The Christmas Baby’s Dilemma
Combining two celebrations into one day can be a gift or a curse.
Confessions of a Jewish Santa
They wanted dinosaurs and fire trucks, American Girl dolls and Uggs, and they wanted their grandma to get healthy.
Dear Therapist: I Cut My Volatile Brother Out of My Life. But My Parents Haven’t.
I haven’t spoken to him in months and I’m angry that my parents continue to maintain a relationship with him.
‘Unboxing Toys’ Are the New Cracker Jack Prizes
L.O.L. Surprise Dolls and similarly in-demand “unboxing” toys are just the latest iteration of a perennially popular gimmick—that works on both kids and adults.
Sick Migrant Children Are at the Whims of U.S. Border Guards
Agents repeatedly denied entry to a 7-year-old with a life-threatening illness. Why did they change their minds?
Why Dating Is Hard for Millennials
For a generation of young people who are most likely to meet a partner online, the rules of romance are changing.
Why People Pretend to Talk as Their Pets
And babies, and stuffed animals …
There’s No Fun Like Mandatory Office Holiday Fun
Secret Santa gift exchanges at work make many people grinchy—for good reason.
Dear Therapist: My Mother Wants Me to Cut My Fiancé Out of My Daughter’s Life
I’m happy with the way my fiancé and I are raising my daughter, but my mother isn’t.
The Miseducation of the American Boy
Why boys crack up at rape jokes, think having a girlfriend is “gay,” and still can’t cry—and why we need to give them new and better models of masculinity
When Does a Boyfriend or Girlfriend Become Part of the Family?
The social changes of the past few generations have made the question of when (or whether) to include a significant other in a holiday celebration a particularly fraught one—for everyone involved.
The Case for Buying a House With Friends
“Looking around our culture, I think a lot of people are starting to experience the limits of individualism.”
A Couples Therapist Analyzes the Marriage in Marriage Story
“I’d love to get them into my office.”
How the Loss of the Landline Is Changing Family Life
The shared phone was a space of spontaneous connection for the entire household.
The Ripple Effects of Taking SNAP Benefits From One Person
A new Trump-administration rule will cut food assistance for nearly 700,000 Americans, also affecting many of their relatives and housemates.
Dear Therapist: My Son Is Angry About the Way He Was Treated Last Christmas
He returned home a year ago feeling sad and anxious. We tried to be supportive, but he felt slighted and he’s not over it.
Why Your Kid Loves the Garbage Truck So Much
For some kids, the weekly trash pickup is a must-see spectacle. Parents, children, waste-management professionals, and experts on childhood all offer theories as to why.
Mister Rogers and the Art of Paying Attention
The beloved children’s-show host knew what was at the heart of human relationships.
Dear Therapist: My Girlfriend and I Are at a Crossroads in Our Relationship
She wants to start a family now, but I don’t want to make a decision based on her biological timeline.
These Friends’ Collaborative Playlist Has Strict, Elaborate Rules
“Technology nowadays allows people to have music that’s personalized to them … but it also allows people to collaborate in ways that we weren’t able to before.”