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.
Quit Lying to Yourself
Real happiness starts with telling yourself the truth, even when it hurts.
We Live By a Unit of Time That Doesn’t Make Sense
The seven-day week has survived for millennia, despite attempts to make it less chaotic.
The Most Awkward Part of Living With Your Parents as an Adult
For many young adults, living in their family’s home is a new norm. Their dates still don’t always get it.
What It’s Like to Truly Be Friends With Your Ex
“We can’t always neatly break things into ‘friends’ or ‘more than friends.’ There’s different kinds of love.”
No One Cares!
Our fears about what other people think of us are overblown and rarely worth fretting over.
Parental Leave Is American Exceptionalism at Its Bleakest
The U.S. is the only wealthy country in the world that leaves new parents to fend for themselves.
What Collective Narcissism Does to Society
In everyday settings, it can keep people from listening to one another. At its worst, it might fuel violence.
What Winter-Haters Get Wrong
Chasing the sun usually isn’t worth it. Learn to like the climate you’ve got instead.
The Strange Origins of American Birthday Celebrations
For most people, birthdays were once just another day. Industrialization changed that.
What Becoming a Parent Really Does to Your Happiness
Research has found that having children is terrible for quality of life—but the truth about what parenthood means for happiness is a lot more complicated.