Conversations

Get access to our latest news by signing up for our newsletter.

Two person standing behind bars
Parenthood

What It's Like to Parent From Behind Bars

It’s not every day you get to enter a prison and leave an hour later with an inmate’s story imprinted on your heart.

Learning young girl collecting and counting coins

How to Explore STEM Skills With Your Kid When It's Not Your Strong Suit

Many parents are challenged by math and sciences, and therefore shy away from working on those skills with their kids. But there are simple ways to do so.

Wellbeing man and woman looking at each other through glass

The Inconvenience of Girls Who Want

We give girls permission to be anything they want, but we still don't want to talk to them about sexual desires and where that fits into their lives.

Wellbeing kids playing on a soccer field

I Hope My Kids Don't Want to Play Team Sports

What used to be a fun pastime has turned, for many kids, into an exercise in rigor and near-obsession. If we skip team sports altogether, I won't be sad.

Parenthood boy looking at a christmas looking not too happy

We're Santa-Agnostic, But the Season Still Has Plenty of Magic

There can only be so many years of innocent acceptance before your children have some tricky questions about the big man in red.

Wellbeing young woman with short hair after chemo

A Pony Tale: My Journey Through Chemo

I wanted to attend functions at my son’s school with my hair, and not a head scarf. I wanted no more tests, needles, or doctors. I wanted my ponytail back.

Holding Your Baby Affects Their Genes and Health, According to Study

A recent study found that babies who experienced higher levels of distress and were held less had a lower epigenetic age than those who held more often.

Pregnancy A child swimming in under water

Her Own Curve

The type of growth that doctors measure is the kind that’s easy to see and track in a logical fashion. But it’s not the only information that matters.

Can Social Media Improve Vaccination Rates?

A recent study suggests that some forms of social media can effectively educate parents about vaccination, and maybe even influence their decision-making.

Learning person handing a child a building block

The Struggle to Find Decent Childcare is Real, According to New National Poll

According to recent findings, two out of three parents struggle to find childcare that meets their safety and health standards.

Learning woman using a speaker on her mobile phone

The Best App for Keeping Up With Your Mom Friends

This app has already revolutionized my female friendships, uniting us across time zones and hemispheres, weaving the loose threads of our days together.

Parenthood black females face with eyes closed

When Parenting Gets Tough, Find Someone to Channel

Putting things into perspective is, I have found, the best way to cope when parenting gets rough.

Parenthood picture of young girl with red hair

A Piece of My Heart, a Piece of Your Tendon

I told my daughter I loved her, and that the reason I cautioned her to gather the reins of her anger was that her anger would slingshot back and hurt her.

Playtime boy stacking cardboard boxes to build castele and spaceship

The Toys That Have Captured Kids' Imaginations For Decades

For 100 years, toy manufacturers have challenged themselves to produce the next great…cardboard box. These, which have stood the test of time, come close.

Parenthood Person standing by wearing wollen cap

Just a Little More Time

I keep having this vision in my head of my little girl walking away, toward the building where she now lives.

Inspiration sleigh ride with snow coming down

This Orchestral Playlist is a Sleigh Ride Without the Whining That Everyone is Cold

These orchestral music pieces will evoke the feeling of a magical winter ride and excite your imagination of gliding on a sparkling snow-covered landscape.

Learning young girl looking at computer screen

What Would a Year Without Homework Look Like?

Not having homework (other than a reading log) has provided one very surprising outcome: My daughter probably does more homework.

Parenthood close up of boy with blue eyes

The Ages and Stages of a Lifetime of Awe

I must parent for the long term, for his emotional health, for his full potential. I must parent for our relationship, to ensure it lasts a lifetime.

Parenthood mom with a young child and a baby together

How Two Under Two at Age 40 Transformed My Life

I was frightened. I had no family close. I was over 40. The list went on.

Wellbeing piece of an orange

Former Museum of Sex Curator Dishes on Getting Back to Gettin' Down Post Baby

It's no wonder the day you get medical clearance to have sex again just a short six weeks after having a baby, it seems as daunting as climbing Kilimanjaro.

Parenthood kids smiling and looking at the sky

What is the Perfect Age to Start Overnight Camp?

With a starting point and frame of reference, you can figure out where your kid fits on the camp readiness spectrum.

Parenthood baby by a toile tearing toile paper

Behind the Shower Curtain

As I’m showering today, though, I realize that there will come a time when the kids will no longer linger.

Learning question mark on yellow background

Why We Need to Stop Saying “I’m Not Good at Math”

While we may believe it, saying we’re not good at math is arguably the most damaging self-fulfilling prophecy in America today.

Parenthood image of woman blacked out

I'm a Statistic, and That's Okay

There were warning signs that we were headed for the end, but I held onto a lifeless marriage so our son would grow up with both of his parents in the home.