The following podcast contains explicit language.

Hello and welcome to mom and dad are fighting, Slate's parenting podcast for Thursday, October 13th, the National Clown Threat Edition.

I'm Alison Benedict, an editor at Slate, and the mom of Harry 7, Sam 5, and Wally 3.

I'm Dan Cois. I'm also an editor at Slate. I'm the dad of Lyra, who's 11, and Harper, who's 9. God, your kids are getting old. Hi, Dan. I know. They're really old. Hi. On today's show, we'll talk to R.J. Palacio, author of the blockbuster book Wonder about bullying and the Choose Kind campaign.

Then Dan and I will discuss the national clown threat sweeping our nation's school districts.

Also, we'll have triumphs and fails, a listener call about how much money it takes to start a family and recommendations.

And for our Slate Plus segment, Slate writer Will Salatan will join us for a very frustrating preteen parenting fail.

In addition, if you like listening to us with your ears, please like us with your face.

Facebook, that is.

I wrote that line at two in the morning.

In the cold light of day, it did not come out great.

But it's too late now.

I'm going to soldier on.

If I were you, I would give like a hearty fake laugh, which is what you do in my

lines bomb, but I'm not going to do that.

Thanks.

Thanks for not treating me with the simple respect with which I treat you.

Come to our Facebook page at Facebook.com slash mom and dad are fighting.

You can see our recommendations.

You can listen to old shows.

You can yell at Allison for not being nice to me.

You can join the thousands of listeners who are as sick of their kids bottle flipping as you are.

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