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Baby sitting on shoulder of father and looking at sun set
Parenthood

Putting the Train Together Again

Perhaps the hardest thing about being a divorced parent are the moments you feel real, powerful grief when your child is with you and you can't show it.

Goodnight, Sleep Demon

After years of sleeping just fine in her own room, she stopped. At first we thought she must have had a bad dream the night before. But it kept going.

Parenthood A girl holding her mother

How Parenthood Changed My View of Scary Movies

When people say that “everything in your life will change” once you have a child, I thought I knew what that meant. I wasn’t expecting this.

Parenthood Diagram of a mobile phone

The Parenting Hack That Keeps My Kid in His Room at Bedtime

At the risk of sounding dramatic, bedtime has always been the bane of my existence- until I discovered this.

Parenthood Depressed man

Somehow: an Ode to Parenthood

You know the days. The ones where you can’t catch a breath, or a second to stop and think. And still something, somehow piles on.

Parenthood From under the box, a girl sneeking with hand inside

To the Cheesy End

This newfound frustration with being able to swallow undesirable foods seemed more than I could fight after such a long toddler day.

Parenthood Family lying down on car's back seat

This Holiday Season, I’m Breaking Tradition

I never want to confine my family to tradition. I want my children to experience it, of course, but I also want to mix it up.

Parenthood milk spilled over table, cookies in bowl and spoon also spilled

Ten Proverbs That Unintentionally Taught Me to Be a Better Parent

I doubt some of the parenting advice I gleaned from these proverbs was exactly what the original authors intended, but it was helpful nonetheless.

Parenthood cousins on the beach , looking off sea shore

Teaching My Son About Sex in the Age of Harvey Weinstein

I ended the conversation by asking for his trust – that I be the person he turns to if he has any questions or concerns about sex, now or in the future.

Parenthood Sunday is my funday tshirt wearing a girl

What Story Does Your Closet Tell?

MoMA's new exhibit, “Items: Is Fashion Modern?" got me thinking. What story does the contents of my thirty year old closet tell?

7 CrAzy Things That Might Happen If You Leave Dad Alone With the Kids

When Mom’s away, the kids will play, and Dad – well, he’ll be in for a wild day! When he’s in charge anything goes!

Parenthood Mother holding her baby

Treat Your Kids Like You Want Your Grandkids to Be Treated

Unsurprisingly, it turns out that how people are treated as kids impacts how they treat their own kids.

Parenthood Fishing

That Fish Is Going to Be Caught: Determination or Stubbornness

Seeing your child try to accomplish something without your help is not stubbornness, that is "determination."

Parenthood A person and kid staring at each other

What It's Like Parenting With Hearing Aids

The worry didn’t stem from passing my hearing loss along, it stemmed from the idea that I wouldn't hear my kid.

Parenthood Person going out from a dark room, at the door

Tonight's Lights Out Struggle

The light flicked on again. I stop and stare at the shining coming through the bottom of the door. “How can he still be awake?” I ask my husband.

Parenthood A girl holding hand of mother

Why Bad Behavior Is Not Synonymous With Bad Kids

Your kid’s behavior is neither driven by “badness” nor is it a sign of bad parenting. Rather, it’s a sign that you’re not speaking the same language.

Parenthood Children sitting on stairs

What Are We Apologizing for When We Apologize for Our Kids?

What am I really sorry for? I’m sorry for the times I have apologized for things they cannot help. Like being an energetic, wiggly kid.

Parenthood Close up face of little baby girl gives big hug to her mother and closing eyes for pleasure

Teaching Children to Carry On, Through Grief

Last fall, as our beloved family dog faded quickly into his final weeks, I tried to prepare my children gently for his passing.

Parenthood man crosses on zebra crossing with the stroller

Top 10 'Must Haves' for First Time Dads

This list will offer some valuable insight into one of the most amazing and terrifying experiences of your entire life.

Parenthood side view of a boy standing over  white background

Catching Glimpses of a Man in My Teenage Son

I knew it would go quick, but still my mind could never fathom, never fully grasp that this baby would someday become a man.

Parenthood Man tightening his shoe laces sitting on the ground on a running track

Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect

This is a submission in our monthly contest. October’s theme is Determination. My husband is perfect. Don’t be mad. But he is. He a great dad, a great provider, a great friend, and he’s top at ever...

Parenthood child and parents sleeping on bed

A Good Reason for My Sleepless Nights

I have a motherhood confession. There is a child (or two or three) sleeping in my bed more nights than not.

Parenthood little girl eating pasta

She’s Going to Do This All by Herself

She’s going to sing and dance, anytime, anywhere.

Parenthood little girl walking in the mountain road

Though She Be but Little

There are so many moments like this, when my daughter’s headstrong, willful determination makes me anxious and worried.