Aug 13, 2026 · 4 min listen · Last updated August 13, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Chloe, August 13th. Quick run through ten health stories — let's start with the longevity piece. Let's get into it. First, from Motherhood Musings. August Updates: what I've read, watched, eaten and spotted this month.
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Daily Parenting Brief · August 13th
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August Updates: what I've read, watched, eaten and spotted this month
I’m feeling the shift toward spring—our wood stove has been quiet for a week, the peach tree is pink with blossoms, and the cosmos are back in the garden. The wind is that classic northerly gust that makes the trees lean, and sunrise has settled at 6:15 am. It’s the kind of subtle change that reminds me why our new book, *At Home in Every Season*, is aimed at families in places where the seasons blur; the idea is to tune into these little cues and build rituals that match the rhythm of the year.
I’m speaking at the Byron Writers Festival on Saturday, August 15th, at noon, chatting with Zoë Tuckwell about motherhood, family homes, and teen‑raising. It’s free and open, so if you’re nearby, swing by. In the meantime, I’ve been busy with a few other things: a podcast interview with local legend Chris Hanley, a sudden urge to start a folk‑school in Byron after reading about the trend in the NY Times, and a handful of book swaps—*The Dutch House* and *Nesting* have been highlights, while Meg Mason’s *Sophie, Standing There* didn’t quite click for me.
On the food front, I’ve been rotating green minestrone, a lemon‑garlic pesto pasta, roasted quinoa lunches topped with fried eggs, and oat‑and‑chia pancakes (great for leftovers). Michael and I finally made it to the cinema together for *The Invite*—a witty, tender film that kept us laughing. He’s heading to NYC soon to help Quin settle into university and then on to Las Vegas for a wedding, so I’m gathering TV and movie suggestions for his trip. If you’re up for a live Substack Q&A, I’m planning one for Thursday, 20 Sept at 9 am AEST—bring any questions you have.
Mike and I are back on Long Island after Portugal, and the kids are home: Mazzy just finished a business‑communications program at Syracuse and is juggling a camp counselor job with a publicist internship, while Harlow returned from camp on Friday. We’re using the last month of summer for family time, even though some folks question sending kids away.
I hosted my first theater‑group night—about 30 of us met at Miss Nellie’s, watched the wild “Titanique” (a Celine Dion‑styled Titanic retelling), and laughed a lot. It felt great to finally meet many of you in person, and I’ll keep the group rolling; sign‑up info is still open.
We also caught the Netflix film “Don’t Say Good Luck” in the city. Mazzy and Harlow got pulled onto the red‑carpet for quick interviews, and we hung out next to Adam Sandler for a solid 20 minutes. The movie’s a tear‑jerker about a teen whose mom gets cancer, and Sunny Sandler’s performance really stood out.
On the personal side, I’m back into audiobooks (the “PEEK” habit—listening while playing a simple phone game—helps me stay focused) and loving titles like *The Lion Women of Tehran*. Harlow’s camp just sold, so next summer the kids won’t be able to return, which has been a huge disappointment. That’s the update for now—back to Madeira!
I’m hearing you’ve turned the homeschool chaos into a real “school room” again. After a year of juggling diapers, math shout‑outs, and a new labeler, printer, and laminator, you’ve set up a dedicated space to give the younger kids gentle, slow‑paced love and the older ones the focus they need.
You mentioned the kids’ fall wardrobes heading for the barn, the boys teasing your wool sweater, and the whole “nesting” vibe of the third trimester—so the timing feels right for a clear boundary between play and work.
Having a separate room should cut down on the “everything‑in‑the‑living‑room” noise, letting you keep the math facts flowing without stepping on diaper duties. It sounds like a solid move for sanity and for the kids’ academic rhythm.
Morris and Rose Michtom, Russian‑Jewish immigrants who ran a penny store in Brooklyn, are the ones who first turned the 1902 Roosevelt “bear‑hunting” cartoon into a plush toy. After seeing Clifford Berryman’s drawing, Rose sewed a small stuffed bear from scrap fabric, and Morris displayed it with a “Teddy’s Bear” sign. When they sent one to Roosevelt and asked to use his nickname, he gave his blessing, and the little bear sold out, launching the Michtoms’ Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.
A German firm, Steiff, also produced a plush bear around the same time and now claims the invention, but their version didn’t carry the “Teddy” name until a few years later. The Michtoms’ story—immigrants turning a simple idea into a national sensation—remains the core of the American teddy‑bear myth.
Both Morris and Rose were active in Jewish charitable groups, and after they passed in the late 1930s their legacy was remembered as much for that philanthropy as for the cuddly toy that still comforts children today.
So it seems there was a Q&A session that just took place. I couldn't find any information on what was specifically discussed during the Q&A, but the host, Joshua Coleman, mentions that there's a replay available. If you're interested in hearing what was said, you can find the replay by following the link he provided. That's about all I've got on this one – it seems like a pretty straightforward update.