Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Have youth sports gotten out of control? | Spawned Episode 107
With 13-year olds getting recruited to play sports in college and a New Jersey lawmaker warning parents to not get physical at youth sports for fear of jail time, we had to tackle the topic of youth sports and whether they've gotten out of control. Not to mention,...
Should you quit Facebook? Spawned Episode 106
With the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal and Zuckerberg testifying, we're seeing lots of talk about Facebook privacy issues these days. Especially in our Facebook feeds. Very meta! From sticking around and tightening up your security settings to hitting the road...
Is it okay to say “autistic?” And other things people need to know about Autism | Ep 105
With World Autism Day fast approaching, for many of us who don't have children with Autism in our family, we might let this important day slip off our radar. However, given the number of children on the Spectrum, there's a good chance that even though your child might...
More coolness from recent weeks…
7 amazing swimwear brands that honor women’s diverse bodies
I am so grateful to find these 7 swimwear brands that respect and honor the diversity of women's bodies. Because for me, the post-baby swimwear hunt felt a bit like jumping off an Olympic-height diving board -- into a pool of g-strings and plunging necklines. For so...
Cool backyard lighting ideas, because it’s really time to toss those tiki torches
Hey you! Yes you, hanging out in the backyard in the dark. Let's talk cool backyard lighting. Because isn’t it hard to see what you’re eating when the only light you have is the moon and the flickering light of your iPhone? (By the way, you couldn’t see it but a fly...
9 cool black swimsuits for girls who just can’t with the pink.
I love black swimsuits -- for me. But it never crossed my mind that one day my own daughter would refuse to wear much else (sigh). So, black swimsuits for my teen it is! Despite how many adorable bright stripes, fun florals, and poppy tie-dye patterns are out there...
This Father’s Day feels different. Can you commit to doing one small thing to help?
Father's Day is a joyful day. We love honoring all the outstanding dads, stepdads, and granddads in our lives in all the wonderful ways we can. But this year feels different. With the world's attention trained on the families being torn apart at our borders as a...
Sleepaway camp: The pros, the cons, and the tears (mostly ours)| Spawned Episode 114
With summer pretty much here, that means Liz and I are about to say good-bye to a few of our kids as they head off to summer camp, some close by, and one well, to Japan! We get asked all the time about sleepaway camp, from wanting to know how to decide when a kid is...
Ready to try camping with kids? Here are 8 camping essentials you need, and how to get them affordably
If you're considering becoming a first-time camper (and more power to you!) you're probably wondering exactly where to start. I'm here to help! You're probably not going to find me back-country camping off the Appalachian Trail any time soon, but I do thoroughly enjoy...
How Wellements baby remedies help make life easier for parents | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Wellements Parenting is hard enough already, which is why the parents behind Wellements remedies and supplements wanted to make life easier for all parents doing the best for their kids every day. That's why their products are all...
9 silly, sweet, and sentimental new children’s books about dads for Father’s Day | Gift Guide 2018
This year, as always, our team has found some incredible Father's Day gift ideas for every type of dad. But, as a total book nerd, I love the idea of giving Dad a children's book that celebrates dads too. Of course, it's equally for the kids as for their father, but...
9 free, fun Father’s Day printables, for the easiest gift giving ever | Father’s Day Guide 2018
If you haven't found that perfect Father's Day gift yet, don't worry. You can still get tons of the amazing Father's Day gift ideas in our Father's Day gift guide, so there's that. But! You can also download these free, fun Father's Day printables we found, for some...
18 funny Father’s Day cards on Etsy to make Dad laugh as much as he does at his own jokes (maybe)
Soon we'll all be celebrating Father’s Day and you know what that means: dad jokes! And...our annual roundup of funny Father's Day cards So I've tracked down this year's crop of funny Father’s Day cards on Etsy that will maybe help you beat dad at his own dad joke...
Mothers of Reinvention: Talking work and career after motherhood with Mallory Kasdan | Spawned Episode 113
As two women who reinvented ourselves to start Cool Mom Picks, we love hearing stories of other women doing the same, particularly the challenges and obstacles they had to overcome to achieve success. So much can be learned from sharing those experiences. That's why...
New career opportunities and resources coming to military spouses thanks to LinkedIn
Over the years, we have had quite a few military spouses and even vets here at CMP, and we know how challenging it can be for military spouses to grow their careers. In fact, the 650,000 spouses of active duty service members are four times more likely to be...
We Are Gathered: A new novel to add to your summer reading list, stat | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from We Are Gathered If you've ever had to sit through a wedding -- and wished you were anywhere else -- then memoirist Jamie Weisman's debut novel might be just the book you tear through this summer. We Are Gathered weaves together...
23 great Father’s Day gifts all $20 and under – that don’t feel like it | Father’s Day Gifts 2018
We love helping you all solve your greatest gift giving conundrums, and high on that list: How do I get an affordable Father's Day gift that's $20 or under, that doesn't feel like some cheap trinket? Well, we hear you! And we've got nearly 2 dozen cool, creative ideas...
12 of the absolute best daddy and me tees for Father’s Day | Gift Guide 2018
Father's Day of course means daddy-kid photo opps, and for some of us, that means daddy and me tees. So I've looked around for some creative, cool options and honestly, I think some of these daddy and me tees are the best anywhere. In other words, no matching smocked...
Cool Father’s Day jewelry and accessory gifts, from sporty to chic | Father’s Day Gift Guide 2018
Our 2018 Father's Day gift guide is packed with meaningful gift ideas from adorable DIY projects the kids can make to creative gifts for the dad who has everything. And now, we're taking a look at great Father's Day jewelry and accessories for men. Before you think,...
How do you talk to your kids about suicide and depression? Resources + tips for a very tough subject
With the tragic, high-profile suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain in the news this week, surely a lot of our kids are going to be asking questions about suicide. To top it off, they may have heard last month's announcement about a second season of 13 Reasons...
These brand new shark and mermaid baby sleep sacks make the coolest baby shower gift of the year.
Our readers went pretty crazy over the original Blankie Tails mermaid and shark tail blankets for kids (and uh, adult kids), making it the #1 post on our site that entire year. (Hey, you all have good taste!) Since then, this indie, mom-run company has kept things...
13 really creative DIY Father’s Day gifts that kids can help make. Oh, the sweetness! | Father’s Day Guide 2018
What can we say? Creative DIY Father's Day gifts that kids help make are heart-melting. And while we know for a fact that dads love all of the Father's Day gifts that their kids and grandkids pick out for them (and especially the gifts from our Father's Day Gift...
A new board book celebrating all kinds of babies and all kinds of families | Sponsored Message
This is a message from our sponsor. Books always make the most wonderful baby and shower gifts, and now there's a new board book that needs to be on every shelf in every nursery. Who? A Celebration of Babies is all about babies...and love. Babies love their Dadas,...
9 swanky Father’s Day gift ideas for a stylish 21st century man cave | Father’s Day Gifts 2018
If you know a dad who is lucky enough to have a man cave, next in our Father’s Day Gift Guide we've got some man cave gift ideas that can help take his manly oasis to the next level. I think it’s important that a man have his own space to listen to his own manly...