How Vanity Fair’s Instagram Mommy Murfer Celebrates Traditional Living
Growing up, it was all about fiction for me. I loved vicariously visiting new places and gaining insight into how others live and might think. These days, I don’t have time for novels, but I do have Vanity Fair profiles. VF’s recent profile of Instagram influencer Courtney Adamo and her murfer (a.k.a. surfer mom) friends … Continue reading
Four Weaknesses in Senator Gillibrand’s ‘Family Bill of Rights’
Presidential candidate and New York senator, Kirsten Gillibrand (D) recently announced a Family Bill of Rights, a 21st-century list of rights related to pregnancy and raising a young family. In a field as crowded as the Democrats’ 2020 primary, there’s a logic to Sen. Gillibrand—whose brand is feminism and families—trying to stand out by offering … Continue reading
Jewish Continuity Isn’t Sexist — It’s Necessary
Is Jewish continuity inherently sexist? In some people’s minds, like the author of a recent op-ed in these pages, Jewish continuity is toxically identified with Jewish sociologist Steven M. Cohen. I’m neither judge nor jury, but if the #MeToo allegations against Cohen are true, and they may well be, the prominent sociologist should be held … Continue reading
Mona Charen Wants You To Be Happy, And That’s Why She Advocates Sexual Sanity
Oprah’s not the only one who wants you to “live your best life.” Syndicated columnist and author Mona Charen does too, and she’s not afraid to say so, even in this era of “no judgment!” Charen’s vision of the good life is decidedly less about pampering oneself and buying the world’s best products than it … Continue reading
5 Thoughts On Lena Dunham’s Reaction To Kylie Jenner’s Pregnancy
What a way to start the new year — two more of Kardashian-Jenner ladies are expecting! While Jews worldwide celebrated the world’s birthday by observing Rosh Hashanah 5778, word spread that 20-year-old Kylie Jenner is pregnant with her first child. Apparently, this “triggered” friends of Lena Dunham, who tweeted: “A solid 10 friends texted me … Continue reading
11 Ways To Save The Planet Without Shrinking Your Family
Save the planet. Have the (grand)child who’ll solve all the tough problems (Boston.com). NPR wants to save the planet, and in case a recent study was TL;DR for their tweeps, NPR summarized the findings. In their article, we learn there are reportedly four ways to go green most effectively: “By the numbers, any of these … Continue reading
In ‘4:44,’ Jay-Z Raps A Father’s Perspective On Infertility
Pregnant Bey glows, surrounded by her family (thesun.co.uk). Did Jay cheat on Bey? He certainly seems to confirm “Lemonade’s” cheating allegations on his own new album, “4:44.” If that’s true, it’s a big deal for the couple and their marriage. But for the rest of us, Jay-Z’s rapping about … Continue reading
What Brad Pitt Could Learn From Prince Harry About Life’s Tragedies
Meet post-split Brad (gq.com). Pity Brad Pitt. Yes, I know he’s an international movie star. But after repeatedly flinching while reading his latest, lengthy interview with GQ Style, I can’t help but feel bad for him. Breaking with the tradition of the celebrity puff piece, GQ has managed to run a cringe-inducing cover story. He … Continue reading
Second Lady Karen Pence Opens Up About Her Struggles With Infertility
The Vice President and Mrs. Pence pose with their family at an inaugural ball (Zimbio.com). For one in eight American couples, having a baby is anything but straightforward, and that can become an incredibly isolating experience. Infertility remains stigmatized, so affected adults are unlikely to speak openly about their difficulties, even with family and friends. These are … Continue reading
melissa langsam braunstein 
Commitment to Family in Increasingly Post-Christian Europe
Posted by melissa braunstein on April 19, 2023 · Leave a Comment
Among parenthood’s many changes, new parents frequently seek out more spacious homes in neighborhoods with good schools. But parents might also want to consider the sort of relationship they want to have with their (eventually) grown children. European data suggest that grown children’s sense of what they owe aging parents can vary dramatically across societies. … Continue reading →
Filed under Clips, Cultural Commentary, Parenthood, Politics · Tagged with Aging, Family, Sandwich generation