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…
Check out these cooling dog beds and other ingenious summer essentials for pets. Now on sale if you hurry!
If you have dogs, cats, or hermit crabs (well maybe not hermit crabs) we found the coolest summer pet essentials at Paw.com. From cooling beds to cooling blankets, road trip car-savers and more, they'll help make a huge difference this summer -- for all of you. And if...
The best of the Memorial Day Sales: Up to 80% off the brands we adore
Hooray, it's the weekend! Which also means... huge Memorial Day sales. Visit our Cool Mom Picks Deals Page, which we just updated to include plenty of deals, discounts and offers from our favorite brands. From the big stores we all shop, to the indie companies we love...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
One Cool Thing: The perfect striped summer beach tote. On sale!
Our friends at Able just extended their Memorial Week sale on all of their leather goods, accessories, and clothing that give back in meaningful ways. So of course...I browse. The one item that caught my eye instantly: The perfect striped summer canvas beach totess,...
Brad Meltzer on Empathy, Kindness, Magic, Transformation, and That One Guy in the Restroom That One Time
This week, I'm talking to #1 New York Times bestselling author, Brad Meltzer, fresh off his viral commencement address at The University of Michigan about empathy, transformation, growth, compassion, and...magic. (Were you thinking I'd be covering that other...
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...
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,...
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...
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."...
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...
These are the 5 most meaningful gifts for teachers, according to a longtime educator
We're happy to welcome Becca Reed to share her choices for 5 meaningful gifts for teachers as the school year draws to a close. Close your eyes and think about the people in your life who helped shape you for the better. Those who sparked a belief or curiosity or...
30 fantastic Amazon deals to get you summer ready! Beauty, kids, beach, travel and more
From summer beauty and style, to outdoor entertaining, family travel, beach time, kids' toys and more -- we've got you covered with 30 incredible Amazon deals, discounts, and offers. Our deals team scoured Amazon to find lots of great deals on great brands and...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...