5SR - July 12, 2023

Zara Hanawalt is a freelance journalist covering parenting, women's health, culture, and more. She has written for outlets like Parents, Elle, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Glamour, and more. Zara is a mom to four-year-old twins and a passionate advocate for maternal rights and health.

8 Things I’ve Learning Parenting A Non-Binary Kid That Might Help You (Parents)

I write about parenting for a living. I have access to all the experts and information — yet I am constantly wondering if I handled situations correctly with my own kids.

I've learned that sometimes, we simply learn as we go. This piece from Liz Vaccariello is so beautifully vulnerable — she's opening up about her own process of learning along the way (even as a parenting expert herself), and helping so many other parents navigate something that is, in so many ways, unexplored territory.

Parenting a non-binary kid — and getting it right — isn't just about loving and accepting your kid, it's also an imperfect process of learning from the person you're so used to teaching. The tips Liz has learned along the way are real and raw, yet so actionable for other parents who are also trying to do right by their non-binary kids.

Ariana DeBose Dares To Try Hard (Marie Claire)

Ariana DeBose COMMITS. That's abundantly clear after that viral awards show moment.

DeBose became the victim of online criticism after she performed at the BAFTA Awards — but for what? Infusing energy into a live performance? What's incredible about DeBose is her resilience, and this article does a beautiful job of unpacking all the times she's bounced back.

t's a story women of color, who have always needed to operate with a whole other level of resilience in all aspects of life, will find incredibly inspiring.

Bringing Your Whole Self To Work- Should You? (Better Up)

In a world that was recently rocked by Covid, finding a new normal is an ongoing process. Part of this involves wondering where we should draw our new lines between work life and family life.

The debate about whether you should bring your "whole self" to work rages on. While compartmentalization between work and personal life has value, I believe we can't go back to the old way of doing things, especially for working parents and caregivers. We need to encourage people to take time away for appointments and family commitments without having to make up excuses.

Maybe that doesn't mean that bringing your "whole self" to the workplace is the right balance, but we do need to remember that people are full humans outside of their jobs — at least in my opinion.

13 Mental Health & Wellness Resources For Asian-American Communities (Bustle)

Conversations about mental health are finally mainstream. But let's face it: They're still not inclusive. As a South Asian women, I understand the barriers that exist between minorities and proper mental health care.

Stigmas about mental health issues live on in many Asian cultures and communities. Therapists don't always understand our lived experiences. Resources to better serve Asian American communities are so important, as they address the real issues people in these groups are working through when trying to seek out proper mental health care, coping strategies, and spaces.

At-Home Abortions Should Be Featured In TV And Movies As Often As They Occur In Real Life (Women’s Health)

Our cultural understanding of reproductive health is incredibly poor (sex ed is...well, broken in this country). But we're also not seeing accurate representation of reproductive health issues in media. This article unpacks the limiting way abortions are portrayed on TV, and how they fail to address the realities of what many people experience.