When Kristen wrote a viral post last week about wearing crop tops over 40, in response to a conversation with her daughter, the comments from our readers were so inspiring, we knew we wanted to discuss body positivity further on Spawned.

Interestingly, we each have slightly different takes on what makes us comfortable, and how we talk about bodies, aging, and clothing. We imagine you’ll identify with one of us, both of us, or hey, maybe you fall somewhere in the middle. This is tough!

Take a listen now for a frank, open, relatable conversation about owing our shapes (especially as we age), why we think we “can’t” wear certain things, words we’re trying to avoid around our kids, and why we might want to lose the word “flattering.”

Plus, we have some expert tips on how to talk about bodies and clothes with our kids, so we can model healthy thinking for them too.

LIsten on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Or listen right here! 

A few links from this week’s episode:

– Our interview with Virgie Tovar on body positivity and self love
– The Today Show article on Kristen’s original Instagram post on @coolmompicks
– Liz’s post on finally getting into a bathing suit  and going in the pool. (Thanks, MiracleSuit)
– Why we should rethink using the word “flattering” by Jodie Layne, for Bustle
– Liz’s theory on “passing the hot baton” (even if Marlo Thomas disagreed with her!)
– Jordan Shapiro, and why we love him.
– Our cool picks of the week: Liz’s roundup of the best summer camp care package gifts; and Kristen’s new favorite cosmetic: The L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara Primer gives serious boost to her lashes. h/t to the ladies of The Selfie Podcast for the reco.

And be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple or whoever you listen to podcasts, and download the episode so you can catch us even when you’re offline.

Support our sponsors: They’re awesome!

 

The Last Kids on Earth: The popular book series for kids 8-12

If you’ve got fans of the Wimpy Kid series and Dog Man — and uh, maybe The Walking Dead — they will love The Last Kids on Earth. It’s the popular book series by Max Brallier, featuring cool illustrations by Douglas Holgate. It’s also now a Netflix series, and we always love when our kids read the books behind the shows they’re watching.

The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race, the seventh book in the series is coming out this September, and you can pre-order now! Plus, that gives you lots of time to catch up on the first six books which are a perfect way to keep your 8-12 year old kids reading this summer.

Notes from the Backpack: A smart new parenting podcast

Looking for more fantastic parenting podcasts? Notes From the Backpack is a terrific new podcast brought to you by National PTA and hosted by Helen Westmoreland and LaWanda Toney.

In each episode of Notes from the Backpack, an expert addresses a topic related to your child’s learning, development and success — in and out of school. And be sure to catch their new Healthy Minds 5-episode miniseries, all about mental health and social emotional wellbeing. It answers tough questions we’re all asking, like “How Can I Help My Teen Manage Stress?” and “How Can We Normalize Talking About Mental Health?” It’s a terrific resource for parents, especially now.

Subscribe to Notes From the Backpack wherever you listen to Spawned.

Save 30% on the new SPLASHPAD sink mat. It’s a sanity saver.

Kids are washing hands more than ever: That’s GOOD! Parents are also cleaning up the sink areas more than ever. And that’s…well, you know.

The new SPLASHPAD mat makes cleaning easier by keeping your bathroom and kitchen sink areas clean and dry whether the kids use it for water play, washing off paint brushes, or you’re using it to bathe an infant.

From the makers of the popular baby changing pads, SPLASHPAD is essentially a sink mat with a non-slip bottom, and a soft microfiber top to soak up moisture. It’s specially designed to fit right around the sink basin, snaps together for a custom fit, and lets you leave it out for a few days before washing, with no need to wipe down the sink area. Yes, really!

Buy the SPLASHPAD mat on Amazon through this link and save 30% using promo code “30CoolMom” for a limited time. There are so many cute patterns and colors and it’s a great baby shower gift too.