Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
How to be a bare minimum parent with James Breakwell | Spawned Episode 134
If you've heard of helicopter parenting, well, sorry to say, we're not talking about that today. We're actually talking about the polar opposite (or well, close enough) with the hilarious social media sensation and author James Breakwell (aka Xploding Unicorn on...
Kids and video games: What parents need to know | Spawned Episode 133
With the holiday season in full swing, we know lots of parents are seeing video games on gift wish lists. We also know parents, like us, have so many questions about them. What are upsides and downsides? When do we know too much is too much? Will Fortnite ever go away...
The importance of gratitude right now | Spawned ep 32
We both have gratitude on our minds right now. At a time that there is so much abundance -- food, gifts, parties -- and conversely, so many of us struggling with holidays in general, it's so valuable for us to slow down and consider ways to help develop more gratitude...
More coolness from recent weeks…
How buying one of our favorite kids’ toys on Veteran’s Day will support deployed military families in a great way.
Each year on Veteran's Day, we love finding new organizations that support the families of military service men and women. And wow, I am so thrilled to learn about United Through Reading and their 40 Million Stories campaign. This non-profit gives the more than...
A collection of culturally and historically accurate Thanksgiving coloring pages for children
This year, I've been on a mission to track down more culturally and historically accurate Thanksgiving coloring pages for my own kids and for our readers. Because most of us know by now that, however uncomfortable it may be, the story of Thanksgiving that so many of...
How to help the California fire victims, from evacuees to animals to our brave first responders
The images and stories of the Western Wildfires -- the Hill and Woolsey Fires in the LA area, and the Camp Fire in Northern California that has entirely decimated the town of Paradise -- have been nothing short of horrifying. With upwards of a quarter-million evacuees...
Representation FTW! Spawned Ep. 130
Whatever your feelings about what happened on November 6, 2018, we hope you can agree that it was an exciting, historic day for women. Over 100 women in Congress! YES! So, on this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we're talking about Election Day, the...
This weekend’s GameStop PRO DAYS sale can save you a ton on these hot holiday gifts | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from GameStop If your family has video games, gaming systems, or pop culture tees and gifts (hey there, Fortnite fans!) on their holiday wish lists you're going to want to check out this weekend's huge GameStop PRO DAYS sale. The GameStop...
Get well soon Ruth Bader Ginsburg! We need you!
I just received a news alert that our strong, feisty, beloved SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fell and fractured three ribs last night. It's happened before (she evidently "did not skip a beat" during that time, according to the court because, RBG), and I know...
This hip, indie kids’ magazine subscription is a fabulous gift for curious tweens
You may have heard of Aquila children's magazine, the cool indie kids publication from the UK, because they've been around for 25 years. And they've announced they're going to open their subscriptions up to the USA too, and I'm so excited. if you have a curious kid...
There are now more than 100 women in Congress. Here’s why it matters to our girl — and boys.
Last night's election was historic in so many ways, with representation that's starting to better reflect the actual composition of the country. We now have the first Black woman in Congress from Massachusetts: Ayanna Pressley. The first Black woman in Congress from...
Why every parent needs to see Boy Erased. Spoiler: The world desperately needs more understanding and compassion
It’s been over a week since I saw the brand new movie Boy Erased and I can’t get it out of my head. As an avid human-rights supporter and the mom of two activist teenagers, I spend a lot of time trying to be less angry these days than I have been. The world feels so...
Here’s what you can do with your family on #TheLastWeekend before the Midterms, and why it (really!) matters.
Parents. We're not like other people who can just drop everything and fly out to a swing state to canvas, or host raucous fundraising cocktail nights, or even attend a GOTV concert on a whim. But there's a lot we can do -- with our families -- to help make a...
The coolest Halloween costumes from Garden Place Brooklyn, 2018
I'm reluctant to even tell any of you about Garden Place, because it is one of the most delightful things about living in Brooklyn -- and I don't want it suddenly flooded with Manhattan people who swoop in and steal all the candy! (J/K anyone is welcome). But...
How a 13-year-old Broadway fan created the coolest Halloween door decorations
So that 13-year-old Broadway-obsessed kid? That would be my daughter. And after last year's attempt to mashup Halloween with Broadway musicals, she improved on her artwork this year and taped it straight on our apartment door. So, proud mama that I am, I wanted to...
3 smoking black maternity dresses for fall and winter, even if you’re not on Meghan Markle’s budget
If you've been following the newly minted royal couple on their post-nuptial adventures (waving hands, here), you might have caught mom-to-be Meghan Markle in this little black dress and-trench maternity outfit. I'll admit that I've been coveting the look, too, and OF...
The blogging world loses one of our own. Here’s how to help.
Kristen and I are both old school bloggers, going back to 2006 when our kids were tiny. Back then, we were a small, passionate community of writers who shared our lives, our joys, our many challenges and even some painful losses. Many of us became IRL friends. Even if...
12 year olds can be arrested for trick-or-treating and WHAT IS GOING ON | Spawned 129
So uh, yeah. Turns out that some American towns are now banning 12-year-old kids from trick-or-treating, under penalty of arrest. We think it's nuts, of course, so we had to talk about it this week on Spawned.There are even a lot of expert reasons that it's good and...
20 of the most amazing, must-see Halloween face paint video tutorials on YouTube.
My kids have spent hours in front of the mirror perfecting scars and simpler character makeup based off of YouTube face paint tutorials, but these Halloween themed face paint tutorials should put their growing skills to the test. From your classic Halloween ghouls to...
Ever wanted to see your face in sequins? Here’s your chance.
We're always looking for personalized gifts you just don't see everywhere, and this year, the personalized flip sequin pillows from The Mermaid Pillow Co definitely makes my list of It Gifts. As if my kids weren't already crazy enough for the mermaid pillows we...
14 fun and easy Halloween crafts for prechoolers
We always love fun Halloween craft projects for our preschoolers and little kids, because it's one way to get them excited about Halloween that's (generally) non-caloric. And we're all about keeping it real with easy crafts because, hey, we're busy this time of year!...
Time to Parent: A non-judgy book helping you find more time to be the best parent you can be.
The toils of parenting can seem nebulous and never-ending, which is why Julie Morgenstern's new book, Time to Parent, came as such a breath of fresh air for me. A professional organizer by trade, she breaks down the overall job of parenting into manageable tasks, to...
Vote Like a Mother: In time for the mother of all midterms
If you haven't gotten word yet, we have a seriously important election coming up in November. We've asked you to check your registration, double and triple-check your registration, join Michelle Obama and Lin-Manuel Miranda to help new voters to register, and now...
Our top picks from this weekend’s Hanna Andersson 40% off flash sale — including fall and winter items!
As a mom of four, I love to buy clothes from Hanna Andersson for my kids because they last...forever. And this weekend they are having a massive sale: 40% off almost all children's clothes, including outerwear, fall/winter clothing, and holiday items. So like, not...