As a teen, I had a few part-time jobs while in school. I don't want my kids to do the same.
3 min read
I burned out working at consulting firms like KPMG and became a stay-at-home dad. I feel some guilt, but I'm glad I left.
Nicholas Gilpin used to work almost 100 hours a week as a consultant. Now, he stays home to raise his sons, which is both isolating and rewarding.
6 min read
I ended up working at the cafe where my teen got a summer job. It's been great for our relationship.
I ended up working at the same cafe where my teen got a summer job. I love that we get to see a different side of each other while working.
4 min read
As an upper-income dad, I'm not spending a lot on my kids because I don't want them to have an unfair advantage. I'm unsure if I'm doing the right thing.
I pay for expensive after-school activities, but I fear my kids will be too privileged. I want to be more intentional about my parenting.
4 min read
Parenting is hard for everyone, so I've decided to stop faking it when others ask how I'm doing
Nowadays, when other parents ask how I'm doing, they get the honest truth. Their reactions to my response have been refreshing.
4 min read
My son brought home his college girlfriend for a week. We had to set ground rules, but yes, they slept in the same room.
I was nervous when my son wanted to bring home his college girlfriend this summer. But we treated them like adults, giving them the space they needed.
4 min read
Growing up, I spent nearly every weekend with my grandmother. She made me see that I am smart and powerful.
Growing up, I viewed my grandmother as my best friend. Now, years after her death, the lessons she taught me still guide my life.
3 min read
I quit my dream job as an airline pilot when I surprisingly became pregnant with twins. I now rely on my retirement savings.
I was 43, and I was at the top of my career as a pilot. But I got pregnant with twins and needed to be a stay-at-home mom. Retirement savings help.
4 min read
My mom told me she never wanted grandkids. When I became pregnant, she was distant and absent — until she met her grandson.
My mother spent most of her life raising kids and didn't have the emotional capacity for a grandchild. It created a wedge in our relationship.
3 min read
My 14-year-old created a non-toxic plush toy. He was worried about his younger sister.
Dr. Steven Cyr's son Colton realized that plush toys had lots of chemicals to make them soft. He came up with a plush baby that is safer.
3 min read
A stranger complimented my parenting skills. Years later, I still think about what they said.
Parenting is a marathon in invisible labor. I'm still grateful for a random complement I received 7 years ago wile eating at In-N-Out Burger.
5 min read
I turned my screened-in porch into a home office this summer, so my daughter and I could work our remote jobs side by side
My daughter and I work from home side by side. She's started her first corporate internship, and I have a front-row seat as she enters adulthood.
4 min read
Mandy Moore says she and her husband turned losing their home in the LA wildfires into a 'big adventure' for their 3 kids
"There's so much peace in being grateful that we're OK, our animals are OK, and stuff is just stuff," Mandy Moore said.
2 min read
I'm worried my teens are growing up too fast, so I booked a family vacation to Maine. The trip helped slow down time.
I'm worried my teens are growing up too fast, so I thought they wouldn't have fun on our family trip. But we were able to slow down and connect.
4 min read
I'm glad we got a house with my in-laws when I was pregnant. We have separate kitchens, plenty of space, and their support.
I grew up in a multigenerational house. Now I'm raising my family in one, but having our own space is essential.
3 min read
I had kids later than most of my friends. They were able to share valuable advice, but I had to connect with younger moms to survive.
I became a parent after most of my friends. Letting go of my independence was an adjustment period, and younger moms became my lifeline.
3 min read
I'm the mom with color-coded bins and a fridge with labeled sections. I'm exhausted.
On the outside, I look like an organized mom who has it all together — and I have the labeled fridge to prove it. The pressure is breaking me.
3 min read
I lost both parents to cancer. It taught me you have to lean into your grief.
Christine Purcell lost her mother to cancer in July 2024, about 15 years after her father also died of cancer. Losing her mom is still a shock.
6 min read
I've planned more than 100 trips with my family. As the designated travel planner, I sometimes find it challenging to enjoy vacation.
I've planned more than 100 family vacations. My itinerary keeps everyone happy, but I'm also blamed when things go wrong.
4 min read
I'm stuck between expensive teens and aging parents. I've accepted that I won't have a carefree life right now.
When my kids were babies I looked forward to when they wouldn't need me so much. Now it's my parents that need me and I won't have a carefree day ever.
4 min read
I built a media business after starring on '16 & Pregnant.' But I'm still afraid that I could lose my financial success in an instant.
Kailyn Lowry starred in MTV's "16 & Pregnant" and has since built financial success from podcasting. She worries all of her wealth might disappear.
4 min read
I moved from the suburbs to New York City. The culture shock was intense, but my daughter and social life thrived.
Esther Fink moved to New York City to be closer to family after her divorce. After growing up in a small new York town the city pace was a shock.
5 min read
My husband is 10 years older than me. The age gap was noticeable when we first started parenting, but now I see it as an asset.
A 10-year age difference has put my husband and I on opposite sides at times, but now I mostly see it as a good thing.
4 min read
Keke Palmer says moms shouldn't feel guilty for working 'in this economy'
"I think that's important, and especially in this economy where everybody's got to go to work," Keke Palmer said.
3 min read
My husband takes our sons on a trip without me every summer. They swim, fish, and stay up late, and I enjoy taking time for myself.
My husband and two teenage sons take a trip without me every summer. I use the week to get through my to-do list and spend time with friends.
4 min read
My aging father moved in with my family 14 years ago. I've learned a lot about how I want to prepare for my own retirement.
Being part of the sandwich generation, caring for an aging parent and kids at the same time, has changed how I'm planning for my own retirement.
4 min read
I became a first-time mom at 46. Being an older parent is a gift because I'm the best version of myself.
After 10 years of trying IVF, I suddenly got pregnant naturally at 46. I was worried about being an older mom, but I realized it has many benefits.
4 min read
After watching me work from home, my teen got his own clients and made $5,000 in one summer. It helped him find his career path.
I let my son help with my design work when he was 13. He got his own clients, made $5,000 in one summer, and found his career path.
5 min read
My 7-year-old wanted to make money, so I helped him start a small business. He learned about confidence and rejection.
I don't pay my kid an allowance. Instead, I encourage him to start small businesses, and he's become a successful entrepreneur at 12.
4 min read
I struggled to balance my career, motherhood, and 4 international moves. I had to rethink my definition of success.
Over two decades, I built a thriving career, raised my kids, and oversaw several moves. It looked like I was thriving, but inside, I was unraveling.
4 min read
I didn't want my son to overdose on screen time this summer, so we're fostering a puppy. He's learning responsibility and time management.
My teen didn't get a job or volunteer gig for the summer, so we decided to let him foster a puppy. It has been a great experience.
5 min read
I'm a career coach with 3 kids in school. Here are my 6 efficiency hacks for the back-to-school season.
Lauren Gordon knows first-hand how hectic back-to-school can be. She shares tips on how to lightens her mental load and delegates responsibility.
5 min read
I moved between New York and the Dominican Republic as a kid. I was made fun of because of my accent.
I moved between New York City and the Dominican Republic.
5 min read
My kids didn't do their summer homework. I don't regret how we spent our break, but I still feel slightly guilty.
School's starting again. I feel guilty that I let my kids blow off their summer homework, but at least we made a lot of memories.
3 min read
Growing up in a house with 5 sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of parenting — then I had a boy
I grew up in a house of girls. My background with sisters gave me one set of parenting instincts, but my son opened me up to an entirely new world.
4 min read
I'm a pediatrician with 2 sons. Here's how I keep my family healthy during back-to-school and 3 key items I always have on hand.
Dr. Angela Mattke has a 13 and 10-year-old. She recommends keeping honey on-hand for coughs and eating a varied diet for a strong immune system.
5 min read
A stranger fixed my Nespresso machine when I most needed it. Decades later, I still think of her.
Abbi Perets son was in the hospital with cancer when her coffee maker stopped working. A stranger fixed and cleaned it for free.
4 min read
My kids go to a hybrid school. They're at home with me 2 days a week, and the other 3, they're in a classroom.
A hybrid school model works well for my kids. They're in class three days a week and at home two, and the flexibilty is great for my family.
4 min read
I'm a sober mom, and I'm trying to teach my teens to avoid alcohol. I don't know if I'm getting through to them.
As a sober mom, I don't shy away from my past. I tell my teens about my history with alcohol and teach them about mocktails. I hope they're listening.
4 min read
My 80-year-old neighbor became a surrogate grandmother to my 3 kids. They enjoyed crafting and talking and I appreciated how unhurried her life was.
Spending time with my 80-year-old neighbor recharged me in ways I didn't know I needed. It allowed me to show up for the other people in my life.
4 min read
I was a firefighter for 17 years, and I now use those skills as a stay-at-home dad. Laundry sometimes feels like an emergency.
I was a firefighter for 17 years and am now a stay-at-home dad. I use my leadership skills to keep an organized home and get chores done.
4 min read
As a plant-based nutritionist, I swear by these healthy meals to prep my son's school lunches and dinners
Dana Ellis Hunnes says simplifying her family's food choices and batch cooking on weekends reduces stress during the hectic back-to-school season.
5 min read
As a mom, society expects me to be the default parent. My husband is just as capable as I am.
Every time I left my apartment when my daughter was a baby, someone would ask who was taking care of the baby. It made me realize I was the default parent.
5 min read
At 34, I moved from New York City to the Midwest to live with my parents. I was struggling to find a job, and I feel less independent now.
I moved from NYC to the Midwest to live with my parents while job hunting. I don't pay rent, but it's been a tough adjustment.
4 min read
Raising 4 kids can be hectic. Our household couldn't function without our weekly family meetings.
With four busy kids, our calendar is packed. Weekly family meetings have helped reduce stress and keep us organized.
4 min read
I'm an empty nester at 40 after having 3 kids earlier in life. I have the energy to pursue new things while my friends are chasing toddlers.
I had my three kids by 21 and am an empty nester at 40. Being a young parent was challenging, but I wouldn't change a thing.
4 min read
Millennial hustle culture defined my early career. My daughter made me realize I needed to shift my priorities.
When my young daughter told her dolls she was too busy with a work call to talk, I knew I had to shift my priorities.
4 min read
My mom and I have been taking the same summer vacation for 30 years. It's relaxing and cost-efficient.
I've gone on the same summer vacation with my mom since 1995. It's budget-friendly, low-stress, and now, my kids come, too.
5 min read
I know I can't be a perfect mom. I aim for mediocrity.
I wanted to be a perfect mother the first time around. Now I have five kids and I aim for me
4 min read