I write about reproductive justice, health and wellness, parenting and personal finance.
What happens to the human brain during a near-death experience that can trigger vivid memories and bizarre spiritual encounters
During a near-death experience, people often recall feeling calm and love instead of pain or fear. Seeing vivid memories flash before your eyes or encountering a spiritual being or aliens are common. Scans of people recalling an NDE indicate increased activity across multiple parts of the brain.
How to handle nighttime visits from your child
Night wakings are a normal part of the sleep cycle for both kids and adults. But if your child isn't able fall back asleep on their own, they might come to you in the middle of the night. To help encourage independent sleep, turn off screens an hour or two before bedtime, establish a consistent bedtime routine, incorporate your child's input on family sleep rules, and problem-solve together about what might be waking them up at night.
Why experts consider authoritative parenting the best approach, and how it differs from authoritarian parenting
Experts say kids with authoritative parents have better mental health and greater life satisfaction.
Subtle signs of workplace pregnancy discrimination and how the law protects you, according to attorneys
Examples of discrimination include getting fired or demoted and ongoing rude or negative remarks. Legal experts recommend keeping written records and reaching out to a lawyer right away.
What to do if your toddler won't nap
Many toddlers resist napping as they grow more independent and interested in the world around them. But resistance doesn't mean your child is ready to drop naps completely. Toddlers between the ages of 1 and 2 need about one-and-a-half to three hours of daytime sleep, and most kids won't drop naps altogether until closer to ages 4 or 5. You can help encourage your child to rest during the day by teaching them to fall asleep independently and establishing a consistent naptime routine.
6 essential tips for helping your kids develop empathy, according to child psychologists
Empathy helps you understand other people's emotions and why they feel the way they do.
You can teach this skill by discussing and validating feelings and showing concern for others.
Postpartum anxiety (PPA)
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is a treatable mood disorder that's estimated to affect 4 to 18 percent of new moms. It's characterized by extreme feelings of fear and worry that disrupt daily life and make it difficult to eat or sleep. You may be more prone to PPA if you have a family history of anxiety disorders. If you recently gave birth and you're experiencing feelings of panic or worry that feel all-consuming, reach out to your healthcare provider. PPA is treated with therapy, medication, or b...
The sneaky ways social media can sabotage your body image — and 3 easy tips to help you break the cycle
Social media can negatively affect body image by over-exposing you to "idealized" body types. While posting selfies may help body image, trying to edit out perceived flaws can be harmful. To reduce harm on social media, unfollow accounts, find a healthy community, and take breaks.
Personal Finance 101: Budgeting Basics
Chances are you’ve heard about the importance of budgeting. It’s one of the most frequently repeated pieces of financial advice, and for good reason: Using a budget to track your cashflow is the foundation for reaching long-term goals.
Best Subscriptions for Outdoor Kids
Kids spend less time outside these days than they used to. In fact, children only spend only four to seven minutes of unstructured play outdoors per day versus seven and a half hours in front of electronic media.1 But, encouraging your kids to explore nature might be easier than you think, especially with the right tools.
Learning to Budget Helped Her Find Her Footing
Before Helenna Chun hit a rough patch financially, she had never talked openly about money—mostly because her parents didn’t discuss financial matters with her when she was growing up. So, in November 2018, when Chun found herself unemployed with little savings to fall back on, she lacked the tools and financial resources to navigate her situation.
Reasons why you might not breastfeed – and why that's okay
The choice of whether or not to breastfeed is personal and can be influenced by many factors, including how much breast milk you produce, how much support you have, your medications, and how much time you have off work, along with your own preferences. If you're struggling with breastfeeding challenges, a lactation consultant or postpartum doula can offer help. But if you decide that breastfeeding isn’t for you, rest assured your little one will get all the nutrients they need from formula.
Best STEM Subscriptions for Kids
Many kids are easily fascinated by science, technology, engineering, and math (known as STEM), even if they don’t realize it in the classroom. Lots of children love creating their own science experiments, tinkering around with tools, building things, or understanding how something works, and it’s important to foster that exploration. Plus, exposing them to hands-on, problem-based learning not only helps set them up for academic success, but it might also just spark a lifelong passion as well.
16 high-protein, low-carb foods that dietitians recommend adding to your diet
Opting for a low-carb, high-protein diet could help you lose weight and manage blood sugar. Some healthy high-protein, low-carb foods include salmon, eggs, and Greek yogurt.
For high-protein, low-carb snacks, choose string cheese, almonds, or sunflower seeds. Consuming complex carbohydrates like fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, but eating lots of processed simple carbs like baked goods, sweet drinks, and refined grains can increase a person's risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
How brain fog, fatigue, and more can signal that you have one of the 5 most common vitamin deficiencies
Some of the most common nutrient deficiencies are B6, B12, D, iron, and calcium.
If you're deficient in vitamin B12 you might experience irritability, fatigue, and canker sores.
An iron deficiency can cause fatigue, depression, brain fog, and muscle cramps.