Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Should you pay your kids for chores? Ohhhh the various opinions.
Sometimes we agree on topics, sometimes we disagree, and sometimes we just figure it out as we talk it out. Sometimes, it's all three! Which is in part why we think you'll really enjoy this week's discussion on the Spawned podcast about kids' and chores. How do we get...
Kids and activities: When to start, when to stop, and everything in between
With school starting, that means activities are starting up too, and both of us are a little overwhelmed about what to do with our own kids. (Also, Minecraft isn't necessarily considered a viable skill that will get them a college scholarship. Or is it?) If you've...
Should every kid get a trophy?
This week's outrage du jour is brought to you by football star James Harrison and his now controversial Instagram photo in which he threatened to take away his kids' participation trophies. So of course we tackle (puns! puns!) this controversial stance on...
More coolness from recent weeks…
A fun summer fashion trend anyone can pull off. Seriously, we’re obsessed.
We've been keeping our eyes on hot shoe trends lately (it's hard work, but someone has to do it) and we've noticed a new look coming out of the Mediterranean that we're completely obsessed with: tassel, lace-up, blinged-out boho sandals. These shoes are so fun, and...
The one small spring cleaning task that makes a big difference
Spring cleaning can be a beast. Just the thought of getting everything tidier and cleaner -- whatever shape your home is in now -- can be so overwhelming, it can be hard to know where to start. So we reached out to household cleaning expert Dana K. White for some...
Should your kids be watching 13 Reasons Why? 15 must-read articles to help you figure it out.
Okay, parents. Let's talk 13 Reasons Why and whether your kids should be watching it. Because, no doubt, your kids are doing just that. And now that it's been picked up for a second season on Netflix, the question about whether your kids should watch it won't be going...
Work after baby: Lauren Smith Brody’s tips for surviving with sanity and style | Spawned ep 75
How do you get back to work after having a baby without losing your mind? How in the world can you start looking -- and feeling -- human again when you feel anything but? How do you carve out me-time when it seems least likely? And the big one: Is it possible to ever...
Build your own LEGO fidget spinner, await the gushing praise.
With the massive popularity of fidget spinners, it was only a matter of time before we found a DIY project for making your own. Fortunately this one doesn't require an engineering degree or even a 3-D printer: Just some basic LEGO pieces. The very clever Sarah at...
Mother’s Day advice: Been there, cleaned that up.
Even if the Macaroni necklace breaks, the flowers die, and the mimosas are gone in seconds, you always always get to keep your sense of humor. Hope you have the best Mother's Day! xo Liz + Kristen + The Cool Mom Team
Here’s how you can follow Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, Cool Mom Eats. We promise we’ll make it worth your while.
Whichever social media site is your guilty pleasure du jour, we’re there, making sure you don’t miss our favorite posts on parenting, fashion, apps, recipes, deals and discounts, and random awesomeness from around the web. Plus our favorite part: we love hearing from...
10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.
I'm a real sucker for a feel good, motivational quote, so I love the idea of giving an inspirational art print as a gift to a recent grad. They can hang it on a wall or prop it up on a desk, and it'll be a daily reminder to go out there and go get 'em! These 10...
8 tips to compliment your kids in ways that are meaningful and empowering
As parents, we're our kids' biggest fans, right? That's why a lot of us tend to compliment them. A lot. Whether it's the first time they learn to ride a bike, the masterpiece they created in art class, a stellar report card, or even that time they remembered to clean...
A clever idea to get kids in the kitchen on their own, no nagging (or even talking!) required.
My boys have been cooking alongside me ever since they were little. But now that they're older and I'd love for them make their own breakfast, prep their own snacks, and put together their own lunches from time to time, I'm finding it harder to get them into the...
Emojis, sly cats, and other cool kids’ leggings you won’t see everywhere on the playground
Hold on to your credit cards, mamas. Because we found some seriously cool kids' leggings at The Trendy Tot Etsy shop. From magic 8 balls to emoji faces, these knee patches will add a ton of interest and personality to your kids' wardrobe this spring. Let's just say,...
Thoughtful ways to celebrate Mother’s Day when you really miss your mom.
My mother passed away exactly one year before my first child -- her first grandchild -- was born. While I miss her every day, it’s Mother's Day that always seems to swoop in with a special kind of sucker punch. Each year, I take a deep breath and steel myself for all...
Great news! NPR is releasing their first-ever podcast for kids!
NPR is the only thing I ever listen to in my car -- unless my kids want to hear "It's Raining Tacos." On repeat. (Because of course not every episode of Spawned is entire kid-safe.) So I was absolutely stoked when I heard that next week, May 15, NPR is going to...
The wackiest, coolest summer camps for kids. Can we go too?
Summer camps have changed a lot since we were kids. No offense to good ol' Camp Starfire and the many, many lanyards we made there, but the options for our kids are wildly creative, expertly thought-out, and -- sometimes -- curiously specific. Circus camp? Spy camp?...
The best and worst states for working moms: A whole lot of surprises | Thinking: Parent
Reading the results of today's WalletHub study on the best and worst states for working moms, well let's just say that this working mom's eyes are wide open: 70% of moms with children under 18 are employed, so this is info that really impacts our country as a whole....
The worst Mother’s Day gifts ever. Ever! | Spawned with Kristen + Liz ep 74
You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll cringe! On this week's episode of Spawned, we've got a totally candid and hilarious discussion about the very worst Mother's Day gifts ever. Like, these are all pitches that have actually shown up in our inboxes, from the absurd to the...
The Princess Bride turns 30! Have fun storming the theaters.
Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion....
10 adorable handmade Mother’s Day cards from the kids that will totally melt Mom’s heart
My most favorite Mother's Day cards are the ones my kids make themselves. Because, how can I resist an adorable handprint poster or toddler-style drawing of Mommy & Me? Heart is melting over here. So, I've checked out some of our favorite craft bloggers and DIY...
5 important dystopian novels for tweens and teens to inspire critical thinking and positive action
In the age of "alternative facts," it's no surprise that classic dystopian novels, which encourage readers to take a critical look at things, are dominating bestseller lists right now. While dystopian literature has always been popular with middle and high schoolers...
75+ of the best Mother’s Day brunch recipes you can prep the day before, cook at the last minute, or make with the kids
Mother's Day is right around the corner, and so I've been searching for some really great brunch recipes. Good news is, between Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Eats, we've already found more recipes than we could ever cook in a lifetime, so we rounded them up in one place...
6 brilliantly easy ways to make inexpensive teacher appreciation gifts more special.
Teachers deserve it all, and boy would we love to give the most wonderful teacher appreciation gifts to all of them. But when you multiply your number of kids by the many teachers your kids have -- classroom teachers, teaching aides, music and art teachers, coaches,...