moral dilemmas

I Started A Hippie Fight At Whole Foods Because Someone's Kid Was Throwing Rocks At Birds

Was I just being a crazy bird lady? Was I shoving my own beliefs down this family's throat? Should I just have minded my own business?
Louise Hung in
Issues, moral dilemmas, kids, ignoring your kids, intervening, animals, birds, respect, other peoples kids, annoying hippies, hippies

Apr 3, 2013 at 4:00pm | 427 comments

books

Tell Me How To Stock A Kid's Library

Plus, my new necklace that inspired today's wacky pre-school teacher outfit.
Emily in
Family Drama, books, childrens books, kids

Jun 7, 2012 at 3:00pm | 423 comments

kids

My Kid’s Teacher Left A Scathing Bitchfest About 3 Kindergartners On My Voicemail By Accident

I mean it’s one thing to imagine someone harboring ill sentiments towards your child. But to actually hear those thoughts expressed with such clarity and vehemence?
Anonymom in
Family Drama, kids, school, parenting, teachers

Mar 7, 2013 at 3:30pm | 315 comments

age

OH CRAP YOU GUYS, I Think I Might Be a “Woman Child”

Or else I'm just a huge weirdo. OH, NO, WHAT IF I'M BOTH?
Lesley in
Issues, age, having fun, weddings, kids, feminism, cosmic dolphin puzzle

Sep 13, 2012 at 2:00pm | 250 comments

jen kirkman

Jen Kirkman Is Child-Free and Happy and Doesn't Care If You Believe Her

"I'm just learning how sensitive people are, and sometimes they think that if you're doing something different, then you're judging them."
Julieanne in
Entertainment, jen kirkman, comedians, books, book recommendations, i can barely take care of myself, kids, childless

Apr 24, 2013 at 5:00pm | 239 comments

happiness

Let a Bitch Celebrate! Women and the Culture of Happiness Shaming

For a woman, joy must be expressed carefully. Because to express your happiness too wantonly, too ebulliently or widely, is to risk a quick shutdown from those who are not experiencing the same happiness.
Emily in
Relationships, happiness, fill-in-the-blank-shaming, marriage, kids

Sep 20, 2012 at 3:00pm | 217 comments

babies

When Do I Need To Know If I Want To Have Kids?

I'm embarrassed to admit to you and to anybody that I'm not sure how I feel about babies at a time when it's maybe most important for me to know.
Julieanne in
Healthy, babies, family drama, feminism, fertility, freaking out, kids, moms, working women

Aug 9, 2012 at 9:00am | 215 comments

babies

I'm SORRY, OK? I Was An Internet Baby Hater

I don't actually hate your baby! It was just a thing I did for money once.
Julieanne in
Family Drama, babies, kids, baby hatred, facebook, stfu parents, parents, embarrassing moments, julieanne is a terrible person

Apr 9, 2013 at 12:00pm | 201 comments

princesses

In Defense Of Princesses (Or Why I'm Proud to Own a Hoop Skirt)

I understand the motivation behind people’s disdain for princesses and the whole princess marketing megashark that never stops swimming and eating all of us. But princesses pretty much kick ass.
Marianne in
Beauty, princesses, disney princesses, femme skills, femme presentation, being a femme is hard effing work, Femme queer, kids, raising kids

Jan 18, 2013 at 10:00am | 198 comments

what the parenting books don't tell you

What the Parenting Books Don't Tell You: It's OK to Feel Ambivalent About Your Kid

When my son was a baby, I often imagined what my life would be like if I had NOT had a child -- and yes, sometimes I wished that I hadn’t.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, what the parenting books don't tell you, parenting, kids, new babies, ambivalence

Mar 27, 2013 at 3:00pm | 197 comments

kids

Are Boys Easier to Raise Than Girls?

Those quiet three-year-old girls playing nicely with their blocks? They're going to be horrible to their moms in about 10 years.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, kids, parenting, boys vs. girls, parenting challenges

Apr 26, 2013 at 9:00am | 196 comments

children

I'm Happier Being a Part-Time Parent

Having a week where I don’t have to put anyone to bed, or be the disciplinarian, or wait until after 9:00 p.m. to watch my recorded HBO shows is THE BEST.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, children, divorce, kids, motherhood, parenting, part-time parenting, science, stress

Jul 10, 2012 at 11:00am | 184 comments

kids

Why My Kid Will Never See Me Drunk

My house is not dry by any means. But how the hell would I deal with a sick kid in the middle of the night if I'm plastered?
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, kids, booze, parenting, drinking while parenting, drunk moms, alcoholism

Oct 3, 2012 at 11:00am | 183 comments

illeism

Mommy Speaks About Herself In The Third Person, And Other Stuff That Probably Annoys Everyone

We are all super annoying to each other, now that we always know what everyone else is doing and thinking, at all times.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, illeism, The Rock, facebook, parenting, kids, being annoying

Apr 5, 2013 at 10:00am | 183 comments

children

Sometimes You Gotta Put On the Mean Mom Face

About that family that got kicked off a plane due to a toddler tantrum...
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, children, discipline, kids, parenting, privilege, travel

Jun 7, 2012 at 5:00pm | 173 comments

kids

On Saying "No" To a Foster Child

The idea that there are 16,000 foster children in NYC alone, each as unique and precious as my foster son, each needing stable, loving homes both temporary and permanent, actually hurts me when I think about it, makes it hard to breathe.
Emily in
Family Drama, kids, foster care, parenting

Sep 28, 2012 at 2:00pm | 165 comments

kids

Is The World A Scarier Place, Or Am I An Overprotective Parent?

When I was a kid, my mom didn't know where I was half the time. Now I don't let my kid play in our front yard unattended.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, kids, parenting, child abductions, kidnapping, overprotective parenting

Oct 30, 2012 at 1:00pm | 158 comments

ihtm contest

It Happened To Me Contest Entry: I'm A Foster Mom And Now I'm Not Sure I Ever Want to Have Kids

Between the biological urge of my body, and the now raging doubt in my brain, I am stuck. I love my foster kids, all 4 of them, but I just don’t know if I want to do it again “for real.”
IHTM CONTESTANT in
It Happened To Me, ihtm contest, foster parent, fostering, parenting, kids

Feb 22, 2013 at 5:00pm | 157 comments

fat

HANDS UP: Who's Really Surprised That 7-Year-Olds Are Putting Themselves On Diets? Anyone?

Young kids' burgeoning obsessions with their weight and dieting are tragic, yes. But surprising? Not in the least.
Lesley in
Issues, fat, dieting, radical anti-diet extremism, parenting, kids

Mar 13, 2013 at 1:00pm | 150 comments

sex

"Pee Cannot Get You Pregnant" --- Talking to My Kid About Sex

I'm not sure how to talk to my kid about sex, so I asked the xoJane editors for their own "sex talk" stories.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, sex, sex talk, parenting, kids, birds and the bees

Oct 17, 2012 at 10:00am | 150 comments

nudity

Naked In Front of My Kid? No Thanks.

I think there is just a certain point where parents and children should not see each other naked.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, nudity, movie nudity, nudists, kids, parenting

Oct 19, 2012 at 10:00am | 147 comments

kids

Breaking All The Rules: Stuff I Thought I'd Never Do As A Parent (That I Totally Do)

Before I became a parent, I admit I thought plunking a small child down in front of the TV seemed kind of mean. And after: sometimes I thank the universe for children’s programming on PBS.
Somer Sherwood in
Family Drama, kids, parenting, rules, breaking rules, winging it, flexibility

Jan 29, 2013 at 3:00pm | 139 comments