The Family Lab

Whitney Archibald, a mother of five, is on a quest to find out how different moms connect with their kids and manage their homes. She collects ideas so can you take them home to your own family laboratory and experiment like a mad scientist.

Don’t Be the Smelly Kid: Teaching Body Hygiene 02/02/2026

Don’t Be the Smelly Kid: Teaching Body Hygiene Kids can be gross. And as parents, we’re their first line of defense to teach them how to wash those hands, scrub those stinky feet, wipe those bums, control their body odor, trim those toenails–all the things. To help us out, I invited my good friends Megan Robbins (a dental hygienist and one of the cleanest people I know) and Laura Nielson (a pediatric nurse) to help us lead our kids from helpers to workers to managers in this critical aspect of becoming a responsible human. I think you’ll enjoy these lovely ladies as much as I do! /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39942565

Archibald Experiments Fall/Winter 2025-26 01/20/2026

Archibald Experiments Fall/Winter 2025-26 It’s that time again, for an update of the experiments we’ve been trying in the Archibald home. In this edition, I talk about our latest new kitchen-cleaning system, our weekly family cleaning projects, our dinner menu system, monthly check-ins with the kids, family meetings, a college tour, fall sports, my son’s hat business, a home organization project, water aerobics and more! You can find my son’s hat business on Instagram /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39800445

Teaching Kids Self-Reliance 01/06/2026

Teaching Kids Self-Reliance Welcome to Season 8! This whole season we’ll be talking about how to teach our kids to eventually take care of themselves on their way to becoming self-reliant, responsible adults. This episode will help you take the first step: evaluating what your kids are already taking charge of and where they have room to grow. I introduce you to the system I’ve been using with my own kids for years, and show you how you can use it to help your kids progress from helpers to workers to managers. Then I talk to my son and some of my nephews about what they learned from their own self-evaluations. You can download the Self Reliance Checklist and follow along with your own kids! And join me any Tuesday at 1:00-2:00 PM mountain time for my weekly open lab hour, where we can brainstorm and problem-solve any of your parenting and home management experiments. Sign up at this link: Here’s a tentative schedule of the skills we’ll cover each month of 2026: January: Self-Reliance Overview February: Hygiene March: Sleep April: Food May: Fitness June: Talents July: Finance August: Education September: Social Skills October: Cleaning November: Possessions December: Spirituality /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39621125

Top 5 Christmas Traditions: A Teen Perspective 12/09/2025

Top 5 Christmas Traditions: A Teen Perspective Ever wonder which of your holiday traditions are actually the most meaningful to your kids? For this episode, I went straight to the source and I asked five (incredible) teenagers what traditions they love the best: from that pesky elf to the jolly old elf himself, family bonding and family fights, re-enacting the nativity, and sibling sleepovers. It’s an episode filled with music and merriment. Here are more Christmas episodes you’ll enjoy! /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39344320

Beyond the Bins: Home Organization Strategy with Jen Martin 11/27/2025

Beyond the Bins: Home Organization Strategy with Jen Martin A conversation with organization genius Jen Martin, founder of Reset Your Nest, about how to align our home organization with our goals, values, and routines; how to set up different organizational zones in our kitchens; and how to create systems for our comings and goings, among other organizing tips. You can find Jen Martin at and on Instagram And for another great conversation with Jen, check out: How Jen Martin Organizes /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39187815

Zoom Out: Thinking Strategically about Household Systems 11/13/2025

Zoom Out: Thinking Strategically about Household Systems Stuck in the never-ending logistics of running a home? It’s time to shift to a strategy-first perspective so you can build systems that work. This episode talks about how to shift your thinking. Hence, you start with a strategy, then consider all the different tactics that could accomplish your strategy, and finally think about the logistics of getting it done. For episodes with lots of great ideas about different strategies and tactics, check out: How She Plans Meals: Workshop: How You Do Laundry /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/39028695

Emotional Regulation with Emily Hamblin 10/28/2025

Emotional Regulation with Emily Hamblin Tired of meltdowns? And I’m not just talking about your kids! Emily Hamblin is here to help us deal with our big emotions and teach our kids to deal with theirs. She gives practical tips about how to talk to our kids about their emotions, how to identify the skills they’re lacking, and how to teach emotional regulation and empathy. Then we both share experiments you can try at home. For more resources from Emily, check out . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/38811875

Top 5 Halloween Costumes, with the Dayton Sisters 10/12/2025

Top 5 Halloween Costumes, with the Dayton Sisters Join a coven of Halloween experts--my mother and her three sisters--for a costume parade through history as they reminisce and share photos about Halloweens past. We talk about the antics of my Grandpa, the Halloween king, and his legacy of papier mache and discuss useful skills like how to black out your teeth and create a lifelike beard with nothing but vaseline and coffee grinds. 😂 /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/38553705

Archibald (and McGavin) Experiments: Summer 2025 09/30/2025

Archibald (and McGavin) Experiments: Summer 2025 My friend Ashley McGavin and I share all the experiments we tried this summer–in Ashley’s case with a brand new baby! We talk about feeding kids in the summer, keeping them entertained, summer jobs, chores, personal development, a senior trip, and how to achieve a throwback 80s and 90s summer. We both have 5 kids, but our families are in very different stages. My kids now range from 10 to 19, and her kids now range from four months to 14 years old. Join us at our weekly Open Labs! Tuesdays at 10:00 MT /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/38415005

Top 5 Rollover Meals 09/18/2025

Top 5 Rollover Meals What’s for dinner tonight? How about tomorrow? This episode helps you answer both questions--with favorite rollover meals from me and my guests Andrea Clark and Hillary Hess. Rollover meals allow you to take parts of one meal and roll it into another meal, to save time, money, and the tedium of leftovers. Hillary Hess shares great recipes and resources at helpingofhappiness.com Andrea Clark offers courses and printables at apurposefulhome.com Andrea 1. Chicken and Rice/ Hawaiian Haystacks/Fried Rice 2. Tacos (Pork or chicken) to Nachos 3. Scrambled Egg and Sausage/Breakfast Burritos 4. Rotisserie chicken with veggie, sourdough bread, or in a tortilla/leftover chicken to Thai Coconut Curry: 5. Navajo tacos- use the chili leftover for baked potatoes, cornbread Bonus: Meatballs: spaghetti/meatball subs Pot Roast/sandwiches on french bread with meat and peppers Hillary 1. Chicken with salsa/taquitos or enchiladas 2. Tri-Tip-leftovers into stir-fry or fajitas 3. Hawaiian Haystacks/chicken pot pie 4. Leftover rice/rice cereal, pudding 5. Mashed potatoes/potato cheese soup Bonus: Watermelon/Watermelon feta salad/watermelon juice/watermelon popsicles Whitney 1. Mashed Potatoes/Ajiaco (Columbian Chicken and Potato soup) (Link: 2. Mashed potatoes/shepherd's pie 3. Chicken or pork/ lettuce wraps 4. Roast Beef and veggies/Ropa Vieja 5. Salmon/salmon patties with avocado /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/38153885

Archibald Experiments: Back to School Roundup 09/02/2025

Archibald Experiments: Back to School Roundup Archibald Experiments: Back to School Routine Roundup https://youtu.be/vRngguIVeas Transitioning from a lazy summer schedule to a back to school routine is no joke. So I went through past podcast episodes looking for experiments we’ve tried here in the Archibald home to make our morning, afternoon and bedtime routines run more smoothly during the school year, from waking kids up to getting them into the car, to cleaning up that car, to connecting with them during the after-school runaround. Here are links to listen to the full episodes about our past fall experiments: How Whitney Experiments: Fall 2022 How Whitney Experiments: Fall 2020 Routine Experimentation (Fall 2019) /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/38022970

Encore: How Dana Declutters 08/18/2025

Encore: How Dana Declutters Dana K. White is a decluttering expert for the rest of us. The ones who struggle. We discuss her decluttering process, her Cinderella story from slob to home management guru, clutter thresholds, and teaching our kids to declutter (or at least attempting to). /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/37258710

Encore: How Mary Parents Spicy Ones 08/11/2025

Encore: How Mary Parents Spicy Ones Mary Van Geffen is spicy. Which is why she's made it her mission as a parenting coach to help parents understand their own spicy children. In this episode, Mary teaches how to manage our own reactions as we parent these amazing kids. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/37258620

Encore: How Bryce Manages Mom Guilt 08/05/2025

Encore: How Bryce Manages Mom Guilt Bryce Reddy is a family therapist specializing in maternal mental health, and one of the most quotable people I've ever interviewed. In this eisode, she shares her insights about mom guilt, judgement, and how we can support each other. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/37258555

Encore: How Jessica Jackson Goes from Surviving to Thriving 07/29/2025

Encore: How Jessica Jackson Goes from Surviving to Thriving Jessica Jackson’s framework for transitioning from surviving to thriving might just transform your whole way of looking at motherhood and life (because survival mode isn’t exclusive to motherhood). Best of all, Jessica has given me words to describe the transition from survival mode to re-entry to normalizing to exploring to thriving and even soaring. Don’t worry. She’ll explain the whole thing. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/37258535

Encore: How She Manages Family Photos 07/22/2025

Encore: How She Manages Family Photos This week, we discuss the challenge of managing family photos and its importence. Various moms share their insights into how they organize their pictures. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36954935

Encore: How She Cultivates Talents 07/15/2025

Encore: How She Cultivates Talents This week, we discuss the balance of cultivating children's talents while also allowing them to explore and fail, sharing insights on prioritizing activities and knowing when to push or let go. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36955145

Encore: How Maria Makes It Fun 07/08/2025

Encore: How Maria Makes It Fun Maria Eckersley shares her insights on navigating motherhood, family traditions, and creating fun meaningful connections with your kids. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36955090

Encore: How She Travels 07/01/2025

Encore: How She Travels This week, we navigate the challenges of traveling with kids, discussing the joys that come with family travel, and various strategies that make it more enjoyable. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36955205

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2020 06/24/2025

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2020 A recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2020, including meal planning, cooking, chores, screen time, music lessons and read alouds. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36847095

Encore: How Andrea Davis Manages Technology 06/17/2025

Encore: How Andrea Davis Manages Technology Andrea Davis shares how her family has learned to navigate technology within her home, from phones to TV usage. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36874250

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2021 06/10/2025

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2021 Recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2021 when my kids were 5-15. We talk about developing interests and talents, cooking class, chores, screentime, and a neighborhood concert. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36847820

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2022 06/04/2025

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2022 Throwback to the experiments we did at the Archibald home in the Summer of 2022--with each of my kids as special guests. They talk about what they tried that summer and how it all went, including summer jobs, hosting Lego Camp, fighting boredom, facing fears, family vacations, screen time, and setting goals. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at . /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36847150

Encore: How Donna (Whitney's Grandma) Mommed Back in the Day 05/22/2025

Encore: How Donna (Whitney's Grandma) Mommed Back in the Day Happy 95th birthday Grandma! In honor of this delightful, hilarious, loving woman, I'm re-releasing this episode where my grandma talks about motherhood (and life) in the 50s and 60s. If you can't get enough Donna, here are a couple of YouTube links: A beautiful video my cousins made, interviewing my Grandma in her home A video of Donna's great grandchildren repeating some of her famous sayings. I made this video for her 95th birthday party. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36666680

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself Part 2 05/13/2025

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself Part 2 Three moms share self-care tactics beyond spa days and manicures. KaeCee Reed focuses on sleep and hobbies, and works with her husband to make sure both of their needs are met. Brittney Smart got out of a mothering slump by spending one-on-one time to get to know her kids bettter. And Andrea Quimby deliberately schedules down time. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36553995

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself 05/06/2025

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself Myth: Moms are bad at self care. Truth: Moms are bad at prioritizing self care. In fact, moms have honed their caregiving skills caring for others; now all they have to do is apply those same skills to themselves. This episode is chock full of experiments you can try to figure out what fills you up and then carve out the time for it. /episode/index/show/howshemoms/id/36442030

The Family Lab

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