On Losing a Daughter
The people we were died at the exact moment our child did.
Family
The Most Tortured Relationship in America
Monogamy is one of the last bipartisan ideals—even if people struggle to live up to it.
In Praise of ‘Difficult’ Kids
Feisty children can be exhausting. They also possess a moral fire that deserves cultivating.
The Endless Goodbye
More than a decade before my dad died, I lost him to dementia.
The Endangered Art of Letter-Writing
“There’s nothing nicer than opening the mailbox and seeing something friendly, something that’s not a bill.”
All the Things We Have to Mourn Now
Six experts explain how to recognize the many new faces of grief during a pandemic.
How Quickly an Unfounded Fear Can Become Reasonable Caution
My grandfather spent his whole adult life separated from his parents. The fear I inherited of being cut off from my own family feels validated by the pandemic.
Friends Are Breaking Up Over Social Distancing
When one friend takes prevention guidelines more seriously than the other, suspicion, fear, and shame can drive them apart.
Dear Therapist: My Husband Thinks Social-Distancing Measures Are Too Extreme
He’s being way too lax about things, and whenever we try to talk about it, we have a fight.
What to Ask Instead of ‘How Are You?’ During a Pandemic
Everyone’s doing badly. We need better questions to ask.
Notes From a Videochat Memorial
Will these Zoom funerals be anything more than empty containers for unshed tears?
Two Errors Our Minds Make When Trying to Grasp the Pandemic
Disappointment and uncertainty are inevitable. But we don’t have to turn them into suffering.
The New White Lies of Lockdown
Spotty Wi-Fi, an upcoming meal, another Zoom happy hour—people are coming up with new excuses for ending social interactions.
On Top of Everything Else, My Dog Died
Mourning a pet when so many humans are dying might feel unseemly, but loss is loss, and it’s okay to feel it.