Lemonada.

Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we talk about ideas for making our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.

This week we'll talk about why we might choose to do a

summer of blank, you fill in the blank, and we'll have a roundup of listeners' favorite words,

which was so delightful. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits,

secrets of adulthood, human nature. I'm in my little home office in New York City. And

joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister Elizabeth Kraft, who just had a birthday.

Happy birthday again, Elizabeth. That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in

L.A. And thank you, Gretchen. I had a very nice birthday. Oh, that's good. But Elizabeth,

before we jump in, we had an interesting

question from a listener. Yes, Joy said, in the time I've listened to the happier podcast,

I've gone from being in an unhappy, long-term relationship, 10 years I'll never get back,

but they taught me a lot about myself, so not entirely wasted, to being happily married with a 10-month-old daughter.

During the early years listening to the show, I didn't intend to have children, which meant I didn't

keep track of the parenting-related tips, hacks, and suggestions that you made. Of course, now that I have

an amazing little girl of my own, I am constantly listening out for mentions of your relationships

with Eleanor, Eliza, and Jack. I also love hearing Sarah talk about Violet on happier in Hollywood.

I found some of your suggestions to be incredibly helpful, things like getting professional

pictures taken, which I have already done and planned to continue in the future, and starting

traditions early, particularly around minor holidays, et cetera. My question for both of you and Sarah,

if she's willing, and your listeners, is what do you consider to be the best parenting advice

or suggestions that you think all new mothers should know or that you wish you'd known yourself

...