Fat Demons

Fat Demons

My grandmother lay in bed at a hospice facility, days away from death. With her loving children by her side, she looked at her belly and — as she had done for all of the years I’d known her — complained that she was too fat. What? What did she think six-pack abs...
Daddy’s Philosophy

Daddy’s Philosophy

This special day got me to thinking about America’s spirit of giving, and I don’t mean this overdone business of Christmas gifts. I mean our true spirit of giving — giving of ourselves. Yes, we are a country of rugged individualists. Yet there’s also...
A More Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift

A More Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift

Americans love Mother’s Day. We love it so much that we’re collectively shelling out about $19 billion this year on gifts, special meals, and cards. But when it comes to educating our kids about how most women become mothers, we’re much less...
The War on Mommies

The War on Mommies

The so-called “mommy wars” are heating up again. Once more, we’re seeing stay-at-home moms supposedly pitted against moms with paid jobs during an election year. The latest episode started when Democratic analyst Hilary Rosen questioned Ann...
Coal Smoke and Planetary Fever

Coal Smoke and Planetary Fever

I recently returned to my childhood home in India with my siblings for a final walk down memory lane with my elderly mother. As expected, it was a powerfully emotional experience. But in ways unexpected, it brought home to me how our planetary fever — climate change —...