The Crashtest Mummies Podcast Crashtest Mummies

Reading actual books, binge watching HBO shows and guilt-free 'me-time'... these are a few of the silver linings we have found to have emerged during the past 100+ days in this strange reality that we call 'lockdown'. In this episode, we try to look beyond the monotony, the homeschooling, the cabin fever to see the good during this time. Without the constraints of the school-run and fixed working hours, our days have opened up some much needed 'quiet time' in which we have indulged ourselves in putting ourselves first for a change, as let's face it - having the kids at home for this long is a whole new level of stress. We talk Crime Junkie, American Dirt and Big Little Lies, and if you don't know what they are, I encourage you to have a listen!
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So we've lost count of how many weeks into lockdown we are in, and the uncharted waters of homeschooling has become our new 'normal' but what do we really feel about it all? In this episode we talk openly about how we are finding educating our children at home; the highs and the lows and what advice we would give our former selves in preparation for these unprecedented times!
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You know the phrase 'you can do anything but you can't do everything?' Well in this episode, we open up about about some of the things that you may be expected to do as perfect parents but have completely scrapped from our manuals. One of us doesn't iron ANYTHING, the other doesn't do family dinners, but that doesn't make us bad parents... our kids still wear clothes (allbeit crumpled) and we still feed our kids! Sometimes it's important to take a step back and look at what's expected of you as a parent versus reality and to realise that your 'normal' isn't really all that bad now, is it? We've avoided talking about the 'C' word this week (no, not that one, the other one!) because Coronavirus can just do one at this point. So if you have a spare half hour (and if you don't, just pretend the kids are at school and make time!) and join us to hear just how terrible we are at this parenting gig - you won't believe some of the things we don't do!
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We completed week THREE of lockdown and we are sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of this crazy time. We are focusing on mental health, and how difficult this time can be on all of us who are either feeling alone, or overstimulated! We obviously couldn't finish the episode without getting side-tracked and discussing the ins and outs of tiger king, Joe Exotic, and Carole Baskin...did she murder her husband? We are breaking it down. And if you HAVEN'T watched Tiger King, be like Karen and binge watch 7 45 minute episodes in one night. Just do it and thank us later! Lastly, Alexie talks about being pregnant during the lockdown and how it has affected her view on pregnancy, health, and fear.
We know it is a WEIRD TIME right now and we hope that we can be the constant! We are laughing, crying, moaning, and being thankful all at once, as i'm sure we all are. It's ok to not be ok, but know that even though you may feel alone, you are never alone here!

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We are living in crazy times, aren't we? No one could have predicted that by the end of March, over a quarter of the world's population was in lockdown. It's a very anxious and scary time for many, and yet the sense of unity among humanity is stronger than ever. From celebrities making us smile on social media, to the younger generations stepping up to look after the elderly, the world is a different place than it was a few weeks ago. We are staying positive this week, in lockdown for the 3rd week for both our families, we are sharing how we are surviving, what life looks like at home 24/7 and exploring the different actions the US and the UK have taken. If you fancy some background noise to your busy household, or want to steal away for a little while, grab a tea, coffee, wine or gin and enjoy!
If you like what we do, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review on iTunes!
Speak soon,
Karen and Alexie x

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We have special guest, Amanda Mignone who is a kindergarten teacher and administrator at a private school in South Carolina and runs the blog Little Teacher Moments (@littleteachermoments) on today to talk about how to keep our kids learning and staying sane as parents while they are out of school! We know this is a stressful time for many parents! The pressure to be the perfect parent and now perfect teacher can feel overwhelming, but Amanda is breaking it down and giving helpful ideas for independent play and learning tools so everyone stays sane!
Here are some links to the resources we talked about in the episode:
Switcheroo zoo : Watch, listen, and play games to learn all about amazing animals!
Nat Geo for Kids: Learn all about geography and fascinating animals
Into the Book: Go "into the book" to play games that practice reading strategies
Suessville: Read, Play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss and his friends
ABC YA: Practice math and reading skills all while playing fun games!
Fun Brain: Play games while practicing math and reading skills
PBS KIDS: Hangout with all your favorite characters all while learning
Star Fall: Practice your phonics skills with these read-along stories
Storyline Online: Have some of your favorite stories read to you by movie stars
Highlights Kids: Read, Play fames and conduct cool science experiments
Vooks: All your favorite kids books animated
Earth Rangers Podcast: A super fun animal focused podcast! Hudson's all-time fave!

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