Meet the Mom Brain Behind the Kids Book That Nailed 2020
You may not know Lindsay Rechler by name (yet) but if you’re a parent, chances are you’ve heard of (and/or read 18x before bed) Rechler’s hit children’s book, Good Morning Zoom. Rechler, who normally works in banking, was inspired to write the book when she and her husband Zack — like so many of us parents in 2020 — had to learn to be distance-learning teachers (and chefs and coaches and more) for their kids. You know, in addition to their day jobs and parenting and generally trying to keep it all together amidst a global pandemic. NBD.
“This book,” Reichler’s publishers tell SheKnows, “was written for today’s children and for future generations to record the impact the pandemic had on our lives and how we weathered the storm together.” Hear, hear!
We caught up with Rechler to get the intel on her iconic book, as well as all her other product picks — from (non-Zoom-related) grownup reads to beauty buys to screen-free kid activities. Ahead is her personal prescription for pandemic parenting survival. Even if you, too, are a Dad glued to your iPad or a mom who wears one top nonstop.
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The podcast I have on repeat
“We like What if World. My kids ask a lot of questions. This podcast is fantastic storytelling based on ‘what if’ questions submitted by listeners.”
The books my kids are obsessed with
“Good Morning Zoom of course! We read that almost every night, but we love books and they also often request Giraffes Can’t Dance and Oh, The Places You’ll Go. My three-year-old can pretty much recite GMZ, so I agree to a change-up every now and then.”
What I’m currently reading myself
“I finally finished the Bruce Springsteen book, Born to Run. I am a huge fan. I also read Women’s Work which I’d highly recommend.”
The snacks I always keep on hand for the kids
“My kids love the MadeGood granola minis. They are easy to throw in your pocketbook and are tasty and healthy. I think they even have some vegetables hidden in the chocolate chunks.”
The beauty product that’s always in my bag
“This may sound ridiculous, but Aquaphor. I work in finance and between my day job, managing two kids, and writing a book, a little Aquaphor on my chapped lips or dry skin goes a long way!”
The apps that make my life as a parent easier
“I use Remini for my kids’ school. It’s a one-stop shop for pictures, school reminders and health questionnaires. My daughter often steals my phone and plays Daniel Tiger Play at Home. While I try to avoid screen time, it’s an occasional distraction while I get through some emails.”
The parenting accounts I love to follow
“I love Kendra Randle. She was an early fan of Good Morning Zoom and is a role model mom who just launched a contemporary clothing line called KALORE. I’m looking forward to our kids getting together in NY!”
The non-screen activity that keeps my kids occupied for hours
“My son discovered indoor hockey, which is very difficult when you live in a NYC apartment. Our kitchen table has become a goal post. I try to occupy the kids with puzzles and they really enjoy Zingo, which is a kids version of Bingo. You can play with multiple people and I enjoy it myself!”
The TV shows I actually enjoy watching with my kids
“This is a great question, because every time my kids ask to watch TV, I say to myself, please, don’t pick… I am personally a fan of Sesame Street. It’s timeless, and the music ensembles are thoroughly enjoyable. We are also Daniel Tiger and Peppa Pig supporters. My daughter sings Daniel Tiger jingles in an English accent, so I have accepted both shows as part of our routines.”
The kid-friendly music I don’t hate playing around the house
“My kids happen to like Springsteen, Tom Petty and Counting Crows so I consider myself lucky. Do The Beach Boys count as kid music? We like a good rendition of ‘Barbara Ann.’ If I go children’s classic, I have to stick with Raffi.”
My favorite subscriptions for the kids
“In quarantine I downloaded about every educational game and subscription you can think of. I like ABC Learning and was also able to download the Bob Books on Kindle for my four-year-old. Pre-quarantine, I frequently used my KidPass subscription to find local classes for the kids after school and during the weekends.”
Top kid-friendly bath/skincare picks
“I keep it simple with Dove products for the kids — my husband and I too!”
Under-the-radar kids clothing brands I love
“I am a huge fan of Shock Kids in Westhampton Beach NY. It’s a small store that’s been around since I was a kid, and the owner, Elyse, has the best stuff. She carries Mish Mish, Flowers by Zoe, Splendid, Hannah Banana and Vintage Havana. She also owns the awesome ice cream shop next door, so my kids are willing to shop and eat!”
How I keep my mom wardrobe on point
“My wardrobe consists mainly of black work pants and blazers. When I first moved in with my husband, his friends came by to help us with the move and I got a ton of slack for the three wardrobe boxes labeled ‘Lindsay’s work pants’ which all had 50+ hangers of the same straight-leg black slack. I guess he embraced it because he married me anyway. Lately, as accurately shown in Good Morning Zoom, I’m that mom ‘in her top she’s been wearing non-stop.’ I have recently discovered the Joah Love matching sweat suits to accommodate this 24/7 pajama look.”
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