“ It may take a village to raise a child, but not every villager needs to be a mom or dad. Some of us just need to be who we are. ”

“ I have a distinct memory, dating back to 1989 or so, of sitting around with my college dorm mates talking about a new term that was popping up everywhere: 'political correctness.' ”

“ Air travelers, of course, are famous for their hubris. They carry on too many bags and use the restroom when the seat-belt sign is on. ”

“ People who choose not to have kids do so because they respect the job of parenting so much that they know not to take it on if they know it's not something that they're up for, and I don't know what to be a bigger tribute to parenting than that. ”

“ The search for happiness has long been a dominant feature of American life. It's a byproduct of prosperity, not to mention the most famous line in the Declaration of Independence. ”

“ For a kid, self-esteem can be as close at hand as a sports victory or a sense of belonging in a peer group. It's a much more complicated and elusive proposition for adults, subject to the responsibilities and vicissitudes of grown-up life. ”