And my mother was heroic and did so many things to make it feel like a normal childhood. But when your dad lives in a VA hospital, and you go visit him every Sunday and walk down the linoleum halls to a weird room that doesn't smell like home, and you see your dad sitting in there—it wasn't him.
My partner, an immigrant from Brazil, shows love through acts of service. At first, I was confused. I had been raised to see romantic love, partner love, as centered on acts of adoration, big and intense actions designed to make me, the beloved, feel exceptional. My partner, who is romantic but not in that way, finds this focus on exceptional love confusing.
'Tis the season of giving, and while we all want to be generous with our loved ones, it's hard not to feel like the Grinch when you find out that more than $8.3 billion may be wasted on unwanted gifts each year, according to a survey by the Center for Biological Diversity. And to make matters even worse, when those gifts are returned, they're likely to end up in a landfill instead of back on the shelves.
Today's expectant parents are trading gift-wrapped onesies and shower games for paint brushes and meal prep containers. Welcome to the world of nesting parties - where friends don't just celebrate your pregnancy, they help you prepare your nest for the new arrival. If you're wondering whether to host one of these new baby showers, this guide will show you exactly why these practical gatherings are becoming the go-to choice for modern parents-to-be.