<p>On this episode: <a href="https://www.thelucylopez.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lucy Lopez</a>, <a href="https://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elizabeth Newcamp</a>, and <a href="https://zakrosen.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zak Rosen</a> want you to know that it’s GOOD to ask for what you need! A listener’s non-verbal kid seems to be doing great at school, but the school hasn’t been communicating with mom about what’s going on for her kid during the day. Should she reach out and ask for more? Or be happy that her kid is happy?</p><p>But first, they share their latest Triumphs and Fails: Zak loses his temper at Niagara Falls, Elizabeth is struggling with Teddy’s reluctance to go…anywhere, and <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/care-and-feeding/2024/08/broadway-mom-slates-parenting-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lucy is living in a theater house </a>with both girls getting the leads in their school plays.</p><p>Want to know what Slate parenting columnist Nicole Chung thought about the listener’s letter? Check out the Care and Feeding column, “<a href="https://slate.com/advice/2026/01/parenting-advice-teacher-communication.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">I Need Something More From My Son’s Already Overworked Teacher. I’m Scared to Ask for It.</a>”</p><p>Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Video production by Micah Phillips.&nbsp;</p><p>Follow us <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CareandFeeding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">on YouTube</a>!&nbsp;</p><p>Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.</p><p>If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you’ll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on <em>Care and Feeding</em>. Sign up now at<a href="https://slate.com/careplus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> slate.com/careplus</a> – or try it out on Apple Podcasts.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>