Changing Parenting Hats
Parents have a lot of responsibilities. Or, as the saying goes, they “wear many hats.” The idiom, originating from the 19th and early 20th centuries, pertains to jobs requiring specific headwear. (Think chefs, ranchers, or military personnel.) Sometimes, people have more than one job, and not everyone wears an actual hat at work. Nonetheless, […]
Understanding the Role of Male Fertility in Family Planning After Baby No. 1
When you’re thinking about baby No. 2, it’s natural to focus on factors such as timing, birth spacing, finances, and family routines. However, fertility is also part of the equation, and that includes male fertility. While a father’s reproductive health is usually overlooked, it’s actually an essential part of family planning. Does Male Fertility […]
What Parents Can Expect in Surrogacy and How to Build an Early Bond
What Parents Can Expect in Surrogacy and How to Build an Early Bond So much of our cultural understanding around early bonding with a child comes from film and TV, watching characters speaking to pregnant bellies and playing them music. Parents expecting via surrogacy often worry that they won’t be able to experience this. […]
Family Squabbles
About Squabbles Ideally, families experience home as a harmonious haven. Yet sometimes daily life unravels into drama, hurriedness, consternation, or squabbles. Although dissension—between parents and children, or among family members—often starts out mildly, it can escalate into standoffs or shouting matches with emotions running high and each person trying to be “heard.” In the […]
What Your Employer Isn’t Going to Tell You About Maternity Leave
When you find out you’re pregnant, most women do the same thing. They feel the rush of joy (or shock, or both) and then, often within days, a deeper anxiety sets in: What does this mean for my job? Is maternity leave (or paternity leave) an option? So you Google maternity leave. You review […]
The Importance of Including Grandparents in Contingency Planning When Raising Children with Special Needs
When a parent has a child with special needs, whether a physical disability, chronic illness, or neurodivergent condition, contingency planning is often avoided. Perhaps they’re unsure how to start, or hesitant to face a future when they’re no longer around. But preparing for the unknown can be a profound act of love, one that […]