A New Translation of a Swedish Classic: Laura Fitinghoff’s “The Children from Frostmo Mountain”
Earlier this year, I was delighted to receive a copy of Laura Lugnet’s translation of a Swedish children’s literature classic, “The Children […]
Ralph Moody’s “Little Britches”: Work and Play in the American West
Just as viruses and bad ideas spread between people, so manners, good living, and, best of all, good books can spread. Through […]
“Wild Strawberries,” Cold Mothers, and Embryos on Ice
Ingmar Bergman’s 1957 film “Wild Strawberries” (“Smultronstället” in Swedish) is a portrait of a man whose mother was cold. The protagonist, a […]
Pursuing Creativity through Order in Motherhood: “The Baby on the Fire Escape” and “The Compleat Woman”
There’s a cultural misperception that spontaneity and impulse are the fertile ground of artistic expression. Undeniably, there is a long and storied […]
Bee Wilson’s “First Bite”: Rethinking How We Eat and the Breastfeeding World Tour
There are certain writers whose work, no matter the topic, I will read because their perspective is perennially interesting. Such is the […]
Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”: Is “Chinese Parenting” Really Better?
When J.D. Vance was announced as the GOP candidate for vice-president, I, like many people, was reminded of his mystifying memoir of […]
Malcolm and Simone Collins: “Cheaper by the Dozen” for the 21st Century
Malcolm and Simone Collins continue to intrigue me, which infuriatingly is the whole point of their in-your-face publicity stunts and marketing plan. […]
Teddy Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts…”
In a speech in Paris in 1910, Teddy Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points […]
Why Being the “Fun Mom” Does Not Work and What To Do Instead
I’ve had the experience and heard many mothers share it of trying to be “fun.” When you go out of your way […]
Laura Vanderkam’s “I Know How She Does It”: Time Tracking and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
Laura Vanderkam is a married mother of five, time management expert, and concise and insightful writer. Though it’s been several years since […]