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 Best Friends Can Do Nothing for You
If your social life is leaving you unfulfilled, you might have too many deal friends, and not enough real friends.
The Dark Side of Box Tops for Education
The school-funding program recently switched from offering rebates for physical labels to an app, frustrating many users and highlighting some of the program’s long-standing contradictions and inequalities.
9 Pieces of Advice to Help You See Relationships More Clearly
In some cases, “Dear Therapist” columns help us understand a situation from another person’s point of view; in others, they give us the language we need to name a situation.
When Your Closest Friends Are From Elementary School
“When I see people from Peretz school, it’s as if nothing has changed. The comfort, the ease, the knowing of each other is the same.”
The Hidden Toll of Remote Work
Switching to Zoom forever might be convenient, but it’s a recipe for loneliness.
Trump’s Presidency Is Over. So Are Many Relationships.
Joe Biden wants the country to heal from its political divisions. But some people say they aren’t ready to reconnect with their estranged friends and family members.
What You’re Saying When You Give Someone the Silent Treatment
Social ostracism has been a common punishment for millennia. But freezing someone out harms both the victim and the perpetrator.
Are You Dreaming Too Big?
Lifelong, hard-to-achieve goals might not make you happier. Small steps will.
What If This Was the Last Year Your Loved One Was Lucid?
Dementia patients have deteriorated in social isolation. They’ve been robbed of both their health and some of their last clear memories with family members.
Overcoming American Masculinity to Build a Deep Male Friendship
“I was by myself in a country that felt huge and overwhelming. I felt tiny, and Abhi was my anchor.”