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Gen Z: They’re not snowflakes, they’re warriors. Here’s the data to prove it. | Spawned Ep 269
The world feels like a pretty awful place right now. I've seen a lot of people in my social feeds say things like, "it must be hard to have kids and have to explain things like the Russian aggression against Ukraine to them." I always think that yes, sure it is --...
“There’s nothing romantic about depression” | Spawned Ep 268
This week, I was really happy to get to sit down and chat with Amy Koppelman, director, writer, and producer of the recent film A Mouthful of Air starring Amanda Seyfried and Finn Wittrock. It's based on on Amy's critically acclaimed novel inspired by her own...
Navigating step-parenting with Coach Naja Hall | Spawned Episode 250
We keep saying that we often get our best parenting podcast topic ideas from our readers, and a lot of you have asked for support navigating step-parenting. And that's just what we're talking about, in this dynamic, wonderful chat with Certified Parenting Coach and...
Raising resilient kids in a world gone sideways, with Dr. Madeline Levine | Spawned Episode 249
We've had a slew of amazing guests on our Spawned podcast recently, who have offered helpful advice on how to raise our kids. This week, we add another one to the list: Dr. Madeline Levine, a New York Times bestselling author, whose book Ready or Not: Preparing Our...
The kids are fighting and it’s exhausting: Tips to resolve sibling conflict from a psychologist and family counselor | Spawned Ep 248
With everything going on in the world right now, kids are extra-stressed, they're extra-restless, they're extra-anxious, and, if they have siblings, they're fighting. Yay! So what's a parent to do to help manage it all? After a few listeners asked us to take on this...
So much coolness. Where to start…
Your family’s hydration situation just got a whole lot easier.
With school around the corner -- which means sports and activities and all the things that keep us all very busy -- the challenge of keeping our kids (and ourselves) hydrated is top of mind. Actually, if I'm being honest, it's always at the top of my mind. I'm...
For every parent who’s yelled about stepping on a LEGO, this new Adidas collection is for you.
What parent among us has not joked, complained, or (possibly) cried about stepping on a LEGO brick at some point since having kids? Exactly. That's why I'm not sure which I love more -- the Adidas x LEGO sneaker collection, featuring sneakers that look like LEGOs, or...
Does DefenAge 6-week Perfection Neck Tightening Cream really perfect your neck? Here are my before and after photos.
I'm a woman on the other side of 40, and when DefenAge reached out to see if I'd like to try their 6-week Perfection Neck Tightening Cream, I said, "Why the heck not!" Let's see if in just six short weeks, I, too, can have a perfect neck! " Whatever the heck that...
If you’re a woman reentering the workforce, you won’t believe who’s offering free 1:1 mentorships
We all know that re-entering the workforce is particularly hard if you're a woman. Even more so if you're a mom who's taken time off to raise kids. Even more than that, if you're a mom of color. So here's to some incredible mentors who are doing something proactive to...
Barbie honors real-life healthcare heroes and wow, more stories like this please.
If the Barbie #ThankYouHeroes initiative isn't the epitome of our times, in the best possible way, I don't know what is. Barbie has added all kinds of famous role models to their collection in recent years, and now they're honoring some global women that you may not...
20+ cool backpacks for teens this year | Back to School Guide 2021
When we look for cool backpacks for teens, it's not enough for them to just be, you know, cool. As kids head to middle school or high school— especially after a whole year at home more or less (sigh) — they need bigger, sturdier backpacks, better shoulder straps, and...
15 of the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten this year | Back to School Guide 2021
For some of our kids, the wait for this school year has been two-years long. They are seriously geeking out over school supplies, starting with the quest for the perfect backpack. For those kids who are headed to preschool or kindergarten for the first time this year,...
12 smart personalized label ideas for back to school, from a completely label-obsessed mom
With back to school coming up, I'm sharing some of my favorite personalized label ideas to help keep you organized, keep you sane, save you money (whoo!) and even keep the peace. Hey, parents of more than one kid! You know what I'm talking about. We have what you...
The coolest lunch box accessories, water bottles, and other goodies to make school lunch more fun | Back to School Shopping Guide
Each year, in our annual back to school shopping guide, we always love tracking down those cool lunch box accessories, water bottles, bentos, and other fun goodies that help make opening that same old lunch box every day a little more special. Only last year... we...
12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guide
It's kind of amazing that we're searching for the best small appliances for dorm rooms these days -- with our own teens in mind! It's like we blinked and our team went from back to school shopping for preschool backpacks to sending some of our oldest kids off to...
Try these must-read books for kids who like video games. Because all genres are good genres!
I've been searching the shelves of my local bookstore to find great books for kids who like video games. And I'm sharing them here, because I know I am not the only parent whose once-avid reader would much rather pick up an Xbox controller than a book these days!...
10 of our most popular summer articles to help get you through the season
This week we're doing something I don't think our team has done in 15+ years -- we are taking a full staff summer break. (Whoo!) Some of us are traveling, some of us are hanging with the kids, some of us are counting the seconds to Ted Lasso season 2, some of us are...
Making a Baby is the diverse, inclusive, very frank children’s picture book about sex and reproduction that we’ve been looking for
When my kids were in early elementary school, every parent I knew seemed to be looking for the perfect children's book about sex and reproduction. I cannot overemphasize how much I wish I'd had the beautifully inclusive and thoughtful Making a Baby by Rachel Greener...
The coolest Ted Lasso gifts, just in time for Season 2
The AFC Richmond fans say it's the hope that kills you, but I'm here to say that it's really the anticipation -- of Ted Lasso Season 2, obvs. Luckily, it's finally here, starting July 23, and I can almost taste the homemade biscuits. So to tide myself over, I've been...
Cerebral has been called the “best online service for mental health” and we can see why.
We are pleased to present this sponsored message on behalf of Cerebral We all know that we've been through a lot this past year. The need for affordable, accessible mental health treatment has grown immensely, and finally someone is doing something about it. Enter...
25+ amazing deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because we’re SO ready to refresh our wardrobes!
Get ready, everybody, because the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is upon us. Liz and I have scoured their early announcements to find the very best, most amazing, super fashionable Nordstrom Anniversary Sale deals that we'll be snagging when it starts on July 28. (Yes, we...
Summer trend alert: Bling swim goggles in 7 styles for aspiring mermaids and mermen
One of my favorite things about taking my son to swim lessons is seeing all the kid swim fashions, and recently that includes lots of bling swim goggles, full of glam, color and fun. Eyelashes! Mermaids! Shark's teeth! Sequins! Where were these when I was a kid? So I...
We need to talk about our alcohol use, parents: An honest review of Quit Like a Woman
This past December, I decided to stop drinking. While I've always had a complicated relationship with booze, I wouldn't consider myself an alcoholic. I've been drunk a handful of times in my life, and for the most part, just have a couple of glasses of something maybe...
On modeling body positivity for our kids: Where we succeed, where we can do better | Spawned Ep 245
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...
Forget Hot Girl Summer. It’s about to be a Hot Mom Summer.
We've heard the buzz about having a Hot Girl Summer, and we're totally on board for living your best life this summer (and well, all the time). But as moms, we can't just toss a bathing suit on, pack a cooler, and head to the beach on our very own. Because there are...
This non-profit creates absolutely free, Instagram-worthy room makeovers for adopted kids and foster families
Several months ago I stumbled on the work of the non-profit group Bloom Family Designs on a friend and fellow adoptive-mom's Instagram feed. This organization creates beautifully designed rooms for adopted and foster kids — at absolutely no cost to the families. In...