Published in Forge·PinnedMember-onlyThe Best Advice I Got About My Child’s Smartphone AddictionGreat tips from readers — A year ago, I wrote a story called My daughter was a creative genius, and then we bought her an iPhone. It went viral— 219k views — with hundreds of people commenting. Some readers called me an idiot for the way I’d handled things; others made me laugh. Some shared…Parenting4 min readParenting4 min read
Nov 25Member-onlyWhat I’m Thankful for this ThanksgivingA list — Life is difficult just now. Bad news everywhere: Russians bombing Ukraine, mass murders in the US reaching record numbers, increasing homelessness and poverty, hurricanes, inflation. All the more reason to be grateful for what we have. Thank you Phil Bunyan for this wonderful list idea! This Thanksgiving I’m thankful for: …Parenthood2 min readParenthood2 min read
Nov 23Member-onlyThe Mom I Meant to BeThree things I would do differently — It’s only when your kids are half grown that you figure out how to be a decent parent. It doesn’t matter that I read all the books, and constantly Googled for advice. I got into patterns that have been hard to break. Yesterday, my daughter turned 14. I see now…Parenting2 min readParenting2 min read
Nov 8Member-onlyAm I Pushing My Kid to Succeed to Make Myself Look Good?Pushy Parents Part 2 — I wrote a story in October that hit a nerve. It was about the pressure we put on kids to succeed and how it’s damaging their mental health. Most people commiserated; some told me I should stop living my life through my child. That hurt. The reason it hurt is…Parenting2 min readParenting2 min read
Oct 8Member-onlyThe Long Lonely RideYou can’t escape — From day one he’s in the back of a car It’s long and black He doesn’t know where it’s going; he can’t get out Some days he sees the sun rise Short glorious gold rays bursting into air Most days it pours; furious pelting bullets of rain He’d do it…Life2 min readLife2 min read
Oct 2Member-onlyWe’re Abusing Our Kids and Telling Ourselves It’s for Their BenefitPushy Parents — A friend works as a mental health counselor at a primary school. She recently asked a group of 10 and 11 year-old girls to write anonymous notes to their parents. She encouraged them to say things they wished their parents knew. Here is what some of them wrote: I feel…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Sep 18Member-onlyIt’s Not Just the Passing of a Queen. It’s the Passing of a Queenly Way of BeingPublic Mourning — I’m in a crowd around the corner from Buckingham Palace. In a few minutes, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin will pass by, on its way to Westminster Abbey. None of us will see it. Guards and barricades block our way onto the already packed Mall. Still, no one is moving, or…Death3 min readDeath3 min read
Sep 10Member-onlyDo You Tell Your Daughter She’s Pretty?The Beauty Myth — I’m chatting with a friend about our beautiful daughters. I’m not exaggerating when I say they’re beautiful. All three are gorgeous, both inside and out. But the strange thing is that while my daughter thinks she’s pretty, my friend’s daughters don’t. My friend fears it’s her fault because she didn’t…Parenting2 min readParenting2 min read
Aug 5Member-onlyPraise Your Kids for Behaviors You Want Them to HaveParenting Tips — Quick quiz: It’s dinner and your child is slumped in his chair, elbows on the table, shoveling food in his mouth. Seeing the exasperated look on your face, he takes his elbows off the table. You can: a. Tell him to sit up straight and take smaller bites. b. Ignore…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Jul 13Member-onlyFarewell Baby ClassesLetting go — I just went to my last mommy/baby class, the kind where you sit in a circle, kid on lap, singing songs and clapping. My daughter is too big. Some readers may remember me whining about these very same classes a year ago. I didn’t think preschool classes should be run…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
