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?

Who better to share why dads are so incredible than our children? In honor of Father's Day, we asked our kids to each answer a question about their dad. These three questions shine a light on their special relationships, connection and the countless lessons dads teach - often without even knowing it. As our best partners in parenting, it is extra special to hear how our kids feel their love. We hope these questions help as conversations starters.

Defining just exactly what mom guilt feels like isn't as easy as it sounds. Many sources note that it is a nagging feeling that you're not doing enough or being enough as a mom. Other sources note that it is the feeling of not living up to the expectations in our role as "mom." Perhaps it feels like you're being pulled in different directions and have a hard time knowing if we're doing it "right." With all the thoughts that follow, you'll see...

We are in for a major treat here!! In honor of Mother's Day, we went to the women, the myths, the legends - our own moms! Yes, we each asked our mom to share a tidbit of what they have learned during this thing called motherhood. All together they bring over 250 years of being called "mom," have 17 kids and 30 grandchildren. They are known as Nana, Ahma and Gigi and to us - Mom. They are who we turn to on good days and challenging days and it only seems fitting to turn to th

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.

There are 18 kids between our Spilling Goodness group of 6 moms. And, each one of them is unique, every day brings something new and every season we're learning about a new interest, milestone or challenge. As Emilee notes, "Parenting sure is a wild ride." Chatting about how we see, appreciate and react to the unique qualities of our children, we come back to fairness and connection.

It is easy to say, "A penny saved is a penny earned," (thank you Benjamin Franklin!), but how do you teach your kids about what things cost, about saving for bigger purchase, about saving for their future and about meeting needs and then wants? As Rebecca shares, "It’s a lot of conversations, a lot of honesty, and no shame."

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.

Whether a birthday tradition includes a morning surprise, a homemade surprise themed cake, balloons or an exciting trip - what holds true about all of our favorite ways to celebrate is making sure our people feel special. On someone's special day, whether our kids, hubbies or our own, knowing that the people around you love seeing you shine and feel loved makes the day.

Starting a new school year comes with lots of emotions, lots of activities and lots of things to juggle. With 18 kids between 6 moms, this is a busy and exciting time of year. How do we prepare our kids and ourselves for all that a new school year bring? With grace, organization, tackling one thing at a time, meal prepping and realizing that our presence and steadiness in this time of transition is really what's worth prioritizing.

With kids ranging from 11th grade to 1st grade, we are all at various stages of the parenting game. And, each of us have struggled with knowing the right timing for a cell phone for our kids. In Ali and Ashely's case, that time hasn't come yet. For Rebecca, with a Junior in High School, she's crossed that bridge, has a cell phone contract with her kids and has learned a lot along the way. Find 5 perspectives on this tricky milestone.

Parenting can be the hardest and the most rewarding job we'll ever face. Every season brings new experiences, new milestones, new memories and new challenges. Luckily, we have each other, we have our friends, colleagues, parents and even complete strangers to offer advice along the way. 6 moms with 18 kids combined share the best advice they've ever received.

Screen time- from toddlers to teenagers, the way we manage, monitor, guide and set boundaries evolves over time. There is no doubt that screens will forever be a part of our kids' lives, but how we as their parents oversee this multi-faceted challenge (and opportunity) is very individual to each family and to each child. As 6 moms with 18 kids combined, we have a range of approaches to this tricky subject.