The week that my Atlantic essay, "Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough," was published, Bella DePaulo wrote me an email asking whether she could have her publicist send me her book, Singled Out.

I didn't take Bella up on her offer,...

As the ads for Mother's Day flowers and gifts began crowding my mailbox recently - "Your mother gave you the gift of life. Give her the most beautiful gift of all," a cheesy brochure from a jeweler read - I started thinking about all that mothers give to their children....