December brings so much magic—and so much pressure. Between gifts, gatherings, and that mischievous Elf on the Shelf, it can be easy to lose sight of what really matters to you as a parent. If you find yourself overwhelmed by expectations or comparing your family’s traditions to others, this post is for you. Learn five gentle, practical ways to stay grounded in your parenting style this holiday season, so you can celebrate in ways that actually feel meaningful—for you and your kids.

Bringing home a new baby is a profound shift—full of joy, exhaustion, and emotional ups and downs. While some feelings are part of the “typical” postpartum experience, others may be signs of a deeper struggle like postpartum depression or anxiety.

Parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about knowing how to repair when things go wrong. Apologizing to your kids after a tough moment builds trust, resilience, and emotional connection. Learn why repair matters and how to do it effectively, fostering stronger relationships with your children.

Parenting is hard, and moments of overwhelm can leave you feeling out of control. Whether it’s the chaos of daily life or the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations, parental overwhelm affects us all. Learn what causes it and discover three effective strategies—like getting curious, self-soothing, and reshaping your internal narrative—to manage stress and find calm amidst the chaos.

Supporting a nonbinary child is an ongoing journey that begins with understanding and empathy. By listening to your child's experiences, educating yourself on nonbinary identities, and fostering a safe and inclusive environment, you empower your child to live as their authentic self.

But there is something off-putting about the confluence of social media and for-profit parenting advice. Emma Basch, a Washington DC-based therapist who frequently works with mothers of young children, says she has watched various parenting trends come and go, almost like fad diets.

Recently, weight watchers has gotten into some hot water for promoting a dieting app designed for children. In my opinion …

There is no shortage of advice on what to do and what to get after having a baby. There are an infinite number of…

Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead was published when I was pregnant with my first child, but I had long before ingested her message. I grew up in DC, a city of working moms. It was not unusual for me to see my mom or a friend’s mother being interviewed on CNN one night and bringing snacks to soccer practice the next day. The women around me leaned in hard.

We’ve all been there. The triggers are different but the experience of feeling like “a bad mom” is one most people can relate to. I hear this a lot from my patients and I’ve certainly struggled with that feeling myself. The problem is not the feeling…

This fall my spirited daughter will head off to kindergarten. With the birthday cut-offs as they are in our area, she will be one of the youngest in her grade entering school at 4 years old. But this essay isn’t about that…

Is summer travel with your kids stressing you out? There is no shortage of blog posts with great ideas to make traveling with your kids smoother. But have you ever thought about the impact of your own thinking on your travel stress?