Spawned Parenting Podcast with Liz of Cool Mom Picks

Has intervening in your children's issues become the new parenting pastime? Kristen and Liz discuss when to step in, when not to, and why it's important for kids to fail. But first, we're laughing about our own family members who might possibly be bringing their own condiments to restaurants. (Sometimes it's like we're living in a Seinfeld episode!) Have you ever brought your own coffee or, you kn...

Today Kristen and Liz weigh in on Kim Cattrall's recent statement that you don't have to have children to be a mother. Which....uh. Well, we have a few thoughts about that. Then, we take on "the last parenting taboo": Admitting you let your kids walk to school alone. Are kids really unsafe these days? Or is it really the parents who are unsafe from all the people out there calling 911 for no reaso...

Today we're trying to navigate one of the many parenting mysteries: Kids and chores. Because, really, who doesn't love free labor. Though, if you're paying for them, is it really free after all? But first, we have a good laugh over Liz's address book, which is apparently full of names like "Sally GymasticsMom." We're not the only ones who can't remember anyone's name anymore, are we? And as always...

Today Kristen and Liz are laughing -- hard --  about the most embarrassing Google searches by state, and we share some of the (seriously, seriously weird) queries that have lead people to our own sites. Then we're talking after-school activities, clubs and teams: Are our kids overscheduled? Underscheduled? When do you let kids quit and when do you push? And who the heck are the saintly parents out...

This week, we answer a listener's question about how not to screw up your kids. We may or may not have given her the advice she was hoping for but hey, it's the truth! We also talk about NFL player James Harrison's controversial move to make his son give back a participation trophy he didn't think was "earned." Should he have done it? Should there even be participation trophies? And guess which tr...

Today we get feisty about the people protesting target’s removal of BOYS TOY signs from the store. Because without that sign, how would boys even know what to play with? But first, we try to figure out why there are so many of these weird holidays popping up. National Middle Child Day! More Herbs, Less Salt Day! How is this happening? And as always, we share our cool picks of the week, one of whic...

If you need a break from all things children, lie back and get comfortable with this very special R-rated episode of Spawned. Today we discuss the Lenny Kravitz wardrobe malfunction, Kristen's Netflix (and Lenny Kravitz gif) addiction, and Liz plays the Binge Watching Matchmaker, to help fix Kristen up with the perfect series to binge watch after the kids are in bed. Also stick around for the funn...

Today we're talking about sending our girls off to sleepaway camp and by God, if it doesn't make you crave a cold pitcher of bug juice and a steamer trunk full of s'mores, we don't know what will. Then we rewind a bit to answer some listener letters about surviving the newborn years. Which you will! Actually, we're not sure if our walk down sleep-deprived, leaky-boobed, postpartum memory lane is h...

You picked a fun day to join us! Today on SPAWNED, we’re talking about kids and media — when do you let your kids watch certain movies? Are you more concerned about sex or violence? Which classic kids' musical actually terrified us more than the Hunger Games? And who else thinks the Dark Crystal was totally creepy?    Also, Kristen regales us with online dating stories, and her list of Instant No’...

Thanks for joining us! In this episode, Liz shares sordid tales from her high school reunion, and some of the surprising benefits of turning 40. Then we take on the delicate topic of picky eaters, and break down 10 top tips that we've found from experts. (Some of which are like...what? We're not supposed to do that with our kids? Oops.) We debate whether we supposed to hide healthy foods in other...

In a previous episode, Kristen mentioned putting on your grownup panties (metaphorically) as a parent, and now a reader wants to know about our recos for actual grownup panties. We may reveal too much here. Literally. Apologies. Also, are we the only ones who hate the word panties? And why do we keep talking about them? WE DON'T KNOW EITHER.   Then we talk about three-year-olds in nail salons and...

Once again we get an explicit language warning, probably because we make a tampon joke. (Or four.) Today we're talking about summer birthdays, and how to get away with a total Type B Mom, non-Pinterest-y birthday. Then we're onto one of our biggest hot-button topics: Girl toys and boy toys. What's with the labels? Do "girl toys" require ovaries to make them work? Are maxi-pads involved? Why is Liz...

Today we're talking about email etiquette and some of our own pet peeves. NOTE: Please don't send us angry emails, Comic Sans fans. Or can you at least send them in Helvetica? We're also answering our first listener question from dad James, who's having some serious playdate problems. We've been there, so we discuss some helpful tips and funny anecdotes that we hope will help other parents too. Al...

Today Kristen and Liz discuss the beginning of bathing suit season, and the egregious lack of skinny mirrors in the world. We also talk about family size (without a single Duggar reference, promise) and Kristen describes some of the most outrageous things that total strangers have said to her as a mom of four. Liz is actually still stunned about it. Plus, we share our favorite cool picks of the we...

We're glad you found us! In this episode, we talk about parents trying to keep up with TV and movies, and Liz springs a pop culture pop quiz on Kristen, who is the best sport about it ever. We also discuss the new hot sport in America: Public shaming of parents on cell phones in the playground. (So fun!) Is there legitimacy to the complaints or is it overblown? Maybe a little of both? Plus we shar...

Kristen and Liz welcome you to the premier episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz. (What are the chances that we are hosting a show with our own names in it? That worked out so well!) In this episode we talk about how we came up with the name Spawned, and why we decided not to go with The Cereal Podcast. We also discuss tips for managing your kids’ screen time—and maybe your own — and our idea fo...

Hi, we're Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of CoolMomPicks.com. We've got a microphone and more than the two minutes the Today Show gives us, and we're not afraid to use them. Join us for parenting culture discussions, non-judgy (mostly) tips, and humor, if we've had enough coffee.   "Spawned is the best podcast ever! I love Kristen and Liz. I even schedule my shoot days around the new episodes." -...