What happens when Mom isn't just tired… but completely tapped out?

In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, Holly opens up about something many moms experience but don't always talk about: mom rage, mental overload, and the feeling of being completely overwhelmed and overstimulated by the end of the day.

After a long day caring for two young boys, Holly reaches her breaking point when bedtime doesn't go according to plan. What follows is an honest conversation about postpartum emotions, the mental load of motherhood, parenting two children with very different needs, and what it feels like when your nervous system is simply done.

Keith also shares what it's like to watch the person you love struggle and instinctively want to fix the problem - only to realize that sometimes she doesn't need a solution. She needs space.

We talk about:

• Mom rage and the emotional overload of motherhood

• Why small frustrations can become overwhelming

• The mental load of raising two children

• Postpartum emotions and breastfeeding

• Why dads sometimes want to “fix” what moms need to feel

• Giving your partner space when they're completely tapped out

• The importance of communication and daily “touch points” in marriage

• Therapy, mental health, and asking for help

• Feeling like you're accomplishing nothing while raising your kids

• The reality of parenting two young children

And, of course, we eventually discover the unlikely cure for a terrible day: peanut butter, tiramisu, and Dancing With the Stars.

❤️ WATCH, LIKE & SUBSCRIBE — we're working toward our first 1,000 YouTube subscribers, and every subscription helps us keep growing The Jones Family Playbook.

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is a weekly parenting and marriage podcast hosted by Keith and Holly Jones, two broadcast journalists and working parents raising two young boys.

It's where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet — with honest conversations about marriage, parenting, family life, work, and everything that comes with raising a family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

#Parenting #Parenthood #MarriageAfterKids #Fatherhood #Motherhood #MomRage #Overstimulation #DadLife #MomLife #TheJonesFamilyPlaybook

Having kids changes almost everything, including who you are, how you spend your time, and how you experience your marriage.

In this episode of  @JonesFamilyPlaybook , we get honest about something parents don't always say out loud: we love being parents, but we also miss parts of the lives we had before kids.

We talk about losing our freedom, struggling to find time for each other, date nights that feel rushed, and the challenge of making time for ourselves while raising two young boys.

We also look back at who we were when we first met, how becoming parents changed our identities, and whether it's possible to miss your old life while still loving the life you've built.

And then Holly shares the story of the first time she saw Keith at NBC10 in Philadelphia, a moment she says she'll never forget. ❤️

If you're a parent who's ever wondered, “Where did the old me go?” or “How do we find our way back to each other?” this conversation is for you.

Watch the full episode, then LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE The Jones Family Playbook with another parent who needs to hear this.

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is a weekly parenting and marriage podcast hosted by Keith and Holly Jones, two broadcast journalists and working parents raising two young boys.

It's where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet — with honest conversations about marriage, parenting, family life, work, and everything that comes with raising a family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

#Parenting #Parenthood #MarriageAfterKids #parenthoodgoals #Fatherhood #Motherhood #DadLife #MomLife #TheJonesFamilyPlaybook

Going back to work after parental leave sounds simple… until you come home and your toddler stops running to you.

Keith is back at work after 16 weeks of paternity leave, trying to balance fatherhood, marriage, and a demanding career... all while wondering if going back to work is changing his relationship with his toddler and 4-month-old.

In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, Keith opens up about the guilt of going back to work and what it felt like when his two-year-old stopped rushing to the door to greet him.

Then, after their toddler falls off the bed and reaches for Dad for comfort, something changes. That moment gives Keith the reassurance he desperately needed: going back to work didn’t mean his boys loved him any less.

Keith and Holly also talk honestly about sharing the mental load, staying connected as husband and wife, why dads sometimes feel pressure to “just deal with it,” and whether work can actually be a healthy escape from parenting.

And as two journalists and parents, they discuss how becoming parents has completely changed the way they experience and report the news.

In this episode:

• Returning to work after parental leave

• Returning to work after paternity leave

• Dad guilt and working-parent guilt

• Parenting two young boys

• What happens when your toddler stops running to you

• Balancing marriage, parenting, and a demanding career

• The pressure fathers feel to provide

• Work-life balance for working parents

• How becoming parents changes your identity

• How parenthood changes the way journalists see the news

• Why communication matters when both parents are overwhelmed

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is a weekly parenting and marriage podcast hosted by Keith and Holly Jones, two broadcast journalists and working parents raising two young boys.

It's where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet — with honest conversations about marriage, parenting, family life, work, and everything that comes with raising a family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

#Parenting #DadLife #WorkingDad #ParentalLeave #Fatherhood #ToddlerParenting #Marriage #FamilyPodcast

Having a second baby can bring a marriage closer together, but it can also leave you completely exhausted. In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, we get honest about what life is really like with two boys under two.

And there's a special guest joining us the entire time: our infant son, Callan!

We also play Red Flag or Green Flag, debating everything from going to bed angry and opposite-sex friends to separate vacations, splitting household chores, and whether couples who never argue are actually a red flag.

Then we get into one of our biggest parenting conversations yet: Are the "terrible twos" really terrible? We talk toddler tantrums, boundaries, discipline, independence, and why parents may be too quick to label normal learning behavior as "bad behavior."

In this episode:

Life with two boys under two

How baby #2 has changed our marriage

Marriage, exhaustion and finding time for each other

Red Flag or Green Flag: relationships and parenting

Going to bed angry

Opposite-sex friendships in marriage

Separate vacations and separate bedrooms

Splitting household chores

The mental load and who does more at home

Using AI for parenting advice

Toddler tantrums and boundaries

The "terrible twos" debate

Gentle parenting vs. firm discipline

Toddler independence and stranger danger

Why normal learning behavior isn't necessarily "bad behavior"

Parenting two very different boys

And, of course, plenty of Callan 🥰

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #Marriage #ParentingTwoKids #ToddlerParenting #MomAndDad #FamilyPodcast #TerribleTwos

Going back to work after having a baby is hard. But after spending 16 weeks at home with our two boys, Keith wasn't prepared for just how emotional it would be.

In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, Keith opens up about the end of his 16 weeks of parental leave and what it feels like to leave his family and return to work. We talk honestly about dad guilt, working-parent guilt, motherhood, raising two kids under two, and why parents, especially fathers, shouldn't feel ashamed for being emotional.

Then, Holly surprises Keith with something she had been secretly writing for days: a letter about the 16 weeks he chose to spend at home with his family. ❤️

This episode is for every parent who has struggled with the push and pull between work and family, and for anyone trying to make the most of the little moments before they become memories.

In this episode:

• Going back to work after parental leave

• Why dads should take paternity leave

• Dad guilt and working-parent guilt

• The emotional reality of leaving your kids

• Raising two boys under two

• Holly's anxiety about parenting alone in the mornings

• Why men should feel comfortable showing emotion

• An emotional letter from wife to husband

• Giving yourself grace as a parent

• Finding gratitude in the chaos of family life

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #ParenalLeave #MaternityLeave #PaternityLeave #WorkingParents #DadLife #Parenthood #Marriage #FamilyPodcast

Holly and Keith get very honest about the emotional side of parenting two young kids: moving Callen into his own room, feeling guilty about dividing your attention between two children, breastfeeding and postpartum body image, and the strange feeling of watching your babies become more independent.

We also talk about Holly's experience as Miss Philadelphia 2016, how that chapter shaped her identity, Keith's early days in television, and why the hardest moments in our lives can sometimes lead us exactly where we're supposed to be.

And, naturally, Keith considers shaving his entire face.

It's another very real conversation about parenting, marriage, identity, and trying to figure out what the heck we're doing along the way.

If you're a parent who's ever felt guilty, nostalgic, overwhelmed, or completely unprepared for how quickly your kids grow up… you'll probably relate.

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #ParentingPodcast #Marriage #MomGuilt #TheJonesFamilyPlaybook

Is our 2-year-old actually ready for potty training... or are we about to make a huge mistake?

In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, we talk about the next big parenting milestone: getting Keith III out of diapers. He’s starting to show some signs of readiness, but we debate whether parents should simply wait until their kids are ready or actually push them to learn new skills.

We also get unexpectedly emotional talking about something every parent eventually faces: your baby growing up. Keith doesn't fall asleep in our arms anymore. He doesn't want Dad to sing to him anymore. And even though he's still affectionate, those little baby moments are starting to disappear.

We talk about raising two boys, Holly becoming the "queen" of a house full of boys, the example Keith sees in his mother, and the pride that comes with watching your son start to look up to you.

And then there's the question that somehow becomes a full-blown debate: If you hold the door open for someone at Chipotle, do they have to let you go ahead of them in line? We have very different opinions.

Plus: Keith's dentist appointment, the pressure parents feel when their child gets their teeth checked, an unfortunate incident involving our dog, and what it's really like trying to record a podcast while raising two little boys.

This is The Jones Family Playbook: an honest, unscripted conversation about parenting, marriage, family, and figuring it out as we go.

If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who would relate.

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #ParentingLife #MomLife #DadLife #FamilyLife #ToddlerLife #Marriage #TheJonesFamilyPlaybook

🎂 Keith turned TWO… so we threw a party and put a giant bounce house in his bedroom. 😂

There were more than a dozen little kids running around our house.

There was a missed nap, a very late bedtime, and - because we're apparently not allowed to have a normal family outing - a diaper blowout all over Dad's white shorts at the zoo. 💩

But somewhere in all of that chaos, we started talking about something a lot bigger:

How becoming parents changes the way you see your own parents. ❤️

We talk about how hard it can be to actually slow down and be present when you're exhausted and constantly thinking about the next thing that needs to get done.

Then Keith blows out his birthday candles, feeds himself his own cake, looks around the room… and suddenly we're both getting emotional.

Because wait… wasn't he JUST a baby?

And now he's TWO. 🥹

We also talk about the different stages boys go through with their dads, why Holly now thinks of her mom every year on her own birthday, and why raising our second child somehow feels completely different from the first time around.

Plus, we answer the important questions:

👉 Was putting a 15-foot bounce house in our house a terrible idea?

👉 Can a toddler survive a birthday without a nap?

👉 How do you actually stay present when you're completely exhausted?

👉 And are we really going to have five kids like Keith once joked about? 😳

This is one of those episodes that starts with a birthday party and somehow turns into a conversation about our childhoods, our parents, and the kind of parents we're trying to become.

If you're a parent, you probably know the feeling. ❤️

What stage are you in right now: newborn chaos, toddler years, school-age kids, teenagers? And, what has surprised you most about it?

Thanks for being part of The Jones Family Playbook. ❤️

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #ParentingLife #MomLife #DadLife #FamilyLife #ToddlerLife #Marriage #TheJonesFamilyPlaybook

We don't agree on everything when it comes to managing our two boys—and some of our opinions might be controversial.

Is sleep training actually good for babies? Do anxious parents create anxious children? Should you take a sick kid into a public play place? And does the way you talk about your children actually shape who they become?

We also have a much more serious conversation about postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis, including the difficult questions surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial and the challenges of understanding what can happen to a parent's mental health after having a baby.

As two journalists, we also talk about what it's like to cover traumatic stories for a living, and why some stories stay with you long after you leave the newsroom.

Plus, we're celebrating 20 episodes, showing off our brand-new podcast studio, talking about our night out at Main Line Today's Best of the Main Line & Western Suburbs party, and getting real about balancing work, parenting, marriage, and two young kids.

This is what The Jones Family Playbook is all about: honest, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, and occasionally uncomfortable conversations about parenting, marriage, babies, toddlers, and family life.

Which of our parenting opinions do YOU agree or disagree with? Tell us in the comments.

And if you're enjoying the show:

OUR LINKS

https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

👋🏻 ABOUT US

The Jones Family Playbook is where real love, laughter, and parenthood meet. Hosted by Holly and Keith, two broadcast journalists and working parents, this weekly podcast brings a blend of humor, honesty, and heart to every conversation, creating a trusted space that feels like a growing family.

Follow Holly!

www.instagram.com/HollyHarrarTV

Follow Keith!

www.instagram.com/KeithJonesNews

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2026.

#Parenting #ParentingPodcast #ParentingTips #SleepTraining #NewParents #ToddlerParenting #Postpartum #FamilyPodcast #MarriageAndParenting #JonesFamilyPlaybook

From Holly having the WORST luck during diaper changes, to the their first successful family dinner with two little kids, to figuring out why their toddler insists on kissing everyone he meets... this week's episode of The Jones Family Playbook is packed with the honest parenting moments every mom and dad can relate to.

If you enjoy honest conversations about parenting, marriage, newborn life, toddlers, and family adventures, be sure to subscribe and join The Jones Family Playbook every week.

💬 Tell us: What's the funniest thing that's happened since becoming a parent?

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

Can women really have it all? Or is that expectation setting parents up to feel like they're constantly falling short?

Holly opens up about one of the hardest questions she's ever been asked: whether women can truly balance motherhood, marriage, career, and personal fulfillment. Ten years after winning Miss Philadelphia, her answer has changed.

The Joneses talk honestly about the emotional tug-of-war between staying home with your kids and pursuing a career, the pressure modern moms face, why dads feel stretched thin too, and how we're navigating life with two boys under two. Along the way, they share sweet moments with baby Callan, hilarious parenting stories, and why making time for friendships might be just as important as changing diapers.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

It’s every parent’s fear: Holly and Keith talk about the moment their toddler fell down the stairs and why they reacted so differently when it happened.

The married couple is also sharing their approach to thoughtfully disciplining their toddler, and offering their biggest advice to parents expecting baby #2.

Annnnnnd they’re recommending the hit TV show that helped them reconnect after bedtime!

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

"Take your two boys under two to the beach," they said. "It'll be great," they said.

Of course, chaos ensued. It was easily one of most craziest parenting days they've ever experienced. Holly and Keith share everything that went wrong, and the lessons every parent can learn before attempting a beach day with little ones.

Later, Holly tells the hilarious (and embarrassing) story of the moment postpartum brain caused her to forget our newborn son's name at the doctor's office. They discuss the reality of postpartum recovery, supporting your spouse through the newborn stage, and why these moments deserve more grace than judgment.

This episode was recorded during a Facebook Live broadcast. Please check our links below to our Facebook page. We'd for you to join our growing community!

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

Life with two boys under two has been equal parts hilarious, exhausting, and surprisingly emotional. In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, the married couple talks about:

-The hilarious (and awkward) moment their toddler slapped Mom's behind.

-How we're intentionally trying to stay connected as husband and wife.

-The question every new parent hears: "Is the baby sleeping yet?"

-How becoming "Mom" and "Dad" changes your identity in unexpected ways.

If you're in the trenches of newborn life, parenting toddlers, or just looking for an honest look at marriage and family life, this episode is for you.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

💙 The newborn stage is beautiful... and brutal.

Just weeks after welcoming baby Callan, Holly opens up about experiencing the "baby blues" and the emotional roller coaster of postpartum life. Meanwhile, Keith shares what it's like to suddenly feel like he's fallen to the bottom of the family priority list.

In this episode of The Jones Family Playbook, the Joneses get real about postpartum hormones, parenting two little ones, Father's Day as a family of four, and why validating your spouse in front of your children matters more than you think.

Plus:

👶 Callan's surprising "workout routine"

🚂 How Dad accidentally created a Thomas & Friends obsession

🧠 Why Keith plans 10 years ahead while Holly plans 10 minutes ahead

🧔 Keith's controversial new beard

❤️ A heartfelt conversation about motherhood through a husband's eyes

Whether you're navigating the newborn phase, raising toddlers, or simply trying to stay connected in marriage while parenting, this episode is for you.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

It worked! The Joneses talk about the advice that helped them successfully introduce their toddler to their newborn. Keith III is turning into a GREAT big brother.

Holly also talks about the anxiety that accompanies her breastfeeding journey, and a wedding weekend that served as a getaway for the new parents of two boys.

Oh, and Keith isn't convinced Holly likes the old shirt he wore on this episode, which you can watch on The Jones Family Playbook's YouTube channel.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

The Jones Family welcomes their second child, Callan, who makes his debut on the kick off to Season 2 of the podcast! Holly and Keith talk about his birth, their unique epidural (they sandwiched a kind nurse), and how they're adjusting to raising two boys under two years old.

Holly and Keith discuss why it hasn't been a nightmare... at least not yet... and the special trait of their marriage that makes raising kids easier. From the Labor and Delivery Ward to the bad language one of them uses around the house, episode 12 is an eventful start to the 2nd season of The Jones Family Playbook.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

Holly and Keith are LIVE next week after taking some time off to welcome their second son, Callan, into the world! Season Two kicks off next Wednesday, June 24th. They'll have their newborn with them (!!!), talk all about their experience at the hospital, and how their oldest son, Keith III, is adjusting to being a big brother.

Be sure to check out Holly and Keith on social media, @jonesfamilyplaybook, for some adorable videos and pictures from these first 3 weeks at home with two sons under two years old.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

The Joneses sons, Keith and Callan, are keeping them busy, but Holly and Keith will be back LIVE on Wednesday, June 24th! Until then, the Best of Season One series - episodes 1 through 11 - continues. This time, it’s a recipe of how the married couple parents while also maintaining sanity in their marriage. Part Two drops next Wednesday! We hope you can take something away from our experience.

Be sure to check out our links @jonesfamilyplaybook for updates on The Jones Family Playbook and our growing family!

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.

BREAKING NEWS: The baby is HERE! Holly and baby are in good health and doing well. The Joneses are appreciative of all your love, support, and prayers. The Joneses are home and adjusting to raising two boys under two years old, so here's a "Best of" compilation of some of the FUNNIEST moments from Season One of the Jones Family Playbook.

For the baby announcement, pictures, and videos of their growing family, be sure to visit @JonesFamilyPlaybook on your favorite social media site.

OUR LINKS: https://linktr.ee/jonesfamilyplaybook

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026.