My Mother Always Told Me Not to Cry
The acclaimed author of "Heather Has Two Mommies" reflects on her relationship with her late mother, whose no-crying-allowed policy was enforced until the very end.
Childhood
Why Are We Gender-Stereotyping Our Children?
Our generation was weaned on "Free to Be ... You and Me," where boys could cry and play with dolls and girls could do anything. Not anymore.
When I Was a Boy
As a kid, the writer reveled in her androgyny. But when puberty threatened to declare a gender for her, she became mired in an identity crisis—until a stranger liberated her with a single word.
What Can Giving Valentines to Strangers Teach You About Love?
Wanting to recapture the joy she felt in Valentine’s Day, the writer took to the streets armed with heart-covered cards. And inadvertently created a movement.
I’m Worried I’m Messing Up My Kid
But maybe we all worry too much. Did our parents agonize like this?
I Agree With “America’s Worst Mom”
Our rampant fears have us literally policing one another’s parenting. What price do our kids pay for this overprotection?
Is Failure the Secret to Success?
As this writer knows, a seemingly harmless slight from an authority figure as a kid can undermine your confidence as an adult. But she’s working on getting over it.