Once and Future Parent

Feeding children isn’t just about nutrition—it’s about navigating breastfeeding struggles, picky eaters, food allergies, and the endless debate over what’s “healthy enough.” Matthew, Mandy, and Pete are joined by special guest Mara Kaufman to explore the chaos and complexity of food decisions from infancy through adolescence, including the unexpected challenges that arise when your kid discovers Doritos.
What we discussed:
  • How do parents navigate the breastfeeding versus formula decision when faced with unexpected challenges like tongue and lip ties?
  • What strategies work (and don’t work) for dealing with picky eaters and food refusal?
  • How do you balance nutrition ideals with the reality of kids who want nothing but chicken nuggets and mac and cheese?
  • What’s the deal with school food allergies, and how have restrictions around peanut butter and other allergens changed the classroom dynamic?
  • How do food struggles shift as kids become teenagers and gain more independence over their eating choices?
Additional topics:
  • The comedy and reality of kids as “little food criminals” who share and trade despite strict school policies
  • How grocery costs and privilege factor into conversations about “ideal” nutrition.

The TV show Matthew mentioned is called The Yard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yard_(2011_TV_series)) and is available on Amazon, but sadly now for a price. 

What is Once and Future Parent?

Three parents. Three generations. One endlessly humbling journey.

Welcome to Once and Future Parent, where the parenting timeline gets the roundtable it deserves. Join hosts Matthew Fox (brand new parent), Mandy Kaplan (mom to a high-schooler), and Pete Wright (father of mostly-launched grown kids) as they gather to compare notes from three different stages of family life.

From the sleepless nights of preparing for a newborn, through the chaos of early adolescence, to the bittersweet art of letting go, each episode tackles the lessons, laughs, and late-night Googling that come with parenting at any age. Expect a mix of heartfelt honesty, media-fueled nostalgia, and just enough intergenerational snark to keep it relatable.

We’ll talk about everything from screen-time philosophies and failed movie nights, to the last bedtime story and the awkward magic of being parented by your own kid. Whether you’re building a nursery or texting your college student emojis you don’t fully understand, you’ll find real talk, hard-won wisdom, and a reminder that none of us are in this alone.