first person

I'm done having kids. Why do I feel so sad about it?

I'm done having kids. Why do I feel so sad about it?

Sky England

The highest highs and lowest lows of having a pandemic baby

The highest highs and lowest lows of having a pandemic baby

As the pandemic babies start to turn one, ten families look for the unexpected upsides and share what it's been like to raise them largely in lockdown.

Sophie Kohn

I lived in mom “survival mode” for so long, I forgot how to be normal

I lived in mom “survival mode” for so long, I forgot how to be normal

Now that I wasn’t managing the daily logistics of having three kids, and constantly tending to everyone else's needs, I didn't know what to do with myself.

Sarah Bradley

What it's like to come out as queer in your late 30s

What it's like to come out as queer in your late 30s

Alena Papayanis

*This* is the best stage of parenting. There, I said it.

This is the best stage of parenting. There, I said it.

There is an interlude between the slog of toddlers and the horror of teens known as the “golden years,” and I’m in it now.

Claire Lawrence

My kids hate each other—and I'm afraid that will never change

My kids hate each other—and I'm afraid that will never change

I had two kids was so they'd have each other to lean on as adults. But because of their sibling rivalry, they might not even end up on speaking terms.

Danielle Braff

Don’t judge yourself if a long shower is your only form of self-care right now

Don’t judge yourself if a long shower is your only form of self-care right now

You may forget what book you're "reading" but closing the bathroom door for a few minutes or running errands solo definitely count as self-care for parents.

Kate Borsato

My kids forgot how to play

My kids forgot how to play

So after a restless morning of whining and arguing, I banished them from the house to get my kids playing outside.

Rebecca Swanson

I survived labour as a Black woman—and I believe my Black nurse played a huge role

I survived labour as a Black woman—and I believe my Black nurse played a huge role

My baby and I already had a higher chance of dying during delivery, but when my fear turned to panic, only one person in the room could help: the one who looked like me.

Alicia Lue

When the pandemic is over, my family won't go “back to normal”

When the pandemic is over, my family won't go “back to normal”

Missing trips to the movies and birthday parties is nothing new for some parents—pandemic parenting is actually a whole lot like disability parenting.

Kathy Heath

5 things I didn't know when I first got pregnant

5 things I didn't know when I first got pregnant

Tiffany Leigh

To my friends with babies, I'd like to apologize

To my friends with babies, I'd like to apologize

I can't believe I showed up to meet your newborn without food, and I'll never refer to my dog as my fur baby again.

Ainsley Doty

I Made my Screen-Addicted Kids Go Cold Turkey—Here's What Happened

I Made my Screen-Addicted Kids Go Cold Turkey—Here's What Happened

When our kids expected to be allowed to use screens even when friends and family were over to visit, we knew we had to try something radical.

Lee Price

How are teachers with kids at home managing this?!

How are teachers with kids at home managing this?!

Natalie Michie

Your messy house doesn't mean you don't measure up as a new mom

Your messy house doesn't mean you don't measure up as a new mom

I was so afraid of being judged for my messy house, I chose loneliness at a time when I needed companionship so much.

Nicole Johnson

Why I told my kids about my mother’s suicide

Why I told my kids about my mother’s suicide

Instead of soiling her struggle with shame, I’m honest about my mother's suicide in the hopes of breaking the cycle of mental illness in my family.

Mary Pembleton

I quit my job to help save the earth for my kid

I quit my job to help save the earth for my kid

Deniers try to claim that informing kids about the climate change crisis amounts to child abuse. But child abuse would be doing nothing to prevent it.

Joshua Ostroff

Parenting my way through an anxiety disorder

Parenting my way through an anxiety disorder

Chris Deacon

7 ways early motherhood is not at all what I expected

7 ways early motherhood is not at all what I expected

When I first looked into my baby’s eyes seven months ago I was over the moon with joy—and blissfully unaware of what was to come.

Micaela Hardy-Moffat

My dad uninvited us from Christmas dinner because my kid is transgender

My dad uninvited us from Christmas dinner because my kid is transgender

We shared the news so he and and my mom would use my daughter's new name and preferred pronouns. In response, he shut us out completely.

Rev. Michelle Scrimgeour-Brown