Family

What’s Missing From Empathy

Feeling others’ pain can make everyone less happy if you don’t learn to tolerate it.

There Is No Road Map for the Longest Phase of Parenthood

When a kid becomes an adult, a new, confusing stage of the parent-child relationship begins, yet there’s little guidance to help families navigate it.

What Babies Hear When You Sing to Them

And what parents gain

Don’t Teach Your Kids to Fear the World

Scaring children won’t keep them safe. Instead, help them see the good in the world.

How Student Debt Has Contributed to ‘Delayed’ Adulthood

The irony of attending college in the U.S. is that the burden of paying for it can prevent it from serving its purpose of launching young adults into stable, fulfilling lives.

Scenes From Ukrainian Summer Camp

Can childhood be preserved in a war zone?

Is the Internet Killing the Nude Beach?

Clothing-optional public spaces seem to be declining in popularity, especially among young people, whose relationship with nudity has been shaped by a lifetime online.

Dear Therapist: I Don’t Know How to Help My Best Friend Through Her Divorce

She’s making some unhealthy choices, and it’s hard to watch.

The Trait That ‘Super Friends’ Have in Common

A secure attachment style can help people initiate and maintain friendships.

A Shortcut for Feeling Just a Little Happier

Mental and physical pain share neurological roots. A simple painkiller can help with both.

Reporting on Parenthood Has Made Me Nervous About Having Kids

I’m excited to be a dad someday. But after seeing how stressed and under-supported American parents are, I’m also apprehensive.

The Problem With Companies Promising to Pay for Abortion Travel

The benevolence of employers is a terribly shaky safety net.

Honesty Is Love

Sharing hard truths might be uncomfortable, but it’s a surer route to happiness than hiding them.

The Pain That Is Unlike All Other Pain

Why does society treat labor pain with such reverence—and its relief with such scrutiny?

To Get Out of Your Head, Get Out of Your House

Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety.

The Economic Principle That Helps Me Order at Restaurants

If you’re just eating one dish, you’re missing out.

How to Embrace Doing Nothing

Absolute idleness is both harder and more rewarding than it seems.

The Downsides of Having an Athlete in the Family

Many parents sacrifice money and time to support a child's athletic dreams, to the detriment of the household.

The Myth of Independent American Families

In Nordic countries, people rely on the state. In the U.S., they rely on their communities.

How to Be Happy in a Recession

A financial downturn doesn’t have to cause an emotional one.