Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Are we still sending handwritten thank-you notes?
Since you guys had such strong opinions about handwritten thank-you notes on our Facebook page last week, we decided that we needed to tackle the topic on today's episode of SPAWNED with Kristen and Liz. Is a text or email message okay or completely unacceptable? And...
Reply all is scary, and other things kids really need to know about email. Some adults, too.
Thanks to a lovely iTunes review who told us she'd have us as guests at her famous person dinner, on this week's episode of SPAWNED with Kristen and Liz, we were inspired to chat about who we'd have at our own! Bradley Cooper, Hillary Clinton... you'll just have to...
Moms and me-time (or lack thereof), and kids and cursing: A juicy Episode 18 of Spawned
We think you parents are really going to like this episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, in which we talk about moms and me-time and why we can't ever seem to get enough of it, especially in the US. Also, what is wrong with us when we think taking a shower qualifies...
More coolness from recent weeks…
6 fantastic children’s books celebrating LGBT families, because #LoveisLove
If there's one thing we know for certain, it's that all families should be celebrated, all the time. Because, love is love. So we pulled together these 6 excellent children's books that celebrate LGBT families. The way it's important for children of color to see...
8 of the coolest summer water activities for your backyard. (Pool? What pool?)
Summer comes in two settings: Hotter and Hottest. That's why we love these amazing summer water activities for the backyard that we found on some of our favorite sites around the web. I mean I know that for kids, a nice, cool pool is often the most hoped-for remedy;...
5 funny books on fatherhood from dads who definitely know funny | Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017
Being a parent really does require a great sense of humor, especially in those early years. And these five funny books on fatherhood should help. All written by fathers who also happen to be hilarious (Michael Ian Black? Jim Gaffigan? Hello!), these memoirs and cheeky...
Man V Child: Comedian Doug Moe on surviving the baby + toddler years | Spawned ep 78
Does anyone really want to see your kids' poop photos on Facebook? Should you lie to your kids when they walk in on you uh...wrestling? What does it mean to "walk a mile in another table's pants?" Actually, we don't know about that last one. Still, tune into this...
20+ backyard party ideas: Host the best summer party on your block.
Warmer weather means moving the inside activities outside, which is an all-around good thing -- especially when it comes to those long summer day get-togethers. Parties are somehow just more fun when they're in the backyard (and we admit, the easier-to-clean-up aspect...
Could the Kiddo wearable health tracker help kids make better choices? | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Kiddo If you want a way to keep track of your child's health and well-being in real time, meet Kiddo, a new wearable health tracker designed to do just that. This wearable gadget gives you real-time insights about your kid's...
Too cool for the kiddie pool: We’ve got 5 of the cutest reusable swim diapers for boys.
While I love a classic sailboat print as much as the next mama, I've been looking to find something a little fresher for my son's big debut at the kiddie pool this summer. And OMG these reusable swim diaper for boys (and, hey, girls too!) are just the prints I was...
A book club that supports Black women authors sets its sights on a festival you should know about.
From Brooklyn to beyond! The Well-Read Black Girl Book Club (WRBG), which has been bringing together women of color to celebrate and raise awareness of Black literature, will be hosting its first-ever The Well-Read Black Girl Writers' Conference & Festival this...
Target’s new Pride tees for kids: Because love is love, and parents are parents
But did you know that Target offers these kids’ tees that support their #takepride initiative?
10 truly cool personalized gifts for dad you can still order in time | Father’s Day Gifts 2017
We've shared so many cool personalized Father's Day gifts over the years, as well as personalized gifts for everyone on your holiday or shopping list -- but the catch is, you often have to shop early. So I'm so happy to share these fantastic personalized gifts for dad...
Pom poms: They’re not just for cheerleaders.
I've been kind of tickled looking at the colorful new boho pom pom sandals that have blowing up my feeds lately, but I'm not entirely sure I can pull them off. Then I saw this amazing woven trapeze pom pom bag from Ted Baker and I thought, oooh...now that I could do....
6 simple tips for making a baby book when you’re a busy new parent. You can do it!
One of the biggest mom guilt woes (or badges if you're a proud Type B Mom) is the lack of a completed baby book. We hear it from so many readers over the years, and I get it! Even the best-laid plans can go south once there's a real, live baby with needs -- and an...
5 creative ways to make a summer bucket list with your kids. Let the fun begin!
Summer break is here for my kids (yes, already!), which means I'm looking down the barrel of 13 long, lovely (and lively, knowing my crew) weeks at home. We have a lot of things we want to do -- go for hikes, do every single craft in Project Kid (ha!), touch a frog...
Speaking up is hard to do: The N-word, the culture of complicity, and why we have to say, that’s not okay.
This weekend, Senator Ben Sasse issued a response to address the (rightful) outrage around his Friday night appearance with Bill Maher. He stated that he should have spoken up when Maher unacceptably used the N-word. He tweeted that "just cringing last night wasn't...
10 fantastic DIY Father’s Day that kids can make themselves. Mostly. | Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017
I had so much fun rounding up these fantastic DIY Father's Day gifts that kids can make themselves -- well, maybe with a little help. I mean surely new motherhood is making me a bit biased, but I think there's nothing better than a handmade gift for Father's Day....
Cool Wonder Woman gifts that boys and men will love too.
Wonder Woman -- let alone an exclusive all-female screening of the Patty Jenkins-directed Wonder Woman movie -- does not frighten the boys and men in my life, and for that I am grateful. I mean, what kid wouldn't want to look up to a badass superhero who's a natural...
The best family board games for summer travel…because good things come in small packages.
My family loves to play board games. I'm talking, big, involved, takes-three-hours-to-play board games. And what better time to play than when we're on summer vacation? But, it can be tricky to travel with big boxes full of a zillion pieces. Luckily, we have found a...
4-in-1 playfort: The only one you’ll ever need.
It’s a camper. It’s a theater. It’s a food truck. It’s a playhouse. No, it’s… All of those things! Seriously. Buy one fort, get four. It is truly the only playfort your kids will ever need. Which is why we are so obsessed with the amazingly cool, brand new 4-in-1...
Smart tips for tackling digital clutter with Joshua Zerkel of Evernote | Spawned episode 77
If you're like us, you've got a bazillion photos sucking memory on your phone, not to mention all those unnamed documents on your computer. And we won't even talk about our email inboxes. But that's all about to change for us, and you, thanks to our special guest on...
A printable fidget spinner game gives new life to this year’s breakout toy
If your kids remain obsessed with their fidget spinners, like mine are, here's a new way to put them to use that won't drive you crazy: play with them together. And not at the dinner table, either. Thanks to artist mom Amanda Farnum and her clever kids, they've...
5 of the very best road trip tips from a mom of 4, to keep kids happy and parents sane. Mostly.
With summer almost here (yay!) we're looking forward to road trip season in which many families, like mine, are packing up our cars for short jaunts or long rides together. Of course if you've ever taken a road trip with kids, you know that even a quick hop to...