Family

Whatever Happened to All Those Care Robots?

So far, companion robots haven’t lived up to the hype—and might even exacerbate the problems they’re meant to solve.

Miranda’s Last Gift

When our daughter died suddenly, she left us with grief, memories—and Ringo.

The Problem With ‘Affordable’ Child Care

The service is essential to families and communities. It should be free.

Don’t Tell America the Babysitter’s Dead

For decades, sitting was both a job and a rite of passage. Now it feels more like a symbol of a bygone American era.

They Ate at My Table, Then Ignored My People

As a Palestinian food writer, I believed culinary exchange could build empathy. In so many cases, that hasn’t happened.

A Subtle Shift Shaking Up Sibling Relationships

The age gap between children is widening—and altering family dynamics.

The Anti-abortion Movement’s Attack on Wanted Pregnancies

The push to give legal rights to embryos and fetuses not only forces unwanted pregnancies, it also steals choice from women who fervently want children.

Dad Culture Has Nothing to Do With Parenting

Modern fathers are more involved in their children’s lives than ever. Jokes about “dad bods” and “dad rock” haven’t caught up to that reality.

The Fairy-Tale Promises of Montessori Parenting

No matter how hard you work to organize a playroom, you can’t eliminate chaos or uncertainty from the task of raising kids.

Dear Therapist: I Miss Having Sex

I’m a 70-year-old widow, and I don’t know how to get my needs met.

The Myth of Codependency

Relationships can be inconvenient—but we all depend on others.

The Irony of the Sephora Tweens

Products glorifying youth are being sold to actual youth.

The Mystery of Partner ‘Convergence’

Couples’ personalities can become more similar over time—but the causes are still enigmatic.

First Comes the Breakup, Then Comes the ‘Thrive Post’

Living well is the best revenge, they say. But in the age of social media, an even better revenge is publicizing how well we’re living.

A Paradigm Shift in How Scientists Study Kids

Developmental psychology is notoriously reliant on certain demographics of children. A new tool is changing that.

The Friends Who Are Caring for Each Other in Older Age

Too often, being cared for can mean feeling like a burden. But friends who care for one another flip that dynamic.

The Paradox of Stay-at-Home Parents

American society is largely built around the assumption that one parent will stay home. So why is there so little material support for homemakers?

I Don’t Know If I Can Call Myself a Mom

After enduring infant loss and years of fertility challenges, I still don’t have a child.

Why Don’t We Teach People How to Parent?

The ways that Americans used to learn child-rearing are falling apart. The new ones aren’t filling the gaps left behind.

Dear Therapist: My Daughter Tried to Confront My Ex-husband’s New Wife

Now he has cut her off and expects an apology.