Anxiety had already been a concern for many of our kids before the Covid pandemic hit, and as we all know, the current situation isn't helping. All of us are having to navigate an entirely new way of life right now, and it can be particu…
With the CDC recommendations that we now where face masks in public , I made a few myself - no sewing involved! - and purchased a couple from a few local businesses who have pivoted their businesses during this Coronavirus pandemic . But…
I have spent the past week grappling with whether or not to make my own face mask and upgrade from the bandana I've been wearing over my mouth and nose when I head out for groceries. The thing is, I don't sew. This post last updated Apri…
We've all been seeing our social feeds fill up with amazing "OMG THIS IS FREE RIGHT NOW!" posts from friends, and it's hard to keep track of it all! Between the online story time for kids, the Club Quarantine virtual dance parties , the …
My local YMCA is shut down for the foreseeable future, which means I've been on the hunt for handy gym alternatives I can try at home. While a simple walk (or run) outside works perfectly fine, if you're missing the extra zing you got at…
Let's be honest: We don't each need 600 rolls of toilet paper on hand right now. Not that that's stopping some people! But after a really stressful week of a COVID-19 scare involving a quarantined relative in D.C. , it did put the situat…
As COVID-19 / Coronavirus anxiety ramps up, the store shelves are picked fairly clean of hand sanitizer and so many of my friends are talking about making their own hand sanitizer. While we still caution against panic , hand sanitizer is…
Even though we're nearing the end of cold and flu season (hooray!), we parents, in particular, are surrounded by a whole lot of bugs on a regular basis, regardless of what season it is. And if you've been watching the news, then you've p…
Coronavirus (COVID-19), is on the minds of basically everyone worldwide right now, and that goes double for parents. Especially with spring break coming up, and lots of family travel plans in the works -- and brand new warnings to prepar…
When we first started this site in 2006, eco-friendly was one of our most popular tags. Parents were concerned about where their products were made , what ingredients were in them, and how they impacted the planet. Then the recession hit…
Lately, I've seen a lot of well-meaning posts from people around my social networks, with comments like, "well I want to protect the environment....that's why we're getting a fake Christmas tree this year." Suddenly I was like crap, shou…
Kristen and Liz have talked a lot about self-care and how important it is for parents on their Spawned parenting podcast. I know it's a big issue for me, and for lots of us. Parenting culture seems to push and push us to do more and more…
A few weeks ago, I decided I really needed to start working out again. As a 40-something-year old mom of four kids, I know how important fitness is to my health and wellness. But, I'm also a busy working 40-something-year old mom of four…
When you've got middle and high school aged girls who may be feeling awkward or uncomfortable in their changing bodies, getting into athletic clothes for gym or dance or after school activities that give them a little more confidence is …
This is a sponsored message from VSP Individual Vision Plans A lot of family members offer practical gifts that help support our kids in big ways, like school tuition, summer camp, after school activities, and college savings plan donati…
Is some new toothbrush a thing to get all pumped about? Generally...no. I mean I am a recent devotee of Quip and Quip Kids after reading Kristen's raving reviews, but now I've found a low-tech toothbrush that gets me just as excited abou…
For a long time I had been hearing about a terrible link between aluminum and deodorant. We have even had writers through the years who have insisted on only using natural deodorants, which, cool. Because we believe in choices. But sever…
The stigma that still exists around periods and talking about the menstrual cycle is ridiculous -- but getting better. No judgment, by the way. It's ingrained in much of our culture not to talk about this stuff which (surprise!) makes it…
I always have responded to my kids' bruises and scraped needs with, "good! That shows that you're being a kid!" And it's true. They've become proud of their playground battle scars -- but that doesn't necessarily make the initial pain go…
If you've seen the new report from the FDA concluding that chemical sunscreens are not as safe as we thought -- for you or the environment -- you may be looking for the best mineral sunscreens out there to replace your former go-to. I st…
In light of the inhumane, outrageous, regressive, and entirely cruel Alabama anti-abortion law signed yesterday, Kristen and I knew we couldn't be silent today. Let's be perfectly clear: Making abortion illegal does not eliminate abortio…
When Brittney Hogan's husband was killed in action in Afghanistan, she found herself coping in not so healthy ways. That was until a friend convinced her to go for a run and everything changed. From that experience, her 503(c) non-profit…
It’s 4 AM and I’m awake. For whatever reason, I’m up and so is my mind. I toss back and forth for at least an hour before exhaustion takes over and I finally fall back asleep. Well, only until a small child wakes me up again and starts s…
When I heard that the FDA had approved the first-ever drug to treat postpartum depression , I was thrilled. Given how commonplace this serious mental health condition is, and how severe the impact can be on the entire family , I've alway…