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The Care & Feeding team is off for Labor Day — but we won't let that stop you from hearing something great from elsewhere in the Slateiverse. So: we're handing the mic over to our friends at Decoder Ring!Axolotls. Narwhals. Llamas. Sloths. Every few years, it seems like American kids and parents collectively decide they cannot get enough of a creature that makes teddy bears seem impossibly quaint. In today’s episode we’re going to swim after the axolotl, as it takes us to some far-flung and unexpected places, to understand how it came to rule the stuffed animal kingdom. Though the answer absolutely has to do with parents eager to please their children at the gift shop, it’s bigger than that. The insatiable hunger for novelty that is bound up with the axolotl — well, that has to do with all of us.This episode was written by Willa Paskin. It was produced by Katie Shepherd. It was edited by Evan Chung. We produce Decoder Ring with Max Freedman. Derek John is Executive Producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director.In this episode you’ll hear from Elaine Kollias who works with Folkmanis Puppets, Diana Laura Vasquez Mendoza who is a biologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Dr. Jessica Whited who is a professor at Harvard, Gerhard Runken who is the executive vice president of global brand and marketing for Jazwares, and Laura Wattenberg who is a baby name expert.Thank you to our translator Ezequiel Andino, as well as Luis Zambrano, Kelley Garnier, and Alejandra Escobar. And if you’d like to help the wild Axolotl, here is the conservation project where Diana works and they accept donations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gus Walz, son of Minnesota's governor, gained fame for a moving moment at the DNC highlighting the journey of parenting neurodivergent children. The discussion explores the emotional complexities faced by boys with ADHD and other learning disorders, emphasizing the need for vulnerability and emotional openness. Anecdotes celebrate genuine expressions of achievement, while also touching on personal stories about fostering independence and community support in children's development. Humorous challenges like shoe organization add a relatable touch.

Elizabeth, an expert on helping kids manage library books, is joined by Lucy, who shares tracking tips for communal supplies, and Zak, who tackles library book management and fees. They offer practical solutions for parents dealing with lost library books and late fees, emphasizing the importance of responsibility. They also discuss the use of technology like AirTags for keeping track of kids in crowded places. Personal anecdotes about family moments add a heartwarming touch, balancing parenting challenges with joyful experiences.

Mandy Gonzalez, an accomplished actress and author, shares her journey through parenting and battling cancer. She talks about the importance of creative communities and raises poignant points on navigating motherhood alongside a career in the arts. Mandy discusses building resilience in her family, especially when facing health challenges. The conversation also touches on the excitement and hurdles of nurturing children's aspirations in theater, emphasizing representation and supportive family dynamics in the creative world.

We’re excited to share an episode with you that we think you’ll love that comes from Didn’t I Just Feed You - a weekly podcast hosted by two long time food editors, Stacie Billis and Meghan Splawn. If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe to Didn’t I Just Feed You wherever you get your podcasts. It's a practical companion to our show, giving you easy meal ideas every other week in their What We’re Cooking and Eating Now series while covering everything from picky eating to how to grocery shop with your kids without losing your mind in regular weekly episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dillon Michael White, a parenting expert, joins the hosts to tackle a listener's dilemma with a complaining nine-year-old. They brainstorm strategies for nurturing positivity and managing ADHD-related challenges during the summer. The conversation highlights the importance of boredom in fostering creativity, and how allowing spaces of nothingness can benefit kids. They also reflect on the emotional complexities of parenting, school diversity, and the implications of sharing children's lives online, sparking a vital discussion on privacy and ethical considerations.

Dillon White, a special guest host known for DadChats and ChatsFam, joins the discussion about coping with a child's intense reactions to losing. The hosts explore effective strategies for teaching sportsmanship and managing emotions, particularly for kids with ADHD. They also share personal stories, including triumphs and fails in parenting. Highlights include a humorous look at a child's nervous first day of middle school, emphasizing the emotional rollercoaster of transitions. Tune in for valuable insights and relatable parenting experiences!

The hosts dive into a listener's dilemma about a four-year-old making family hikes a struggle. They share clever strategies to spark a child's interest in outdoor activities, emphasizing independence and fun. From nature identification to geocaching, practical tips help turn hiking into an enjoyable adventure. They also share lighthearted anecdotes from trips to Tokyo and reflect on parenting challenges, including managing multiple Tamagotchis like tiny, needy infants. Join them for a blend of parenting insights and entertaining stories!

On this episode: Jamilah, Elizabeth and Zak help a listener who’s wondering why her friend is bodyshaming her own toddler so intensely — not to mention our listener’s kid, too — and what to do about it. These kids are still little enough to avoid lifelong damage to their relationships with food, and their bodies… but where’s the line when it comes to telling this friend to shut it and let the kids eat cake?We’ll also debrief with a round of parenting Triumphs & Fails — and we'll share an update on the tricky question we tackled earlier this week about not liking your kid.Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com 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.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus to help support our work.Podcast produced by Maura Currie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode: Lucy, Zak, and Elizabeth answer a tricky question from a listener who’s struggling to feel love for her daughter. Mismatched neurodivergence might be to blame… but what is a parent to do when they don’t feel connected with their kids? How can they work on translating irritation into love — and grappling with the guilt of not feeling like a good parent? We also check in on what’s happening in the hosts’ lives right now... And then, on the Slate Plus Playground, we’re venting (really, complaining) about the slog that is back-to-school shopping.If you’re not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you’ll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how.Lucy’s check-in: Not a Sephora kid, just need some stuffElizabeth’s check-in: Safaris are just watching everything eat 24/7Zak’s check-in: “You’re gonna have a bike accident”Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com 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.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 Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts.Podcast produced by Maura Currie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.