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In this week’s edition of Slate’s parenting podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting, Slate editors Allison Benedikt and Dan Kois talk to Lenore Skenazy, whose reality show, World’s Worst Mom, attempts to turn extreme helicopter moms into free-range parents. Then they discuss how watching movies with kids can transform your way of looking at art with Slate’s film critic Dana Stevens. Plus, a listener call about being disappointed about your baby’s gender, and parenting triumphs and fails.  

Items discussed in the show:

• World’s Worst Mom airs Thursday nights on the Discovery Life channel.
• Slate’s story about Maryland free-range parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv.
• Dana Stevens’ essay, “Tumbling Into the Screen.”
• A.O. Scott in the New York Times on watching non-kids’ movies with kids.

Mom and Dad recommend:

Dan recommends singing karaoke with your kids as an activity that groups of mixed genders and ages can enjoy together. (It’s also a great way to learn about all the swears in songs you didn’t know had any swears at all in them.)

Allison recommends The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (for kids) and The Americans (for parents).

This week’s advertisers are:

• The chapter book The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell.
• Little Passports, the monthly subscription for kids. Use promo code FIGHT40 to save 40 percent on your first month.

Email us at momanddad@slate.com to tell us what you thought of today’s show and give us ideas for what we should cover in the next edition. Got questions that you’d like us to answer on a future episode? Call and leave us a message at 424-255-7833. 

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Podcast produced by Ann Hepperman.