Way back when I was young, DINKs (Dual Income No Kids) were a cultural anomaly. In fact, parenthood was synonymous with adulthood. And the issues around being ‘childless’ were discussed in hushed tones. Here it is 52 years after the advent of birth control and ‘childfree’ is the new buzzword. Women who are opting out of motherhood are speaking up loud and clear. According to recent surveys, over 40% of college-educated Generation X women (born between 1965 and 1980) are childfree. These women were part of the first generation that … Continue reading
Positive Effects of Negativity
I was having dinner the other night with a friend who is having a tough time as she goes through a very difficult break-up and I wondered, with all the emphasis in Positive Psychology on resilience and optimism, are we being unrealistic about our abilities to bounce back after a crisis? And is there actually some real value in being unhappy sometimes? Immersed as we are in the ‘dog days of summer’ it might seem like the wrong time to look at such heavy and pessimistic issues, but let’s give … Continue reading
Kate and William: Role Models for New Parents
Lots of girls grow up reading fairy tales and hoping to find a prince of their own. Kate Middleton married hers. Although not necessarily of the royal variety, what young people today need are more positive role models. And it looks like Kate and Will stepped up to the plate when they welcomed their son, His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge. Their intention to be hands-on parents was obvious. Emerging from St. Mary’s hospital only 24 hours after his birth, William strapped the newborn prince into his … Continue reading
Is the Abedin/Weiner Marriage Normal?
According to Huma Abedin, in a magazine interview not so long ago, she wanted people to know they’re a normal family. Last week, New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner admitted to sending sex texts to several women over the Internet two years after a similar scandal resulted in him resigning from Congress. Then he handed the microphone to his wife, who said: “It took a lot of work and a whole lot of therapy … but I made the decision to stay in this marriage.” Who isn’t wondering, what motivates the … Continue reading
