A novelist, picture book writer and native New Yorker, John is a graduate of Syracuse University and the children's media graduate program at Centennial College. When not staring at his computer monitor, you'll most likely find John sipping tea watching British comedies, or in the kitchen, taking a stab at the technical challenge on the most recent episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.
Few would argue that the most challenging part of marriage is one’s relationship with one’s in-laws. Even if you generally have a strong relationship with them, you might find yourself overcompensating in an effort to please them, ensuring you are always in their good graces. While some people are predisposed to hating their in-laws, and […] More
A funeral is something no one ever looks forward to. Even if it does reunite you with close friends and family, and there is some joy to be found in the life you are celebrating, it’s hard to escape from the cloud of the occasion. As attending a funeral is bound to result in sadness […] More
Many people will go to great lengths to justify someone’s bad behavior. Urging people that they “didn’t really mean” what they said, or they’re “going through a phase”. Some people even go so far as to guilt-trip others in an effort to excuse someone’s poor behavior. At the end of the day, though, no matter […] More
No matter how hard we try, we simply can’t please everyone. Even so, that doesn’t stop us from trying as hard as we can. Going to almost foolhardy lengths to make sure everyone is happy and content. Only to find ourselves met with complaints. Redditor throwaway19100220 recently invited her family out to dinner. Upon receiving […] More
Many new parents turn to their own parents for advice. After all, they’re the people who made them who they are. Even so, parenting styles and customs tend to change with the times, so new parents might decide to raise their children differently than their own parents raised them. Often resulting in tension. Redditor Mysterious-File9406 […] More
When a friend or family member finds themselves in a vulnerable position, it’s usually our inclination to help them. Even when that help might require us to step far out of our usual comfort zones. However, we might only feel inclined to offer this sort of extreme help if the person in question truly needs […] More
It’s very easy to find yourself in an “eye-for-an-eye” mentality. Hell-bent on giving people who wronged you their “just desserts,” as it were. However, as satisfying as revenge may seem, it seldom pays off. Particularly if the offending parties don’t actually deserve what’s coming to them. Redditor PerfectAffect9213 had not gotten over her older sister […] More
Keeping people’s bodies out of conversation is always a wise idea. Even if they bring their bodies up, and you intend to compliment them, the chances of words being misinterpreted are extremely high. Leaving for a likely outcome of hurt and confusion. If it’s wise to avoid talking about someone else’s body, touching someone else’s […] More
Growing up, our parents tend to teach us to try all foods and see for ourselves whether or not we like them. Sometimes, this turns people into adventurous eaters, determined to try every food known to man. Some people remain as picky eaters as they were as children, if not pickier. Refusing even to consider […] More
It takes more courage than we sometimes appreciate for people to be proud of who they are. Sadly, we live in a world full of judgment, which doesn’t always make us feel welcome or comfortable in all surroundings. It’s also far too common for people to worry about how someone important to us might be […] More
Our birthday is arguably the one annual day when we can justify feeling special and being the center of attention. With that in mind, it’s very easy to feel vulnerable on our birthday, no matter how old we are getting. As even the slightest thing could make us feel down. Or if something goes terribly […] More
It’s very easy to judge. As much as many of us may try to deny it, we’ve all likely passed judgment on someone for a decision they made. Most people are wise enough to keep their judgment to themselves. Others, however, simply don’t have the wisdom to keep their mouth shut. Redditor Kittencough22 recently transferred […] More
