholarships and tuition assistance is provided to children who might not otherwise be able to afford swim lessons. Sources:Mel-https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-causes-cellulite-2710054# Miranda-https://health.clevelandclinic.org/swim-safety-for-kidshttps://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/teach-your-child-to-swim/