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Maternal mental health: What we can do to spread the word about this important issue | Spawned Ep 153
Did you know that one out of seven women will be affected by maternal mental health? That's a staggering number and yet, women experience judgment and misdiagnosis of their maternal mental health disorder every single day. On the episode of the Spawned Parenting...
Tips for travel with tweens and teens: More fun, fewer eyerolls | Spawned ep 152
We are big advocates of travel with tweens and teens as you know. And now that we have older kids of our own -- and have a new travel contributor focusing on teen travel -- we thought we'd cover some great tips for parents who travel with older kids, on this...
Spring cleaning help: How to deal with digital clutter | Spawned Episode 151
Spring is here, which if you're like us, means spring cleaning. But in the 21st century, that also means dealing with digital clutter. Think those photos on your phone, or those files on your computer. And we won't even talk about our email inboxes. But that's all...
How mothers are shaping the future of the country – and you can too | Spawned ep 150
Mothers are changing the world! Not just for other mothers -- but for everyone. We think you'll be just fascinated by the wisdom of today's guest, Sara Berliner, whose organization Vote Like a Mother literally started with a sign. We instantly fell in love with Sara's...
Help for picky eaters from a reformed picky eater | Spawned ep 149
This week's Jacky Lamenzo is a health coach with a focus on picky eating, to help make mealtime less stressful. We like that while we've gotten some great picky eater tips in the past, Jacky has a more kid-centered approach, focusing on how kids feel, and why some of...
So much coolness. Where to start…
7 important reasons that children need baby dolls — both girls AND boys
For years, we've written about the joy and beauty and specialness of baby dolls as gifts for our kids, from newborns to toddlers, even our school-aged kids. A doll can be a cherished best friend, a bedtime comfort, a travel companion, a tea party guest, and these...
I found the best drugstore waterproof eyeliner. Affordable, and it works!
I was on the mad lookout for the best drugstore waterproof eyeliner or eye pencil last week. As in...I was frantic. Knowing I was heading to a beach-y press trip last week, and knowing full well that I'd end up with eyeliner down my face in the 99-degree humidity, I...
Maternal mental health: What we can do to spread the word about this important issue | Spawned Ep 153
Did you know that one out of seven women will be affected by maternal mental health? That's a staggering number and yet, women experience judgment and misdiagnosis of their maternal mental health disorder every single day. On the episode of the Spawned Parenting...
I turned off my binge shows (eek!) and tried going to bed earlier for one month. Here are 7 things that happened.
I am tired all the time. Like, I'm a parent. You are probably a parent. You get it. And yet, entertainment junkie that I am, I found myself staying up until midnight (or later!) catching up on every darn MA-rated show and movie each night, after the kids were in bed....
Lulla dolls mimic Mom’s breathing for a better night sleep for all
The first few weeks of my son's life, he refused to sleep without being cuddled up next to a parent. Since I know this is a problem for many newborns, and older babies too, I was excited to learn about the Lulla doll, which plays the sound of a mom's heartbeat and...
Here’s the allowance system that has worked for my family.
I've tried many different allowance systems and allowance apps over the years with my four kids, but it wasn't until I tried this new approach at the beginning of 2019 that I was able to stick with something for longer than a month. If you're looking to start giving...
Loads of last-minute Mother’s Day gifts she’ll love. There’s still time!
If you haven't secured the perfect Mother's Day gift yet, rest easy. Okay, not that easy, because it's literally just two days away. But if you hustle, we can still help you out with these awesome last-minute gifts that don't feel improvised at all. Even if they are,...
Virago Fitness: Yoga pants for an amazing cause.
When Brittney Hogan's husband was killed in action in Afghanistan, she found herself coping in not so healthy ways. That was until a friend convinced her to go for a run and everything changed. From that experience, her 503(c) non-profit Virago Fitness was born, where...
Social media, sexuality and school shootings: Tips for 10 hard talks every parent will have with their kids
I've happily left the diapers-and-bottles behind, and I've entered the parenting stage that involves a lot more talking about the important issues in my kids' lives -- and in the world around them. As hard as it can be sometimes, and I've had some incredibly difficult...
6 fantastic new children’s and YA books to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is a great excuse to dive into some fantastic new children's books that teach kids about this rich culture -- or cultures, I should say. Because Asia and the Pacific Islands cover a lot of territory, as...
10 brilliant subscription gifts for Mother’s Day that shower her with love all year long | Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2019
Remember when book-of-the-month-club and Columbia House were pretty much the only subscription gifts around? OMG, we've come a long way. Now there are subscription gifts for pretty much any hobby or interest, and they make a wonderful gift idea for Mother's Day. Not...
Tips for travel with tweens and teens: More fun, fewer eyerolls | Spawned ep 152
We are big advocates of travel with tweens and teens as you know. And now that we have older kids of our own -- and have a new travel contributor focusing on teen travel -- we thought we'd cover some great tips for parents who travel with older kids, on this...
7 Printable teacher appreciation notes to help our kids show their love and, well, appreciation
Lately I've been sleuthing around the interwebs for great printable teacher appreciation notes for kids. After all, Teacher Appreciation Week starts today! And ever since my son started preschool, I've been been struck anew by how much educators do to shape our...
Twinning done right, with mom + me shoes from KEDS x Rifle Paper Co.
I'm not necessarily a mom-and-me-outfit kind of mom, but these new adorable mom and me shoes from Keds have me ready to go matchy-matchy with my four-year-old right tis second. Because Keds + Rifle Paper Company + twinning with my preschooler before she gets too cool...
The beauty box for mom that we all want for Mother’s Day: Birchbox x Female Founder Collective
There are a whole lot of beauty gift boxes promoted for Mother's Day, but one that I think may be calling a lot of our names is the limited edition Birchbox x Female Founder Collective beauty box. Created by Birchbox (and ahem, we were among the very first to tell you...
May the Fourth is definitely with you, with the cutest Star Wars baby and kids gifts on sale
The Pottery Barn Kids collabs have been so fantastic lately, but their ongoing Star Wars collection for kids is now a classic. And just in time for your May the Fourth celebration (in my home, that means buying Star Wars stuff), they're offering 25% off nearly...
Hello Kitty Native Shoes just made little feet even more happy this summer
I live in Brooklyn, land of Children Who Live in Native Shoes. (Sorry Crocs.) Whether you live among us or not, if you're about to buy a pair of these fab, comfy, sneaker-water shoe hybrid shoes in time for summer, you have to check out their new collection of Hello...
Cool Mom Picks Book Club Selection 1: Under Pressure, by Lisa Damour
We're so excited to be kicking off our Cool Mom Picks Book Club with our very first title: Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls, the newest book from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Damour. Like many of you, her book...
The 20 most affordable travel destinations for families right now. Pack your bags!
As you may know, one of our top tips for affordable family travel, especially on an extended trip, is to rent an apartment or home instead of forking out big bucks for a hotel -- let alone renting two hotel rooms, if you've got a bigger family. Linda even shared that...
Presenting the Cool Mom Picks Virtual Book Club: Join us! It’s easy, fun, and there will be wine.
For years, we have wanted to host some kind of parenting book club for our readers -- an opportunity for us to chat about some of the hot topics and best titles out there that interest parents today, without too much pressure or time. (We get it! We're overextended...
The 2019 Tony Awards are announced: Here’s which new Broadway shows to see with your older kids and teens
I often feel the resident New York City local mom whose inbox and DMs are filled with requests for "what Broadway show should I take my kids to?" And I don't mind a bit. With two kids obsessed with musical theater, all of us lucky enough to live a few a few short...