Parenting

As a first-person essay, this does not require review by our team of Reviewers. Barring minor changes for grammar and sentence structure, we have kept the voice of the author intact. Why? How? What?… This is the stage when these questions are never-ending. The toddler, who was a curious explorer using their newfound “speaking” abilities,...

This is a personal essay written by the author, sharing their individual journey and experiences. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MyndStories. This essay has not been professionally vetted or reviewed for clinical accuracy. My last essay was about life...

A sweeping new analysis of 293,000 children worldwide has found a significant connection between increased screen time and a higher risk of emotional and behavioral challenges, including aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The findings, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin led by Dr. Michael Noetel and Roberta Vasconcellos, underscore growing concerns among pediatricians and mental...

India is home to over 13 million single-mother households, according to a UN Women report. That’s 4.5% of all households – women parenting alone, balancing emotional labour, financial strain, and social scrutiny, often without the acknowledgment or systems of support they deserve. The number is large, but what’s far bigger is the silence around it....

This is a personal essay written by the author, sharing their individual journey and experiences. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MyndStories. This essay has not been professionally vetted or reviewed for clinical accuracy. I am a mother of two...

As the author is a mental health professional, this piece did not go through our usual review channels. Welcoming a newborn to the family is always filled with joy and celebration, as it should be. This baby is now officially counted in the global population. I fondly recollect my experience—as I walked into my home...

"Mom, Dad, tell me a story." It’s a request you’ve probably heard countless times. You might think that storytelling, an art as old as humanity itself, has lost some charm in our modern digital world. With YouTube, social media, streaming platforms, and many screens constantly competing for our kids' attention, do intergenerational stories still matter?...

This is a personal essay written by the author, sharing their individual journey and experiences. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MyndStories. This essay has not been professionally vetted or reviewed for clinical accuracy. No one teaches you how to...

As the author is a mental health and disability rights consultant, our team of internal reviewers has not vetted this feature. “I still remember the doctor’s words: ‘Your child has cerebral palsy.’ That day, my world fell apart.” – Meera* Meera isn’t alone in feeling her world fell apart after a neurodivergent diagnosis for her...

This is a personal essay written by the author, sharing their individual journey and experiences. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this piece belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MyndStories. This essay has not been professionally vetted or reviewed for clinical accuracy. This essay contains discussions of childhood...

As the author is a therapist herself, this article is not vetted by our team of reviewers. On a cold yet sunny morning in early 2013, after relocating to Lyon, France, with my young family, I vividly remember my turbulent state of mind. Sitting on the windowsill of the living room, with my 2-year-old son...

Imagine a 7-year-old who washes their hands obsessively, worried about staying clean and healthy, or a 12-year-old anxious about safety after overhearing troubling news. These are real-life challenges, as observed by child psychologist Iha Prakash. When asked about the causes of this increase in mental illnesses among children, Iha points to the pandemic as a...

Discussions about new-parent mental health have focused primarily on mothers. While maternal mental well-being is crucial, it's equally important to acknowledge the struggles fathers face. The persistent ring of the 2 am alarm annoys you out of your sleep. It is your turn to check on the baby. You fumble for your phone to switch...

Beneath all the giggles and jiggles, childhood has its fair share of hurt, uncertainties, and even stress. In children, stress can manifest through various symptoms such as changes in behavior, increased irritability, trouble sleeping, physical manifestations like headaches or stomach aches, or even regression in previously acquired skills or behaviors. From struggling to adjust to...

We're all connected, you know? We're all part of this big universe; if something goes wrong for one person, it can affect another. So, why should I worry about my son being left out or not having enough opportunities? He'll find his place under the sun, too." Anima Nair wears many hats, from writer to...

One fine evening of 2010 ‘Your flight is at 6 in the morning’ said the HR lady on the phone. I hate early morning flights, but I consoled myself thinking I’ll catch a wink on the 3 hour journey. I packed my torn jeans, t-shirt, fancy sunglasses – everything that a hip advertiser was likely...

Voluntarily putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. Pushing your endurance limits. Demanding yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Isn’t this approach very counterintuitive to self-love? We asked Amar Haksar this, and he doesn't quite agree. “When you love someone, you put effort into winning them over. Endurance feats are also an expression of self-love....

I parted the curtain slightly to judge the weather. Is it going to rain? I wondered. At 6 in the morning, my body told me to sleep, but my mind was lit up like a thousand fairy lights. It wasn’t a special day. Or maybe it was – the feeling of a chain meant to...

On LinkedIn, Runam Mehta describes herself as 'comfortable with ambiguity' and a solver of early-stage business problems. Not all her LinkedIn posts are about solving problems, however. Runam is the CEO of HealthCube, a healthcare startup that aims to make diagnostics more accessible to Indians. But Runam also frequently writes about life, work, leadership, and...

In this evocative personal essay, Rhea Pal shares with MyndStories her experience of being a first-time mother, and in doing so, makes it 'normal' to feel emotions society feels are 'abnormal.' The nurse walked in and said in a monotone, ‘Are you ready? It’s time to go.' Why doesn’t she show a little more emotion,...