Now My Kid Knows How Dumb I Really Am

April 24, 2021

A roundup of new guidance and stories from NYT Parenting.

Golden Cosmos

There are so many questions my 8-year-old asks me that I struggle to answer, showing her over and over again just how dumb I am. Because lately she's been fixated on learning the names of all the U.S. presidents in order, she has been asking things like, "Was William Howard Taft a good president?" Honestly, I have no idea. The only fact I know about him is that he once got stuck in a bathtub (which, as it turns out, is probably a fat-phobic myth anyway).

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Instead of just living in blissful ignorance while my daughter asks daily questions about various heads of state, this wonderful essay by Tom Vanderbilt has inspired me to learn about American history alongside her, so we can discuss Grover Cleveland together. (Did you know he's the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? Now we both do.) Tom writes about his decision to take on new challenges, from surfing to chess, with his daughter: "Not only would this be a great bonding experience — and just fun for me — but I could model the act of learning itself."

Also new this week, in honor of Earth Day, Michelle Nijhuis tells us how to instill a love of nature in your kids year round. Adam Grant has pinpointed that pandemic blah you're feeling: It's an emotion called "languishing," and he has tips for how to fix it. Gia Kourlas writes about a baby boom among professional dancers — they couldn't perform during the pandemic, so they decided to use the break to become moms. Finally, a preliminary study finds no evidence that the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are unsafe during pregnancy.

Do you find yourself feeling like the influencers you follow on social media and fitness experts you watch on streaming platforms are your real-life friends? I want to talk to you for a story. Drop me a line here.

Thanks for reading!

— Jessica Grose, columnist, NYT Parenting

THIS WEEK IN NYT PARENTING

Jan Buchczik

Want Your Kid to Learn Something New? Sign Yourself Up, Too.

How taking on unfamiliar challenges alongside my daughter benefits us both.

By Tom Vanderbilt

Enzo Pérès-Labourdette

Plant a Love of Nature in Your Kids

This Earth Day, show kids they can find refuge in the outdoors.

By Michelle Nijhuis

Manshen Lo

There's a Name for the Blah You're Feeling: It's Called Languishing

The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus — and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021.

By Adam Grant

Maridelis Morales Rosado for The New York Times

'I Wish I Got Pregnant in March!' Inside the Dance Baby Boom.

Many dancers have taken advantage of a byproduct of the pandemic — time away from performing — to try out a new role: motherhood.

By Gia Kourlas

Hannah Beier/Reuters

No evidence that Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are unsafe during pregnancy, a preliminary study says.

Early research suggests that two Covid-19 vaccines pose no greater risk for pregnant people than for anyone else.

By Emily Anthes

iStock

Ask Well

What Questions Do You Have About Sleep?

Plagued by insomnia? Waking up in the night? Dubious about supplements? The Well desk wants to help.

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Tiny Victories

Parenting can be a grind. Let's celebrate the tiny victories.

I played "truth or dare" for a solid 45 minutes with my 5-year-old while cooking dinner. She had a blast "daring" to count the number of steps in our home, setting the table and making a card for her dad. We both enjoyed learning truths about each other. — Linnae Kendall, Marshall, Mich.

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