How to Survive the ‘Fourth Trimester’ The weeks that follow birth are more brutal than you could ever imagine — especially if you don’t know what to expect.
How I Went From One Kid to Two Without Losing My Mind And answers to other questions — including how I’ve road-tripped with a newborn and a toddler without losing my mind — from “The Hard Part” readers.
Sick As a Mom Bouncing between months of illnesses and bedrest, I could no longer hide my body’s own limits from my kids. We all feel a lot better now.
What You Actually ‘Need’ to Have a Kid, and What You Don’t The decision to become a parent shouldn’t hinge on how much new stuff you can afford to buy.
TikTok’s Version of Parenting Is a Nightmare Fantasy Having a baby isn’t easy, but it’s far from the hellscape I can’t stop watching on my FYP.
Talking to My Kids About the Unbearable When cruelty is inescapable, what are we supposed to tell our children?
Why Do Kids Need Ambition? We’ve reckoned with how we view work — why hasn’t that same existential shift made its way to how we view achievement for our kids?
Having a Kid at the End of the World In the face of bleak climate future, is it okay to want a baby in the present?
the hard part
July 28, 2023
There’s No Such Thing as a Vacation with Young Kids A relaxing getaway may no longer be in the cards — but giving in to the chaos can be just as exquisite.
the hard part
June 23, 2023
Leave That Screaming Kid Alone The summer travel season has become complain-about-other-people’s-kids season. If not even children can take up space without reproach, who can?
the hard part
May 19, 2023
Facing Infertility With My Kids The IVF process is a lonely one. I refuse to let it be this time around for the sake of my two children.
Surviving the Death Talk With My Kid Finding the words to explain the unspeakable.
the hard part
Apr. 14, 2023
the hard part
Mar. 24, 2023
Gentle Parenting Is Too Gentle And brutal as hell for us parents.
the hard part
Feb. 24, 2023
the hard part
Jan. 25, 2023
the hard part
Dec. 23, 2022
We’re Getting Midlife All Wrong We’ve been so obsessed with what it looks like that we forgot to warn each other what it’ll feel like.
the hard part
Nov. 18, 2022
Finding Joy for My Kids in the Apocalypse Even when I want to scream into the abyss until my voice runs out.
The Cool-Mom Myth Is the default, the “Regular Mom,” that inherently undesirable, unlikable, and unappealing?
art and soul
Oct. 5, 2022
The Art of Motherhood In paintings, illustrations, and ceramics, artist Madeline Donahue captures the ecstasy and agony of being a mom.
The Dread of Watching Your Kid Start School As my son heads into kindergarten, I’m plagued by my own painful memories.
The Unbearable Heaviness of Being an ‘Old Mom’ At 39, every physical ache, every existential spiral, every scroll past young momfluencer content makes me obsess over the time left.
When the Choice to Grow Your Family Isn’t Actually Yours You’d think the forces that fought Roe would tackle infertility next, but you’d be wrong.
When Dads Do What Moms Do To share the burden of parenting, you have to actually share it.
Being a ‘Mom’ Isn’t What It Used to Be The label was always flawed. The pandemic shattered it beyond repair.
post-pandemic life
Mar. 25, 2022
Losing My Ambition After a career of making “strategic” moves, I’m embracing mediocrity.
bachelor nation
Sept. 23, 2021
No One Is ‘Here for the Right Reasons’ Anymore It’s love versus followers now for Bachelor Nation.
Why Is the Sex in Sally Rooney’s Books So Good? In Beautiful World, Where Are You , eroticism is as much mental as it is physical.
delta variant
Aug. 25, 2021
Does Anyone Want to Hear About Burned-Out Moms Anymore? There’s more pressure than ever to get back to normal, but we’re still here, and we’re not okay.
acquiescence
Apr. 22, 2021
Turns Out It’s Pretty Good: The Grinch How the 2018 movie became a year-round source of comfort for my 3-year-old and me.
all work no pay
Feb. 2, 2021
How Am I? I mean, I’m working from home while taking care of two little kids. And there’s a demon in my kitchen.
hell year in review
Dec. 30, 2020
acquiescence
Nov. 24, 2020
Turns Out It’s Pretty Good: Nightgowns This year, I gave in to slothful elegance.
