Here’s what happened — Trauma/CW (Content Warning): This story contains content related to pedophilia, sexual assault, and violence that might be troubling to some readers. “That’s not something I’ve ever really been exposed to,” a friend recounted when I shared my story about speaking with the cold case detective on the case of the…

The CULTure of mommyhood really needs to change — “It could be fine,” my gynecologist assured me. “I know how much you want to breastfeed.” I nodded, hell-bent on not allowing something as bizarre as the tiny genetic anomaly of inverted nipples to ruin breastfeeding. I had to bond with my daughter in this way, it was the only…

The Ethos, Logos, and Pathos of telling it all — The answer is right there, staring at you all the time. It’s simple and can be summed up in one word: write. A lot of voices will direct you down endless paths that hurt, are destructive, and will destroy the urge if you let them. …

No one should live in a world of perpetual death — Author’s note: this is a retelling of imagery associated with a session of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) used to treat complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The sun through the aspen leaves mimics afternoon rain dappled throughout the forest. …

My arsenal has no tools to counteract this onslaught — I wasn’t prepared for the explosion of his body in my life. It didn’t happen all at once. Rather, it was a slow, gentle teasing that began with words: hundreds of thousands of words that gently prodded the outer edges of our minds, then worked their way inward, further and…

Far, far from a New York state of mind. — “I’m done with traditional ways of finding guys. I’m telling you, this is the future of dating.” Jessica’s blue eyes beamed down at me from her six-foot stature in elegant heels. “Seriously?” My heart raced, which was kind of nice in the bitingly cold East Village wind on that otherwise…

Pay attention, because this matters to you and your kids, too — The National Education Association (NEA) released a poll citing information we’ve all become drearily accustomed to hearing: educators are fleeing the profession in huge numbers and planning to leave as soon as this year ends at alarming rates. They’re leaving because of old issues we’ve been hearing for decades: low…

“That’s probably why you’re still alive” — The black cab whizzes down the gothic streets of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2016. Ewan’s fingers roll over words and symbols as if they hold actual form, thumb, and forefinger pressing together occasionally for emphasis. I can’t hear what he actually says, the sounds lyrical, his voice reminding me of when…

And also, pretty much anything else — No, that’s not Kim K, and yes, that hair looks nothing like hers. None of that matters, though, when it comes to what we should all be focusing on. Right. Now. Keeping kids in schools. I know this is a hot topic and I know there are myriad toes to…