The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 683: Motherhood Has a PR Problem | Bethany Mandel, The Mom Wars
Host: Ginny (Jenny) Yurich
Guest: Bethany Mandel (co-host of The Mom Wars podcast)
Date: January 18, 2026

Overview:

In this episode, Ginny Yurich talks with Bethany Mandel, a mother of six and co-host of The Mom Wars podcast and Substack. Their candid, often humorous conversation wrestles with the complex and evolving narrative around motherhood in today’s culture, particularly focusing on the idea that "motherhood has a PR problem." They explore the public portrayal of motherhood, the societal factors contributing to negative perceptions, the impact of family size on resilience and happiness, and the joys and challenges of homeschooling. Both share personal stories, practical wisdom, and critical observations about parenting, marriage, and family life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Motherhood’s PR Problem

Motherhood in Crisis

• Bethany highlights how mothers today are subject to intense and polarized online debate. Many public portrayals, especially on social media and in mainstream media, focus on the hardships and emotional breakdowns (“the moms that are crying and saying, I had an awful day...”—[03:19]).
• The emergence of an “antinatalist” narrative, which argues that children are a net negative for individuals or society, is dissected ([05:05]).

Quote:

“There was just a New York Times video piece...The title of it was Motherhood should Come with a warning label. And it was women who were just weeping basically on camera...That is the kind of antinatalist content that we're seeing on the left.”
—Bethany Mandel ([04:34])

Antinatalism Explained

• Antinatalists contend that bringing children into the world is detrimental; natalists believe children are a net good for society ([05:03]).
• Bethany points out declining birth rates across ideological and religious lines and discusses Elon Musk as a flawed pro-natalist spokesperson ([05:05]–[06:37]).

Economic and Cultural Forces Undermining Motherhood

“Motherhood is where dreams and hopes and ambitions go to die”

• The discussion references individuals profiting from anti-child or “child-free” content and how some careers are built around anti-family messaging ([07:51]).
• Jenny relates a real-world anecdote about a textbook industry rep who admitted: “I hate kids, I'm in it for the money.”

The Loneliness Factor

• Bethany shares her unique background as an only child who lost both parents as a teen, leading her to consciously choose a large family:

“My parents died when I was young...I had no one...And I came from that experience: I wanted to have a family. I recognized the extreme importance of having a family.”
—Bethany Mandel ([11:29])

• She emphasizes the generational ramifications of the childfree lifestyle, noting that the true outcomes may not be visible for decades ([09:55]).

Marriage, Parenting & Personal Growth

Large Families and Marriage

• Contrary to dominant narratives that children strain marriages, Bethany and Ginny both testify that having more children can actually strengthen marital bonds.

Quote:

“I feel like our marriage hit a stride after our third was born. He was born in my husband's car. Not on purpose...We went through fire...I just felt like we were a team.”
—Bethany Mandel ([19:50])

• Bethany talks about the challenges and growth in her own marriage, including overcoming a rocky start through therapy and learning not to “keep score.” She stresses the importance of not attributing bad motives to one’s spouse ([19:50]–[23:37]).

Growth Through Family Life

• Motherhood, Bethany says, “has given me more than marriage” in terms of personal growth. She’s learned to navigate and respect six very different personalities among her children, which has expanded her own empathy and flexibility ([25:09], [27:01]).

Notable Exchange:

“I am a very physically affectionate person...and he [my son] does not like to be hugged...I have to learn how to hold back…Every way that I communicate is, like, the worst way that he communicates.”
—Bethany Mandel ([25:09])

The Blessings and Challenges of Large Families

Letting Go Leads to Joy and Growth

• Both guests remark on the irony that children actually thrive when forced to be independent:

“You don't know if they ate food off the floor...These are actually the things that are good for them...teaching you to let go.”
—Ginny Yurich ([35:26])

• Bethany admits her “volume” is the biggest challenge as an introverted only-child turned mother of six, but sees her children’s sibling relationships as resilience- and comfort-building ([27:42]–[28:24]).

Simplicity Over Perfection

• After her first child, Bethany realized the pitfalls of perfectionistic, high-effort parenting:

“My entire motherhood...has just been sending the message: you’re trying too hard. Calm down. Stop driving yourself nuts.”
—Bethany Mandel ([30:50])

• She rejects both extremes: martyrdom for the family and toxic “child-branding” (e.g., bento boxes, constant snack management). Fewer manufactured moments means more authentic growth ([38:19], [38:51]).

Homeschooling, Independence, and Family Learning

Multi-Age Blessings

• Ginny and Bethany share tips and joys about homeschooling large, multi-age families, emphasizing that the perceived “lack” of individual attention often actually leads to greater gains in creativity, emotional intelligence, and practical learning ([43:43], [45:03]).

“Reading is super duper, duper important...I assigned my 11, 10 and 8 year old, pick a book and read it to your younger siblings once a day. It’s a win-win.”
—Bethany Mandel ([43:43])

• Ginny notes, referencing Sarah McKenzie, that reading aloud benefits all children, even older ones ([45:03]).

Parent Growth & Academic Realities

• Jenny and Bethany laugh about being “honors” public school graduates who still struggle with fifth-grade math, underlining that homeschooling is an education for parents as well:

“I love about homeschooling...I have grown so much...I have learned math from kindergarten to fifth grade in a way that makes much more sense…”
—Bethany Mandel ([53:07])

The Value and Legacy of Joyful Parenting

Countering the Narrative

• Bethany is adamant that her children know what a blessing they are to her, and she strives to model for them that “you are a gift and we are so blessed”—hoping this will create generational continuity ([55:33]).

Quote:

“Thank you, Hashem, for giving me the gift of being your mother. I love being your mom.”
—Bethany Mandel ([55:33])

• Both guests dismiss notions that mothers and daughters are destined for conflict, testifying to deep, positive bonds in the tween/teen years ([47:46]–[48:28]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you're not mature at 38 years old, I...I don't know what to tell you.”
  —Bethany Mandel ([09:06])

• “You can't just decide at some point to be a grandparent. You have to have the steps before.”
  —Ginny Yurich ([11:08])

• “If you go into it as a team and you don’t lay there in the middle of the night and keep score...that is toxic thinking.”
  —Bethany Mandel ([22:37])

• “You realize that your dad is so happy and your mom is so happy and you are a gift...And that’s what they grow up hearing. In 10, 15 years they’re going to want that. And then I get to—I cash in as the grandma.”
  —Bethany Mandel ([56:35])

Important Timestamps

• 00:28: Episode intro—Bethany’s background and creation of Mom Wars
• 03:19: Motherhood’s PR problem and the modern media narrative
• 05:05: Natalism vs antinatalism explained
• 11:29: Bethany’s motivation for a large family
• 19:50: Marriage, trauma, teamwork, and marital therapy
• 25:09: Personal growth through motherhood, learning to communicate with different children
• 27:42: The challenge of noise and volume in a large family
• 30:50: Letting go of perfectionism and embracing realistic parenting
• 35:26: Independence, resilience, and letting go
• 43:43: Homeschooling tips—older reading to younger, benefits of multi-age learning
• 52:25: Homeschooling as an education for parents
• 55:33: The joy and legacy of parenthood, modeling joy to promote generational family values
• 57:57: Bethany’s favorite childhood outdoor memory

Tone and Style

• The conversation is informal, warm, honest, and peppered with humor and self-deprecation.
• Both speakers share personal anecdotes, practical advice, and critique prevailing societal trends.
• The tone is welcoming and encouraging, particularly to mothers and parents.

Final Thoughts

Bethany and Ginny deliver a lively critique of motherhood’s current “PR problem,” celebrating the joys—known and unexpected—of large families, the growth that comes from both marriage and parenting, and the sanity-saving power of letting go of perfectionism. Their conversation is a call to reclaim and positively reframe the lived realities of motherhood, with a strong message that many current anxieties aren’t just unnecessary—they’re detrimental. Through authentic stories and laughter, they aim to remind parents that joy, growth, and resilience are at the heart of hands-on, real-world family life.

For Listeners Short on Time

• Motherhood’s PR problem: Societal and media narratives often focus on negative or extreme portrayals of motherhood.
• Antinatalism explained: A philosophical (and sometimes commercial) movement that questions the value of having children.
• The beauty of large families: Sibling relationships foster resilience and independence, not chaos.
• Marriage and family as personal growth: More kids can mean a stronger marriage and greater self-understanding.
• Let go of perfectionism: Simplicity, independence, and allowing children discomfort lead to greater growth for all.
• Homeschooling works – for parents, too: Multi-age family learning brings unexpected educational and emotional gains.
• Show children they are a blessing: Modeling joy in parenthood encourages the next generation to embrace family life.

For more, find Bethany’s work at The Mom Wars podcast and Substack, and join the 1000 Hours Outside movement for encouragement in hands-on, real-life parenting.