Conversations with My Kid

Find out why Maybe is worried about field day.

After a brief gum discussion, Maybe and I get down to the business of creepy crawlies.

Maybe thinks 7 is the new 50. Find out why in today's episode!

Maybe and I both feel a BBQ weather front moving into the city. The forecast: smokin'!

Maybe believes she's going to get an award at today's assembly. She's right but doesn't know for sure. Additionally, yesterday she made an unusual discovery. Find out what it was on today's episode!

Maybe's philosophy of winning takes an intriguing turn.

I forget Maybe's lunch, but thankfully remember it at the last moment. Maybe is still excited about losing another tooth. We also discuss school rules regarding games like 'Tag' and 'Duck, Duck, Goose.'

Bun Bun is in a diaper and Maybe is on the cusp of losing her fourth tooth. Latin pun intended!

Is it true that first graders have more fun? Maybe thinks so. And she's got a theory to explain why.

Maybe has an unusual strategy for dealing with sweat. What's her secret? Find out in today's conversation.

STEAM, asparagus, clouds, fluff, and linguistics. It's all on the table today!

We get a little side-tracked by a pet owner's mess. Still- a fun walk!

After stumbling (literally) on an ant colony in mid-nuptial flight, Maybe is eager to talk about Meow family celebrations and traditions. This one is a little... gross. Okay, so it's a lot gross. Sometimes I wonder how she comes up with this stuff.

Maybe describes Meowlet's family on this walk to the park. Find out who's who in this imaginary family!

After playing and enjoying a lovely sunset in the park, Maybe discloses some unusual details about her imaginary friend, Meowlet.

Maybe and I take a walk to the park on Mother's Day's Eve. Along the way, we get a surprise phone call. Who is the first call-in guest on our show?

Stuffed animals are on Maybe's mind. Though, I think she is a little confused about Bella's color. What do you think- what color is Bella (the puppy)?

As the end of the school year draws near, we decided not to reload Maybe's school lunch account. For the first time, she has a packed lunch from her father. Find out how I did!

Classroom pets, organic gardening, and the continuation of Highland Elementary's Teacher Appreciation Week- we cover a lot of ground on our short walk to school today.

Maybe and I chat about teacher appreciation week. Birthdays and holidays somehow creep into the discussion.

In this challenging discussion, Maybe and I tackle name calling- why people do it, and what a child can do about it.

Today marks our first 3-party recording, although Indy remains largely silent. Maybe and I discuss Easter egg hunting and balloons.

Piano practice can be a tense time in the Padilla household. How will Maybe and I navigate this challenging task?

It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas! However, Santa might have trouble with Maybe's... unique request. Also, I gave Indy a microphone but didn't completely connect the jack. We'll get her audio in the next episode!

On the walk home from the park, we search for the perfect name for Maybe's new toy cat.

I forget that teacher appreciation week starts on Monday. Today was school spirit day: western wear. Fortunately, Maybe remembered her boots before we left for school. Hear us discuss it on an afternoon walk to the park.

After mic'ing up Indy, she's eager to go live every time now. Too bad we only have two mics (for now) on today's walk under menacing skies.

Maybe and I talk chapter books today, among other things.

On our walk to school today, we notice something unusual about the trees along the way. What could be causing it?

The daily walk to school poses many challenges. Today, the three of us practice crossing three-way intersections and counting by threes.

Maybe is fresh off the bus from her first field trip and I'm eager to hear all about it. What did she think about her experiences at Irvine Regional Park and the Orange County Zoo? Find out in today's conversation!

Maybe and I practice our snapping and whistling on the way to school this morning. I'm amazed at how much she's progressed!

Indy takes up the microphone for today's episode. We hope you'll enjoy this conversation on our walk to school and back again!

We get a late start on our walk to school, so we are in a hurry. Will we have enough time to appreciate the unique nature of our uphill-both-ways walks to and from school?

Does moving to a new city mean we will have to celebrate Maybe's birthday in the family car? Find out on today's episode!

Warning- today's talk delves into the topic of consent. Despite this, the episode is still kid-and-parent friendly. I hope you'll appreciate today's episode and our first take on this important issue.

The kids and I share a brief hug before Maybe and I head to school. Along the way, we imagine what kindergarten must be like for caterpillars.   Enjoy the custom artwork on today's episode!

The urgent care saga, at last, comes to an end. We profess our love for fast food and imagine creative ways to open a happy meal box. Here's hoping for good health in the weeks to come!

While waiting for the pharmacy to fill our prescriptions, Maybe and I visit McDonald's and reach an important decision about the future of the podcast.

After receiving a prescription from urgent care, Maybe and I head to the pharmacy. Maybe tries out her knock-knock jokes. Lacking a proper background in comedy, I do my best to provide constructive criticism.

When her spring break cold and fever failed to resolve in 8 days, I decided it was time to take Maybe to urgent care. Fingers crossed, the doctor will be able to cure what ails her. Thankfully, this illness has been mild, but persistent.

This conversation gets a little... gross. Maybe proposes an interesting (though G-rated) would-you-rather scenario. If you're sensitive to that sort of thing, you might want to refrain from eating while you listen. If not, then bon appétite and enjoy today's episode!

Stick around for the end of this one. Maybe reveals her worst nightmare. I think I'd be scared, too.

An evening walk affords Maybe and me a chance to chat about the family's week, rain forest ecology, elementary school staff, sports philosophy, car accidents, and bats. We also make an interesting find in the gutter along the way.

Spring break fever got too real and the family is recovering from a shared cold. Maybe is excited to get back to school. She's also eager to tell me why she insists on keeping the closet door closed at night.

Spring break affords us time to take longer-than-usual walks to new places. Today, the kids and I head to the neighborhood park for a little play time. On the way, we talk about our fears, our friends and the natural sciences. WARNING- the subject of death comes up during the conversation. If you aren't comfortable with this topic, feel free to skip this one. We'll see you in the next episode.

Spring break means no school and no regularly-scheduled daily walks. So, Maybe and I go on an unscheduled night walk to talk about our weekend, school, housing, and the Milky Way galaxy.

Does Maybe really prefer carrots over chocolate? I am skeptical.

We take the show on the road as the family heads to dance practice- discussing another culture's lost-teeth traditions.

We discuss how to always win on this Wednesday morning walk.

The tooth is on the loose and liable to fall out at any minute! What's Maybe's take on this milestone of youth?

Should thornbushes be allowed on school property? Do plants have hair color? Will Cal State Fullerton bulldoze a portion of its arboretum to make room for dormitories? We raise, but don't answer any of those questions in today's episode!

We discovered several piles of feathers on the way to school. Are they white with black tips, or gray? The debate over which type of bird lost its feathers rages!

Ever wonder how to pick a vampire out of a crowd? Maybe knows how, and she's ready to tell me all about it.

Dad steps in... something... along the way to school. Maybe hopes today's lunch will feature her favorite food. No roly polies were harmed in the making of this episode.

This didn't make the cut. It was good but too windy. Please enjoy this bonus content featuring my daughter discussing her recent suspicions that we have a mysterious green visitor.

My daughter didn't want to leave the house on St. Patrick's Day. There were many tears. Was she was sick and worried she'd spread it to someone else or simply worried sick that someone might pinch her for not wearing green? Hear her side of the story along with the tragic fate of last season's garden during today's conversation.

Another windy walk as we discuss typical subjects: St. Patrick's Day and toddler fine motor development.

Dodging tree branches, crawling under bathroom stall doors, and bladder control among the sexes-- some of the things my daughter thinks about on the way to school.