The End of the World as We Know It: A First-Time Parenting Podcast
The End of the World as We Know It: A First-Time Parenting Podcast

The End of the World as We Know It: A First-Time Parenting Podcast

Erik & Maya

Overview
Episodes

Details

After a looooong process of trying to get pregnant, Maya and Erik are finally about to become parents for the first time and they're kind of freaking out. Luckily, they have an outlet: oversharing every step of the way on this podcast. If you're trying to get pregnant, are currently expecting, or just had your first kid, and maybe you're feeling excited or a little scared or both, tune in and we can all freak out together.

Recent Episodes

"How not to hate your husband after kids": Marriage advice from two people you definitely should not take marriage advice from
APR 8, 2023
"How not to hate your husband after kids": Marriage advice from two people you definitely should not take marriage advice from

Oops, it's been a year! But believe it or not people are still listening, so we're still recording. In this episode, Maya and Erik talk about life with a 20-month-old: childcare woes, starting to talk (or not...), and whether or not it's reeeeally a problem to spoil your firstborn rotten. (I mean can YOU go to Target without buying your kid 30 toys?!)

We also discuss the very real toll having a young child can take on your marriage, and the sorts of dumb fights we get into and talk about at couples' therapy. The best advice we can give you, if you're new parents: go to therapy now. And certainly go before you decide to have a second kid 😬


As always, you can thank our incredible editor AJ for turning our ramblings into a coherent and enjoyable podcast episode: twitter.com/ajfillari

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback for us, you can reply to our question ("What did you think of this episode?") on Spotify! And don't forget to participate in our poll (also on Spotify): we want to know if you'd watch a video version of this podcast!

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43 MIN
The Dreaded Sleep Regression
JAN 21, 2022
The Dreaded Sleep Regression

Our baby's 9 months old now, so he's doing lots of exciting things, like eating solids (!), opening his own Christmas presents, and refusing to sleep*. We're also doing exciting things, like watching a lot of TV** and learning that our experience is not actually universal. We know, this was a shocking realization for us too.

Suggested resources:

*We found out after recording this episode that our son had an ear infection. Once we got him on antibiotics he went back to sleeping like an angel. Your mileage may vary, but if your kid is suddenly having trouble sleeping, maybe get their ears checked out before you sink into a deep depression and accept that none of you will ever sleep again.

**This episode is sponsored by the Boulet Brothers' Dragula. (Not really, please don't sue us Boulet Brothers.)

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43 MIN
"Body After Baby": Clothes, Exercise, and Contraception
NOV 21, 2021
"Body After Baby": Clothes, Exercise, and Contraception

What really happens to your body after you give birth? How long does it take to bounce back? Why is it impossible to find jeans when your waist and hips are the same size? And for the love of god, why is it assumed that preventing unwanted pregnancies right after giving birth – because yes, actually, this is something you need to worry about – falls on the woman who just gave birth? We don't really know, but here's our feelings about all of it.

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37 MIN
Back to Work: Childcare, Schedules, and Pumping
OCT 10, 2021
Back to Work: Childcare, Schedules, and Pumping

There’s a lot about going back to work after maternity leave that is hard. Childcare in particular - especially in the midst of a pandemic! - is a baffling paradox where none of the choices seem even remotely appealing. Do you put your kid in daycare, miss them desperately all day, and hope they somehow don’t get sick? Do you hire a nanny or an au pair who then suddenly becomes a permanent fixture in your household, whether you like it or not? If you’re lucky enough to have family nearby, can you convince a relative to watch your baby full or part time? Should one of you just quit your job?!

This episode was recorded in two parts: one right before Maya went back to work, and the other a few weeks later. Spoiler alert: basically nothing turned out the way we thought it would.

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58 MIN
How to Raise a Good Kid: Advice From the Best Parents We Know
JUN 5, 2021
How to Raise a Good Kid: Advice From the Best Parents We Know

For the first time ever, we invited some other parents on the show: our friends Jen and Tom, who have two sons, ages 15 and 11. They share their unique story about getting married young, having and raising babies while Tom was in the army (and often deployed), and learning how to prioritize their relationship with each other. We’ve watched them raise their kids from birth, and have always admired their parenting style and how fun their whole family is to be around. In this episode, we ask them: how did you end up with such good kids? And what advice do you have for brand new parents like us?

Suggested resources:
• And Baby Makes Three, a book we've been reading with tips on how to keep your marriage strong after you have a baby (seems like our friends were on to something...)
• if you're pregnant or have a newborn (or if you're just curious about what it's like), Maya wrote up a detailed guide for all four trimesters that you might find useful! You can check it out here.

Want to share your own story, send us feedback, or ask us to cover something on a future episode? You can email us or send in a voice message; we’d love to hear from you.

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67 MIN