With the FIFA World Cup 2026 games making their way to Seattle this summer and Mother’s Day on the horizon, I couldn’t think of anyone more uniquely qualified to tie these two seemingly disparate strands into a neat little bow than South Sound mom and soccer star Stephanie Cox. She’s got some pro advice for us all, as do local parents who are sharing their joy hacks, just in time to combat Maycember’s chaos.

Looking ahead to more free time with the kids, our monthly Play List has an abundance of options, and our family fun editor shares her favorite new pop-up experience that’s here for a limited time. Finally, a local seventh grader, whose first book just debuted, walks kids through the process of getting published.