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.

Shhh

“I Masturbated While Thinking Of My Best Friend & Had The Best Orgasm” & 27 Other Mom Confessions

By Samantha Darby

Oh, my.

How Are They So Hungry

No One Told Me That Tweens Become Toddlers Again

By Samantha Darby

So clingy. So needy. So sleep-deprived.

I'll Take All Of 'Em

17 Skirt Sets We’re Wearing All Summer Long

By Samantha Darby

Leggings are out and skorts with matching tanks are in.

Teen Power

Do Teens Give Each Other Birthday Presents? One Mom’s Story Has Parents Talking

By Samantha Darby

When her teen got zero gifts (but her tween got plenty), a parent asked Reddit if birthday etiquette shifts with age.

Summer Reading List

22 New Books For Your Middle Schooler To Read This Summer

By Samantha Darby

Screentime? Never heard of her.

Stay Bold

Stop Apologizing For Your Kid's Personality

By Samantha Darby

They aren't too loud or too much, and you have to show them that.

An "everything" shower, plz

"I Have To Shower Before Sex & It's Killing The Vibe"

By Samantha Darby

A mom just like us — comparing prices at the grocery store, cheering at the baseball field three times a week, running PTA meetings — shares her sex story, no matter how “boring” or “shocking” it may be.

PHEW

“I Want To Eat My Friend’s Taco” & 44 Other Mom Confessions

By Samantha Darby

Listen, this week’s confessions are wild.

SOS

How Does Your State Rank With Work-Life Balance For Working Moms?

By Samantha Darby

As if we didn’t have it hard enough, where we live can deeply affect how tough being a working mom is for us.

Here comes the sun

22 Girl Names That Feel Like Summer

By Samantha Darby

We’re looking for bright, punchy, and lovely names here.

Do U Want To Be My BFF? Y Or N?

We’re Socializing Less Than We Used To, But Is Being “Busy” Really The Reason?

By Samantha Darby

Maybe it’s time we stop blaming a lack of time and look at what’s actually getting in the way of connection.

The Anger... It *Burns*

27 Weirdly Specific Things That Instantly Ruin A Mood

By Samantha Darby

Great, now I’m full of rage.

Panic Mode

A Mom Needs Advice After Her Daughter Got Into A Dream College They Can’t Afford

By Samantha Darby

One parent asked Reddit how to handle her daughter’s “unrealistic expectations” after the teen applied — and was accepted — to her extremely expensive top-choice school.

*Add To Cart*

From Needohs To Jellycats, Why We Obsessively Hunt Toys For Our Kids

By Samantha Darby

It’s giving Beanie Babies, and we all know how that went.

Judgment-free Zone

“Threesomes Saved Our Marriage” & 34 Other Mom Confessions

By Samantha Darby

You’re going to need a mop for all this spilled tea.

My One True Must-Have

I’ve Tried A Lot Of Mascaras, But This Is My Forever Favorite

By Samantha Darby

Never has one single makeup product made me look as put together.

Goodbye, Money

This Mom’s Teen Has An Expensive “Hobby” — & Now Wants To Add Another

By Samantha Darby

Between the cost, the commute, and the time commitment, Mom is already stretched thin. What would you do?

Pass The Sunscreen

If You Want Your Kid To Have A '90s Summer, You Have To Be A '90s Summer Mom

By Samantha Darby

And it’s a lot more work than letting them play Roblox all day. (But you can do it.)

Pass The Sunny D

19 Children’s Books You Should Re-Read This Summer

By Samantha Darby

You said you wanted a ‘90s summer, right? Well, here you go. (Don’t forget to log the titles for your library contest.)

All The Whimsy Please

Parents Are Sharing The Little Things They Do To Make Childhood Magical For Their Kids

By Samantha Darby

A mom asked Reddit for “silly, stupid” things that make growing up feel special, and Reddit delivered.