Weekly Roundup: “Texts from Jane Eyre” and “Ladies in Waiting,” Mystic Monk Coffee, and We’ve Got Issues

Weekly Roundup: “Texts from Jane Eyre” and “Ladies in Waiting,” Mystic Monk Coffee, and We’ve Got Issues

Author: Parenting Roundabout December 11, 2025 Duration: 22:02
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.

Catherine's library find is a couple of titles that take inspiration from literary classics: Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Daniel M. Lavery (from 2014) and Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters, a recently published anthology of nine tales. Mentioned: The Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series

Terri's random recommendation is Mystic Monk Coffee. Her shipment finally arrived, after taking a detour from New Jersey to New Hampshire and back again, and she's pleased with the flavors. (But also, someone stop her before she orders more coffee.)

In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2017 on making kids' issues our own. Mentioned: "I Miss My Ex's Dad" from Saturday Night Live.

Next week's lineup:
  • Lost S4 E7, "Ji Yeon," on Tuesday, December 16
  • The Lowdown S1 E5, "This Land?," on Wednesday, December 17
  • Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 18

Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every week, Parenting Roundabout brings together the voices and experiences of writers Terri Mauro and Catherine Holecko. Think of it less as a manual and more as a conversation happening across the kitchen table, where the topics flow as freely as the coffee. They dive into the cultural moments, family dynamics, and daily dilemmas that actually fill your news feed and your thoughts, from the latest kids' TV show sparking debate to the subtle shifts in how we think about family and society. This isn't about perfect answers, but about navigating the messy, rewarding loop of raising kids alongside someone who gets it. In each episode of this podcast, you'll hear a natural, often humorous discussion that reflects what's really on parents' minds right now-the small complaints, the genuine obsessions, and the shared wisdom that comes from living it. Tune in for a dose of reality and camaraderie, a break from the noise that still manages to engage with the things that matter most in the whirlwind of family life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Parenting Roundabout
Podcast Episodes
Parenting Tips from “The Lowdown” S1 E7, “Tulsa Turnaround” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:35
Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. As we might expect from the penultimate episode of the season, things are looking very bad for Lee, as he makes…
Parenting Tips from “The Lowdown” S1 E6, “Old Indian Trick” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:25
Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Like the previous episode, this one featured an amazing performance from a beloved actor, Graham Greene, but no…
Parenting Tips from “Lost” S4 E8, “Meet Kevin Johnson” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:46
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. Despite having seen this episode before, Terri had no recollection of it. It dropped a lot of exposition about what happened to Michae…
Parenting Tips from “The Lowdown” S1 E5, “This Land?” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:12
Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Lee's reprieve from beatings and fights was short-lived, as this episode brought an old frenemy back into his l…
Parenting Tips from “Lost” S4 E7, “Ji Yeon” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:48
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode's format kept us fooled until the end: One character's story was told in flash-forwards, while another's was in flashback…
Parenting Tips from “The Lowdown” S1 E4, “Short on Cowboys” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. Lee makes it through this episode with no new bruises or broken bones, which is a first. And while Allen Murphy…
Parenting Tips from “Lost” S4 E6, “The Other Woman” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:14
Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The previous episode, "The Constant," is a hard act to follow, and this one isn't really up to the job. It's best to look at it as an…