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We’re Older Than WHO? | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 69

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

If you grew up watching Home Improvement, Full House, Roseanne, or Family Matters, you probably assumed those parents were grown adults—real adults. Like, “paying off a mortgage and yelling at the kids about gas prices” adults.

Well… turns out most of them were younger than we are now. And yes, we’re having an identity crisis about it.

This week on The Kids Are In Bed, we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary by walking around the Minneapolis Pride festival and crashing at the Sheraton while watching a thunderstorm. The spiral began when we played a game called “Guess the Sitcom Parent’s Age.”

We dug deep into the ages of iconic TV couples and characters—from the Taylors and the Conners to the Dunphys and the Formans. Here’s a taste of what we uncovered:

  • Tim and Jill Taylor (Home Improvement): Tim was just 36 when the show began. Jill? 34. Tim Allen himself was 38. You are older than Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor.
  • Dan and Roseanne Conner: Fictionally in their mid-to-late 30s. John Goodman was 36. Roseanne Barr? 36. They seemed 50. They were not.
  • Carl and Harriette Winslow (Family Matters): Carl was scripted at about 40, and Reginald VelJohnson was right there at 37 when the show premiered.
  • Red and Kitty Forman (That ‘70s Show): Kurtwood Smith (Red) was 54. Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) was 49. Fictionally? Probably mid-40s. You know, regular Wisconsin parenting age for the disco era.
  • Danny Tanner (Full House): Bob Saget was 31. Thirty-one! That man was raising three girls, had a full-time job, and still had time to crack dad jokes and clean obsessively.

And that’s just the beginning. In this episode, we:

  • Compete in a sitcom theme song trivia game (spoiler: it’s harder than you remember)
  • Debate which TV couple we most resemble (against our will)
  • Share strange facts about Yes, Dear, The Goldbergs, and other sitcoms that raised us
  • Realize we’re the parents now—and maybe we have been for a while

If you’ve ever found yourself yelling “Don’t touch the thermostat,” or referencing a TV dad’s catchphrase unironically, this episode is for you. And if you’re curious how old Mike and Carol Brady were supposed to be, we’ve got that too (hint: they were basically 30 and looked like they paid property taxes in the 1950s).

Whether you’re here for the trivia, the chaos, or the marital banter, this one hits the sweet spot between nostalgic fun and existential dread. So pull up your favorite chair, grab a juice box or a cocktail, and let’s dive into why we all thought these parents were ancient—and what it means now that we’ve become them.

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Are We Becoming a Golf Family? | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 68

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Golf: It’s the sport of kings, retirees, and… the Seversons? This week, Tim and Jenni ask the question that haunts many a summer Saturday: Are We Becoming a Golf Family?

From the fairways of Minnesota to the chaos of the backyard putting green, join us for a heartfelt, hilarious, and sometimes wayward drive through golf history, local legends, family traditions, and all the weird, wonderful rituals that come with chasing a little white ball.

In this episode:

  • Jenni recounts her latest golf scramble victory (and confusion over what “best ball” really means)
  • Tim breaks down golf’s wild Scottish origins, pandemic boom, and why Minnesota might be the real golf capital of America
  • Why every Minnesota golfer has a story about a green shaped like the state (yes, there are pictures)
  • Movie drops from Tin Cup, Happy Gilmore, Bagger Vance, and Grease 2
  • Unwritten rules, etiquette, fireball shots, and what it actually means to keep the vibes high—even when you’re hitting double bogey

We get personal:
How do you introduce your kids to golf without traumatizing them (or yourself)? Why do so many Midwesterners grow up believing they’re only one good swing away from glory? And is it possible to teach golf, family patience, and math at the same time? (The answer, according to Jenni: absolutely not.)

This episode is for you if…
…you’ve ever survived a family golf outing, argued over “best ball,” or just love the sound of laughter mixed with the occasional curse word and the sweet thwack of a perfectly hit shot.

What happens when two parents—one golf-curious, one golf-skeptical—try to figure out if their family is on the road to becoming golf people? In this week’s episode, Tim and Jenni put the clubs on the table and get real about the slow, chaotic, and unexpectedly hilarious journey toward “golf family” status.

What’s inside this episode:

• Jenni’s Scramble Adventures:
Jenni recounts her third-ever golf outing (“all scrambles!”), why “best ball” is the worst-named format in sports, and the tiny victories that come with just getting your ball picked.

• Tim’s Deep Golf Dive:
Get a crash course on the actual origins of golf (spoiler: it’s Scottish, it’s complicated, and it was once illegal), how Tiger Woods and the pandemic changed the game, and why Minnesota is secretly the golfiest state in America.

• Local Color & Family Roots:
A new photo drop reveals Jenni’s mom as bona fide Minnesota carnival royalty—no circus, all fair. Plus, a nod to the “shortest family in Minnesota,” and stories about why Lions Club cheeseburgers are an actual county fair love language.

• Golf Culture, Movies & Meltdowns:
From Tin Cup’s infamous “hands off her ass, Roy” line to Happy Gilmore, Bagger Vance, and even Grease 2—Tim and Jenni break down what these movies get right, what’s iconic, and why Shooter McGavin is forever.

• Unwritten Rules & Keeping Vibes High:
Golf etiquette 101: where to stand, how to stay positive when the wheels (or the swing) come off, and why “play fast” might save your marriage. (Bonus: how music, hope, and a well-timed fireball shot can get you through almost anything.)

• Minnesota Golf Trivia & Farewells:
Did you know Minnesota is a national leader in golf courses per capita? Or that the legendary Les Bolstad Golf Course at the U is closing after 100+ years? Pour one out—and maybe book your final tee time.

Why listen?

  • You want to feel seen about the emotional rollercoaster that is family golf.
  • You need a pep talk to survive your next scramble (or just the family cookout).
  • You’re a sucker for nostalgia, Minnesota trivia, or arguments about who the real “golf movie GOAT” is.
  • Or maybe you’re just here for the side banter, hot takes, and jokes about carnival royalty.

Bottom line:
We may not have all the answers, but we know this: whether you’re carding birdies, doubles, or just trying to keep the vibes high, the journey to becoming a golf family is a story worth telling—and laughing about together.

🎧 Listen to “Are We Becoming a Golf Family?” Don’t forget to subscribe, and drop us a comment with your own family golf stories (or movie quotes—no judgment here).

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A FAIRly Good Episode | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 67

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Welcome back to The Kids Are In Bed! This week, Tim and Jenni dive headfirst into the wild, woolly, occasionally fried world of the county fair, where the air smells like nostalgia, livestock, and deep-fried mystery meat, and the odds of encountering a guy in a Korn T-shirt with two goth girls on his arm are statistically… not zero.

Why do we love county fairs so much? Maybe it’s the small-town chaos, the endless parade of characters, or just the hope of winning a neon green gorilla at the ring toss. But it’s more than that. County fairs are a slice of true Americana: a mashup of agriculture, spectacle, and human invention that somehow still brings a whole community together (even if nobody agrees on what actually belongs in a caramel roll).

This week, we get to the root of it all:

  • Did you know that the first American county fair started in 1807 in Massachusetts because one man was determined to showcase his sheep? (Shout out to Elkanah Watson, original sheepfluencer.)
  • The “Midway,” that magical place of games, rides, and questionable decisions—gets its name from the Chicago World’s Fair, where America’s first Ferris wheel stood taller than your average grain silo.
  • Pronto Pups (yes, the OG corn dog) and the Tilt-A-Whirl were both born right here in Minnesota, which means you have permission to roll your eyes at anyone from Texas claiming otherwise.
  • The Zipper? You know it, you’ve hurled on it, and you might have seen Tim and Jenni riding it together at a county fair back in the day.

Personal tales abound:

  • Tim’s mom? Real-life carnival performer. (We’re talking actual balancing acts, not just balancing kids and groceries.)
  • Tim’s grandma? Blue ribbon caramel roll queen at the Minnesota State Fair. (And yes, we’re still waiting on the recipe.)
  • And don’t get us started on the infamous Lions Club cheeseburgers—a county fair rite of passage that Tim still dreams about.

You’ll also get:

  • The secret history of greased pig wrestling (banned in Minnesota, still legal in Iowa… because, of course, it is).
  • Cow chip tossing tips and husband-hollering contests are truly works of Midwestern art.
  • Our pitch for how to finally adapt “Devil in the White City” for the screen, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, and at least three murders happening in soft focus behind the Ferris wheel.

Why listen?
This episode isn’t just about the weird, wild history of county fairs; it’s about what happens when you mix nostalgia, family lore, and a little chaos in a tent with bad lighting. If you’ve ever felt strangely at home with a root beer float in one hand and a blue ribbon rhubarb pie in the other, this is the episode for you.

So pour yourself a lemonade, fire up the episode, and join us as we get “fairly” weird (see what we did there?). And if you spot an impossibly skinny guy at the fair with two goth girls and a massive stuffed animal, tell him he’s already internet famous.

🎧 Listen now!

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Mystical, Magical, Messy Summer Break

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

The Kids Are In Bed Podcast, Episode 66

Remember That Feeling?

That last week of school—counting down the hours until freedom, the smell of fresh-cut grass, sunscreen, and the faint hope you’d get a tan before July. It’s a vibe that never quite leaves, no matter how grown up (or sunburn-prone) you get. For episode 66, we’re diving into the nostalgia, chaos, and pop culture of summer break—then vs. now.

Was Summer Break Always This Messy?

We always assumed summer break was invented so kids could work the family farm. Turns out… nope. In the 19th century, kids in cities got summer off because their schools were too hot—no AC, just sweat and daydreams. (Rural kids? Year-round school. Sorry, Little House on the Prairie.)

Today, America still leads the way with a full three months off. Most countries cap summer break at six to eight weeks. Is it good? Bad? Depends on if you’re a parent trying to line up 12 weeks of childcare, or a kid desperate to ride your bike until the streetlights come on.

The Evolution of Summer Break:

  • Elementary school: Think sticky popsicles, reading Babysitters’ Club on the deck, backyard baseball, and maybe a sunburn from that “just baby oil” SPF hack (Jenni…).
  • Middle & junior high: Peak freedom. Sleepovers, pool hopping, first concerts, way too many “mom, can I sleep in the tent tonight?” requests.
  • High school: Late-night drives, awkward jobs, and the thrilling/terrifying realization you’re sort of in charge of your life.

How Parenting Changed Summer

Here’s the twist: Gen X and elder millennial parents had all the freedom (and “don’t come home until dinner!” autonomy) but now, we’re the ones scheduling every minute and tracking our kids on GPS.
Fun fact: In 1975, 83% of American kids could roam the neighborhood unsupervised. In 2020? Less than 10%. Blame it on “stranger danger,” constant organized activities, or the slow creep of parenting anxiety. Our take: let’s bring back a little healthy chaos.

School’s Out: The Best Summer Movies

Cue the soundtrack and roll the montage. We go all-in on our favorite “school’s out” and summer break movies, including:

  • Now and Then (iconic girlhood, smoky bike rides, and Brendan Fraser handing out life lessons)
  • Stand By Me (“Nothing like a smoke after a meal,” and definitely not enough adult supervision)
  • Dazed and Confused (hazing, party prep, and the most iconic “Alright, alright, alright”)
  • The Sandlot (pickleball, fireworks, and the one kid who moved in after school got out)
  • Grease (does any movie capture that last-day-of-school feeling better?)
  • The Way Way Back, Heavyweights, Camp Nowhere, Dirty Dancing, American Pie 2—plus honorable mentions for every family who spent a summer at the lake or a questionable summer job.

Summer Nostalgia: The Soundtrack

What’s a summer without a song on repeat? We run through every Billboard “Song of the Summer” from 1999 to 2024, from Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” to Party Rock Anthem, Blurred Lines, Despacito, and the most recent earworms. Is there an official “Song of Summer”? Yes—Billboard uses radio play, streams, and sales from Memorial Day to Labor Day to declare the champion, but let’s be honest, it’s all about the vibes. Our hot takes might not match the charts, but we dare you not to start dancing.

Summer Parenting Today

Do kids still have magical, messy summers? Or is it all schedules, carpool, and $400 travel jerseys? We share our real experiences (and a few rants), with Jenni championing rec league soccer and Tim taking aim at the youth sports industrial complex. Spoiler: neighborhood games and lazy afternoons > ten weekends of “tournament play.”

Drops, Laughs, and “Mystical Magical”

This episode is loaded with throwback sound drops—from Now and Then and Stand By Me to the truly awkward ‘90s dancefloor anthem “Too Close.” Plus, our official declaration of Benson Boone’s “Mystical Magical” as the early contender for Song of Summer 2025 (fight us).

Let’s Get Messy

School’s out, the sun’s out, and we’re here for all the nostalgia, music, movie magic, and real talk on modern parenting. Tell us your favorite school’s out movie, your personal song of summer, or how your summer break memories stack up to today’s reality.

Hit play, drop a comment, and subscribe for more. The Kids Are In Bed, but summer is just getting started.

🎧 Listen now!

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Blockbuster Summer! | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 65

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Welcome to summer blockbuster season! This week, on The Kids Are In Bed, we’re going all-in on movie nostalgia—digging into the wild, wonderful history of blockbuster movies and why summer at the theater just hits different.

In This Episode:

  • We break down what makes a movie a “blockbuster” (spoiler: it involves bombs, beaches, and Steven Spielberg)
  • Relive the golden age of 80s and 90s movies: Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Independence Day, Twister, Armageddon vs. Deep Impact, Volcano vs. Dante’s Peak, and more
  • Real-life stories: Tim’s $4.50 movie tickets (with that coveted 50-cent piece), disastrous Reese’s Pieces spills, and why Dan Aykroyd was always smoking in every scene
  • Parenting confessions: How summer movies bring out the best and worst in us, and why trying to keep kids calm at the theater is its own adventure
  • Debates: Who’s the best blockbuster president—Bill Pullman or Morgan Freeman? Is Armageddon more rewatchable than Deep Impact? Who’s your favorite Chris (Evans, Pine, Pratt, Hemsworth)?
  • Popcorn & Snacks: Our love letter to the old-school movie theater experience (RIP to the big bags of Reese’s Pieces—you’ll always have our hearts)
  • Blockbusters of Summer 2025: From the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, Pixar’s latest, and the new Jurassic World, to Mission Impossible and Final Destination—this summer’s lineup is stacked.

Restaurants & Snacks Shoutouts:
While this episode is all about movie memories, we always make time for the important things: snacks! Tim relives the days when Reese’s Pieces were the best theater value, and we debate which movie snacks are worthy of blockbuster status. (If your summer doesn’t include popcorn, candy, and a blockbuster on the big screen, are you even doing it right?)

Why Summer Blockbusters Matter
From the original Jaws scaring a whole generation off the beach, to the excitement of seeing Independence Day on the Fourth of July, summer blockbusters aren’t just movies—they’re a vibe. We share why these films stick with us, why our kids will never understand $4.50 tickets (shout out to Movies 10 in Brainerd, MN), and how every summer movie is an excuse to make a memory.

Your Turn!
Which blockbuster defined your childhood? Team Armageddon or Deep Impact? Leave a comment below, share your most embarrassing movie snack moment, or let us know which summer 2025 movie you’re most excited to see!

Listen to Episode 65 now—and don’t forget to subscribe for more pop culture, parenting, and a lot of late-night laughs.

🎧 Listen now!

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