What you call ‘helicopter parenting’ is just me helping my son learn how to be appropriate. Once people are done scrutinizing politicians and Kardashians, there appears to be nowhere left to level ill-conceived judgments but upon parents. We’re at the top of the list of people who earn—or in many cases, don’t earn—the derision, head-shaking, […]
This originally appeared on Everyday Feminism. Republished here with permission. I want for my daughters the same thing I want for myself: radical self-expression. Three years ago, my husband Kris and I took our final step toward a longtime goal of embracing a location-independent lifestyle. We sold most of our stuff, withdrew our daughters from […]
We need to make sure that our daughters are valued not just for their appearances or their grades, but because they are good people. Recently, amid tears and pleas for me to just listen and try to accept it, my daughter came out to me…as having an average intelligence. She was right to be worried. […]
At age 10, I was already reflecting on the fact that some of my earliest, definitive memories were of my parents fighting. Unhappily partnered parents: Please don’t stay together “for the kids.” I’m not married and I’m not a parent. Granted, should I eventually be married and have children with that partner and be contemplating […]
This originally appeared on Laura Farhy’s blog. Republished here with permission. I find myself worrying constantly about being judged poorly as a mother. If a kid is alive, healthy, and happy—shouldn’t that be enough? I take my son to this nearby park; and regardless of how many times we go, there always seems to be a […]
This originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. In those places where moms and strollers rule, he is sometimes seen as strange, even dangerous. But when you hurry your children out of his way, you are sending a message to him and to all of our children that all men can not be trusted. Dear People […]
All I wanted was the freedom to not have to think about who held the role of mother between us—but it was clear, it was always me. “I only have a few minutes,” my mother said in her usual rush the moment I answered the phone. “But this is important. Can I come by?” An […]
This originally appeared on Ask Your Dad. Republished here with permission. Do not say: “My life was meaningless before I had kids.” First, I should say that I am 100% guilty of all of these. I know this reads as an advice list, but really it’s advice I’m giving myself. The “you” I am addressing […]
