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.
How to Show ‘Wise Compassion’ to Struggling Loved Ones
Being truly supportive of someone who is in pain requires strength, patience, self-knowledge, and discipline, “Dear Therapist” writes.
Do Olympic-Level Achievements Make People Happy?
The promise of success can propel us forward, but it comes with pitfalls that can undermine the satisfaction of actually succeeding.
What Immigrants Know About Happiness
The act of migration involves taking risks in pursuit of a meaningful reward and having faith in the future. Everyone should try to live more like that.
A Surprising Side Effect of Giving Birth
The curious link between motherhood and dental problems
I Found the Feminism I Was Looking For in the Lost Writings of a 17th-Century Priest
François Poulain was ahead of his time—and ours.
The Long Recovery After a Spouse Gets Out of Prison
PTSD in the formerly incarcerated has been widely studied. But what follows the “vicarious imprisonment” of their free-world romantic partners?
The Limits of Sex Positivity
American culture still treats disinterest in sex as something that needs to be fixed. What if any amount of desire—including none—was okay?
The Awful Coincidence of 2 Friends Who Got the Same Cancer
“I think we were meant to walk through this together.”
Those Who Share a Roof Share Emotions
Feelings are contagious—but you can help your loved ones when they’re sad without sacrificing your own good mood.
Perfectionism Can Become a Vicious Cycle in Families
Mothers and fathers risk passing down this tendency to the next generation, creating a pattern of dissatisfaction.