family

As She Battles COVID-19 Alone, My Mother Has Become Another Face In The Window
Like so many others, Cynthia Dockrell's mother is battling COVID-19 away from those who love her. Some 60 years ago, their family experienced something agonizingly similar.

Why You Should Never Stop Reading To Your Kids
The magic of being read to does not disappear just because it’s no longer a practical necessity, writes Sharon Brody.

Surprise! Research Says You Shouldn't Shy Away From Politics At Thanksgiving Dinner
By overestimating how unpleasant it will be to engage with those we disagree with, writes Timothy Phillips, we wind up tuning out the other side altogether.

The Gift Of Showing Up
Julie Wittes Schlack never fully appreciated the expression "your presence is present enough' until her daughter's recent wedding.

Meghan Markle Is Not OK, And That’s OK
We owe the Duchess of Sussex a debt of gratitude for saying publicly what all new mothers feel.
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'Do I Have To Leave Now?': Our Foster Care System Makes It Too Easy To Give Up On Kids
“You only need to give us 10 days notice if you this gets to be too much for you,” our caseworker told us one day. “No one would blame you...

'They' Is Here To Stay. Get Over It
My 12-year-old is now using "they" pronouns, writes Jane Roper. So far, people have been very supportive. But many also add, with varying degrees of consternation, that they just have...

Parents Of Newborns Aren't The Only Caregivers Who Need Paid Family Leave
Paid leave must take into consideration eldercare as well as childcare, writes Liz O'Donnell.

Good Childcare Is Out Of Reach For Too Many. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way
If mothers choose to stay home because of costs -- not because of personal preference -- it’s bad for women and bad for our economy.

Putting The Election In Perspective, For Our Kids (And For Ourselves)
As parents, we can teach our children that an election is not an apocalypse, but an opportunity to discuss and debate and be heard, writes KJ Dell'Antonia, and no one...

'Will You Die?' And Other Questions My Kids Have About Death
Death is a topic all parents have to address with their kids eventually. The experts offer some guidelines, writes Cloe Axelson, but in the moment, what does a parent say?

It Happens To All Of Us Eventually
Almost everyone I know has these instances of astonished recognition as we find ourselves turning into our parents, writes Julie Wittes Schlack.

I'd Rather Be Shopping For School Supplies
For the first time, writes Sharon Brody, neither of my kids is going back to school. It's disorienting and sad, but not for the reasons one might expect.

Child Care Is So Expensive I Can't Afford To Work
After accepting her dream job recently, Rebecca Linke -- a mother of three -- got the preschool bill. She then called to say she couldn’t take the job after all.

Relief Is The One Stage Of Grief No One Talks About
My parents wanted us to live every moment as fully as we could, writes Julie Wittes Schlack. It was their last and most generous act of love.

Looking For A Lost Son, She Found Her Mother's Voice
The shame I felt as a child was replaced by a love birthed in the empathy of my own loss, writes Marianne Leone.

These Aren’t Just Jewelry — They’re Medals For A Life Well Lived
Brooches can be like medals of honor, writes Susan E. Reed, marking our milestones and telling our life stories.

How Helicopter Parenting Primes Kids For A Crash
A Utah law to promote so-called "free-range parenting" only scratches the surface of cultural changes we need to help kids thrive.

Talking With Kids About The News: We Asked, You Answered
Talking about the news requires parents to find a balance between offering their children safe harbor and exposing them to the often harsh realities of the world.

Mourning My Mother And Bequeathing Her Mighty Flock
Cleaning out my mother's apartment after she died was all pretty straightforward, writes Anita Diamant. Until we got to the owls.