Conversations

Get access to our latest news by signing up for our newsletter.

mom and woman and daughter looking at a white wall
Learning

Can Thumping Hearts and Sweaty Hands Predict Risk of Social Anxiety in Young Kids?

If your child complains of symptoms like a bumpy heart, difficulty breathing, or feeling hot in social situations, the risk of developing SAD is higher.

Learning girl making eggs

An At-Home Cooking School With No Pre-Portioned Ingredients

To start your kids' culinary education – and perhaps even your own – you don't need meal kit deliveries or even YouTube starlets. You need a carton of eggs.

Parenthood boy with cape in the countryside

Why We Love (and Need) Superheroes

There's no denying superheroes hare firmly rooting their place in American pop culture, and the love of them has never faded – it's only intensified.

Inspiration birchbox with makeup products next to it

Subscription Boxes: the Gift That Keeps on Giving

We’ve rounded up 12 of the best subscriptions with something for everyone … even the family dog!

Wellbeing woman looking down in black camera color

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

This is a submission in our monthly contest. November’s theme is Gratitude. I’m not a “traditional” parent by any means, but I do like traditions, especially around holidays. Sometimes, this result...

Learning boy looking at electric outlets

Revisions of Traditional Nursery Rhymes, for Modern Parents

With a baby I'm a little teapot, tired and covered in vomit. Baa, baa, black sheep, why won't you stop crying? How many miles to Babylon? I'm going to keep driving until you fall asleep. To Babylon...

Inspiration boy dressing himself

Stop Doing Everything for Your Kids and Set Them on the Path to Independence

Over-parenting and prolonged childhood are an epidemic in this country and it's not benefitting anyone.

Parenthood woman hugging a child

Sending My Firstborn to Pre-K: a Mortality Exercise

If motherhood is total ecstasy and absolute despair felt in every cell of your body, then having a pre-kindergartener has been peak both for me.

Parenthood woman with child and dog on a couch

Why I Won’t Tell My Kids “You’re Okay”

We have to do some guessing with these tiny humans who can’t yet tell us what’s wrong, but let’s not confuse this with telling them nothing is wrong.

Parenthood boy making a mess in the kitchen taking out all pots and pans

Those Three Little Words

Enjoy this time! Wait … THIS time? You mean like, right now?

Parenthood baby with eyes open wide

If You Give a Baby a Loofah

Don’t waste money on overpriced, obnoxious baby toys. What babies really want are random, inanimate objects from around the house.

Parenthood woman holding a baby on a couch

The Rainbow on Our Gratitude Tree

Last November, my little family began what I had hoped would be a new family tradition: a gratitude tree.

Why My Daughters Can Show Their Underwear If They Want To

My experience is the restrictions on girls’ lives don't arrive in the form of dramatic events, but in the accumulation of thousands of everyday interactions.

Parenthood young children wrapping presents

New Traditions Born After Spending Baby’s First Christmas in the Hospital

Something about being in kindred company at a children’s hospital on Christmas both humbled us and made us feel extremely grateful.

Parenthood small feet in big woman shoes

Finding My Shoes and Freeing Cinderella

Leafing through old albums, I am stirred by memories that evidence so many manifestations of myself: the student, musician, wife, writer, Mom.

Parenthood boy with son on a bike

In Defense of the Mapa Bear

Apparently, grizzlies are crap when it comes to the Daddy game. With a range of as much as 1,800 square miles, their biggest issue in this department appears to be absenteeism. Dad is always busy a...

Learning boy on top of car yelling

We Howl Like Wolves in Public, but It’s for a Good Cause

“Do you want breadsticks?” “What?” I said and leaned half my body over the counter. “Do you want breadsticks!” he yelled. I was in the mall, standing under the neon Sbarro sign at dinnertime rush h...

Wellbeing man and woman cheering a glass of wine

Why Date Nights Matter When You're Married

It's as if once you say "I do,” date nights instantly become “We don’t,” and occur with the frequency of a Big Foot sighting.

Learning los angeles baby show logo with a baby

LA Baby Show Round-up

At parent-child industry trade shows, everyone has their eyes open for brands can surprise, continue to innovate, or flat-out impress. Here are several brands from the LA Baby consumer show that ex...

Learning kid made logo with parent co.

Kid Made Recipe: Holiday Pie Crusts

Are you on pie duty this Thanksgiving? We have some pie crust hacks that will wow your crowd! Grab a few kid helpers, roll up your sleeves and get to work!

Parenthood close up of woman looking down

Thank You, I'm Not Sorry

This is a submission in our monthly contest. November’s theme is Gratitude.  If you're like me, you overuse the phrase “I’m sorry.” I apologize for everything, at least I used to. I apologized for ...

Wellbeing baby pointing with food on it

The Four-Letter Word That Can Save You From a Meltdown

When we become overwhelmed, however, we forget to check in with ourselves on even a basic level. However, this one word can save the day.

Inspiration woman closing her eyes

Stand on My Shoulders, Baby Girl

Dear Maria: Oh (wo)man, are you coming of age in an interesting time. Never have we as women been able to accomplish more. You and me together watched a woman run for president, and I saw on your f...

Inspiration Reflection of a lady washing dishes

Always Do the Dishes

My mom carefully molded these Thanksgiving memories for us, but we took her for granted. Her spoiled kids could never reciprocate that love until adulthood.