New on psychologytoday.com....my piece on Kate Middleton. Being a privileged mum is not all Silver Cross prams and silver spoons. It's not as easy as it looks! Hope you will have a read and leave a comment.
In the Hamptons in the summer, there are plenty of "events." Charity luncheons, charity dinners, auctions for a good cause, shopping for a good cause, or just "girls nights out" (we like to go out together without our husbands or our kids sometimes!) — you can be as busy as you like. When we go to these events, we affirm our tribal affiliation, just by being there--it shows that we care about the same things — and by connecting with one another.
In my tribe, going without a pedicure in the summer is almost like walking out of your apartment naked. You just wouldn't do it. And if you did, you wouldn't feel right about it. Pedicures are an important part of our summer uniform. This form of ritualized adornment and self-display says, "I took the time to do this." We believe it makes us more attractive to men....or do we do it for each other?
It's been rainy but these hydrangea are beautiful in any weather. They are everywhere on the East End of Long Island, aka the Hamptons, where my tribe migrates for the summer season. This particular road takes me to Physique 57, where I do the world's most punitive ballet barre workout a few times per week with loads of other Manhattan moms. But that's for another post....
The press release just went out: Primates of Park Avenue will be published by Simon & Schuster. I am thrilled with the book's new home. The description in industry newsletter Publishers Marketplace reads....
A girlfriend with kids the same age as mine texted me the other day. "Call me so we can have a drink," she suggested. She meant, call me so we can chat on the phone while we have a glass of wine. Because it was 5:30 and because like most of the women with children we know, we're mothers who drink.
Primatologists would take the long view of Wendy Davis's Texas filibuster.
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal about women and alcohol use/abuse came right on the heels of a discussion with my friend, writer Louise Mensch, about the mothers of young children and drinking. How we do it, why we do it, what it does to us.
If you look to the Aka people, foragers of Central Congo, the bar is pretty high on Father's Day. The Aka are known among anthropologists as "the best fathers in the world." During his fieldwork among the Aka, anthropologist Barry Hewlett learned that Aka dads are highly involved with their children:
If you are a Manhattan parent (or parent anywhere) sending your child to summer camp, you have probably received about 393 emails telling you what/how to pack for/with your child/camper. The upshot is....you're doing it wrong! I wrote about it for ohio edit, where I have a new column! Hope you will have a look and leave a comment.