The Home Front

We live in a culture that has made a full-time job out of optimizing childhood. The structured activities, the enrichment programs, the carefully curated summer bucket lists. There are entire industries built on the premise that unoccupied time is wasted time and parents have absorbed that message more than we might like to admit. I […]

Here is what most moms will say when you ask what they want for Mother’s Day: nothing big. Maybe brunch. Sure yeah, a pedicure gift certificate. Whatever the family wants to do is fine. Here is what most moms actually mean: please, for the love of all things holy, do not make me plan this.

Having your children and your parents present in your life at the same time is a genuine gift. And yet the logistics of dual caregiving are real, the emotional weight is real, and the lack of any preparation for this phase is very real. This topic has been on my mind a lot lately, and

As parents, we’re constantly preached to about how harmful screens are for our children. Everyone has their own rules at home, varying levels of device access and differing opinions about what is and what isn’t considered screen time. This evolves as kids get older and schoolwork increasingly requires screens. I’m not a childhood development specialist

Ah, February. The holidays are behind us, routines are back in full force and suddenly we’re being asked to summon enthusiasm for another celebration. Valentine’s Day isn’t even a big holiday, but somehow it manages to involve snacks, crafts, on-theme outfits and a decision about how much effort is the “right” amount. Unlike the major