Paige Martin Reynolds’s son loved bags: purses, diaper bags, suitcases, reusable grocery bags, backpacks. He also loved packing bags, filling them with anything that interested him: paperwork, produce, jewelry, juice boxes, coasters, coins.
This penchant for packing — and unpacking — bags caused household objects to appear in unpredictable places (a spatula in the bathroom, for instance). And though Ms. Reynolds was often frustrated by her home’s disorder, she also found it valuable. In this week’s Modern Love essay, she explains how the messiness of her home gave her insight into the mind of her son, who was diagnosed with autism three years ago.
While American states and cities navigate reopening, many couples separated by the U.S.-Canadian border are still in limbo, unsure of when they will be able to reunite. Since the border closed to nonessential travel on March 21, some couples have managed to meet in a border-straddling park, while others have gone months without seeing each other in person and have no idea when they will be able to again.
Those who are lucky enough to be on the same side of a border as their loved ones may still be hesitant to socialize like old times. In this essay, writer Sarah Miller explains that she may not feel financially and emotionally ready to entertain for about … 10 years.
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