Samantha Darby

Samantha is a #girlmom to three little ladies, and a Senior Lifestyle Editor and writer for Romper. She began at Romper in 2015 as a lifestyle writer before the site officially launched, working out of Google docs when Romper didn’t even have a name, and became a lifestyle editor in 2017. In 2022, she was promoted to Senior Lifestyle Editor. Samantha covers a wide variety of topics under the lifestyle umbrella, including parenting, TTC, pregnancy, sex and relationships, and product roundups. She also focuses a lot of her work on baby name coverage, essays about motherhood, children’s books, and holiday content. She loves a good, wholesome, Jennifer Garner-vibes essay.

In 2020, she won a BDG Edit Award for Best Headline for When Grandmas Duel, We All Win, Don’t We?

Before working at Romper, Samantha worked as a freelance writer and had essays published at Motherlode, HelloGiggles, Barnes & Noble Kids, Babble, Work It, Mom!, and The Huffington Post. She also dabbled a bit in digital marketing and writing content for small businesses. She’s currently working on a novel.

On her way to becoming a full-time writer and editor, Samantha was a professional actor in Atlanta, doing stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, theatre, and generally auditioning her heart out. It was good practice for motherhood, where she routinely has to follow the exact scripts her daughters give her while playing Barbies. She lives in Georgia with her husband and her three girls — Alice, Lucy, and Clara.

You can contact Samantha by email at samantha.darby@bustle.com or find her on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Mind Your Own Business

Stop Telling Moms They’re “No Fun” For Actually Parenting

By Samantha Darby

Reddit is rallying around a mom who’s tired of being cast as the bad guy for enforcing basic rules.

We Parents Co-Sign

A Recent Girl Scouts USA Study Found That Girls Are “Scared” To Grow Up

By Samantha Darby

Same, girl, same.

Need More Coffee

An Ode To The Moms Who Look Wrecked At School Drop-Off

By Samantha Darby

*Katniss fist pump in the air*

Get The Budget Ready

Should Teens Have A “Hygiene Allowance”? How Much?

By Samantha Darby

One parent asked Reddit if $100/month on beauty and hygiene items was “reasonable” for their teen.

Sexual Fairness

If Your Man Refuses To Go Down On You, Stop Giving Him Blowjobs

By Samantha Darby

I said what I said.

*Your Payment Has Posted*

OK, So Everybody’s Struggling To Pay For Their Kids’ Extracurriculars, Right?

By Samantha Darby

Don’t forget, you have to buy snacks for 18 kids tomorrow.

So Sweet

These 29 Whimsical Baby Boy Names Are Downright Delightful

By Samantha Darby

Take a dash of literature and a big spoonful of wonder, and you get the most whimsical baby boy names.

Bliss

The Official Teaser For Netflix’s Little House On The Prairie Is Here

By Samantha Darby

If you were looking for good wholesome vibes, here you go.

Gimme Gimme Gimme

You Can Now Buy The Most Iconic American Girl Dolls *In A Bundle*

By Samantha Darby

The way I am going to beg for this for Christmas like I did when I was 9 years old.

Who Could've Guessed?

Of Course: Study Finds Men Who Want Tradwives Score High On “Hostile Sexism,” Not Chivalry

By Samantha Darby

Wow. Shooketh. Brand! New! Information!

Quiet, My Show's On

“I’m A College Professor With A Crush On A Student” & 27 Other Mom Confessions

By Samantha Darby

Is it spring break yet?

Grok Is Not An Author

AI Shouldn’t Be Telling Your Kids Bedtime Stories — That’s Your Job

By Samantha Darby

And if you don’t know how to tell your kid a story without ChatGPT, you’re f*cked.

Kindness Above All Else <3

Sesame Workshop Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month With Resources For *Every* Age

By Samantha Darby

You're never too old (or too young) to learn how to be a kinder, more inclusive friend.

The Ultimate Comfort

Are You Raising “Parents' Bedroom Kids”? Here’s What That Actually Means

By Samantha Darby

They don't want to be in the living room, and they don't want to be in their room — but they are all up in *my* bed.

*closes laptop*

This Mom Wants To Know If She’s The Only One Who Stopped Striving At Work After Kids

By Samantha Darby

One parent asked Reddit if they were alone in giving up job dreams once they had kids.

That Mom

Mara Martin Believes Millennial Moms Are *It*

By Samantha Darby

We’ve been through it all — so we’re going to enjoy not just our kids’ childhood, but our motherhood, too.

Plz Send Coffee

A Desperate Mom Wanted To Know What To Do When Your Kids Wake Up Too Early & Parents Had The Best Responses

By Samantha Darby

Here are a bunch of tips and tricks from parents who have survived the pre-dawn wake-ups.

Well, This Is Nice!

One Mom Is Letting Her Adult Kid Live With Her Rent-Free & The Internet Is Being Super Supportive

By Samantha Darby

In this economy?

🐣🐰🌷

What The Scary Mommy Editors Are Putting In Their Kids’ Easter Baskets

By Samantha Darby

Besides jelly beans and sidewalk chalk.

Can you keep a secret?

“My Spouse Came Out As Trans & Our Sex Life Has Never Been Better” & 34 Other Mom Confessions

By Samantha Darby

March has been quite the month.