So for this mom of teens, school is the best kind of chaos. A place where I know someone will always be needing something.

Was my son's university so focused on finding a prized world-changer they were telling ordinary students average goals ...

I had empathy for this man (who was obviously the dad of a college freshman) as he stood across the aisle from me, because in his quest to find the right tool to adjust to a new chapter in life, I saw ...

As our third of four children prepares to leave home, I’m overcome with a quiet, profound joy. We’ve raised another decent, capable human being, and that, to me, is success. In a world that often ...

As a former high school teacher, I looked forward to graduation season during my years in the classroom. It was delightful to see my students honoring their accomplishments and peering hopefully into ...

My son got his first job when he was thirteen. He’d spend the summer working in hayfields doing hard labor in the sun. He loved making money, but more than that, he loved working with his body and ...

Ellen Giordano Austin is a freelance writer, based in Memphis, Tennessee. She and her husband have two grown-and-flown daughters. She enjoys solving jigsaw and crossword puzzles, biking, and playing ...

Kristen Downs is a blogger at Adventures in Motherhood, a violinist, a runner, and a community activist. A former CIA agent, commercial banker, and non-profit director, Kristen has emerged as a Jane ...