When You Hate Your Mother
Sometimes, we are born to toxic moms. But, as this writer has discovered, no matter what we do to protect ourselves, our bond with them is inescapable.
Mother’s Day
I Love Kids. Motherhood on the Other Hand…
The writer spent her life working with children, and longing for her own. So when she finally did become a mother, she was shocked by how uneasy she felt.
Is This How We Would Sleep If We Were in Hiding?
The writer was terrified by her dark fantasies of fleeing from Nazis with her Jewish family. But what disturbed her even more was learning that she wasn’t alone in her paranoia.
The Realities of Parenting a Black Son
Motherhood is full of joy and heartbreak. But for a Black mother in America, it also means fiercely protecting her child by fending off an unrelenting onslaught of racism and ignorance.
My Mother Has Always Wanted to Die. Do I Let Her?
After a lifetime of living with her mother’s mental illness, our writer reckons with the love of a parent who longs to say good-bye.
Who’s My Mother?
Raised by two different toxic maternal figures, the writer has spent her life looking for someone to nurture and guide her. And she found her in the most unexpected place.
Happy Effin’ Mother’s Day, Betty Draper!
The Hallmark holiday, on which the latest episode of "Mad Men" aired, is far from perfect. But, then again, so are we.
My Mother Didn’t Work. And That’s Okay
Driven by passionate professional goals, the writer—and now cheese maker—was embarrassed by her mom’s lack of career. Until she realized why she shouldn’t be.
My Mom Didn’t Want to Be a Mother
In this painfully honest essay, the writer shares what it’s like to grow up with a toxic mom who made it very clear that she didn’t want to have children.
My Mom Was Always Old
The writer’s mother embraced her grays and wrinkles like every other woman of her generation. Her daughter, however, faces her terror with Botox, hair dye, and a healthy dose of denial.