Not just skin deep
At 14, Jennifer Hatz carved the word "hate" into her arm because that’s all she felt.

A mother's secret strength
Life before cancer for the Johnsons was filled with vacations together, corny jokes and mundane errands

Children by Design
As 3-year-old Abby Lester arced high through the air on her backyard swing set one sunny afternoon,

Riding free
After her second child was born, Blue Island mom Jane Blew Healy got a Christmas gift that changed her life

From pessimist to optimist
Optimism’s in the news. Why? Because research shows optimism always trumps pessimism in work, play,

Is Dad ready for prime time?
SAHD. In the world of acronyms, it’s probably not one of the best, but the job it stands for—stay-at-home dad

Different cultures have different traditions for baby’s first haircut
If all a baby’s ‘firsts,’ the first haircut surely ranks among the most special.

Stop the hurt now
The grainy security camera footage is sickening to watch: A man, later identified as an off-duty Chicago police officer,

A balancing act
The click of the condo door opening usually brings Avonlea Hong running.

Dudes, let's ride
There is horseback riding, Midwest style. And then there is horseback riding, dude ranch style.

Keep your child's mind active this summer
Plans for summer are coming together. Bobby is in tennis. Susie is in cheerleading.

What's in your neighborhood?
South suburban resource guide

Culture and fun in your backyard
South suburban focus

Mommy guilt
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that moms are doing a better job than they think when it comes to time spent with the kids.

Chicago Parent co-founder dies
Mom, wife, teacher, magazine publisher, sister, friend.

Letters
Use local autism resource
Mom: An autism cure
Single parenthood
Health plan needed
End celebrity profiles

Seven babies, seven good-byes
Like all expectant parents we looked forward to ultrasounds. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Picture imperfect
In my late 20s and early 30s, I felt like an outcast when Mother’s Day rolled around.