Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Rene Syler on speaking up and speaking out about racial injustice. Now. | Spawned Ep 205
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 you,...
Meena Harris on the importance of diversity in children’s books, and raising kids who care | Spawned Ep 204
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 children's book,...
What we’re keeping and what we’re ditching, after the pandemic is over | Spawned Ep 203
This past week, Liz and I were chatting about some of the changes we've made since this pandemic started. We're finding ourselves cooking more, taking more time for ourselves, and spending way less (waaaaay less) on Starbucks. So it got us thinking: what are some...
More coolness from recent weeks…
5 creative ways we’ve been using Houseparty to stay connected to our own friends and family during quarantine
With about six weeks into this COVID-19 quarantine, we're all desperately longing for the connection of faraway friends and family. And while texting, phone calls, even writing letters (yes, remember those?) are a great salve to what we're all feeling, there's nothing...
Cute animal face masks for kids make time outside feel more like Halloween than Quarantine
This past weekend, during a (responsibly socially distant) walk around my neighborhood, I saw a little kid wearing an adorable animal face mask just like the ones I just discovered from Cubcoats. (In fact, it may have been from Cubcoats but I wasn't close enough to...
How to explain social distancing to young kids: This free downloadable Princess in Black comic book helps
My three-year-old son still thinks the Novel Coronavirus is something he can defeat with a solid dropkick. (Oh, how I wish that were true, buddy!) But as cute as he is, his confusion about COVID-19 and quarantine best practices has created some real problems. And I...
Virgie Tovar talks about body positivity and self love, and why it’s so important right now | Spawned Ep 199
If you're like us, then you've probably seen a whole lot of weight-related pandemic memes and posts on social media. Whether it's the kind of worn out "Gaining the COVID-19" joke to talking about "letting ourselves go," ours pretty amazing how much weight and body...
16 fabulous Mother’s Day gifts that give back to Covid relief and healthcare workers | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
We've always had a heart for Mother's Day gifts that give back, but this year, we're focusing on gifts that give back to Covid relief efforts, including donations to frontline healthcare workers, food banks, restaurant workers, and all kinds of incredible...
16 special Mother’s Day gifts from the kids this year: Gifts to make, gifts to buy, gifts to mail
As we keep saying, this year's Mother's Day gifts from the kids are going to be something extra special. If you're sheltering in place together, you'll have to secretly have something delivered or find the time -- and space! -- to help the kids make something without...
Humor, struggles, and clown sex with Tova Leigh | Spawned Ep 198
Tova Leigh is the exact person we needed to talk to this week. At least if these days, your dream social life would include time with a few friends for some real talk, real laughs, some needed venting, and a random reference to clown sex. No wonder this episode was...
7 special graduation ideas during Covid-19 for your 2020 grad. They deserve it!
Our Facebook groups have been asking for graduation ideas during Covid-19 and quarantine, and as a mom to a rising senior, and a high school grad last year, my heart goes out to all the 2020 grads. While school kids everywhere have had their lives and routines upended...
Print and play the new Cards Against Humanity Family Edition for free.
We've been long time fans of the super irreverent extra awesome game Cards Against Humanity, so it's no surprise that we can't wait to get our hands on their new Cards Against Humanity Family Edition game. Well, lucky us, they're offering the public beta version free...
Feeling bored? Need a little fun? Try this play-at-home scavenger hunt and help get food to hungry children.
We're on day 30-hundred of this here quarantine, and while we've been keeping busy with work and isolation schooling and 400 hours of TikTok, we could all use a little excitement, am I right? Well, our friends at GISH have that covered, with their first ever...
These 5 eco-friendly paper towel alternatives make it easy to make the switch
I've been meaning to switch to an eco-friendly paper towel alternative for years, and if 2020's quarantine didn't push you toward a new alternative, maybe we can help! In time for Earth Day, I've been chatting with eco-conscious friends and colleagues about favorite...
How to get gorgeous Mother’s Day flower deliveries for less. But hurry!
While we're busy putting the finishing touches on our 2020 Mother's Day Gift Guide, I had to share this terrific deal that I just caught wind of. One of my favorite flower delivery sites, The Bouqs, is offering double-sized Mother's Day bouquets for the price of the...
4 colorful DIY crafts from Joy Cho to inspire curiosity in your kids
I recently had such a great podcast discussion with Joy Cho of Oh Joy! Design Studio, about ways to encourage creativity in kids. Now more than ever, we're all looking for ways to keep our kids engaged, and for those of you with little ones at home, I really feel you....
Finding small joys in crazy times: How we’re making memories with our kids | Spawned Ep 197
Real parenting talk: Emotions are up and down in the age of Covid, times are stressful -- in fact we both just got the "school is cancelled for the whole year" notices. Sigh. We definitely are not trying to "win" quarantine with 800 millions Instagrammable family...
#SaveThePostOffice: 7 thoughtful things you can mail to friends and family during quarantine
Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, the United States Postal Service (USPS) was getting hit pretty hard. And now, well, it's worse than ever, with no bailout in sight. As you might have seen on social media with the #SaveThePostOffice hashtag, people are rallying...
8 board games you can play over FaceTime or Zoom for remote fun with friends
We love our game nights with friends, and cancelling those has been a sad part of the quarantine for us. But we've found 6 great games you can play over FaceTime or Zoom. It helps make that distance feel not so far at all, and gives you more opportunities to connect...
These customizable face masks help support families in need.
With the CDC recommendations that we now where face masks in public, I made a few myself - no sewing involved! - and purchased a couple from a few local businesses who have pivoted their businesses during this Coronavirus pandemic. But when I saw these customizable...
How families are making Easter special for the kids this year: 7 ideas from our readers
No matter how you celebrate Easter with your kids, things are going to be different this year during quarantine. There will be no town-wide Easter egg hunts or photos with the Easter Bunny at the mall. Church services, if you attend, will be virtual, and big family...
Gladskin offers quick relief from eczema, without all the harsh ingredients. And it worked for us!
As a long time eczema sufferer myself, along with a now teen daughter who's been battling it since she was a baby, I've tried and used my fair share of creams and lotions with the hopes of getting some relief. So, when I was introduced to our newest sponsor, Gladskin,...
So who’s ready for a cool new LEGO set? LEGO Super Mario to the rescue!
With our kids tearing through our craft kits, puzzle boxes, activity books and more while they shelter indoors, the brand new, 231-piece, interactive LEGO Super Mario Starter course could not have come at a better time. I can't think of anything more delightful to say...
Feeding your kids during a quarantine with author and food editor, Stacie Billis | Spawned Ep 196
You've braved the grocery store or you've had your groceries delivered. Your kids are home 24-7. And you've got to feed them. So, why is it so hard? Well, it doesn't have to be difficult, in fact, feeding your kids during a quarantine (and cooking during one) can...