I’m a father and I want to talk about parenting with depression
I’m sure other parents have gone through this, and it’s not a topic we talk about a lot. Postpartum depression has gotten a lot of press in recent years (as it should), but depression impacts dads as well. As men, we tend to avoid these kinds of topics by and large; which is foolish, but that doesn’t make it any less the case.
So let’s talk about parenting with depression…
Hey “bad moms,” let’s give ourselves permission to feel competent
Since the birth of my daughter, I’ve found myself using the phrase “I’m a bad mom” a lot. It horrifies my husband, who associates bad moms with criminals, not ordinary women with ordinary flaws.
Think about your best girlfriend who is also a mom. Now imagine someone called her a bad parent. How would you feel?
Somebody said it to my face once. He didn’t really know me, had never met my daughter, he was just a drunken dick in the bar where I work, but he said it, he looked me in the eye and said: “You’re a bad mother.” Let me tell you, it’s one hell of a fucking insult, and we should never, never, say it to ourselves.
Egg-cessive gift giving: Is Easter the new Christmas?
In my humble childhood experience the Easter Bunny brought chocolate, candy, and perhaps a few small toys — all of which are the appropriate size to fit in a basket. An actual basket! Not a toy bin, not a kiddie pool — a basket. What’s next? Children sitting on the lap of a man in a bunny suit asking for the trendiest toy of the season?
Once we start down this slippery slope of excessive Easter gifts where do we draw the line?
My 8 pieces of advice for all stay-at-home-parents
I’ve been a stay-at-home-mom for nine years. I’d like to think that I’ve provided my kids with stability at a time when life gets crazy for one reason or another. So here’s my advice for others who found them selves to be stay-at-home-parents…
Can’t touch this: How to maintain personal space while pregnant
I am not generally a hugger. I tend to tense up when someone even reaches in my personal space. And I know when I tell people I’m pregnant they’ll will tend to want to invade my space.
How do I keep this from happening?
My childfree friends are a balm to my soul: In praise of childfree women
I know the reasons that you’re childfree are numerous. You may consciously choose it. You may want kids later but not right now. You may be grappling with infertility. You may be looking for the right partner or not sure what you’re looking for at all.
I know that media and culture tells you that the clock is ticking. That motherhood is the ultimate feminine destiny; the next epoch.
But you know what, Childfree Woman? I’m a mom and I think that’s absolute bullshit.
How to talk to your kids about poverty when they’re growing up poor
I grew up very poor. I remember asking my mom if we were poor, because the kids at school said we were. She replied that we were poor by our communities standards, but by worldwide standards we were very fortunate. She talked to me about poverty very frankly and openly, and it really made an impression on me…
I don’t know what I did wrong: What should I do?
It’s confusing and hurtful, to say the least. But we’ve all been left with self-esteem issues, too — worried that we’re capable of causing incredible damage to our loved ones, without even knowing it.
I suppose there’s not much to be done, other than to discuss it amongst ourselves and go to therapy. But if anybody has a great idea for helping us make peace when you don’t know what you did wrong, I’d definitely appreciate it.