Hi, I’m Molly — a stay-at-home mom of 8 kids ranging from ages 2 to 17. If you clicked on this page, you’re probably wondering: who’s behind this site, and can I actually trust what I’m reading?
Fair question. Let me be upfront with you.
The Real Story
I started GiftExperts in 2019 because I was exhausted by gift guides that were obviously written by people who’d never actually given a toy to a real child. You know the ones — generic lists churned out in October and abandoned until the next year, full of items that look great in photos but fall apart by December 26th.
With eight kids, my house is basically a year-round toy testing laboratory. Eight birthdays. Eight Christmas lists. Endless playdates. I’ve watched thousands of toys get opened, played with for five minutes, and forgotten — and I’ve seen the rare ones that become treasured for years. That experience is what I share here.
Why You Should Trust Me (And Why You Might Not)
I’m not a child psychologist or a toy industry insider. I’m a mom who’s been in the trenches of gift-giving for almost two decades. What I offer is practical, real-world experience — not theoretical expertise.
But I’ve also become obsessed with understanding why some gifts work and others don’t. That’s why we’ve built out our Gift Science section — real research on how kids’ brains process gifts at different ages, why toddlers prefer boxes to toys, and what actually makes a gift memorable. I read the studies so you don’t have to.
What I promise:
- No sponsored content. Ever. If it’s on a list, it’s because kids actually love it.
- No paid placements. Brands can’t buy their way onto my guides.
- Weekly updates through Christmas. I remove sold-out items and add new finds.
- Honest about affiliate links. Yes, I earn commissions — that’s how I keep doing this.
Why “Just Molly”?
You might notice I don’t use my last name or post photos of my kids. That’s intentional. My children didn’t choose to have their mom run a website, and they deserve their privacy. In an age where everyone shares everything, I’ve chosen to protect my family while still being genuinely helpful to yours.
I know this might make some people skeptical. “Is she even real?” Yes, I am. I just believe my kids’ faces don’t need to be part of my work. You can judge me by the quality of my recommendations, not my Instagram grid.
Why We’re Not on Social Media
Speaking of Instagram — we’re not there. Or TikTok. Or Facebook.
This is a deliberate choice. Social media rewards quick, flashy content that games the algorithm. It rewards controversy and hot takes. It doesn’t reward the kind of careful, research-backed, regularly-updated content that actually helps parents find great gifts.
I’d rather spend my time updating guides with fresh recommendations than creating reels. I’d rather read child development research than chase viral moments. The trade-off is that we grow slowly, through word-of-mouth and people actually finding our content helpful. That works for me.
More Than Just Gift Lists
Over the years, GiftExperts has grown beyond simple gift guides. Parents kept asking me the same questions: “Why does my toddler want everything they see on YouTube?” “How do I stop grandparents from buying too much?” “Is it bad that my kid cried after opening presents?”
So I started researching and writing about the psychology of gift-giving. Now we cover:
- Gift Science — What actually happens in kids’ brains when they receive gifts
- Gift Problems — Real solutions for too many toys, grandparent overflow, and gift overwhelm
- Gift Traditions — Building rituals that kids actually remember
- Digital Age Gifting — Why kids want what YouTubers have and how to navigate it
- Gift Values — Raising grateful, generous kids through thoughtful giving
Every article cites real research — from Stanford and Harvard studies to child development journals. I’m not making this up or sharing “vibes.” When I say something works, I can tell you why it works.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a polished influencer with a curated aesthetic, that’s not me. If you want someone who’s actually lived through the chaos of eight kids opening presents on Christmas morning and can tell you what survived — that’s what I offer.
Over 2 million families visit GiftExperts each year. Not because of viral marketing, but because the recommendations actually work. That’s the only metric I care about.
Thanks for being here. I hope I can help you find something that makes a kid’s face light up.
— Molly
Have questions or feedback? I’d love to hear from you.