first person

This is not the mat leave I imagined

This is not the mat leave I imagined

It feels wrong to complain or dwell on the negative right now, but a lot of moms are mourning the “typical” mat leaves we’d looked forward to, pre-pandemic.

Jessica Pollack

How infertility changed me—for the better

How infertility changed me—for the better

Had I not experienced pregnancy loss, I’d surely be richer, younger, and a little less insane. But what kind of mother would I have been?

Amy Klein

I was forced to give birth alone because of coronavirus

I was forced to give birth alone because of coronavirus

As coronavirus spread, the hospital told pregnant women like me that partners would not be allowed in the delivery room. I would be giving birth alone.

Laurel Ingraham Aquadro

Will your marriage survive coronavirus?

Will your marriage survive coronavirus?

“I’m exhausted, we’re arguing more, and things are growing tense.” For some couples, quarantine plus kids can be a recipe for breakup.

Brianna Bell

My teen still plays with dolls

My teen still plays with dolls

And I'm totally fine with that.

Katy M. Clark

The myth of the horny pregnant lady

The myth of the horny pregnant lady

Aleksandra Jassem and Nikita Stanley, The Rebel Mama

How my son’s autism taught me to say no

How my son’s autism taught me to say no

I used to think I had to do it all—until my kid’s diagnosis gave me a much-needed reality check.

Alexandra Samuel

We thought we had co-parenting down—then the pandemic happened

We thought we had co-parenting down—then the pandemic happened

Co-parenting is tough in the best of times, and the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has made things a little extra weird around here.

Nadine Silverthorne

I borrow money from my kids—and there’s nothing wrong with that

I borrow money from my kids—and there’s nothing wrong with that

One mom wonders if borrowing money from family is okay—even if that means taking from her kids' piggy banks.

Julie Matlin

Why I hate pizza day

Why I hate pizza day

Reporter Raina Delisle says pizza day at your school may be a fundraiser, but it comes with social, environmental and health cost.

Raina Delisle

Please Stop Telling Me I Need to Take My Kids on Vacation

Please Stop Telling Me I Need to Take My Kids on Vacation

Sure, I feel a pang of jealousy when I see all the #travelgrams on my social feed, but the stress of travelling with my kids just isn’t worth it.

Brianna Bell

It's time we all stop apologizing for our pubic hair during labour

It's time we all stop apologizing for our pubic hair during labour

Doctors, nurses and midwives deal with vulvas and vaginas all day long, and trust us—they literally don't care AT ALL if you look “cleaned up” down there.

Claire Sibonney

The pain of being a part-time parent

The pain of being a part-time parent

Because I share custody with my ex-husband, balance is built into my life. But every time the kids go to their dad’s, my heart breaks and I want them back.

Suzanne Hayes

"I love working at home with my kids!" (said no mother ever)

"I love working at home with my kids!" (said no mother ever)

As Jennifer Pinarski re-enters the workforce, maintaining a work/life balance has taken on a whole new meaning.

Jennifer Pinarski

Turns out, the tattoo I got at age 21 was the only parenting advice I needed

Turns out, the tattoo I got at age 21 was the only parenting advice I needed

Who would’ve thought that the best parenting advice I ever got was actually the tattoo I got years ago?

Cassandra Drudi

How to be one of those hardcore parents who takes their kids out in -25°C weather

How to be one of those hardcore parents who takes their kids out in -25°C weather

Listen, maybe you love winter and maybe you don’t, but there’s no point in being cold—or housebound. Here's how winter-loving parents do it.

Bonnie Schiedel

These are the weirdest things we’ve EVER done (or demanded) during labour

These are the weirdest things we’ve EVER done (or demanded) during labour

From frantically sewing a Halloween costume to eating the equivalent of eight large McDonald’s fries, here are some of bonkers things moms do during labour.

Claire Sibonney

How helping my husband discover he’s gay helped me let go

How helping my husband discover he’s gay helped me let go

One thing I never thought I’d do with my husband? Help him write an ad for a new same-sex partner. It made me realize the incredible stretchiness of love.

Janine Cole

Giving birth on your babymoon is the worst-case scenario—and it happened to me

Giving birth on your babymoon is the worst-case scenario—and it happened to me

Planning to travel during your pregnancy? I gave birth while on my babymoon in another country—and it was a medical and logistical nightmare.

Kelly Shaw

I exclusively pumped—and there's not enough support for moms like me

I exclusively pumped—and there's not enough support for moms like me

Lactation consultants and hospital staff need to support moms who choose exclusive pumping, instead of making us feel like we’re taking the easy way out.

Megan Piercey Monafu