The ParentNormal

Your Home for Close Encounters of the Baby, Toddler & Elementary Kind

How to Build a Fanbase on Instagram and TikTok: Family Style with Anna Macfarlane

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Anna Macfarlane, a mom of four kids and an online marketing and branding expert, joins me to break down how to build a fanbase on Instagram and TikTok: family style. Anna manages the @kidsaretheworst parenting humor account on Instagram, which has more than 500,000 followers. She also manages several other successful accounts and teaches social media marketing courses for families, businesses and bloggers.

In our conversation, we talk about how to get started on Instagram and TikTok and how to grow a healthy fanbase. We also discuss the benefits of being on social media and why TikTok is growing faster than most people realize. (It’s not just for teenagers.) Other topics we cover include how to manage your time on social media, talk to your kids about social media and post responsibly. 

You can laugh along with Anna’s 500,000+ followers on Instagram at @kidsaretheworst. You can also learn all about her social media courses on her website annamacfarlane.com.

About Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is a show that’s for imperfect parents by imperfect parents. Hosted by humorist and imperfect parent of three Chris Cate, every episode breaks down a topic that causes parents to break down, such as putting kids to bed, potty training, the terrible twos, homework, clothing, discipline, cleaning up, cooking for kids, and so on….

By the end of each topic breakdown, parents will hopefully realize they aren’t alone in their struggles and that the craziness all parents go through is actually quite funny when it’s looked at in the right light. After all, the mission of the show is to help parents laugh when they want to cry.

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.

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Links to more episodes of Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

A Bridge to Healthy and Honest Meals

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A Bridge to Healthy and Honest Meals

If there’s one thing I’ll never have enough of as a parent, it’s time. It’s so much more valuable than money. Every night, my kids have somewhere to be and I have such little time to get them there. Finding the right meal to make for dinner is critical.

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Fortunately, Three Bridges Pasta is making our lives easier with a variety options that are delicious, affordable and save precious time. As a bonus, their meals are easy to prepare, never frozen and entirely made from the finest natural ingredients. That’s great for a clumsy cook like me who wants to make something for my kids that doesn’t sacrifice quality for convenience.

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Three Bridges prioritizes healthy and honest meal solutions, providing protein rich options to stay full longer. With Three Bridges, you can count on antibiotic-free meats and rBST-free cheeses. It’s clean eating made easy. Three Bridges also has gluten free pasta options available.

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You can learn more about Three Bridges, including their breakfast Egg Bite options, at threebridges.com.

Thanks to Three Bridges for sponsoring this post.

 

The Cost of Parenthood with Mike Julianelle

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The Cost of Parenthood with Mike Julianelle


Mike Julianelle, a Brooklyn dad of two, joins me this week to break down the cost of parenthood. In our conversation, we cover expenses every parent faces such as child care, transportation, vacation, food, medical expenses, diapers and more. We also cover the emotional cost of parenthood, such as stress and the loss of sanity.

Mike writes about his experience raising boys on dadandburied.com. He also hosts his own podcast called Dad and Buried and has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is a show that’s for imperfect parents by imperfect parents. Hosted by humorist and imperfect parent of three Chris Cate, every episode breaks down a topic that causes parents to break down, such as putting kids to bed, potty training, the terrible twos, homework, clothing, discipline, cleaning up, cooking for kids, and so on….

By the end of each topic breakdown, parents will hopefully realize they aren’t alone in their struggles and that the craziness all parents go through is actually quite funny when it’s looked at in the right light. After all, the mission of the show is to help parents laugh when they want to cry.

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.

Connect with The ParentNormal on Social Media

Connect with all things ParentNormal on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Links to more episodes of Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

National Oreo Cookie Day!

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National Oreo Cookie Day!

Happy National Oreo Cookie Day!

I don’t know what Oreo means or how the name was chosen. All I know is I get a craving for an Oreo whenever I hear the word Oreo. So where do I find myself on National Oreo Cookie Day? At the store buying Oreos.

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A little research online taught me that Oreos were introduced in 1912 and that Oreo is the best-selling cookie brand in the United States. A little time spent around our pantry taught me that Oreos are one of the first things my kids will sneak out for a yummy snack.

I love Oreo Thins because it’s so easy to eat so many. I eat them whole like potato chips. Regular Oreos, I prefer to eat one half at a time. But however you eat an Oreo, it’s just right.

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Celebrate National Oreo Cookie Day the way it was meant to be celebrated – with a delicious Oreo. As a matter of fact, celebrate every day of the year with an Oreo. Treat yo-self. My kids obviously do (whether they have permission or not).

Disclaimer: I wrote this post in partnership with Oreo and Top Agency.

Life as a Teen Mom with Sara Buckley

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Life as a Teen Mom with Sara Buckley

Sara Buckley, a comedian, podcaster, social media pro and most importantly, a mom of 3, is this week’s guest. In our conversation, Sara opens up about her experience as a teenage mother and how it changed her life in high school and beyond.

Sara explains how she felt when she learned she was pregnant and how friends and family responded to the news. Sara also shares her strong opinion about MTV’s Teen Mom “reality” show and how we don’t support teen moms enough. We also talk about when Sara gave the birds and the bees talk to her kids, how her marriage has remained strong after 15 years and how she started doing standup comedy.

You can learn more about Sara on her website nottheworstmoms.com. You can also hear her on her podcast Not the Worst Marriage and you can follow her on social media at @nottheworstmom on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is a show that’s for imperfect parents by imperfect parents. Hosted by humorist and imperfect parent of three Chris Cate, every episode breaks down a topic that causes parents to break down, such as putting kids to bed, potty training, the terrible twos, homework, clothing, discipline, cleaning up, cooking for kids, and so on….

By the end of each topic breakdown, parents will hopefully realize they aren’t alone in their struggles and that the craziness all parents go through is actually quite funny when it’s looked at in the right light. After all, the mission of the show is to help parents laugh when they want to cry.

Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.

Connect with The ParentNormal on Social Media

Connect with all things ParentNormal on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Links to more episodes of Breaking Down Parenting: A ParentNormal Podcast

2 ParentNormal Books Now Available!

The ParentNormal Crash Course is three crash courses of parenting humor in one that feature hilarious parenting warnings about the daily grind of parenthood. Get it now on Amazon.

Perfect Parenting is the parenting book with the fewest words but most important lesson: You aren’t going to be a perfect parent. Get it now on Amazon.

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