Our kids were born into a world with social media. While we may have checked AOL Instant Messenger away messages in college, that's the equivalent of a carrier pigeon to what they have at their fingertips today. And, the waters for how manage this world are muddy - at best. Since several of our Spilling Goodness moms are on just the cusp of this challenge, we've tapped into two guest mom contributors. They are moms of older kids and generously added their experience to the

Let's talk about the speed of summer - yes, it does seem to fly by, but overall how does a summer day feel? Rushed, on-the-go, scheduled, "full" OR slower, unscheduled, wandering and "open"? Either way, when we settle into the rhythm of our summers, do our kids get bored? Get busy? Get creative? Or, get curious?

To quote Harry Styles, "Watermelon sugar high!" Or, shall we say, "Watermelon sugar - Hi!"?? Bringing a lighter look at a summer favorite today - the little "ah" that comes from a perfectly sweet summer watermelon. On a hot day, poolside, pre-cut, mixed into a mocktail (or cocktail), added to a salad, happily on a plate next to something grilled - let us count the (little) ways that watermelon is such a simple treat.

Their love of reading is contagious, it feels like they have collectively read every book on the planet and combined they spill so much goodness while wheeling their Book Club Cart. And, today we have the treat of bringing both their passion for reading and their practical advice to some of our biggest questions. We are asking Ali and Emilee about all things reading related!

In one way or another, AI is becoming more and more a part of daily life. We've all heard the discussions around "the wild, wild west," the gold rush of AI, how kids use AI in school, AI-generated images and the power this resource has to change daily tasks. So, here 6 moms all share just how we are using AI "as a tool, not a crutch", as Ashley explained. As something we will all undoubtedly learn more about, here is a collection of how we're turned to AI, so far.

School lunches can run the gamut - from the ever familiar PB&J to a high schooler who goes out to lunch, eat kiddo has a different preference. With 18 kids among us, we each share how we handle this mid-day meal (or heavy snack), if we pack a lunch, when and some favorites. And, see how lunch at school pairs with an after school meal that for some is even more fortifying.

Maybe you grew up with all of your extended family nearby or maybe they are scattered all over the country. The ease staying connected can be influenced by proximity, but it can also be influenced by effort - and technology.

From the planning to the packing, preparing for a trip involves countless steps before we're ready for take off. Whether we are packing for ourselves (or overpacking!), helping our kids get ready or getting all the ducks in a row that make travel more seamless, each step gets us closer to having a great vacation.

This week, we give the mic to our husbands! In honor of Valentine's Day, we flipped the script and we each asked our husbands to answer a question about us. With a list of questions to pick from, not only was is so fun to learn about each other in a different way, but it was so interesting to hear how our own hubby each answered the question.

Game changers. That's how each of us described the things we've woven into our lives to make them a little more effiicient. As 6 moms with 18 kids combined, there are a lot of balls in the air - constantly. So, any trick we've uncovered that streamlines life a little bit - we're here for it.

Building systems and routines that help you get more accomplished or enjoy a moment more thoroughly - we're here for it. But, how? The idea of habit stacking includes taking one thing that is already an established part of your life (say brushing your teeth) and adding something to it. The established routine helps you hold on to the new addition and eventually it all becomes second nature - or, a habit. As Emilee put it, "The goal is to combine two action items and knock t

Gift giving for the holidays can be a lot. When we factor in gifts for our kids and husbands and then on to our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, close friends and so on, we've all worked out ways to keep the gifting meaningful - and manageable. From Secret Santas to White Elephants to picking a theme or a type of gift, there are so many ways to come together and exchange gifts and memories.

Holiday traditions anchor so much of this season- what we remember, what we look forward to and the overall feeling we connect to each December. When we reflect on our favorite traditions from childhood and what we've chosen to continue with our families, we can't help but wonder which traditions our kids will carry on with their families as well. Whether you've held on to a cherished tradition or perhaps you're looking to start a new one, we each share our favorites.

Time with our people is at the tippy top of the list of what fill us up. Whether that includes a planned out event or an intentionally unplanned evening, this time together is extra special. As 6 moms of 18 kids, our favorite family nights cover the gamut. From Rebecca's home cooked comfort food kicking off a night with her boys to Emilee's favorite plans matching each season we've all found a few things that act like magnets.

Giving of your time, talent, passions and resources is wildly important. As Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get and we make a life by what we give." And, as 6 moms, we are hoping to instill this love for our neighbors as we raise our children to be good humans. As Emilee noted, "I believe we are all called to give back, but in this phase of life, building the next generation of givers is crucial to our future society."

If preparing for cold and flu season was a recipe, we would start with the flu shot, mix in stocking up on some comfort items, add a dash of soap and bake it with our fingers crossed. While we can't control if anyone in our families gets a bug (or, God forbid, mom goes down!), we can takes some steps to try to keep a cold or flu at bay or be ready for it if it strikes. As Rebecca notes, "Benjamin Franklin said, 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,' and that is m

Seeing our kids love a sport, a game and a team is a great feeling, but all of the behind-the-scenes parent management of keeping up with the schedule can be a lot. As Ashley puts it, "Managing kids’ sports schedules might be my unofficial side hustle." But, as 6 moms of 18 kids, we have learned a few tricks along the way that simplify the chaos - a little bit.

Dinner preparing itself while you're on the go- we're here for it! Coming home to wonderful smells and a kitchen that is already cleaned up, but has a meal ready - yes! Crockpot recipes that are crowd favorites and make for easier weeknights, less clean up and great leftovers- we're spilling some tried and true options.

As the sun rises a little later, sets a little earlier and the temps start to dip, we settle in to cozy season - aka fall. This time of year lends itself to a plethora of activities and ways to savor the season - while it reminds us to settle in and get cozy.

Whether on the sidelines of our kids' games, gathering with friends and neighbors to watch a game on TV or simply having a game on in the background, the sounds of football are all around us this time of year. What do we love most about football season? Well, it differs between us, but what we do agree on is how the excitement around the game is contagious and how it brings us together.