Remember when your parents could send you outside for hours with absolutely no way to contact you? Or when calling your crush meant calling their HOUSE and potentially having to speak to their mom first? 😂

This week, we're looking back at all the completely normal parts of our childhoods that feel slightly insane now — from smoking sections in restaurants and printed MapQuest directions to sharing one family computer, Blockbuster runs and waiting weeks to find out whether any of your vacation photos were actually good.

Plus, before we get nostalgic: Sophia has some completely useless fun facts, we have some thoughts about the “best TV shows of the 21st century,” Bradley is ready for Christmas in September, and Sophia discovers the greatest parenting hack of all time: actually resting while your child naps.

In this episode:

• The childhood things Grayson will probably never understand
• Smoking sections... right next to the non-smoking section
• Navigating with printed MapQuest directions
• When the entire family shared ONE computer
• Encyclopedias, libraries and how ridiculously hard school projects used to be
• AIM/MSN and calling someone's actual house phone
• Going outside for hours while your parents had no idea where you were
• Why every parent told us turning on the car light would basically kill the entire family
• The absolute JOY of a Friday night Blockbuster trip
• Disposable cameras and waiting weeks to see your photos
• And the very different childhoods of Sophia... and Bradley, who apparently spent his with a badger

Connect with Us:

👉 Join us in Side Chat with the Roses for the aftershow, where we keep the conversation going and answer even more of your Dear Roses questions.

http://relatablewiththeroses.substack.com/subscribe

👉 Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bradandsophia

👉 Submit future questions, topic suggestions, or respond to listener prompts:

directtobradandsophia@gmail.com

How exactly do you explain the birds and the bees to a kid who was conceived through IVF? 😂

This week, we're talking about how we'll eventually explain to Grayson where he came from — and whether the usual “when a mummy and daddy love each other…” story needs a little rewriting when a test tube was involved.

Then, Couples Court is back! You sent us your relationship disagreements, and we're putting on our completely unqualified judge hats to decide once and for all: who's right?

In this episode:

• How do you explain IVF to a kid?
• The very different ways Sophia and Bradley learned about the birds and the bees
• Our potential IVF versions of “the stork brought you”
• A sweet listener interaction that made Sophia's week
• Should your mother-in-law have a key to your house?
• Who gets control of the bedroom thermostat?
• If only one spouse can fly business class… who gets the upgrade?
• Should a 9-year-old have to finish the sports season if they want to quit?
• And the big one: would you lend your brother-in-law £10,000 if you weren't sure you'd ever get it back?

We need your rulings! Tell us where you agreed with us — and where you think we got it completely wrong in this week's Substack.

Connect with Us:

👉 Join us in Side Chat with the Roses for the aftershow, where we keep the conversation going and answer even more of your Dear Roses questions.

http://relatablewiththeroses.substack.com/subscribe

👉 Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bradandsophia

👉 Submit future questions, topic suggestions, or respond to listener prompts:

directtobradandsophia@gmail.com

This week, Sophia needs Bradley’s advice… on a few decisions she made YEARS ago. 😂

There are a couple of moments from Sophia’s past that she still thinks about — situations where she had to decide whether to speak up or keep her mouth shut. So she’s finally bringing them to Bradley to find out: did she handle them the right way… or did she completely mess up?

Including one involving a close friend, a wedding, and something Sophia wishes she might have said nearly 20 years ago.

But first, we catch up on life lately — and somehow end up debating the definition of “home-cooked,” discussing Bradley’s bathroom habits from his younger years, and sharing a Grayson story that nearly ended with Sophia brushing her teeth with something truly disgusting.

In this episode:

• The debate over what “home-cooked” actually means
• Bradley reveals a VERY questionable story from his younger years 😂
• Sophia’s unexpected Instagram interaction after giving a stranger a New York recommendation
• Our latest food allergy test drama
• Bradley’s current gym frustrations
• The Grayson incident that almost ended VERY badly for Sophia’s toothbrush
• A decision Sophia made nearly 20 years ago that she still thinks about
• Should you tell a friend if you’re worried they’re making a huge mistake?
• We revisit a real situation where Sophia and Bradley completely disagreed on whether to speak up
• And the bigger question: when is saying something the right thing to do… and when should you just mind your own business?

We need your ruling: did Sophia make the right calls?

Connect with Us:

👉 Join us in Side Chat with the Roses for the aftershow, where we keep the conversation going and answer even more of your Dear Roses questions.

http://relatablewiththeroses.substack.com/subscribe

👉 Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bradandsophia

👉 Submit future questions, topic suggestions, or respond to listener prompts:

directtobradandsophia@gmail.com