As gender roles have shifted and continue to shift, our expectations of fathers have shifted as well. But neither parent deserves to be held to impossible standards. Between the various parenting movements, the inflated “Mommy war” debates and the labels inspired by tigers and helicopters and, apparently, organic chicken, everyday moms can’t help but feel […]
This originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. I’d like to think if I didn’t work I’d be helping out at school or just doing something righteous. Often though, I feel like I’m just trying to keep up. And not let my kids down. I overheard some ladies at school the other day declaring […]
The Pontiff told married couples to have kids or face a life of loneliness. The Pope made headlines this week by encouraging married couples to reproduce lest they get caught in the trap of a marriage that “gets to old age in solitude, with the bitterness of loneliness.” While acknowledging that the kid-free life can seem tempting, what with […]
This originally appeared on Arielle Silver’s blog. Republished here with permission. I tuck her in at night. I help her with homework, band aids, and boys. She tells me her dreams. She is my oldest daughter, but I am not her mother. It’s a good name, “middle” school. They’re not quite who they used to […]
This originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. I don’t live for my kids. There, I said it. “Here she is! Miss Party Animal Of The Year! Do you even remember what your children look like?” Yes, that was the opening line from one of my husband’s relatives upon my arrival at a family function on […]
The New York Post called Chirlane McCray, wife of New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, a ‘bad mom’ for not spending every minute with her child. Jennifer Benjamin had a few words to say about that. When I first read the attention-grabbing headline, “NYC’s first lady: I was a bad mom,” I just assumed […]
This originally appeared on Time. Republished here with permission. If you believe that dads are capable of diapering, feeding, and raising children as well as women can, you might be a feminist, too. I was raised by a second-wave feminist leader and attended countless feminist rallies, marches, and readings as a boy. Last I checked […]
This originally appeared on Redbook. Republished here with permission. Everyone thought Tina Traster’s adoptive child was developing wonderfully, but she wasn’t so sure. We’d be at the park with a bunch of tots and their moms on weekly playdates and I’d tell myself my little girl was doing fine. More than fine. Julia was walking, […]
