Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
5 tips for getting back into the workplace after kids… and finding balance after you do: Tips from Samantha Ettus
As many moms who have done it before (including us!) can attest, re-entering the workforce after taking time off for kids, whether it's been six months or sixteen years, is no easy feat. You may have taken a break from your career for personal reasons, financial...
The hilarity and terror of raising teens: Tips + humor to get you through it | Spawned Ep 52
Today we're speaking with humorist, best-selling author and actual real-life teacher Robert Wilder about raising teens! We first discovered his hilarious Daddy Needs a Drink way back in the early CMP days, and we've been fans ever since. Break up your day with this...
Chatting with Lisa Loeb about why kids music doesn’t actually suck | Spawned ep 51
If you think kids' music is the stuff that makes you want to jab forks into your ears, then you need to listen to the latest episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, featuring the one-and-only Lisa Loeb! This indie alt rocker sensation turned mom of two and kindie...
More coolness from recent weeks…
A new all-ages Star Wars comic book gives you a quick fix before Last Jedi
The moment The Force Awakens movie introduced me to Rey, I wanted to know more. Who was this young brave scavenger? Where was her family? What is in that green portion bread she's eating? Luckily for fans like me, there's a new Star Wars Adventures comic to shed more...
Adidas puke-proof shoes: Forget Oktoberfest, they’re made for parents!
When Adidas released their new limited-edition beer-resistant, puke-proof shoes, they had Oktoberfest in mind. Sure, the famous German festival can be slippery and sloshy and generally pretty disgusting, but you know what? So is everyday parenting. Adidas? No need to...
Should your kids be playing tackle football? 6 things that happened when this mom said no. | Thinking Parent
Crisp mornings and fall weekends mean one thing here in the South: football. After school we see the kids out on the field practicing, and neighbors are making plans to tailgate. And while my husband played football through middle and high school (and even declined...
You have to see these 60 Broadway musicals recreated with LEGO minifigs!
When I came across Broadway Bricks, a site for which 15-year-old Jack Abrams geniusly recreates the great Broadway Musicals using LEGO minifigs, I simply can't believe I hadn't seen it before. I immediately sent the link to my daughter, because she has a...
The 5 must-have maternity wardrobe staples to keep you stylish all fall and winter
As excited as I was to get pregnant last summer, I seriously lamented the fact that I'd be wearing maternity clothes into the very fashion-centric fall season. Bye bye, September issue. Except that when I really started digging, I discovered some amazing maternity...
That’s inappropriate, Mom: When to let kids watch R-rated movies | Spawned ep 85
One of the great things about our kids getting older is the ability to watch movies and shows that we actually want to see too. (No offense, Bubble Guppies.) But it's also tough to figure out what they're emotionally ready for, what's over their heads, and what scenes...
How to help the victims of Hurricane Irma: 25+ orgs that need you now
Hurricane Irma caused such severe damage in the Caribbean that it destroyed 95% of the buildings on the island of Barbuda alone. Puerto Rico is still coping with major flooding and widespread power outages. The hurricane tore through the Florida Keys before slamming...
13 effective ways to support your school if you don’t have a ton of time or money
As a dedicated public school parent, two things have become abundantly clear to me over the years: 1) Schools are woefully underfunded and 2) Any school is as good as the commitment of the school community. I'll skip number one right now because seriously, don't get...
6 outrageous birthday party ideas for kids, when money is no object
When it comes to planning our kids' birthday parties, we tend to aim for the trifecta: cool, easy, inexpensive. Which is why I'm always in awe when I come across big budget, outrageous birthday party ideas for kids like the ones here. These are all popular packages,...
Giving kids a pedicure on the outside of their shoes.
Customizing your own clothes is on-trend for kids this fall and a great way to kids express themselves -- whether it's DIY customized denim jackets or color-your-own backpacks and bags. So it's going to be pretty fun for a lot of kids to discover these colorful,...
Smells like team spirit: 8 super fun ways kids can support their favorite team
If your kids are big sports fans like mine, with lots of seasons just getting started or already underway, they love finding fun ways to show off their team spirit. However, lots of schools are starting to ban team jerseys (for real), meaning kids have to get a little...
How to create the perfect kids’ workspace so it actually gets used.
You know, we joke a lot about how hard it is to convince our kids to do their homework, because — well, it usually is. But the truth is that we understand -- it's hard to do our own work when we're not in a workspace we love and look forward to visiting each day....
Beautiful wool basics for kids who are picky about fabrics
If you know the joys of merino wool -- the four-season wool that doesn't feel like wool at all -- or you have a kid with fabric sensitivities or discerning preferences but need something heavier than cotton, you'll definitely want to take a look at luvmother,...
Ignoring your kids: Surprise! It makes you a good parent | Spawned Ep 84
When we became parents, no one told us...ha, okay, scratch that. Everyone told us that there'd be terrible twos, terrible threes, terrible tweens (oy) and all sorts of tantrums and difficult behaviors to manage. Experts to the rescue! This week on Spawned with Kristen...
On having a 9/11 birthday
I still meet expectant moms from time to time who share, with trepidation, that their due date is somewhere around today and they’d prefer any other delivery date at all. So I tell them I understand. I tell them it’s my birthday. And then I tell them what my dad said...
The Ruth Bader Ginsburg baby bib: For when dissent means no peas, please.
As she was browsing the Doylestown Art Festival today (lucky!), Kristen sent me a photo of these Ruth Bader Ginsburg baby bibs -- or Ruth Baby Ginsburg bibs, as they're called by maker Becky Garcia Dirtsa Studio -- and I died right here and now. (Hyperbolically...
Her Right Foot: Why Dave Eggers has written the perfect picture book for our times
Back when I first discovered Dave Eggers, I never would have thought that he'd turn out to be one of the beloved children's authors on my kids' bookshelves. But he's certainly cemented that honor with the new Her Right Foot, an equally powerful and charming story...
One cool new safety feature every car should have
On a recent press trip to Michigan, I was invited by Chevrolet to drive a 2018 Chevy Traverse for the weekend, and discovered a very cool safety feature that I haven't stopped thinking about. In fact, now that I'm back to my regular minivan at home, I find myself...
Gorgeous essential oil jewelry that doesn’t look like it at all
Essential oils are everywhere, if you haven't noticed, and they're not going away anytime soon. At least if my Facebook feed is any indication. So why wouldn't essential oil jewelry be A Thing right now? I'm a big fan of peppermint oil to cure headaches along with a...
What parents need to know about Sarahah, the anonymous commenting app that makes cyberbullying a snap.
The number one concern we hear from parents when it comes to kids and their devices is online bullying. Which is why we think you're going to want to know about the new Sarahah app. This personal bulletin board app has blown up all around the world, with a whopping18...
These vintage Vogue illustration tattoos are the cat’s pyjamas.
It's September Issue season so what better time to check out the awesome Vintage Vogue Special Edition temporary tattoos from our friends at Tattly. The 1920's era tattoos are just gorgeous, and perfect for all those cutout dresses and rompers that you fashionistas...