politics + activism Archives

3 excellent educational videos about Juneteenth for kids. Watch and learn.

by Kate Etue | Entertainment + Media, Tips + Tricks

I’m trying to do a better job of raising anti-racist kids, and I believe that starts with learning more about the history of the Black experience in America. An essential part of that education is the understanding of Juneteenth, a holiday that I was certainly...

I’m a lifelong Tennessee white woman. And we have to talk about the Confederate flag and other symbols of hate.

by Kate Etue | Doing Good, Thinking : Parent

Let’s talk about the Confederate Flag, y’all. It’s time. As I write these thoughts, I’m sitting at the exact location where Confederate soldiers met the “Federal Front Line” of the Union Army during the Battle of Franklin in the...

Rene Syler on speaking up and speaking out about racial injustice. Now. | Spawned Ep 205

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Podcast

We understand that everyone is at different stages when it comes to understanding, internalizing, and speaking out against systemic racism and Black Lives Matter. But it’s important to know that even if a lot of the information coming out these days is new to...

Meena Harris on the importance of diversity in children’s books, and raising kids who care | Spawned Ep 204

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids, Doing Good, Podcast

A few days ago, just before an intense week of protests and democratic uprising across America, I was grateful to talk to the truly delightful, brilliant Meena Harris. She’s an activist, strategist, mom of two, and now, author of the wonderful new...

You believe that Black Lives Matter. You are non-Black. You don’t know what to say or do. So start here.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

We have spent more time listening than talking this difficult weekend. But I woke up this morning knowing I want to make it perfectly 100% clear where Kristen and I stand: Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. This was originally posted on...

The shirt you need for every girl you know

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Kid Fashion, Thinking : Parent

When my friend Dara sent me the link to the Electable kids’ shirts, dresses and baby rompers at our friends from Free to Be Kids, I was like YES YES YES. Seconds later, I was holding back tears. The fact that we even need to remind people that yes, women are...

Our kids are sharing memes about WWIII. Here’s how to talk to kids about the fear of war.

by Liz Gumbinner | Thinking : Parent, Tips + Tricks

In light of this week’s rapid increase in tension between the US, Iran, and Iraq, my social feeds are packed with parents sharing similar sentiments as Asha Dornfest did on Twitter: My children and their friends are sharing WW3 memes to cope with their fear and...

Greta Thunberg and youth climate activism: Editors Best of the Year

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Editors Best of the Year, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing

When we first started this site in 2006, eco-friendly was one of our most popular tags. Parents were concerned about where their products were made, what ingredients were in them, and how they impacted the planet. Then the recession hit. Suddenly no one wanted to pay...

On acting, activism, and taking action: A conversation with Alysia Reiner

by Cool Mom Staff | Doing Good, Podcast

Considering we’re pretty passionate about activism and binge watching, it’s probably no surprise that we’re a big fan of Alysia Reiner, known best for her role as Natalie “Fig” Figueroa in Orange is the New Black, a show that might have...

2 great books about raising activist kids: Cool Mom Picks Book Club selection 10

by Liz Gumbinner | Book Club, Books for Adults, Books for Kids

This go round, we’re going to change things up a bit in the Cool Mom Picks Virtual Book Club, because I’m going to be talking about two selections that I know are relevant to so many parents these days. In light of the recent Climate Strike marches around...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, 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).