The other day, my three-year-old son’s beloved stuffed sheep went from being a sheep to a baby – Baby Moana, to be specific. We’d seen the movie as a family over the holidays and a few months earli...
It Could Have Been Called Humanity’s March on Washington
As one of more than 500,000 people who marched on Washington last Saturday, I am still reeling and reveling in the enormity of the event.
On Vasectomies, White Walls, and Fresh Starts
When you finally admit you're done having kids, the freedom you're after can taste bittersweet.
How Star Wars Helped Me Embrace My Baby’s Helmet
Even though knowing my daughter's helmet would help was reason enough to appreciate it, making it a work of art was what helped us fully embrace it.
How Children Are Seeking (and Subverting) Approval Online
Studies are beginning to determine the effects of social media on the way kids view themselves. And the specific ways kids use these tools to get and give feedback can be troubling.
5 Unexpected Gender Differences in Children’s Clothing
Everyone knows that there are glaring differences between girls’ clothes and boys’ clothes. But the gap is even wider than I thought.
Dear Son: This Is How to Treat Women
Son, the world needs good men. I want to prepare you as best I can for the journey ahead of you, starting with this list.
Why I Never Compliment a New Mom’s Figure
I’ve recently decided not to praise new mothers about how they look, or even comment on their bodies at all.
A White Suburban Mom’s Response to “All Lives Matter”
“All Lives Matter” is not an inclusive phrase to unify the human race, but rather highlights the exact problem that the Black Lives Matter movement means to abolish.
Transitioning Love: Raising a Transgender Child
There is a lot of noise coming from the other room, but it’s happy noise, the sound of children playing, laughing, and talking in broken conversations that only make sense to three-year-olds. I pee...
I Refuse to Believe That Your Baby Sleeps in a Crib
As far as my parenting experience has taught me, babies sleeping in cribs is a unicorn sized myth, invented by Big Crib and perpetrated by jerks.
A Note to Every Working Mother’s Wing-Woman
The words thank you don’t seem to do justice to how thankful I actually am for you. You’re more than just a daycare teacher. You’re my wing woman.
When Furniture Falls, We Blame the Parents
Accidents happen. Parents and companies make mistakes. But in the age of social media, extending any sort of understanding has become a rare occurrence.
The Importance of Setting Family Goals – and How to Do It
As common as personal goals are for most of us, the vast majority of families have never given thought to setting goals for their family.
How 10 Minutes a Day Changed My Relationship With My Preschooler
When kids' behavior spirals out, dedicating focused, uninterrupted time with them can make all the difference.
Another Snow Day, Without the Magic
Today, we enter into our sixth snow day in 30 days. The magic is gone and I'm fresh out of ideas.
How to Navigate Todder Fears of Blow-up Penguins and Stray Hairs
Being a hero in the eyes of my little ones is a perk of motherhood I expected. I assumed I’d be saving my kids from bees, the deep end of the swimming pool, and the mean kids at the park, but I nev...
The Unexpected: Grieving the Loss of a Surprise Pregnancy
When I fantasized about leaving New York City, three things shone brightest on my mental wish list. Most obviously, a garbage disposal. You never realize how useful they are until you’re not allowe...
This Is Your Kid's Brain on Porn
These days, porn is never more than a few clicks away. And according to researchers, the effects on the brain are similar to the effects of drugs.
How a Parent’s Affection Shapes a Child’s Happiness for Life
There have been a number of recent studies that highlight the relationship between parental affection and children’s happiness and success.
Toddlers Are the Most Chivalrous of Us All
When it comes to being generally cheerful, excited, and happy to see you, no one does it better than toddlers.
Why Working Out Disagreements in Front of Your Kids is Good for Them
Research shows parents who manage disagreements well are actually modeling healthy conflict resolution for their kids.
7 Reasons I Wish I Were Raising My Kids in the 80s
If Marty and Dr. Emmett Brown offered to give my family and me a ride in their DeLorean, I’d want to go straight back to the 80s and raise my kids there.
Can We Please Stop Trying to One-Up Each Other?
Parenting is not a competition. But some moms seem to think so.