Kindness is strength. But try telling that to children
The belief is rife in our culture that this great virtue is essentially a consolation prize indistinguishable from weakness, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
What I Wish People Knew About Dementia by Wendy Mitchell review – a book of hope
Wendy Mitchell’s good-humoured practical guide to living with dementia has a deeper, more existential message for all of us: connect, forgive, accept and live
‘My son cowers when a shopkeeper says hello’ – are the toddlers of Covid all right?
Babies born in the first lockdown are now turning two, and have only ever known a world of masks and isolation. What will be the long-term impact?
Dogs, daily delights and ditching Twitter: could a ‘fun-tervention’ improve my life – in just one month?
The author of a new book says having more fun builds resilience and will help get us through the next stage of the pandemic. But can she get me out of my funk?
‘I thought: “Everyone knows you’re not a real mum”’ – the pain of parental impostor syndrome
Feeling like a fraud is bad enough at work but even more corrosive when it comes to raising a family. How can parents overcome damaging self-doubt?
Noises off: the battle to save our quiet places
We wouldn’t condone litter in our parks and countryside, so why do we put up with sound pollution? Alex Moshakis meets the people tasked with ‘saving quiet for the benefit of all life’ and hears their stories
‘I’ve been expecting things to fall apart at any moment’: Dan Smith on 10 years of body dysmorphia, burnout and Bastille
He has found critical and commercial success, while behind the scenes the frontman has battled with his self-confidence and severe stage fright. He explains why he still loves being in the band
‘Don’t plan it, just go!’: how to be spontaneous – and grab some unexpected fun
The pandemic has left our best-laid plans in disarray, but we can still have spur-of-the-moment adventures
Skateboarding in middle age: ‘It helps me switch off’
It’s good for mental health, a study found, but what’s it like being an older person at the skatepark?
Why new year resolutions can just cause you more stress
Focusing on a more mindful life instead of chasing targets creates space to reflect, says Vishvapani Blomfield, Buddhist contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day