Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
A fun interview with Anne Holton, wife of Tim Kaine, about parenting, politics + funny tweets | Spawned ep 50
This week on Spawned with Kristen + Liz, it's our golden anniversary, and we're extraordinarily thrilled to be joined by an incredibly special guest, Anne Holton, wife of Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for Vice President. But wow, Anne is a powerhouse...
The worst TV shows for kids with Wendi Aarons | Spawned episode 49
On this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we're chatting with humorist and writer Wendi Aarons about one of the most popular posts she wrote on Cool Mom Picks: The 9 worst television shows for kids. Wow, did people have a lot to say about this post. Is...
Hey sexist Olympic journalists: We’re watching you. | Spawned episode 48
This week on Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we're talking about the rampant sexist media coverage of the Rio Olympics -- and beyond -- and why, as parents, it particularly bugs us and needs addressing. Take a listen as we discuss the craziest headlines, the ridiculous...
More coolness from recent weeks…
7 reasons girls should see the new LEGO NINJAGO movie | Thinking : Parent
As a fan of the original LEGO Movie and LEGO Batman, I admit I was a little skeptical about the new LEGO NINJAGO Movie. I wasn't very familiar with the NINJAGO franchise and wasn't sure if my 10-year-old daughter would be that into an action film featuring LEGO...
How to talk to kids about tragedy and natural disaster: Helpful tips and resources.
This has been a brutal month with consecutive natural disasters, many right in the contiguous US or close to home, and our hearts are so heavy. There's Hurricane Harvey's devastation in Texas, Hurricane Irma pounding Florida and the Virgin Islands, and now Hurricane...
Make a pledge to register voters in honor of National Voter Registration Day
As much as I love the many "National" days and weeks that help us celebrate everything from women's history to coffee, I think my all time favorite day is National Voter Registration Day. Observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in September -- that's September 26th...
An edgy diaper bag alternative for dads not down with the diaper bag thing.
I really like the collection of Brooklyn Backpacks with laptop sleeve from California indie biz, Rareform They're made from upcycled billboards (yay, eco-friendly!) with typography and graphics that give them an edgy look and feel, and ensuring no two are the same....
Hot trend: 15 hipster cat accessories and school supplies
Aren't cats the original hipsters? They sleep late, live on their own terms, and only pretend that you don't care what you think about them. But unlike real cats (and some real hipsters), they're a lot lower maintenance when they come into your home in the form of...
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...