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...
These personalized children’s books are offering a new gender-neutral option, and it’s fantastic
I’m already a fan of Kabook personalized children’s books, because they allow you to insert your own child into the story — name, characteristics, favorite stuffed animal, even a photo. What better way to get kids excited about reading than seeing...
Girl toys and boy toys: Are we still doing this? Really?
Adapted from an article originally published on Mom-101.com Each year, our annual Brooklyn Fresh Air Fund trip to visit friends in suburban Massachusetts leads to our semi-annual fast food drive-thru lunch. (Oh, come and get me Sanctimommies. My kids love the Apple...
Why #TimesUp made last night’s Golden Globes important family viewing. | Thinking Parent
Knowing that the Golden Globes would be more about female empowerment than fashion this year, with more red carpet questions and speeches about #MeToo movement and activism and gender parity and social justice, I decided to let my kids stay up and watch the awards...
This graphic novel anthology about reproductive health aims to educate, inspire, and support an important org.
To celebrate and support Planned Parenthood’s 100th year anniversary, a group of the best in the Comics industry — we’re taking Neil Gaiman, Louise Simonson, Denny O’Neil, Andrew Aydin, Gabby Rivera, and many more! == have come together to...
The Disney Channel’s first gay character makes me shout yay for Andi Mack! | Thinking Parent
Last season, my family discovered the Disney Channel show Andi Mack and we were instantly hooked. This series for tweens and young teens pulled us in with its smart writing, well-developed characters, and diverse cast. But after the recent Season 2 premiere, I love...
A dedicated Boy Scout troop leader on why allowing girls into the organization won’t ruin life as we know it. | Thinking: Parent
Boy Scouts of America made a huge announcement yesterday: starting next year, girls will be able to enroll in their Cub Scouting program, and by 2019 be qualified to earn the coveted Eagle Scout rank. And of course, there is much debate, outrage, celebration, and...
THERE WILL BE BLOOD: The great (and hilarious) period discussion | Spawned ep 87
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, a brutally honest, very funny, no-holds (or anatomical references) -barred discussion about girls, periods, and yep. Vaginas. Because you can’t talk about periods without talking vaginas. And the more we say the word,...
Damn you, Facebook ads: We tried the FLEX disposable tampon alternative, and here’s how it worked for us. In full detail (sorry).
I’m coming up on my 25thish anniversary of my first visit from Aunt Flo. And over that those 2.5 decades, I’ve had the same exact routine every month: tampons and pads. I wasn’t necessarily looking to spice things up in that department, but when I...Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!
We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.
Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)
We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).
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Our Low-Pressure, Online Book Club
Raising Activist Kids: 2 books by Marley Dias and Caroline Paul
Atomic Habits by James Clear :Oct 1
No More Mean Girls, by Katie Hurley
The Yes Brain, by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
How to Break Up with Your Phone, by Christine Price
The New Childhood, by Jordan Shapiro
How to Be a Happier Parent by KJ Dell'Antonia
Raising Empowered Daughters by Mike Adamick
Radical Kindness by Angela Santomero
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