My partner and I stopped sharing a bed after having kids: why I love sleeping alone
Honestly, bed-sharing with my snoring, hard-to-wake husband might inspire more resentment between us, more sleep-deprived fantasies of pillow smothering. I don’t think sharing a bed would save a failing marriage, nor do I think separate beds would destroy a good one. But what do I know? I’ve only been married for 9 years.
Surprise: life with two kids is easier than I thought it would be
The first few times I took the girls out all by myself, I felt like some sort of hero. “Look at me, world!” I wanted to shout, “Look at me braving the unknown, with not one but TWO children. See this baby? She could cry at any moment! See this toddler? She could cry, too. There might be diaper changes! They might want to eat! They might both fall asleep in the stroller on the way home, eliminating any chance of naptime!”
My son found my Barbie, said she was pretty, and turned her into a space explorer
I don’t want my son to find a Barbie doll pretty. I want him to understand, even at three, that she is not an accurate representation of a woman’s body. This is ridiculous, I know, but it’s not stopping from getting all excited about this teachable moment we’re having.
Creative ways to prevent post-Halloween over-indulgence
What can you do to limit the amount of candy you and your child consume following Halloween? Here are some solutions I found/worked out which will lead to a healthier November for kids and parents.
Deciding whether or not to go back to work after my child was born has made me a less judgmental person
In the United States a woman who has a child can take up to 12 (unpaid) weeks off under FMLA. Today is the start of my 13th week. I was supposed to go back to work, but I stayed home. I simply decided it did not make sense for me to return to work.
Recognizing ourselves in the stories that we read
At bedtime, I read my daughter Alice a story. This has been our nightly ritual since before she was born, but now, after we read together, she reads on her own. She’s always loved stories, but more and more she’s caught up in words. Almost nightly now she pops out to read her dad and me a short passage: beautiful descriptions, scenes that seem especially funny or apt to her.
What’s the very best thing about having a child (or children) in your life?
We know you love the kids you’re raising and/or taking care of — our archives are filled with stories about the joys of breastfeeding, the indescribable wonders of adoption, the incredible ways families are being created, tales from parents of teens who share interests, and so many wonderful birth stories it’d take you days to get through them all.
Reframing destruction: how I kept my cool after my son destroyed the garden
I have planted a garden like I do every year, but this year is different. This year, I will be able to take care of my own garden whenever and however I want. Or I could.. until my four-year-old tore the garden apart.