parenting

Children make me giddy, whether I’m on the subway or in the park. Image: Adrianna Calvo/Pexels.

When None Of Your Feminist Friends Want Kids

Most of my friends are my age or slightly older and yet virtually none of them want children… ever. They argue that women deserve respect and autonomy over their bodies. I passionately agree. A few of these friends are, like me, engaged or married, but even they don’t want kids. One of my engaged friends says she and her fiancé may want to adopt children later in life, after they’ve had the chance to travel extensively.

Read...
I had to find a way to be the mother I wanted to be without paying such a huge price. Image: Jo Abi.

I Realized That Empathizing With Your Children Is Horrible For Your Health

I was paying a price for how I was parenting my children. Even before this study was released — confirming that more empathetic parents can suffer health issues — I knew it to be true because I felt it, I was living it, every day.

Read...
Human lives are at stake when your colleagues abuse their power... Image: Thinkstock.

An Open Letter To Police From A White Mother Of Mixed-Race Sons

I always believed that police used lethal violence to control citizens only as a last resort. Now it’s clear that they are jumping to it without fear — and without repercussion for their actions.
Do I believe all law enforcement acts this way? Of course not. But why do we so often see departments rally around and protect the bad apples?

Read...
Conversations about adoption happen regularly at our house, but it kind of sucks when our important conversations are triggered by the offhand question from someone who doesn’t know our family. Image: Thinkstock.

8 Ridiculous Adoption Questions This Transracial Family Has Been Asked

My family stands out. My kids are Asian, my husband and I are white. Most people will (correctly) assume our children are adopted.

Read...
Summer vacation is basically one long-ass weekend, right? Image: Tim Gouw/Unsplash.

5 Things I'll Avoid Doing This Summer That Will Make Me A Happier Mom

Being a work-from-home-mom, I used to kind of loathe summer because it meant balancing activities and still trying to get all my stuff done, but this year is different. I’m allowing myself to take it slow (probably because I have no choice, being 32 weeks pregnant) and enjoy being a mama this summer.

Read...
You have never had to be so flexible, literally and figuratively, in your life. Image: Hua Zhan/Pixabay.

Congratulations, New Parents — You're Screwed.

There is actually no way to prepare for parenthood.

Read...
Image: Thinkstock.com

American Parents Are Miserable — But Not Because They're Parents

Are you a parent? Do you feel unhappy? Do you feel constantly stressed? Do you wish you could take a breather without worrying that you'd be losing pay or potentially losing your job? Is childcare eating up more of your income than any other expense?

Read...
Your children will look back on these moments as memories that make them giggle for years to come. Image: London Scout/Unsplash.

Cursing, And Everything Else That Actually Isn't Messing Up Our Kids

Every single day of our lives, since the moment that we bring home our beautiful child from the hospital — well, actually, well before that — we are faced with a multitude of decisions that will impact their lives. Some decisions are more serious than others. Yet the constant need to rip parents apart for the decisions they make is so unnerving to me that I simply can’t take it anymore.

Read...