The Tooth Fairy Is Ridiculous but Kids Need Rituals. I Know I Do | Anthony N Castle
Father Anthony Castle reflects on his daughter's first lost tooth and the ensuing tooth‑fairy ritual. He explores how the tradition, though whimsical, serves as a rite of passage that helps children process change. The piece surveys global variants—from mice in Europe to saints in the Middle East—and cites research on the developmental benefits of imaginative play. Castle also acknowledges critics who view the practice as deceptive, while noting modern, cashless adaptations by parents.
Despite Their Bad Reputation, Parenting Group Chats Are – for some – the Village that Never Sleeps
Parents are turning to WhatsApp group chats as round‑the‑clock support hubs, especially for niche situations like raising twins. While some high‑profile mothers have criticized these forums for judgment, many participants describe them as non‑judgmental spaces that provide advice, emotional check‑ins,...
We Lost £3,000 After Collapse of Ikea’s Solar Panel Installer
Ikea’s partnership with European solar installer Soly collapsed, leaving customers like the author out of pocket for a £3,000 (~$3,800) deposit. Although Ikea continued to advertise the partnership, Soly’s UK arm entered liquidation in January 2026 and the retailer offered...
Am I a Happier Person for Having a Child? It’s the Wrong Question to Ask | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
A new study in Evolutionary Psychology surveyed over 5,000 adults across ten nations and found no measurable increase in either hedonic or eudaimonic wellbeing among parents, with the sole exception of Greek mothers who reported greater purpose. The research challenges...
I’ve Spent 20 Years Treading Water and Fear that I’ve Wasted so Much Time. Am I Depressed? | Ask Annalisa...
An older couple in their late 60s feels trapped by a property they cannot sell, prompting the husband to wonder if he is depressed after a year of grief, suicidal thoughts, and personal conflict around cross‑dressing. He reached out to...
Britain's Shadow Workforce Is Paid as Little as 65p an Hour. Who Cares for the Carers? | Frances Ryan
Britain’s unpaid care sector now supports almost 6 million people, with 1.9 million providing full‑time care in England—a 70% rise over two decades. Family‑provided services are valued at over £184 bn ($234 bn) a year, eclipsing three‑quarters of NHS spending. Yet the state’s carer’s...
My Father-in-Law Lives with My Young Family but I Don’t Want to ‘Sandwich Parent’. What Should I Do? | Leading...
A couple moved the husband’s father into a granny annex expecting health support and informal childcare, but the father‑in‑law’s frailty and mood swings have created unexpected emotional and logistical strain. The author advises the writer to inventory the elder’s physical...
My Teenage Daughter’s OCD Keeps Getting Worse. What Can I Do? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri
A 15‑year‑old girl’s obsessive‑compulsive disorder is worsening despite two rounds of private therapy focused on eliminating rituals. Experts explain that adolescent OCD often spikes during puberty and that exposure response prevention (ERP) within cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold‑standard treatment....
Delayed by EU Entry/Exit System? Then Travel Light
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which mandates photo and fingerprint checks for non‑EU travelers, has caused a 70% increase in security processing times at major airports. Because airlines such as easyJet keep bag‑drop counters closed until two hours before departure,...
The Guardian View on Family Justice: Transparency Should Help a Flawed System to Improve | Editorial
The UK family‑justice system is moving toward greater openness after Sir Andrew McFarlane introduced transparency orders that let journalists report anonymised cases. While the courts remain chronically under‑funded and legal‑aid cuts have left many family lawyers without support, the new rules...
Most Gen Z Fathers in Australia Believe It’s Solely Their Job to Provide Financially, Research Finds
A new State of the World’s Fathers report reveals that 72% of Australian Gen Z fathers (aged 18‑28) believe a father’s sole responsibility is to provide financially, a view that tapers to 61% among millennials and 57% among Gen X. The survey...
Ian Rankin Wishes He’d Been There More for His Kids? OK, but Others Wish They’d Been There Less | Emma...
Ian Rankin, the knighted author of the Rebus series, confessed on a podcast that his creative drive caused him to miss many family milestones, such as holidays and his children’s first days at school. A recent Working Families charity survey...
Life Lessons on Mother’s Day: What We Have Learned From Our Mums | Letters
The Guardian’s Letters page ran a Mother’s Day feature inviting readers to recount the advice they received from their mothers (and occasionally fathers). Contributors shared a mix of practical tips—like the classic "bus pass, dinner money, homework, handkerchief" mantra—and whimsical...
My Life Collapsed when My Husband Had an Affair. How Can I Recover? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri
A reader shares that her 30‑year marriage collapsed after discovering a year‑long affair, leaving her feeling fragmented, ashamed, and unable to move beyond the betrayal. Clinical psychologist Alessandra Lemma explains that the trauma reflects a breakdown in the reader’s sense...
My Mother’s Best Advice: You’re Allowed to Enjoy Nice Things
Emma Beddington recounts her mother’s mantra that everyone is entitled to enjoy nice things, a lesson forged in a modest upbringing and expressed through frequent treats, travel, and small luxuries. The essay links this personal permission to indulge with broader...