essays

Sometimes Mother’s Day is complicated—just like motherhood

Mother’s Day is just that—a day. It is not motherhood. 

Mothering is work. For Mother’s Day, I’d like a raise, please

Sure, I’ll take the flowers and breakfast in bed, too, but if you really want to acknowledge all that I do, start treating me like a paid employee. 

Barre with a C-section scar: My body may be different—but it’s stronger than ever

I check my heart rate; higher, but still normal. I’m shaking. I’m doing it. I’m different. I’m the same.

Yes, my 2-year-old does chores

I’m teaching her responsibility all with the goal of ultimately showing her that families (and communities) work best when everyone does their part.

Gen Z moms are less likely to support gun control and paid leave this election year, our survey shows

Moms under 30 are 3 times less likely than older moms to support key federal policies, Motherly’s 2024 State of Motherhood survey found. But I’m not surprised.

Breaking bigger: The messy business of expanding your heart

In watching my firstborn love on my newborn, the swell of joy broke my heart ever-so-slightly bigger, again.

Playing ‘Memory Keeper’ for your kids is a bittersweet job

I never predicted the pressure I’d feel to catalog every important moment of my child’s life

My birth story highlighted a critical reality: Black women need strong advocates

The constant advocating throughout my birth experience was exhausting.

I got my 7-year-old a therapist—and it helped my own anxiety, too

My daughter’s anxiety looked different than mine, however I could see it sneaking into the nooks and crannies of her life.

I don’t need my barista to ask if I want more children

She doesn’t know what I am going through, and no woman should have to be continually put in a position to defend or explain her reproductive health with total strangers.

I took my autistic daughter to see Taylor Swift overseas—and it was magical

Our Taylor Swift adventure is the best thing my daughter and I have ever done together.

7 simple ways to make sustainable, eco-conscious changes at home

Caring for our kids’ futures means caring for the environment they will inherit.

Dear Google Calendar: This is NOT a healthy relationship

Not to sound melodramatic, but you’re my agenda angel. My daybook dream.

Hindsight: What I wish I would have known as a first-time parent

Let your intuition be your guide because there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Money management tips for the sandwich generation

This is a crucial part of financial planning: Talk to your parents about their final affairs before they pass away.

‘Geriatric pregnancy’ isn’t an offensive term

It's time to examine our overall attitude toward aging.

This is the worst part of unexplained secondary infertility

It’s the irrational anger at the baby section in Target. It’s the hundreds of times each day I wonder what it is that’s keeping me from getting pregnant.

Mothering in a country with the highest rate of school shootings

Lately, I’m struggling to cope with the anxiety of it. I fantasize about moving to another country altogether.

I waited 2 years, 4 months and 12 days for my libido to return after having twins

Not that I was counting.

Unpopular opinion: I use AI to help me parent 

The uncertainty of how artificial intelligence might impact our future has made…