This week's show highlights:

• Allow your children to fail
• Save money with coupons

Jessica Lahey is an educator, author, and speaker. She writes the bi-weekly column "The Parent-Teacher Conference" for the New York Times, is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. Her new book is The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed.

As a single mom of a growing son, Stacey Cox had to learn to buy on a very strict budget because she didn't make a lot of money.  She had to adopt the concept of getting more for less through sales, discounts and coupons.  Prior to leaving for the store, she would create her shopping list based on what they needed, what she wanted to cook that week, and current sales.  Since her family had some favorite foods that were also easy meals such as pasta, she would stock up on pasta whenever it was on sale. By learning to stretch her money at the grocery store she also learned to look for coupons and sales when she shops for clothes and any other items her family needs.

So pull up a chair, shake up a cocktail, and kick up your heels while you tune in to the refreshingly real talk about what it takes to be a functional - and fun - parent in today's wild world of raising kids.

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