Parenting Essays, Organized—skip the scroll

PARENTreads Issue No. 1: community-curated picks + why they matter (Back-to-School, Stance & Self, Health, Ages & Stages).

Welcome to the first issue of PARENTreads. I’ve been sitting on this idea for a while, and when I polled a few weeks ago, the response was (almost) unanimous: “yes—a digest of impactful parenting essays would make my life easier!” I’m genuinely impressed by the talent and wisdom collected here—deep thanks to everyone who submitted, and to the few writers whose pieces I invited in because they fit this first issue so well.

Keep in mind, as you read, that I want you to steer this digest. Would you prefer a shorter, editor-curated list, a single-topic digest each issue, or this broader format with a seasonal spotlight plus universal sections? And does it matter to you whether the essays are recent (within the last 30 days), or is timeless > timely?

You’ll find a few quick questions at the bottom—share there, or drop thoughts in the comments or via DM. This is for you, and I genuinely value your feedback.

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What’s in this first issue?

Back-to-School (seasonal spotlight)
Parent Stance & Self (our needs, challenges, triumphs, how we show up)
Connection & Repair (conflict, empathy, reconnection)
Health & Well-Being (mental/physical health, friendships, digital safety)
Values, Boundaries & Family Culture (alignment, expectations, rituals)
Ages & Stages:
Early Years (0–8)
Middle Years (9–15)
Older Teens & Young Adults (16+)
💬 Guide the Next Edition (submit your feedback)

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Back-to-School

The Math of Motherhood: School Edition — Cindy DiTiberio | The Mother Lode
This essay lays bare the absolute insanity of public school schedules, including early release days, teacher workdays, and different school release times. → Read

Why Your Child Won't Get Out of the Car (and what to do about it) — Emily W. King, Ph.D. | Learn with Dr. Emily
As parents and educators, we know that children often experience a “honeymoon” the first day (or week) of the new school year. But at some point, many children begin to settle in, look around, and think: “What exactly is going on here? You mean, I come here every day, away from home, and learn new, hard things?" → Read

Back-to-school stepparenting dread — Blended Family Frappé | OUTTA THE BLENDER
The back-to-school baggage hauled around by those of us living in stepfamilies can be sooo beyond what other families deal with at this time of year. Especially if your partner's ex is high-conflict. → Read

Beyond the ABCs: Raising Communicators, Not Memorizers — Elevate Toddler Play
Let's shift focus from early academics to functional language for toddlers. This article provides families with strategies to support language development through play and daily routines. → Read

My Parents Would Have Never Hired Someone Like Me — Irena Smith | The Curmudgeon's Guide to College Admissions
Are you thinking about hiring a private college counselor for your high school student? Before you do, ask yourself: what’s your goal? And is it rooted in fear (everyone else has one!) or in a clear understanding of what you and your child want and need? → Read

Death to Summer Break — Dylan Macinerney | The Fatherhood Framework
Is the three-month summer break doing more harm than good? This post explores why it may be time to rethink an outdated tradition and how a better balance could benefit kids, parents, and families. → Read

Dear Parent, My Kid Has Food Allergies — Kathryn Barbash | A Wonderful Mess
For many families, the beginning of the school year often requires trust in new adults regarding health and mental health needs. This essay is our family's experience navigating food allergies. → Read

The Art of Easing Into a New School Year — Marie M. | Petit Francophone
Back-to-school can feel overwhelming and guilt-filled. This post shares simple, gentle reframes to help parents see the beauty in messy, ordinary days and remember that love and connection matter more than trying to get it all perfectly right. → Read

Every Day is the First Day of Kindergarten — Kaitlyn Elizabeth | dialoguing
Grief and sadness will be a part of all our lives--the type that comes from death, separation, individuation, life stages, etc. Learning how to turn toward it and learn from its wisdom will help us connect with ourselves, one another, and our kids more deeply and respectfully. → Read

Homework Hacks — Amanda Brown | Type A Mom’s Trusted Tips
Homework season is beginning… I’m a “Type A Mom” of 3 kids, and after years of overseeing my kids’ elementary school homework, this is what we’ve found works to lessen the homework drama in our house. → Read

The After School Crashed Explained — Dr. Jennifer Loughlin | Growing in Play
Your child's after-school crash is real—and common. This article will help you better understand what the after-school crash is, why it happens, and what you can do to help support your child and yourself when things get hard. → Read

The Mom Edit - How I try to make it work — Marina Strigari | The Geewees
I'm celebrating one year of my newsletter, and here I explain how I try to make everything work, with a focus on back-to-school for my son and potty training for my daughter. → Read

How to Be a Good Friend to Someone with an Autistic Kid — Heidi Fiedler | Nebula Notebook
There’s not nearly enough support available for disabled people and their families, but there are simple ways you can support autistic people and their caregivers. This guide is my small contribution to the conversation. I hope you’ll share it with all your friends and family. → Read

Back-to-School Prep: 8 Ways to Keep Spanish Strong — Juliana Shoumbert | The Bilingual Mom Life
For bilingual families, Spanish at school is just the start. This post gives parents easy and realistic ways to weave Spanish into daily routines so their child thrives in both language and confidence. → Read

How I Started Each School Year as a Teacher (and how you can use it to make decision making easier at home) — Brittany Podsobinski | Calm & Confident Parenting
As a former teacher, I learned the hard way that connection comes first... and the same is true at home! Here's my simple way to define your family's core values, making parenting decisions easier. → Read

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Parent Stance & Self

"New Moms Are Low Hanging Fruit" (says the single childless guy) — Erin Schlozman | This Postpartum Life
Helping moms recognize the pressure isn’t personal—it’s systemic—so they can push back, protect their well-being, and seek support that actually nurtures them. → Read

The Art of Loving Your Kid Through Their Assholery: Why Consistency Matters More Than Perfection — Megan Saxelby | Wild Feelings
Early adolescence isn’t a season of failure but a test of connection. This essay reframes meltdowns and sarcasm as signs you’re the safe place, explains why warmth plus boundaries matter most in these years, and offers tools to steady yourself so your child learns resilience and trust at home. → Read

Frontiers in Parenting: Fatherhood, Identity, & Getting a Hobby — Jesse McEntee | Next Adventure
Parenting teens is about launch. This piece shows how to let kids truly grow up while you rebuild your own identity (yes, get a hobby), turning goodbye into a beginning for both of you. → Read

We All Choose What to Care About (What if we're making the easy things hard?) — Lindsey DeLoach Jones | Between Two Things
We can't care about everything. That means there's a silent trade-off happening between things like snack duty and the parts of parenting that truly matter, like encouraging maturation. This essay empowers parents to set aside some of the unending, low-stakes tasks of parenting and to make space for meaningful engagement. → Read

What I Wish I’d Known About Limb Differences — Anna Borle | Tender & True
Too many families face diagnosis alone. By sharing what I’ve learned, I hope to offer the kind of comfort, clarity, and community I once needed — because every limb-different child deserves to be seen — and every parent deserves to feel less alone. → Read

Pseudo-Parenting Failure — Chris Hanson | Open and Relational Parenting
Parents often believe they fail in their parenting role. In most cases, this failure isn't genuine but rather a false sense of parenting failure or pseudo-parenting failure. → Read

My Parental Estrangement Story — Katrina Donham | Human/Mother
Estrangement is a controversial topic in our culture and often leads others to make critical judgments and/or insensitive remarks. In this essay, I delve into the topic on a personal level by sharing my own parental estrangement story with the hope that it helps others to consider a more compassionate approach in the future. → Read

There Is No Finish Line in Profound Autism & Apraxia, Only Presence — Sarah Kernion | Inchstones
This piece reframes life with profound autism and apraxia as a journey without finish lines—where presence, discovery, and love matter more than milestones. It invites readers to see meaning in the chaos and honor the quiet truths found in everyday moments. → Read

Enjoy it While You Can! They Grow Up So Fast! — Sara | Pandora's Box of Shit
Modern parenting is often "too much" or "not enough." This essay tackles the way a lack of "village" makes the parenting experience incredibly intense and monotonous, which can wear us down. Meanwhile, we pile guilt on ourselves because we know these phases will come to an end, in some cases, overnight. → Read

Choosing Less in a Busy Season — Jenna Michael | Purposeful Parenting
“Choosing Less in a Busy Season” urges parents to intentionally scale back commitments when life gets overwhelming, creating space for deeper presence, purpose, and peace—especially when demands are high and time is stretched thin. → Read

Envisioning the Movies if I Was Still Drinking — Kristen Crocker | Recoverettes
This post is a celebration of sober parenting -- as the title suggests, I re-envision what the movies would have been like if I was still drinking -- I still would have taken my kids to the movies, but in recovery, I am actually fully present for the experience. → Read

What If You Didn't Have to Choose Between Motherhood and Your Dreams — Jenna Jonaitis | Mamawell
There's so much sacrifice in parenting. This piece shows parents that they can still have a life they enjoy, love, and fulfill personal dreams. → Read

Becoming a Mother Feels Like Becoming the Sun — Violet Carol | Mother Love Letters
New motherhood feels tender and unpredictable. It is easy to name what feels hard. It is not always easy to remember how to relish in sustained delight. This personal essay is a reminder that joy is always waiting when we're ready to seize it. → Read

The Kid is Alright—Or Why I insisted My Son See Picasso's "Guernica" but Not The Who — Matt Fogelson | Fine Tuning
This essay captures how hard it is for parents to know when to push and when to let go—especially as kids grow into themselves. It’s a heartfelt and humorous look at regret, connection, and the delicate balance between guiding your child and letting them chart their own course. → Read

We All Need People to Climb Alongside Us — Ryan Rose Weaver | In Tending
For those of us in a position to raise or teach this next generation of kids, it may help to remember that showing a child how to get back up after a fall is just as important, if not more so, than teaching them how to be on top. → Read

Camping Chaos and Coping Mechanisms — Trevor Fry | [byte]sized
Every parenting hack sounds brilliant until you remember you’re an actual parent, not a curated influencer, and start wondering who wrote that BS. Camping with kids proved the point: “good enough” isn’t settling; it’s survival, it's OK, and it beats “picture perfect” every single time. → Read

Everything I've Learned About Aging without Compromise, I Learned from my Auntie Milly — Naomi Gottlieb-Miller | What Moves You
The first time my oldest child noticed more grey streaks through my hair, she thought I was dying. So I wanted to write a tribute to aging without compromise and the woman who showed me how -- and who I named that same child for. → Read

"It Ends With Me" - Breaking Generational Cycles of Undiagnosed Neurodivergence: How Inherited Trauma, Late Diagnosis, and Epigenetics are Rewriting our Ancestral Legacy — Violeta Klein | The Purple Spectrum
This is the story of how motherhood as a neurodivergent woman became my mirror, my deeper awakening, and my chance to rewrite what gets passed down the feminine line of my ancestry. → Read

Emotion Overwhelm: Fostered by the grief of my dad's passing, I rage-screamed at someone else's screaming kid. — Amanda Aaron | Soul Musings, a Soul Yoga Retreat Newsletter
We all have challenges as parents. You are not alone. Join me as I recall a challenging day for myself. → Read

It’s been a year — Laura Mikels | Identity Interrupted
My son went through cancer treatment at a young age. His illness and treatment affected and shaped all four of us in our family, and as it moves further into the rear-view, we continue to learn more about ourselves and each other. → Read

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Connection & Repair

She Loved Strawberries — Breeann Adam | Just Write Mama
For foster and adoptive families, honoring our children’s history and connections from the past can feel complex and overwhelming. This short micro prose essay names the complexity, gives permission for simplicity, and shows connection and empathy in a small moment holding big impact. → Read

Try This If You're At The End Of Your Rope — Ginny Jones | Ginny's Parenting Newsletter
If you’re parenting a child with anxiety, depression, body image issues, or an eating disorder, you’ve likely tried using punishments and rewards to motivate change. But while common, these approaches often backfire when it comes to mental health recovery. Find out why, and what to do instead. → Read

Parenting Lessons From Adults Who Go No Contact — Rachel Richards | Parenting Teenagers Untangled
Nobody wants their adult child to cut them off. So what are we doing now that might cause it in the future? → Read

Grace Deserves to Be Mutual: Are we giving as much as we’re getting? — Erin Miller | unpopular PARENT
We spend so much time trying to teach our kids patience and empathy—but what if they’ve been showing it to us all along? Not through grand gestures, but in the quiet, everyday ways they forgive our mistakes, wait through our moods, and continue to show up with compassion. What might we notice if we paid closer attention? → Read

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Health & Well-Being

How To Raise Kids to Love Food and Respect Their Bodies: Lessons from a Social Media Project with my Gen Z Daughter — Heidi Schauster | Nourishing Words
A video project with my Gen Z daughter, created during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, models how to talk to teens about food and diet trends. I suggest ways to help children develop a good relationship with food and their bodies, which is important in a culture that is not inclusive of all body types and pretty weird about eating. → Read

Fair Play didn’t work for me. This did. — Chloe Sladden | The Family Commons
So many parents struggle with dividing household labor equitably, but it's almost impossible to make it feel fair to both parties because modern parenting expectations are too much for two people. The only way to make it feel sane is to start sharing care across your community. Here's how that works for my family. → Read

Mental Health in K12: “Prevention” Is Making Kids Sick — Katy McPherson | KIDS FIRST
In the name of prevention, schools are crop-dusting whole school populations with mental health hyper-awareness. Every hour of every day, kids are directed to think about how they are feeling — and it’s making them sick. → Read

How To Help Boys Share Their Feelings — Christopher Pepper | Teen Health Today
So many parents have questions about how to stay connected with tween and teen boys. One of the people I look to for guidance in this area is Ashanti Branch, the founder of The Ever Forward Club. He’s an extraordinary person who shares things you can use immediately in your own life. → Read

Why should we use diapers differently to protect children's health? — Guen Bradbury | Growing up WEIRD
Few of us LOVE diapers, but it’s hard to imagine parenthood without them, right? Unfortunately, they can cause short and long-term problems for a baby’s development. Making some simple tweaks to how we use them can protect a baby’s health right through their life. → Read

The Faces of Grief — Nancy E Holroyd, RN | Hands On Nursing in a Germ Factory
The loss of a child is devastating, and once the acute phase is done, it shifts into a chronic phase. It is a constant presence even when happiness and joy return. → Read

Trusting The World With Who You Are — Gráinne Stark | Sage Haven
This piece matters because it reminds us that vulnerability is not weakness but the doorway to trust and connection. In a world where it feels safer to hide, it dares to suggest that being truly seen is one of the most radical acts of love. → Read

Cyber Safety Guy - Online Child Safety - Parents|Teachers|Guardians Edition — Dale | Cyber Safety Guy
This is an important presentation for parents, teachers, and guardians explaining the priorities for how to understand the risks of the online world for their children. → Read

The Loops That Break Us, and the Ones That Remake Us: How I’ve learned resilience isn’t built once… it’s lived every day — Dr. Stefanie Painter | Her Sacred Legacy
This piece invites readers to see resilience not as a one-time act of willpower but as the quiet loops of thought, action, and identity that we practice daily. It’s a reminder that the patterns we choose today can remake not only our own lives but also the way our children learn to navigate theirs. → Read

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Values, Boundaries & Family Culture

When Teens Think the World Owes Them: …and how to raise one who doesn’t. — Ashley Radzat | Root & Reach
This post shows parents how entitlement doesn’t just appear in teens—it often grows from our well-meaning shortcuts. By learning to step back, hold boundaries, and let natural consequences teach, we give our kids the resilience and gratitude they’ll need long after they leave our homes. → Read

The Fairness Dilemma: How our sons develop morality — Lisa J. Kiefer
The Fairness Dilemma explores how young men form their sense of morality in a world where conversations about gender often feel one-sided. It’s important because it gives voice to their frustrations without dismissing them, opening the door to empathy and healthier dialogue. → Read

Taylor & Travis: Can We Talk About Their Parents? — Kerri Smith Maher | The Well-Resourced Parent
An often overlooked aspect of the TNT phenomenon is the remarkable relationship these superstars have with their parents - and it’s an example we might all benefit from looking at more closely. → Read

On Stories — Lou Tamposi | Cow We Doin’
The stories we tell ourselves and our children matter. And, because parenting is a paradox, the instinct to protect collides with the responsibility to prepare. Watching a child wrestle with difficulty forces us to wrestle too — with when to soothe, when to step back, and when to push forward. → Read

Corporate Parenting — Kiya Taylor | Promoted to Mother
Workplace policy and culture can have a profound influence on parenting decisions that we may have otherwise made differently. It might be the reality, but is it an informed one? → Read

The Day My Son “Cussed” and Changed My Parenting Forever —Maury Wood | Grit & Wit
This post matters because it shows how a single, grace-filled conversation can transform the way we connect with our kids, replacing fear with trust. It’s a reminder that listening first can open doors rules never could. → Read

Not Up For A Vote — The Unfinished Dad
This letter cuts to the heart of self-doubt and how we remain confident in the face of reductive voices. → Read

How to Help Boys Grow with Positive Male Mentors | #11 — Saima Durrani | Raising Teen BOYS
I missed the importance of an influential male figure when my sons were growing. I hope other mothers, especially those raising boys alone, can recognise this early and guide them with the right mentors in their lives. → Read

Pretty Isn't Usually Used to Describe My Daughter — Jeannie Ewing | I Grow Strong Again
Empathy is a life skill lacking in our current culture, and my essay speaks into how a simple point of contact from a stranger profoundly affected my daughter who was born with a craniofacial diagnosis and the way she viewed herself. → Read

Vegetarian Mom Guilt — Helena 'Ellie' Huizenga | The Green Pen
Every parent wonders if they’re doing enough for their kids. For a vegetarian mom, that wondering turns into a quiet question: am I doing the right thing? This essay explores the push and pull of our own expectations, the boundaries we draw, and the quiet fears of raising kids without meat. → Read

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Ages & Stages

Early Years (0–8)

Labels versus Diagnosis for Kids — Kathy Brunner & Sharilyn Gugliotta | GOT KIDS NEWSLETTER
No one wants their children labeled, and yet sometimes we need to have the right terminology for our child to give them what they need to thrive. → Read

Cabin Crew Life: Room Service. Mom Life: Room Destruction — Valeria Kurul | Flying Motherhood
Traveling with a toddler is one of the most universally dreaded parenting challenges. This piece offers an honest, funny look at that chaos — told through my perspective as a former flight attendant who’s now navigating it from the other side. → Read

The Only Three Letters Your Kids Need to Learn How to Write — Jennifer Shonkoff | The Childhood Curator
Humans have been writing letters for over 3,000 years, and yet we barely touch on them in school. Here's a step-by-step guide (with problem-solving tips!) to getting your kids excited about writing at home. → Read

Middle Years (9–15)

The Ancient Antidote to Kids’ Anxiety — Ayk | Parents in the Making
Why are kids in hunter-gatherer tribes calmer and more confident than their Western peers? This piece explores how true autonomy—not just independence—can lower anxiety, build resilience, and help kids thrive in today’s high-pressure world. → Read

What to Expect When AI Shows Up in School — Dhani Ramadhani | aiPTO
As school starts, many parents face a new kind of worry: the integration of AI in the classroom. This piece breaks down what parents need to know—how teachers are using AI, what rules are in place, and how to prepare for the tech shaping your child’s education. → Read

Why Punching Pillows Doesn’t Help Kids Manage Anger — Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD | Dr. Friendtastic
Think kids should punch a pillow to release anger? Think again. This piece unpacks why venting rage through aggression can backfire—and what truly helps children manage big emotions in healthier, more effective ways while strengthening their connection with others. → Read

Older Teens & Young Adults (16+)

Flying Jets & Becoming Vets: Dr. Seuss & the Reality of College Majors — Carrie Jorgenson | The Nest
The pressure on students to pick a major and career is real. We can't change that, but we can help them navigate it. We'll break down the process by focusing on your child’s skills and interests to build an application that truly reflects who they are. → Read

Love Sweet Love—The Poetry of Parenting — Emily Brooke Felt | Joy on the Journey
Poetry—often overlooked in daily life—can become a bridge for connection, even across the distance between a mother and her teenage son. This personal story is a reminder that what families—and the world—need most may be simple, human ways of truly seeing and hearing one another. → Read

How to Listen to Your Teenager Complain — Lori K Walters | Peace in My Parenting
When they complain, our teenagers are trying to understand themselves, and they’re asking us to be there while they do so. This essay delves into our internal reactions to complaining and sheds light on how we can stay connected and hold space for them as they process their experiences. → Read

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✨ Writers of parenting content: If you want to be featured in future PARENTreads issues, be sure to reach out.