You aren’t choosing an app while sipping tea in a quiet room. You’re handing over your phone because:

• You’re in the middle of a checkout line at Costco and a meltdown is imminent.

• Your child is being loud in a place that requires “indoor voices.”

• You’re “touched out” and just want to eat a warm meal at a restaurant.

• You just need five minutes to be a person instead of a jungle gym.

In those moments, my competition isn’t some educational giant like GoNoodle. My competition is a desperate “What can I give my kid right now so I can just breathe?”

Sam and I always end of watching an marathon of “Love it or List it” whenever we are winding down at night on vacation. If you haven’t watched this show, basically a realtor, David Visentin, and a home improvement contractor ‘compete’ to convince homeowners to either love the renovations in their home or list their house and move out.

Now, if there was an Academy Award for feigning a “I’m gonna win this time” attitude, David Visentin, would win it hands down every year. Basically, homeowners spend their own money improving a house where they have already made memories, friends, community, and significant investment. While the major renovation is happening at their house, David is showing them houses they could sell their newly renovated home to get.

Looking for outdoor activities for kids that are actually fun and meaningful? These ideas help children ages 5–10 build confidence, explore their environment, and stay engaged without screens.

For many autistic children, learning isn’t the challenge — the environment is.

Homeschooling a Child with ADHD: Simple Strategies That Actually Work. Homeschooling a child with ADHD doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Discover simple, flexible strategies, ADHD-friendly activities, and homeschool programs that actually work for neurodivergent learners.

My husband, Sam, is a writer. He creates amazing stories and characters, and he truly just loves to write for the sake of writing. Over the years, he’s come to me with the most despondent face saying “I have to kill one of my darlings.”

While I love my husband and will always feel sad when he’s sad, I never really understood the torment. It’s not a real killing. It’s just an edit.

Smash cut to Emily now, building Wanderwing, heartbroken over letting go of a Boring Beetle.

On Monday, my idea for Wanderwing earned me something big: I won the ATL Startup Village #103 - Pitch Off—and a yearlong membership.

On Friday, I got my first real payoff.

Every Friday from 10–12, ATV founders can grab short advisor sessions. I sat down with A.T. Gimbel, and in just a few minutes, he quietly blew up a belief I didn’t realize I was building my entire strategy on.

Wanderwing started with a snail. My 10 year old daughter, found a snail in our front yard. She was obsessed with this snail for 2 solid weeks. She desperately needed to add this snail to our already long list of family pets which include a Boxer-Labrador mix, Hound mix, and 2 Albino Leopard Geckos. She searched up ‘how to care for snails.’ She created a slide deck on why she needed this snail as a pet. Just about every family conversation revolved around this snail.

As a mom of 2 girls, I’ve watched my daughters and their friends grow up on screens. I’ve watched some kids have tantrums when they have to put down a screen and others simply put it down and walk away. I’ve watched my daughters use screens as a tool to learn about their world, and I’ve watched them bed rot on a Saturday scrolling for longer than I would like.

Both of my daughters are Generation Alpha. I’m not a researcher or educator. I’m a mom who’s watching my girls navigate technology while still fiercely protecting their childhood.

Wanderwing was created for families who want their kids to grow up curious, confident, and comfortable in their own minds—without screens running the show.

My 13-year-old daughter is amazing. And she’s also 13. Which means the bouncy silly girl with unbridled joy of a golden Labrador has been replaced with a cat. If our questions aren’t interesting enough, she gives us a shrug and a ‘hmm.’ When we try to keep up with the latest ‘tea’ at school, more often than not, we get a ‘I don’t know.’

I have a very vivid memory. Tell me if you have something similar. Cause I’ve got an idea.

I’m in the front row of a movie theater with my twin boy cousins. The red upholstery on the seats is scratchy, so we’re all sitting on the edge. We have candy hidden in our raincoats, and we can’t eat it until the lights turn off.

We just have to get through this week, and then next week, it will slow down. This is the lie busy parents tell themselves every week.

I’ve always been a little bit obsessed with flamingos. But after learning about Frankie, the flamingo who flew 200 miles with clipped wings, I am completely obsessed with this one flamingo. Frankie got me thinking about my life and I hope Frankie will inspire you to think about yours.

“Of course, we show up for each other.” This has been our response to a ‘thank you’ for 16 years now. While we say ‘of course’ we both know that showing up for each other is an intentional daily choice.

Halloween doesn’t have to be all sugar and spooky chaos. 👻
This year, Wanderwing invites families to try something new — something that gets kids outside, sparks imagination, and lasts longer than a bag of candy.

Introducing #WanderwingRocks — a candy-free Halloween tradition built on curiosity, creativity, and connection.

If you’re a small startup trying to grow your email list and brand awareness on a budget, take a page from Wanderwing, a playful new app that helps kids get outside and explore the world beyond screens.

Instead of buying ads, Wanderwing launched a campaign called #WanderwingRocks — and it’s proof that the best marketing ideas are sometimes the simplest ones.