Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
The hard talks we need to have with our kids (and how to have them) | Spawned Episode 294
As parents, we know that there are going to be difficult conversations that we need to have — about sex, violence, relationships, substances — but it can be hard to know how to actually talk about them. That's where author Michelle Icard can help. Her book, Fourteen...
Melinda Wenner Moyer’s parenting strategies to raise good kids into great adults | Spawned Episode 293
We often discuss what it takes to raise kind, generous, ambitious, resilient, wonderful kids who will become kind, generous, ambitious, resilient, wonderful adults. Which is why we wanted to bring back one of our favorite interviews -- parenting and science journalist...
Reaching your organizational goals: Sarah Hart-Unger on prioritizing, organizing, and managing time | Ep 292
Is a messy desk a sign of a messy mind? Is organization something we just have to give up for a while as parents? Is a single, perfect whiteboard the key to solving all your time management woes? Sarah Hart-Unger of the podcasts Best Laid Plans and Best of Both Worlds...
More coolness from recent weeks…
15 cool but practical Father’s Day gifts. Because they should still feel like gifts, ya know? | Father’s Day Gift Guide
The past few Father's Days that we've celebrated, it seems more dads are finding the joys of practical Father's Day gifts. Whether it helps him around the house, helps him master the WAH thing, lets him enjoy cooking more, or pampers him -- just a bit -- with...
A psychologist recommends these 6 classic children’s books to teach lessons in mindfulness
There are certainly plenty of mindfulness books for children out there. But I have to be honest, many of the recent titles my own kids see at a bookstore or the the library make them ask, "ugh, is that one of those… mindfulness books?” And I am, by the way, a...
30 Gifts to Wow Dad for Less Than $20 | Father’s Day Gift Guide
In this year's Father's Day Gift Guide, we're excited to share a fantastic selection of our favorite Father's Day gifts under $20. Because we know that you don't have to spend a ton to find a special Father's Day gift. We've scoured the corners of the web to find...
DIY gift basket ideas for Father’s Day: Get inspired with these 5 fun themes
A few years ago, for a cool Father's Day gift, I decided to create my own DIY Father's Day gift basket. Rather than ordering a gift basket for Dad that may or may not hit the mark, DIY-ing means you can fill it with items that are meaningful and personal, and save...
Symbolic keepsake jewelry for graduates: 7 thoughtful gifts with 7 meanings
While we've shared a lot of practical graduation gifts for high school students, some of us are a little more sentimental when it comes to our grads. If you're searching for a heartfelt graduation gift for a special high school or college graduate, sentimental,...
Introducing (drumroll…) our Cool Deals of the Week Shop!
We absolutely love sharing gift guides, cool finds, and helpful recommendations with you every day. But you know what's even better? When the things we love are on sale to help us all stretch our budgets a bit. Since our inboxes are always flooded with limited-time...
10 really cool Father’s Day gifts we found at Uncommon Goods
One of the reasons it's hard to find cool Father's Day gifts (beyond our site, of course) is that they're limited. If you judged dads by the Father's Day cards in the racks, it would seem like all dads do is golf, drink beer, mow the lawn, and hog the TV remote. The...
Personalized Squishmallows have our kids’ names all over them! (Or at least on the belly.)
While our team did a great job putting together graduation gifts for high school seniors, and sharing gift books for grads of all ages, I just stumbled on one more super cool graduation gift I had to share: Personalized Squishmallows. (And here is where my 17-year-old...
How to help kids identify and develop their interests | An Insider Guide to College Admissions
In January, I interviewed Alyse Levine, one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country, about de-stressing the college application process. It was so well-received, that we've partnered to create An Insider Guide to the College Application Process....
Brilliant: Same-day flower delivery without the high fees. Perfect for last-minute gifts.
We're very excited about the new plant and flower gifts from our longtime fave last-minute gift source, Sugarwish. Because if you're like me, sometimes you want to send same-day flowers or next-day flowers, but you don't want to pay a huge premium for the service. If...
16 great high school graduation gift ideas that grads actually want. Besides cash.
With high school graduation time coming up, I've been getting so many questions from friends about the best high school graduation gift ideas that kids will actually want. So I've been asking around, talking to my own teens, and the answer is most often, "cash."...
This folding stadium seat for sports parents will save your butt in the bleachers!
Calling all parents who have ever endured hours on a rock-hard stadium bench while attending their kids' sports games. Or assemblies. Or graduation ceremonies. I discovered this portable, packable, reclining stadium seat on sale, and it's a game-changer. (Ha.) The...
12 inspirational books for graduation gifts, beyond Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
While there are so many graduation gift ideas that we could give to this year’s accomplished graduates, from preschool to high school, we love giving sweet, inspirational books for graduation gifts. Especially when they deliver messages about empowerment, adventure,...
Our guide to last-minute Mother’s Day gifts that she’ll truly appreciate.
If you haven't secured the perfect Mother's Day gift yet and now you're looking for last-minute Mother's Day gifts, rest easy. Okay, not that easy, because it's literally just a few days away. But if you hustle, we can still help you out with these awesome last-minute...
This 5-Star Insulated Tumbler on Amazon may be the Best Affordable Yeti Alternative
If you're looking for the best Yeti alternative, Owala's Insulated Steel Tumbler is not only a 5-star rated reusable straw tumbler, it's one of the fastest selling products on all of Amazon. It's just $27.99 for the 24 oz tumbler -- compare that with $38 for the...
These sleepaway camp packing tips keep things stress-free. (If not tear-free.)
If your kid is headed to sleepaway camp this summer, we've got some sleepaway camp packing tips compiled by a bunch of BTDT parents on our team. Especially if it's the first time you're sending your kid to sleepaway camp, you're probably already dealing with a lot of...
Are we thinking about kindness all wrong? A chat with Jaclyn Lindsey, founder of Kindness.org | Spawned Podcast
The Spawned Parenting Podcast is back and I couldn't be more thrilled! I'm excited to get back to what I love most -- helping us get through the ups and downs of parenting together, especially today when we all seem to need support more than ever. I am honored to kick...
11 last-minute Mother’s Day beauty gifts on Amazon with fast, free Prime shipping
Browsing through Amazon, we're finding so many last-minute Mother's Day beauty gifts -- that are on sale, too! -- plus they ship fast and free for Prime members. Sometimes as fast as 1-2 days. Maybe you're looking for an interesting beauty gift for an awesome mom,...
15 personalized gifts for grandmothers who deserve the best | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
I've been spending so much time seeking out the best personalized gifts for grandmothers this Mother's Day, to make it clear just how much we love them. Lord knows I couldn't do this parenting thing without my kids' Mimi, Grama, and Nana in their lives. They deserve...
6 of the coolest backyard swings to turn your yard into a playground
You've got to admit, it helps motivate the kids to get outside and active when you have cool backyard swings for them to play with. My own kids have all enjoyed hanging out on some new swings we've installed to update the old swing set. My four-year-old daughter...
Thoughtful first Mother’s Day gifts for new moms | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
That first Mother's Day is so special, and if you're looking for a wonderful Mother's Day gift for a new mom, these ideas should make her day. From thoughtful jewelry to commemorate the year, to a first family portrait, to luxiurious pampering just for her, we hope...