June 15, 2018 "Are you a boy or a girl?" How do you explain gender to a child? My kiddo is biologically male, but when kids ask him if he's a boy or girl, he says, "I'm me. I'm a person." Kids, however, don't accept this answer and pester him to the point of tears. I don't know how to tell him the difference between boys and girls, or if I want to tell him that there is a difference at all (besides anatomically). How do you explain gender to a four-year-old? Read More April 25, 2018 Looking inward teaches me to accept myself as I am During yoga last night, I was instructed to look inward, to close my eyes and only see myself. To look inward toward myself for satisfaction. I spent the entire hour with my eyes closed just doing what felt right in my body and not trying to compete with the girl on the mat next to me. That simple choice to keep my eyes closed and look inward was incredibly awakening. It inspired me. Read More 1.2k 30 Comments April 17, 2018 I've been married for three years and I still can't pick a married last name It happens all the time. Someone will look at me, ask for my name, and I'll panic. What is my name here? My doctor and my library know me as Ms. My-Last-Name. Our dog groomer and favorite restaurant know me as Mrs. His-Last-Name. My bank knows me as both. And at some point, my gym changed my name to match my husband's, but I forget and give them the wrong name every time. Who am I this time? Read More 1.8k December 27, 2017 How non-traditional couples break the whole argument for traditional gender roles In my research about gender roles, I found disturbing personal anecdotes about the NEED for gender roles. One bit of commentary in particular that stuck out to me most blatantly discredited couples planning to share responsibilities in and out of the home. If it is God’s will for men to almost always be the sole providers, where does my partner fit in? My partner was born with a physical disability. There are physical limitations to what he can do. Does that mean he doesn’t qualify to be a conventionally providing husband? And if so, does that mean he isn’t made by God to fulfill the "role" of a man? Here's how my family forces us to confront traditional gender roles… Read More 4.4k 12 Comments December 20, 2017 Fairy princesses can be mighty girls, as long as we don't shame them first My daughter wanted a "fairy princess birthday party," so I was making wands out pink glitter-glue and pipe cleaners and cutting the crusts off fairy bread while obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed for more news about the extent of Weinstein's depravity. The invitation to her party was a photo of my daughter wearing a tutu and crown, Photoshopped to make it look like it appeared in the pages of a storybook. She loved it. After the invitation went out, I received messages RSVPing to the party, but they also asked a question, the same one over again: "Are you okay with this?" Read More 123…17
April 25, 2018 Looking inward teaches me to accept myself as I am During yoga last night, I was instructed to look inward, to close my eyes and only see myself. To look inward toward myself for satisfaction. I spent the entire hour with my eyes closed just doing what felt right in my body and not trying to compete with the girl on the mat next to me. That simple choice to keep my eyes closed and look inward was incredibly awakening. It inspired me. Read More 1.2k 30 Comments April 17, 2018 I've been married for three years and I still can't pick a married last name It happens all the time. Someone will look at me, ask for my name, and I'll panic. What is my name here? My doctor and my library know me as Ms. My-Last-Name. Our dog groomer and favorite restaurant know me as Mrs. His-Last-Name. My bank knows me as both. And at some point, my gym changed my name to match my husband's, but I forget and give them the wrong name every time. Who am I this time? Read More 1.8k December 27, 2017 How non-traditional couples break the whole argument for traditional gender roles In my research about gender roles, I found disturbing personal anecdotes about the NEED for gender roles. One bit of commentary in particular that stuck out to me most blatantly discredited couples planning to share responsibilities in and out of the home. If it is God’s will for men to almost always be the sole providers, where does my partner fit in? My partner was born with a physical disability. There are physical limitations to what he can do. Does that mean he doesn’t qualify to be a conventionally providing husband? And if so, does that mean he isn’t made by God to fulfill the "role" of a man? Here's how my family forces us to confront traditional gender roles… Read More 4.4k 12 Comments December 20, 2017 Fairy princesses can be mighty girls, as long as we don't shame them first My daughter wanted a "fairy princess birthday party," so I was making wands out pink glitter-glue and pipe cleaners and cutting the crusts off fairy bread while obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed for more news about the extent of Weinstein's depravity. The invitation to her party was a photo of my daughter wearing a tutu and crown, Photoshopped to make it look like it appeared in the pages of a storybook. She loved it. After the invitation went out, I received messages RSVPing to the party, but they also asked a question, the same one over again: "Are you okay with this?" Read More 123…17
1.2k 30 Comments April 17, 2018 I've been married for three years and I still can't pick a married last name It happens all the time. Someone will look at me, ask for my name, and I'll panic. What is my name here? My doctor and my library know me as Ms. My-Last-Name. Our dog groomer and favorite restaurant know me as Mrs. His-Last-Name. My bank knows me as both. And at some point, my gym changed my name to match my husband's, but I forget and give them the wrong name every time. Who am I this time? Read More 1.8k December 27, 2017 How non-traditional couples break the whole argument for traditional gender roles In my research about gender roles, I found disturbing personal anecdotes about the NEED for gender roles. One bit of commentary in particular that stuck out to me most blatantly discredited couples planning to share responsibilities in and out of the home. If it is God’s will for men to almost always be the sole providers, where does my partner fit in? My partner was born with a physical disability. There are physical limitations to what he can do. Does that mean he doesn’t qualify to be a conventionally providing husband? And if so, does that mean he isn’t made by God to fulfill the "role" of a man? Here's how my family forces us to confront traditional gender roles… Read More 4.4k 12 Comments December 20, 2017 Fairy princesses can be mighty girls, as long as we don't shame them first My daughter wanted a "fairy princess birthday party," so I was making wands out pink glitter-glue and pipe cleaners and cutting the crusts off fairy bread while obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed for more news about the extent of Weinstein's depravity. The invitation to her party was a photo of my daughter wearing a tutu and crown, Photoshopped to make it look like it appeared in the pages of a storybook. She loved it. After the invitation went out, I received messages RSVPing to the party, but they also asked a question, the same one over again: "Are you okay with this?" Read More 123…17
1.8k December 27, 2017 How non-traditional couples break the whole argument for traditional gender roles In my research about gender roles, I found disturbing personal anecdotes about the NEED for gender roles. One bit of commentary in particular that stuck out to me most blatantly discredited couples planning to share responsibilities in and out of the home. If it is God’s will for men to almost always be the sole providers, where does my partner fit in? My partner was born with a physical disability. There are physical limitations to what he can do. Does that mean he doesn’t qualify to be a conventionally providing husband? And if so, does that mean he isn’t made by God to fulfill the "role" of a man? Here's how my family forces us to confront traditional gender roles… Read More 4.4k 12 Comments December 20, 2017 Fairy princesses can be mighty girls, as long as we don't shame them first My daughter wanted a "fairy princess birthday party," so I was making wands out pink glitter-glue and pipe cleaners and cutting the crusts off fairy bread while obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed for more news about the extent of Weinstein's depravity. The invitation to her party was a photo of my daughter wearing a tutu and crown, Photoshopped to make it look like it appeared in the pages of a storybook. She loved it. After the invitation went out, I received messages RSVPing to the party, but they also asked a question, the same one over again: "Are you okay with this?" Read More 123…17
4.4k 12 Comments December 20, 2017 Fairy princesses can be mighty girls, as long as we don't shame them first My daughter wanted a "fairy princess birthday party," so I was making wands out pink glitter-glue and pipe cleaners and cutting the crusts off fairy bread while obsessively refreshing my Twitter feed for more news about the extent of Weinstein's depravity. The invitation to her party was a photo of my daughter wearing a tutu and crown, Photoshopped to make it look like it appeared in the pages of a storybook. She loved it. After the invitation went out, I received messages RSVPing to the party, but they also asked a question, the same one over again: "Are you okay with this?" Read More 123…17