The holiday season can be magical in many ways, filled with novelty and wonder. But what happens when you’re partaking in festivities with the people you see day in and day out? The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of Americans to spend the 2020 season alone, away from loved ones, or in continued close quarters with … Read more
by Jazmine Reed-Clark published Now Credit: Gettyimages For many families, the traditions they keep and pass on year after year are as unique as the people who make up those groups. Me? I can’t imagine a holiday season without a movie marathon that includes “This Christmas” and “The Family Man,” while eating a heaping plate … Read more
There’s a memorable (and, to be honest, pretty cringeworthy) moment in an episode of “The Office” where Dunder Mifflin paper salesman Jim Halpert surprises his receptionist-fiancé Pam Beesly by buying his parents’ house for them to live in. “Um, do we have to sleep in your parents’ bedroom?” she asks. “No, no, we’ll just board … Read more
Megan St-Esprit Contributor Meg is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and four children. Meg is a counselor by education and an extrovert exploring the world by nature. Meg writes about education, travel, real estate, culture, parenting, adoption, and social justice. Follow Megan
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Decorating spaces for kids comes with its high points (Color! Fun patterns! Adorable, tiny kitchens!), as well as its challenges. There are stain-resistant fabrics and kid-safe furnishings to consider, not to mention incorporating your little ones’ tastes into … Read more
Growing up, the wall art in my bedroom consisted of an iconic poster of Jonathan Taylor Thomas, an American Girl calendar, and a piece of embroidered Paraguayan lace, called ñandutí. The word means “spider web” in Guarani, the predominant Indigenous language of Paraguay, and mine was embroidered with vibrant red, pink, green and blue threads. … Read more
Kara Nesvig Contributor Kara Nesvig grew up on a sugar beet farm in rural North Dakota and did her first professional interview with Steven Tyler at age 14. She has written for publications including Teen Vogue, Allure and Wit & Delight. She lives in an adorable 1920s house in St. Paul with her husband, their … Read more
Maybe your kids are at that age where they’re antsy to roll up their sleeves and help in the kitchen. Whether they’re begging to give you a hand in preparing Sunday night’s pasta dish or asking you to let them mix the cookie batter for an upcoming family party, it’s always exciting to watch your … Read more
In early spring 2020, just as the country began to shut down, my husband and I moved in with his parents. We had had to close our wine importing business and found ourselves in a precarious financial situation. We also wanted to help my in-laws navigate this new pandemic world; both of them are over … Read more
Teaching is unlike any other profession, but that’s an understatement for the job in 2020 and 2021. After living rooms, bedrooms, and other at-home spaces turned into makeshift classrooms, many people now have a more nuanced idea of what teaching is: Gone is the perception of teachers simply being there to provide students with knowledge, … Read more