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The first 1,000 days of life shape every day that follows.
We need to know more about them.
A beat by Irene Caselli
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Populism meets parenting
Childhood is political. The decisions about who has a child, when, and how go far beyond personal choices. Authoritarian and populist politicians the world over are despairing over falling birth rates. They are trying (and often succeeding) to set strict rules about conception and birth
Forever in the archive
Lost in motherhood
I’m just back from my two-week staycation, during which I ate well, tried to exercise regularly, and dreamt a lot. One night I dreamt that I was at a work meeting. We were in an outside space where everyone was chit-chatting. All of a sudden,
Sometimes when you lose a person, you get lost too
The truth of today’s newsletter is that I was writing about someone dear to me who died last month. But then I stopped because life got in the way. First, the Beirut blast. For a month now, my family and I have been living in
Due to patriarchy …
This week, I’m exhausted. I could blame it on the summer heat, or on my son’s sleepless night because he’s teething. But that is not the kind of structural thinking that I’ve been encouraged to do here at The Correspondent. As our founder Rob Wijnberg
Why do we decide to have, or not have, children?
In a time that now seems incredibly far away, a time that my colleague OluTimehin Adegbeye calls 2020 BC (before corona), I co-hosted a meet-up with members of The Correspondent in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was February, and little did I know that it would be
Human milk is amazing. I’m on a mission to find out more about it
I’m writing this in my head as I breastfeed my son to sleep – hoping that I will remember these words once I’m done. Breastfeeding has become a part of my everyday life since Lorenzo was born 17 months ago. It has caused pain, insecurity, frustration,
Human milk is the first intelligent superfood. We need to know the science of this medicinal marvel
From added insulation on cold days to extra antibodies during illness, breast milk is customised for every baby. If science will just tell us how, we could argue less about formula and breast pumps.
Our actions matter, even if we don’t remember them
A few nights ago, my son Lorenzo woke up in the middle of the night. He stood up in bed and started making sounds that referred to some of the experiences he’d had during the day. Miaow, miaow, he said, recalling a cat that had
If you look, you see the first 1,000 days everywhere
I’ve been thinking a lot about food these days. Food in liquid form, such as breast milk, the magic potion our bodies create to feed our children, but also food in a figurative sense; the hugs, love and overall nurture babies need at the beginning
Ruminations on the fragility of life
This week my son Lorenzo fell while bouncing around in the park. He was holding a tiny stick, which ended up poking him just above the eyelid. It was a miracle he didn’t scratch his cornea or poke his eye out. But was it a
A self-identified superwoman praises other superwomen (and some other superpeople)
One of the warmest things I’ve witnessed online this past week is the conversation going on below Othering correspondent OluTimehin Adegbeye’s beautiful newsletter in which she asked members: Who are you? The idea is to be able to describe yourself without mentioning your job, nationality or
Forever in the archive:
Meet the parenting expert who thinks parenting is a terrible invention
There’s no shortage of books, magazines and websites offering parenting advice. But the idea that parents can turn children into better and more successful adults if only they use the right methods is completely misguided, says developmental psychologist and philosopher Alison Gopnik. Children behave in mysterious
Welcome to the magical land of home
Last week the peace and quiet of my parents’ well-curated rooftop terrace, which includes a collection of cacti they picked up all over the Americas and repotted here in Naples, was disturbed by workers refurbishing the building next door. My parents were horrified as the
Understanding this will help you fight less with your kids at home
Now that we spend more time than ever under the same roof as our children, understanding how they play will help you look at your home differently – and maybe fight a little less too.
I’m still breastfeeding – and it shouldn’t be your business. But if you make it your business, these are the things you should know about it
A premise: I know that breastfeeding is a divisive issue. Even though I’m a big fan and I write about early childhood, I haven’t written much about it because I don’t like conflict (Eirene was the Greek goddess of peace – and I’m named after her),
Why should young people be involved in politics? Kids, the floor is yours …
In last week’s newsletter, I told you about the international chat we had organised about why politicians should listen to kids. This came off the back of my latest article, in which I wrote about how important it is for politicians to involve children in politics.
Young people are reckless and question everything. Which is exactly why they deserve a place in politics
The teenagers of Naples are making out on the rocks by the sea, as the afternoon sun sparkles on the water. They hug and kiss hello and make jokes about having to wash their hands or else they may die. Many don’t wear face masks
Jacinda Ardern was mocked for telling kids the Tooth Fairy is an essential worker. But here’s why that’s politics done right
Once upon a time, there lived people who thought politics was just for grownups. But young people have a clear worldview of their own – and their moral clarity could be just what we need to shake up stagnant political systems.
Calling on grandparents
As I type this, construction workers are hammering outside my window, standing on a mobile scaffolding. The noise of traffic joins in, rising all the way up to the second floor. Then comes the smell of freshly-baked pizza from the joint just below. Such mundane
On the other side of fog
Since I published my piece about play last week, a very interesting conversation has been unfolding below it. In the article, I focused on how necessary unstructured play is for us as a species in order to learn. But some great contributions from members and invited experts pushed
I’m starting a new series on play (and it should be fun!)
“He won’t stop playing!” says my dad, surprised, almost every day, as he observes his grandson – my 14-month-old son Lorenzo – going about his daily life. My dad is absolutely right. Lorenzo plays and plays. He bangs pots and pans while I prepare breakfast; he is
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