mom
Not many would think motherhood is a good time to be selfish, but I have learned that selfishness is, in fact, essential to being a good mom.If I had heard this advice before I had children, and even a year or two in, I would have rolled my eyes and…
I live in the Hamptons year-round, and I understand why people think summer here looks glamorous from the outside.There is the much-anticipated season for those who come to visit: the rush of crowds, people jumping from one boutique fitness class to the next, the packed restaurants and bars, the private…
Aside from some brief visits to neighboring Canada, my mother had never been anywhere outside the United States.So, for her 60th birthday, I surprised her with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, somewhere she had always wanted to visit. And I, a seasoned traveler, would be her plus one.I planned a…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lana Ng, a 35-year-old stay-at-home mother based in Houston. It has been edited for length and clarity.I used to work as a marketing coordinator at a local hospital in Houston. I worked in a hybrid role, spending three days working from…
My parenting style can be described as a tired mother, trying her best. My approach is mostly gentle and laid-back, with flashes of Type-A-style organization where I try to set boundaries. I love my kids, but often feel overstimulated and overwhelmed, as though, despite my best efforts, I’m not doing…
This story is based on an interview with Jessica C. Guthrie, 38, a full-time carer and caregiving consultant from Fredericksburg, Virginia. It has been edited for length and clarity.In 2013, we noticed that my mom, a teacher’s aide, was getting a little confused about things at the school she’d had…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jareb Dougherty, 29, the co-owner of Donovan’s Irish Pub in St. Augustine, Florida. When his professional basketball career didn’t work out, he went on to manage a restaurant with his mother.It has been edited for length and clarity.When I say I…
As my daughters and I canvassed the neighborhood trick-or-treating, my 8-year-old dressed as a devil and her 5-year-old sister as a superhero, my frustration was growing. My youngest was refusing to say “thank you” as neighbors dropped handfuls of candy into her bucket, and I felt embarrassed.”Say ‘thank you,’ or…
Dear For Love & Money,I want to be a stay-at-home mom, but my husband says we can’t afford it. I disagree. He makes well into the six figures, and our home and cars are all paid off. I make a fraction of what he makes. He’s never come out and…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Margaret Burke, 62, who lives in Taiwan and is caring remotely for her 91-year-old mother in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Burke, who works as a patent attorney, said this arrangement has allowed her mom to age well in a condo while…
