Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona: Best of HMS Podcasts - January 20, 2025
Episode Overview In the "Best of HMS Podcasts" episode released on January 20, 2025, Holmberg's Morning Sickness (HMS) delves into the emerging trend of child-free communities in suburban areas. Hosts John Holmberg, Brett, and Brady engage in a candid and often humorous discussion about the challenges and motivations behind creating adult-only neighborhoods. The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes related to parenting, societal expectations, and the controversial rise of extremist homeschooling groups.
1. Introduction to Child-Free Communities
The episode kicks off with Brett and Brady introducing the concept of child-free communities in the suburbs. They discuss the growing desire among certain adults to live in neighborhoods without the presence of children, aiming for a more peaceful and orderly living environment.
Brett [01:08]:
"They're starting child-free adults only living suburb centers. Meaning you can't have kids but you don't have to be 55 and older. Retirement."
Brady [01:46]:
"Nice. Have that."
2. Benefits and Challenges of Child-Free Zones
The hosts explore the perceived benefits of such communities, including reduced noise, less wear and tear on public amenities, and a more serene environment for residents. However, they also highlight the challenges, such as enforcing adult-only policies and the societal implications of excluding children.
Brett [02:45]:
"But the thing about retirement they can visit. Nobody thinks about retirement communities because there's kids all over them as grandkids show up and grandkids end up sometimes living with their grandparents at those things."
Brett [03:08]:
"We've been doing it since the beginning of man. We pick a group and we discriminate kids. We can discriminate. They have no rights. It's fantastic."
3. Personal Anecdotes on Parenting and Public Behavior
Brett shares personal stories from his time working in restaurants, highlighting the frustrations of dealing with children in public spaces. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining order and cleanliness, recounting incidents where children caused disruptions during meals.
Brett [05:06]:
"I hate having kids in restaurants messing up everything. They don't appreciate it. It's too much money for a kid to order the side of Mac and cheese for $31. Knock it off. Take your kid to an Applebee's. That's their palate level."
Brett [07:26]:
"Fear and shame have been missing for a little while, and it's...we need to bring back fear. Bring back fear."
4. Societal Impact and Changing Norms
The discussion shifts to the broader societal impact of child-free zones, questioning how such communities might influence future generations and societal norms. The hosts debate whether eliminating children from certain areas could lead to healthier, more responsible communities or foster exclusionary and discriminatory attitudes.
Brett [18:27]:
"Parents don't care. She's swearing like crazy. I think you should hit her. Right now is when you... okay, guess not."
John Holmberg [21:17]:
"Another great thing about the adult only thing, no school, let alone no Nazi schools."
5. The Rise of Extremist Homeschooling Groups
A significant portion of the episode addresses the alarming increase in extremist homeschooling groups advocating white supremacist ideologies. The hosts discuss the investigation by the Department of Education in Ohio into a group known as the "Nazi Homeschooling Group," which boasts over 2,500 members.
Brady [19:11]:
"Be interesting to see the responsibility of this couple. They're under investigation. The Department of Education, Ohio, because they have a school that's openly anti-Semitic and racist."
Brady [19:59]:
"Nazi dissident homeschool group which now boasts over 2500 members on its Telegram channel."
Brett [20:34]:
"If it's a private Nazi school, you got to allow it. If it's a public school, absolutely. It's the same thing as you doing."
6. Reflections on Modern Parenting and Discipline
The hosts reflect on modern parenting techniques, contrasting them with more traditional methods that emphasized strict discipline. They express concern that the erosion of authoritative parenting contributes to the behavioral issues observed in children today.
Brett [17:55]:
"Fear and shame have been missing for a little while, and it's...we need to bring back fear. Bring back fear."
Brett [18:05]:
"I'm looking this lady. All she does put a TikTok out. I'm sick of this. Every Time I try to use some of the amenities in our neighborhood. There's rogue children ruining it. Can't do anything."
7. Concluding Thoughts on Child-Free Living
In wrapping up, the hosts reiterate their support for child-free zones, emphasizing the need for more adult-only spaces to foster respectful and orderly communities. They advocate for responsible living and express skepticism towards current societal trends that prioritize inclusivity over personal and communal well-being.
Brett [22:38]:
"I've always looked at school zones acceleration of speed as hilarious. Like man, these kids are pretty small."
Brady [22:41]:
"Not as many rolling balls in high school crossing the street."
Notable Quotes
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Brett [03:19]:
"If we start talking about how wonderful that can be, we can still discriminate against them like it's our. It's. It's our God-given right..." -
John Holmberg [07:27]:
"Opposite of dad." -
Brett [13:18]:
"I spent many a meal in the backseat of a car in the parking lot." -
Brett [17:30]:
"Fear of your parents. That's a smarter, better way. This love thing isn't working. It's just making all your kids Fentanyl addict."
Conclusion
This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness provides a provocative exploration of the desire for child-free communities, intertwining personal experiences with broader societal concerns. Through humor and frank discussion, Brett, Brady, and John Holmberg challenge listeners to consider the implications of such living arrangements and the evolving dynamics of parenting and community life.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content discussions to focus solely on the substantive topics covered in the episode.
