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.
A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement
Both parents and adult children often fail to recognize how profoundly the rules of family life have changed over the past half century.
I’ve Been Secret Friends With My Son’s Ex for 30 Years
“I’ve realized that you have to look for friendship in places you would never expect it.”
4 Numbers That Make the Pandemic’s Massive Death Toll Sink In
It’s difficult to fully comprehend the magnitude of 350,000 deaths. Other metrics can be more illuminating.
Dear Therapist’s Guide to Starting Over
Change can bring on a mixture of feelings; compassion is how you navigate them.
New Year’s Resolutions That Will Actually Lead to Happiness
Set goals to improve your well-being—not your wallet or your waistline.
Dear Therapist: I Can’t Accept My Father’s Death From COVID-19
I was not there for his last breaths. I was not there for his last words. I’m trying to combat my guilt.
The Real Problem With the ‘Naughty List’
Kids’ presents are determined by their families’ resources, not their behavior—but Santa teaches otherwise.
The Last Days of Loneliness
Long-term-care residents who have been confined to their rooms for months have to wait a bit longer before they can finally receive a vaccine.
Dear Therapist: Christmas With My Divorced Parents Is Getting Harder
Every holiday season, my siblings and I divide our time between them.
The Life of a Little Black Boy in America
The joys and vulnerabilities of a Black childhood, as seen from a father’s gaze