The Hollywood Reporter can also exclusively premiere a new trailer for the short doc, directed by Pawel Chorzepa and produced by International Emmy winner Joanna Chorzepa, about experts who usually remain invisible.
From beloved bakeries to small-town diners, these are the best places to grab a cinnamon roll.
As the weather turns cooler, there are few treats more comforting than a warm cinnamon roll.
Whether you like yours fresh from the oven and dripping with cream cheese frosting, dusted with pecans, or filled with fall flavors like pumpkin and apple, bakeries across the country offer plenty of reasons to slow down and savor the season.
Yelp recently compiled a list of the best cinnamon rolls in every state by identifying businesses in its restaurants and food categories with a high concentration of reviews from Yelp Elite members mentioning “cinnamon rolls,” and then ranking them based on factors such as review volume and ratings.
When available, every business on the list had a passing health score as of August 18, 2026.
Here are the best cinnamon rolls in every state, according to Yelp.
ALABAMA: Lighthouse Bakery in Dauphin Island
Lighthouse Bakery.
Alaina S./Yelp
What customers say: "The pecan iced cinnamon roll is the best I've had in years! Lots of pecans and icing! Also, the coffee is excellent! We'll be back for lunch today," wrote Yelp user Catherine M.
What customers say: "The cinnamon roll! Did I mention the cinnamon roll? Get the cinnamon roll. This trendy and welcoming café hits all the marks with fresh and flavorful food, wonderful coffee, and a lovely atmosphere," wrote Yelp user Robert M.
What customers say: "My family and I absolutely LOVE Rise-Up Bakery! We got the limited banana Biscoff cinnamon roll, and HOLY COW, it was incredible. Seriously, worth every penny. The other cinnamon rolls are delicious and all very large. The bakery itself is very large, pristine, and the staff is very helpful and attentive. They even gave my little one his own small cinnamon roll on the house, which was so sweet and kind of them. We love coming here for a special treat-highly recommend," wrote Yelp user Aubrey R.
What customers say: "Greeted by a friendly server who actually asked if I wanted a booth or table. What a nice way to start off breakfast. My husband found them online because he was looking for cinnamon rolls for me. They bring you a basket. They are delicious No gooey icing, thank goodness. Homemade and amazing," wrote Yelp user Pj M.
What customers say: "The go-to spot for doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches! We love getting their BLT on a croissant, doughnut holes, and cinnamon rolls. Service is always fast and friendly, and you can taste how fresh everything is. Indoor seating only, and their parking spaces are small but easy to get in and out of," wrote Yelp user Viv H.
What customers say: "We stopped at Cinnamon's Bakery on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park. We got to the shop at opening and had many options to choose from! The staff was super sweet and answered my many questions. We got three different flavors to try and loved them all. The location is a bit out of the way, but there is plenty of parking, and it's so worth a detour," wrote Yelp user Chelsey B.
What customers say: "Nobody does pastries like Kouign! I've worked at multiple coffee shops that have carried their baked goods, and I can never pass up buying them. Insanely delicious, especially the cinnamon buns and croissants," wrote Yelp user Victoria W.
What customers say: "The shareable cinnamon roll (five of us split it before our breakfast came out) is insanely delicious. Great breakfast food and a delicious iced latte. Excellent service, extremely friendly staff, and great ambiance! We loved it," wrote Yelp user Tami L.
What customers say: "The shake was delicious as well as the cinnamon bun. It makes sense this place is so highly recommended and loved by the residents," wrote Yelp user Rob M.
What customers say: "We started with a cinnamon roll that was so light, soft, and tasty, it just melted in my mouth. We knew right away we had made the right choice," wrote Yelp user Alex L.
What customers say: "Excellent. Can't think of anything they can improve on. Totally worth the wait in line. That cinnamon roll was heaven. Can't wait to go back," wrote Yelp user Nicole G.
What customers say: "We shared a cinnamon roll too and sampled the pies and brownies at dinner at their sister restaurant at the Sawtooth Hotel. Completely worth the calories," wrote Yelp user Lauren Elizabeth C.
ILLINOIS: Ann Sather Restaurant & Catering in Chicago
Ann Sather Restaurant & Catering.
Sharon C./Yelp
What customers say: "The cinnamon rolls definitely lived up to their reputation. They were soft, fresh, and generously topped with icing, making for a delicious treat. After seeing all of the other dishes being served, we'd love to come back for a full meal on a future visit," wrote Yelp user Chelsea M.
INDIANA: Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls and Cafe in Nashville
Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls And Cafe.
Nicole S./Yelp
What customers say: "This place completely satisfied our cinnamon roll craving! My husband and I split the Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll, and it was loaded with flavor — sweet, savory, and absolutely indulgent. It was a bit rich for me personally, but my husband was obsessed and would order it again in a heartbeat," wrote Yelp user Sydney T.
What customers say: "As for bakery items, we had the orange cinnamon roll and a normal cinnamon roll, and they were good as well. They have a fluffy bread texture and the frosting isn't too sweet," wrote Yelp user Rubyanne M.
What customers say: "A fun, quirky little cafe. Staff is super friendly and helpful. The breakfast sandwiches were excellent, but the cinnamon roll was LIFE CHANGING! Definitely worth heading to this gem," wrote Yelp user Kathryn C.
What customers say: "From the biscuit sandwich to the rye brownie to the cinnamon roll to the lemon almond danish, each pastry was perfection," wrote Yelp user Lora P.
What customers say: "The pastries, especially the cinnamon rolls, are just the right amount of sweet. It's takeout-only, but the staff is friendly, and the service is quick. Get there early — things sell out fast," wrote Yelp user Casey J.
What customers say: "We started with the cinnamon roll, which was delicious and different. Soft in the middle, but the outer edges were more like a crispy biscuit," wrote Yelp user Nicole E.
What customers say: "Do not sleep on that cinnamon roll. Die and go to an icy heaven with all that icing and cinnamon flavor heated up and shareable for two," wrote Yelp user Eric H.
What customers say: "Absolutely fantastic breakfast spot. We waited for about 15 minutes at 8 a.m. (I thought we would be early, but I guess not lol). We started off with coffee and a cinnamon roll. The coffee was great, and the cinnamon roll was amazing, so gooey, warm, and the frosting was spot on," wrote Yelp user Jill B.
What customers say: "The cinnamon bun was massive with tons of very sweet icing. People say the puppy tail is a better ratio, which is true, but even as an icing girlie, something about the cinnamon roll hit different. It was decadent, rich, and almost overpoweringly sweet," wrote Yelp user Lori J.
What customers say: "The food was outstanding. The cinnamon roll skillet is listed as a 'small plate,' but it is massive and perfect for sharing…Honestly, everything we tried was so, so, so good," wrote Yelp user Caty S.
What customers say: "After reading the reviews, I had to come here on a trip to St. Louis. And now I understand why people love this place. The brunch is amazing, and the biscuits and cinnamon roll were two highlights. And I had to get a gooey butter cake to go, which was incredible," wrote Yelp user Jim B.
What customers say: "Heaven in a cinnamon bun. They are HUGE, fresh, and oh-so-tasty. So are all the other desserts and pastries I tried, as well as the entrées. Terrific value, friendly service, and a wonderful place to relax and enjoy," wrote Yelp user Jim G.
What customers say: "Be sure to try the cinnamon rolls and scones, which are homemade. They also make their own syrups, some of which rotate seasonally," wrote Yelp user Stephanie A.
What customers say: "Location was clean and everyone was friendly! Food came out fast and was great! I would recommend the cinnamon roll because it came out fast and was nice and hot," wrote Yelp user Angel H.
What customers say: "I ordered the cinnamon roll and the rosemary focaccia bread. Both were amazing! The cinnamon roll was light and fluffy. I'm not the biggest fan of cream cheese frosting, but it wasn't bad and didn't take away from it at all," wrote Yelp user Samantha A.
What customers say: "Probably most famously known for their ooey gooey cinnamon buns (that are so coveted a line forms around the block on weekends), but The Hive also serves up great coffee, a cozy space, and a very kid-friendly vibe," wrote Yelp user Katarina L.
What customers say: "Our first stop in Albuquerque...if they have been around since the 40s, you know the food must be good. We tried the breakfast burrito, which is a definite 10 out of 10, and the chicken quesadilla, which was also great. The guacamole was really good, too. Got a cinnamon roll to go that took up the size of the to-go box. OMG so yummy," wrote Yelp user Erin G.
What customers say: "I picked up some of their most popular items, including the triple chocolate chunk cookie, a cinnamon bun, and the honey cake. All three were fantastic," wrote Yelp user Sein S.
NORTH CAROLINA: Louie and Honey's Kitchen in Winston-Salem
Louie and Honey's Kitchen.
Lindsay B./Yelp
What customers say: "It's a bold statement to say I just ate the best cinnamon roll in North Carolina, but honestly... I think I did. Louie and Honey's Kitchen is flat-out amazing. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is cool and welcoming, with plenty of comfortable seating both indoors and out. The staff was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. And the baked goods? There were so many incredible-looking options that I already know we'll have to come back and work our way through the menu," wrote Yelp user Lee S.
What customers say: "Stopped here for a great breakfast on our way out of Medora. They have really good caramel cinnamon rolls. Be sure to try them. The staff is really nice, and it was nice and clean. Had a kind of local favorite feel to it," wrote Yelp user Nancy S.
What customers say: "This place is fantastic. The staff is friendly and warm. They know the products and can answer any questions you have. It's a tight space, so it's best to be mindful of the space and courteous of others. Otherwise, it's a cute little place on a cute street making DELICIOUS pastries. The cinnamon roll had a tangy cream cheese icing with orange zest. It may be the most balanced pastry I've eaten this year," wrote Yelp user Kryssie H.
OKLAHOMA: Harvey Bakery & Kitchen in Oklahoma City
Harvey Bakery & Kitchen.
Abigail C./Yelp
What customers say: "I just walked in randomly to pick up some baked goods. I hadn't been before. I grabbed the Harvey cinnamon rolls, and they were the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had! Also, the Gruyère scones were delicious," wrote Yelp user Crystal W.
What customers say: "My go-to is a mixed spread of sweet and savory bites. Got the cinnamon roll for the first time, and it was divine. They have interesting seasonal offerings too, so don't forget to review those while perusing the menu," wrote Yelp user Tiffany V.
What customers say: "I really enjoyed the cinnamon rolls. They are not ooey gooey with frosting like typical cinnamon rolls; they're closer to a monkey bread texture, and I like that about them. Not as messy to eat and just as addictive," wrote Yelp user Ainsley E.
What customers say: "The meal comes with dinner rolls, their (legendary) cinnamon buns, fresh salad, pasta with sauce, crispy french fries, and of course the juicy chicken," wrote Yelp user Rebecca H.
SOUTH CAROLINA: The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli in Columbia
The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli.
Allie G./Yelp
What customers say: "The banana foster [cinnamon roll] is outstanding, but can't go wrong with a classic cinnamon roll. Pay attention to their grits of the day as it changes," wrote Yelp user Jerrin H.
What customers say: "I got a cinnamon bun to go. It was huge and delicious. I also got a scrambled egg and bacon on a fresh bun. It was great also," wrote Yelp user Beverly M.
TENNESSEE: Crockett's 1875 Breakfast Camp in Gatlinburg
Crockett's 1875 Breakfast Camp.
Lisa L./Yelp
What customers say: "Yummy! The fried cinnamon roll was very good. I had the hash, and it was great. My daughter had the pot roast Benedict, and it might be the best breakfast I've ever tasted. Five stars," wrote Yelp user Lee H.
TEXAS: Cranky Granny's Sweet Rolls in Pflugerville
Cranky Granny's Sweet Rolls.
Kell J./Yelp
What customers say: "I was worried that the cinnamon roll quality would be subpar due to being covered with the toppings, but I was wrong. The cinnamon itself was fresh and soft and probably delish on its own. I recommend checking out this place," wrote Yelp user Tia T.
What customers say: "The best food for any time of the day. Very quick, coffee is great. The morning line was insane, but they cleared it quickly. Pricing is beyond reasonable. One thing — never leave without a cinnamon roll," wrote Yelp user Christina S.
What customers say: "We got the Danish, a loaf of sourdough, some coffee, and cinnamon rolls. Everything was really good, but the cinnamon rolls were exceptional! Great little bakery," wrote Yelp user Yuval J.
What customers say: "The wait can be very long (we waited 90 minutes on a Sunday morning), but it is worth it because the food is AMAZING! We had the latte flight, cowboy Benedict, and the cinnamon roll. Everything was delicious," wrote Yelp user Leah O.
What customers say: "Getting in line an hour before opening for a good chance of locking down a box [of doughnuts] and their equally delicious cinnamon roll. Flour Box usually sells out around noon," wrote Yelp user Trung V.
WEST VIRGINIA: Wardensville Garden Market in Wardensville
Wardensville Garden Market.
Wardensville Garden Market/Yelp
What customers say: "When I walked inside, I was impressed by how cute this little bakery was set up. Then I had to try something from here, and I got a cinnamon roll. The cinnamon roll was so good! If you get the chance, I would definitely recommend stopping in and checking this place out," wrote Yelp user Alexa A.
What customers say: "Franks Diner was awesome and such a fun experience. We went for breakfast. There was a 40-minute wait on a Saturday morning, so we walked part of the farmers market, which was a perfect spot and just enough time. I had their Bloody Mary and veggie omelet with a side of bacon, and we split a cinnamon roll. I recommend all of it. The booths on the train car are comfy, and it's just a fun restaurant setting. The staff was fun and attentive. I'd give 10 stars. Highly recommend," wrote Yelp user Ashley H.
What customers say: "For a Friday mid-morning, they were still hopping and yet greeted us the moment we walked in. We were directed to a table and had hot coffee almost as quickly as we ordered it! The cinnamon roll was beautiful, but even better, it tasted better than it looked. Warm, fragrant with cinnamon. It melted in our mouths. It's a friendly step back in time with the counters and the conversations. When in Laramie, don't miss it," wrote Yelp user Rebekah A.
Ukraine has held its first international course in military surgery and resuscitation, under instructors from the American College of Surgeons and other Western trauma bodies, the Defense Ministry says. “Tryzub”, or Trident, has been conducted for front-line surgeons and anesthesiologists.
The week-long drills put 16 doctors, eight surgeons, and eight anesthesiologists through three standard Western trauma programs: Advanced Trauma Life Support, Definitive Surgical Trauma Care, and Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma. All of them work at stabilization points close to the fighting.
The course has been run with the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care and the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance, a non-profit that helps rebuild Ukraine’s healthcare, with support from Razom4Ukraine and Expertise France.
The wounds have changed
The course answers a battlefield that has grown deadlier. Ukrainian combat medics say modern combat trauma has fundamentally changed: drones and shrapnel now cause most of the complex wounds, often tearing through several parts of the body at once.
Bleeding has become the main cause of death on the battlefield, and the window to stop it is measured in minutes. That is the gap a well-drilled surgical team near the line is meant to close.
“People who will do everything to save his life”
Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara has framed the course as a promise to troops at the front.
“When a soldier goes into battle, he must know that if he is wounded, there will be people beside him who will do everything they can to save his life,” Khmara says.
Experience, he added, is a kind of trust that matters enormously at the front.
“That is why we want our medics to have the best knowledge and skills, and to be able to act as one team," he states.
Ukrainian front-line medicine already draws international notice: one Azov brigade medic was named Europe’s best military medic of the year, and off-duty Ukrainian medics recently saved a man’s life at a London crash scene.
When the White House rolled back tariffs on coffee, fruit, beef, and farm equipment, it was effectively an admission that the tariffs were raising prices—and that Americans, not foreigners, had been paying for them.
Now, in the closing stages of the midterm campaign, the White House is once again rolling back some of those import taxes—and once again making an awkward implicit admission.
President Donald Trump's tariffs have become politically toxic.
The administration announced late last week that it would lift the 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian imports, apparently in an attempt to help Sen. Susan Collins (R–Maine) survive a tough reelection campaign in which the tariffs have played a significant role.
If this is indeed an attempt to sway voters in Maine, it is not a very convincing one. The Trump administration is removing tariffs on some agricultural and mechanical goods, as well as packaging and plywood, The Wall Street Journalreports. But Trump is also imposing new 50 percent tariffs on "other Canadian goods, including carpet, certain valves, and waste products."
Collins issued a statement thanking the White House for the changes. This is what members of the U.S. Senate have been reduced to—begging the president to cast his capricious, tariff-happy eyes toward products that will hurt people in other states more than in your own. (In fairness to Collons, she has voted repeatedly to roll back Trump's tariffs, but not enough of her fellow Republicans went along with it.)
Still, it's worth asking: What exactly is the pitch to voters here? Here's a tariff cut, now vote for Republicans so the president can continue to arbitrarily tax imports whenever the mood strikes?
It's easy to see why Trump's tariffs have become so unpopular. They are a huge and broad tax increase—the Tax Foundation estimates that 54 percent of imports are subject to Trump's tariffs, which are costing the average household about $1,000 annually—that was imposed without congressional authorization or popular support. They create more losers than winners, as downstream businesses and consumers pay the price for the protectionism offered to American manufacturers. Even the supposed "winners" of the tariff policy tend also to be "losers," since so much manufacturing depends on importing raw materials and intermediate goods.
Perhaps more surprising is how unwilling Republicans are to defend the president's signature economic policy. Or to even talk about it.
The Wall Street Journal's Greg Ip crunched the numbers and found that House GOP candidates have not run a single ad talking about the tariffs during this election cycle.
That silence speaks volumes. Trump says "tariff" is "the most beautiful word in the dictionary." But it is now "one of the most hated words in politics," writes Ip.
The only Republicans to mention trade or tariffs in a campaign ad, as far as I've seen, is former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is now running for the Senate seat in Michigan (and thus was not included in Ip's analysis). And he's calling for an end to the "tariff war."
There is a lesson here that hopefully will linger beyond the next week: If you support a policy that deliberately and unlawfully raises taxes and prices, voters will not reward you for it.
It's a lesson that the Republican Party learned long ago, but apparently forgot.
Against economists' advice, a Republican-led government in 1930 implemented a huge tariff hike intended to protect American farms and factories at the start of the Great Depression. Instead, those tariffs worsened economic conditions and triggered foreign retaliation.
When voters went to the polls in 1930, the first midterm after the Smoot-Hawley tariffs were passed, they registered their displeasure. The GOP lost 52 seats in the House that year. Two years later, an even larger landslide would sweep Democrats into power in Congress and the White House, ushering in the New Deal era that reshaped the federal government forever. The two lawmakers who lent their names to the legislation were among those who lost their seats, fittingly.
The most notable difference this time around is that Congress didn't actually pass a tariff bill. The trade barriers were instead imposed directly by the executive. Voters don't seem to care. Republicans were too cowardly to stand up to Trump's unilateral power grab, and now they seem too ashamed to try to defend that policy (and their largely complicit response) on the campaign trail.
As they say, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And "doomed" may be a fitting way to describe the Republican majority in Congress right now, thanks in no small part to Trump's tariffs.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 140 drones, including Shahed and Gerbera attack drones and Parodiya decoys, and four missiles overnight on 26 October, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. The missiles were one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile and three Kh-59/69 air-launched guided missiles, launched from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.
Jet-powered Shaheds are becoming a larger part of Russia’s aerial campaign, challenging Ukraine’s air defenses and prompting efforts to develop faster interceptors. Alongside guided bomb attacks and strikes on energy infrastructure, these attacks add to the pressure on Ukraine’s defenses as winter approaches, and Ukraine says Russia has a plan for it.
Air defenses downed or suppressed 112 drones, including 56 of the 70 jet-powered Shaheds, and three Kh-59/69 missiles, according to preliminary Air Force figures. Hits were recorded at 15 locations, and debris fell at four more.
Four wounded in Zaporizhzhia
Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia overnight wounded two women aged 22 and 30, and two men aged 40 and 61, the State Emergency Service (DSNS) said. The strikes damaged the windows of a hotel and two buses, a private house, and four outbuildings, and three cars caught fire. The oblast administration had first reported one wounded.
Russian strikes injured 8 people in Ukraine overnight on 26 October
Russia injured 2 women, aged 22 and 30, and 2 men, aged 40 and 61, in Zaporizhzhia overnight, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. Russia also shattered windows in a hotel and 2 buses and damaged a house, and… pic.twitter.com/42bvnHt0qk
Later in the morning, Russian forces hit a shopping center building that had already closed, the administration said. The building caught fire. According to preliminary information, no one was hurt.
Guided bombs hit two districts of Izium
At about 02:40 on 26 October, Russian forces struck two districts of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast with guided aerial bombs, and three people needed medical help, the city military administration said, as Suspilne Kharkiv reported. More than 10 private houses and a youth sports school were damaged, and several streets lost power and internet.
Russia struck a burning Odesa Oblast plant twice more as firefighters worked
Overnight, a Russian attack destroyed an industrial enterprise in Odesa Oblast and set it on fire, the DSNS reported. As firefighters put out the blaze, Russian forces struck the site twice more. The rescuers were in shelter and were not hurt, but fire equipment was damaged. At another address, four garages were damaged and a car was destroyed. The oblast administration said there were no casualties.
Russia struck a burning Odesa Oblast plant twice more as firefighters worked on 26 October 2026. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Energy facility hit in Khmelnytskyi Oblast
On the evening of 25 October, a Russian attack damaged an energy facility in Kamianets-Podilskyi district of Khmelnytskyi Oblast, causing emergency power outages, the oblast administration said. Windows were also damaged in two residential buildings. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, Russian drones attacked the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast more than 10 times overnight, damaging a high-rise and an administrative building, the oblast administration reported. No one was hurt. Mykolaiv Oblast also came under Shahed attack overnight, with no casualties, according to its administration.
The attack continued into the day. On the morning of 26 October, a Russian strike hit a civilian infrastructure site in Vinnytsia, the oblast administration said. Preliminary reports showed no casualties.
Strikes on 26 October kill three in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts
On 26 October, Russian aircraft dropped four guided bombs on homes and shops in the center of Yasnohirka near Kramatorsk, killing one person and wounding 10, the DSNS said. Among the wounded is a 13-year-old girl, Donetsk oblast head Vadym Filashkin said. In Sloviansk, a Russian airstrike destroyed a private house, and rescuers recovered the body of its owner, the DSNS said.
A Russian drone strike on Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed one person and injured seven, including two children, the DSNS said. The injured include two 10-year-old girls, the oblast administration said.
Six hurt in Kharkiv Oblast over the past day
Over the past 24 hours, Russian attacks hurt six people in Kharkiv Oblast, oblast head Oleh Syniehubov said. In Kharkiv, a 60-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy suffered acute stress reactions. Two women aged 51 and 71 were wounded in Krasnopavlivka. His count lists two wounded men in Izium, aged 72 and 52, while the city administration says three people there needed medical help. Russian attacks also set fire to a house in Kotliary, a production building in Vilshany, a building in Derhachi, a house in Mykolaivka, and a site in Kharkiv’s Kholodnohirskyi district, the DSNS reported.
A damaged truck and a crater in Kharkiv Oblast after Russian attacks on 26 October 2026. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration
In Sumy Oblast, Russian attacks over the past day injured five people, the National Police said, including two women aged 76 and 56 hit by a drone in Sumy community.
On 25 October: two killed in Kherson and Donetsk oblasts
In Chernihiv Oblast, Russian attacks on 25 October injured a man at a hangar in Pryluky district and a woman at a grain store in the Novhorod-Siverskyi area, the oblast administration said. Drones also damaged a school in a village of Koriukivka community, and a strike destroyed 700 metric tons of potatoes at an enterprise in Mena community, the administration said. A large warehouse fire broke out in Koriukivka district, the DSNS said.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person and wounded eight in the 24 hours to 06:00 on 26 October, the oblast administration reported. On 25 October, a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson’s Central district killed one person and wounded six, the administration said after one more man sought medical help. Police said the minibus was hit by an FPV drone.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces killed one person in Kramatorsk and wounded 10 across the oblast on 25 October, Filashkin said. Russia hit Kramatorsk with drones and six KAB-250 guided bombs, and 18 hits on Sloviansk wounded four, police said.
On 25 October, a Russian attack on Synelnykove district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast sent a 30-year-old man to hospital, the oblast administration said. In Vinnytsia, the number of people injured in the Russian attack on the morning of 25 October rose to seven, two of them hospitalized, the DSNS said. In Uman, an 86-year-old woman burned in the Russian attack on 21 October died in hospital, the Cherkasy oblast administration said.
Anthropic sits atop a pyramid of business partners and suppliers, making it a barometer of the broader economy. Its initial public offering will have widespread implications.
The author (top left) is a month of six. She said she realized she shouldn't parent all of her kids the same way.
Courtesy of Nicole Schildt.
I thought being a good mother meant being fair and treating all of my kids the same way.
But each of my six kids has different personalities and abilities and needs their own set of rules.
It can be hard for my kids at times, but I am no longer compelled to make everything even.
For years, I thought being a good mother meant being a fair mother. And being fair, I assumed, meant treating all of my children exactly the same.
With six kids, this seemed especially important. I didn't want anyone keeping score — or, more accurately, I didn't want to give them anything to keep score about. If one child had a certain bedtime at 9:00 p.m., surely the next one should, too. Chores should be divided equally. Consequences should be consistent. Privileges should come at the same ages.
Equal meant fair. Except it didn't.
My thinking evolved
The longer I parented, the harder it became to ignore what was right in front of me: I wasn't raising six versions of the same child. I was raising six completely different people.
One of my children thrives when given independence. Give them a responsibility and some space, and they'll usually rise to the occasion. Another needs more structure, more reminders, and more check-ins. That doesn't make one child more responsible or the other less capable. They simply need different things from me.
The same is true of privileges. I used to think that if one child earned a later curfew at a certain age, every child should automatically receive the same privilege when they reached that age. Now I understand that age isn't the only factor. Trust is built through choices. A child who has consistently demonstrated responsibility may be ready for freedom that a sibling at the same age isn't ready for yet.
Sometimes, I feel guilty
My decisions can be hard to explain when the inevitable "But they got to!" comes flying across the room. And sometimes, if I'm being truthful, the difference has nothing to do with the children at all. My youngest gets more bedtime stories than my oldest did.
That realization could easily become another entry on the endless list of things mothers feel guilty about. But my oldest didn't have the same mother my youngest has. Back then, I was younger, less experienced, and more concerned with getting everything right. I rushed through routines because there was always something else that needed to be done.
Six children later, I understand how quickly those routines disappear. I linger a little longer now.
That doesn't mean I loved my older children less. It means motherhood has changed me. The mother raising my youngest has learned things the mother raising my oldest hadn't learned yet.
I know this is the right way for me to parent
For a while, parenting my children differently felt like admitting I was inconsistent. Now I see it as evidence that I'm paying attention. My 8-year-old, who has always been an early riser, requires more sleep than some of his siblings, so he is the first to go to bed, while his younger siblings stay up a little later. It is unusual from the outside looking in, but it is what best meets his needs.
Fairness doesn't always mean equal chores, identical consequences, or the same privileges at the same ages. Sometimes fairness means giving more guidance to the child who needs it and more independence to the one who is ready for it. It means recognizing that one child may need encouragement while another needs accountability.
My children still notice the differences, of course. They are children. Keeping track of who got what seems practically written into the sibling job description. But I no longer feel compelled to make everything even.
My job isn't to make sure all six of my children receive exactly the same childhood; It's to know each of them well enough to give them the childhood they need. After years of trying so hard to be equal, I've finally realized that might be the fairest thing I can do. I won't always get it right. I'm still learning these six very different people as they grow and change—and trying to grow and change with them. Maybe good parenting was never about getting everything exactly right. Maybe it's simply about paying attention, loving them well, and doing the best I can with the mother I am today.
L’Europa ha bisogno di uno psichiatra. Ma di uno bravo. Da lungo tempo, ormai, soffre di mania di persecuzione e di altre malattie connesse, si sente sotto attacco, vede ombre russe dappertutto, e nei casi più gravi anche iraniane. Diciamo Europa per capirci, che forse dovremmo chiamare Neuropa, visti i suoi evidenti disturbi neurologici; in realtà parliamo della cupola che guida l’Unione Europea e alcuni dei principali stati e governi, compresi alcuni ministri della difesa. Se non volete chiamarla oligarchia o eurocrazia chiamatela governance europea. A cominciare dalla signora Ursula che la guida, è tutto un gridare All’orso! All’orso! Variante russofoba di Al lupo! Al lupo! L’ultimo attacco di psicosi e paranoia è stato quello di attribuire pure la vandalica e demente rivolta dei ragazzini nelle vie di Milano, Torino, Bologna a quella che ormai definiscono guerra ibrida; i mandanti di quegli sfasci sarebbero in Russia o nel Golfo Persico. Guerra ibrida è diventato lo slogan e il passepartout per attribuire ogni malessere, disguido, hackeraggio, rivolta che accade in Europa, al Nemico, l’ineffabile e onnipresente russo, in un remake della guerra fredda anni sessanta. L’Unione europea e i suoi tentacoli locali si sentono ormai in guerra con la Russia, vedono droni nel salotto di casa e spie russe nel proprio frigo. Certo, la mania dà buoni profitti agli impresari dell’industria bellica e ai loro terminali politici: guerra a parte, il riarmo, soprattutto per i tedeschi, è un bel business, rimette in piedi il suo settore industriale. Chi trova un nemico trova un tesoro. E se non esiste, bisogna inventarselo.
Ma il concetto di guerra ibrida e il suo uso patologico fa acqua da tutte le parti. Se si vuol dire che ci sono sommovimenti tellurici ad opera di intelligence, servizi segreti, tramite fake news, passaparola o notizie pilotate, esse appartengono al sommerso della realtà quotidiana non da oggi. E riguardano non solo i regimi autocratici ma anche quelli democratici: la manipolazione è trasversale e universale, è il retrobottega della politica, la cantina degli stati, oltre che territorio di hacker privati e di manipolazioni social. Se la guerra è la continuazione della politica con altri mezzi, vale anche il contrario, e comunque c’è sempre, anche in tempo di pace, quel torrente sotterraneo e malmostoso in cui si muovono agenti manipolatori e provocatori e tanto altro. Vogliamo definirla guerra ibrida? Beh, allora è permanente e non riguarda solo il Cattivo di Turno.
(…)
Attribuire ai russi (e agli iraniani) l’esplosione di violenza vandalica nostrana o parigina, spagnola o albanese, mi pare davvero un esercizio di fantasia, malafede o paranoia.
Mai la Russia, zarista, comunista, postocominista, putiniana, ha pensato di invadere l’Europa, non rientra nella sua strategia, nei suoi interessi. E noi, anziché approfittare del disgelo di Trump con Putin e della sua revoca delle sanzioni per riattivare i rapporti commerciali e la fornitura energetica per ristabilire relazioni che a noi sono ancora più utili, necessarie, oggi più di ieri, dopo quel che è successo grazie a Trump e Netanhyau nello stretto di Hormuz, stiamo al contrario armandoci contro i russi. Siamo a un passo dalla pace, ma l’Europa accelera il passo verso la guerra. Assistiamo a una seduta terapeutica di gruppo in cui l’uno convince l’altro che siamo già in guerra con la Russia, siamo sotto attacco di Putin, vetrine incluse. Riesco a capire i timori delle repubbliche baltiche, che derivano dalla storia passata e dall’oppressione sovietica di lunghi anni; riesco a capire nei paesi confinanti con la Russia le tracce di riflessi condizionati alimentate da timori atavici. Ma quando senti la von der Leyen, alcuni leader europei occidentali, i nostri governanti, e da ultimo il prode Crosetto, attribuire tutto quel che succede di negativo in Italia, persino l’ennesima violenza di piazza (che da noi si abbatte periodicamente da sessant’anni con ciclicità scontata) alla regia russa e alla guerra spuria, allora hai solo un dubbio: che si debba chiamare lo psichiatra per certificare la grave alterazione mentale dei suddetti o se si debba chiamare la talpa per scavare quali interessi loschi si nascondono dietro e sotto una così insensata denuncia. Qualcuno ci guadagna da queste idiozie. Lucrose demenze.
In tema di Ucraina ho una domanda ingenua: ma quando l’Unione Sovietica invadeva l’Ungheria, la Cecoslovacchia, la Polonia, che poi erano Europa, come mai i nostri padri costituenti, i governanti di allora, gli statisti occidentali erano cauti a indignarsi, non rompevano le relazioni, non si dichiaravano in guerra con la Russia, non pensavano di mandare armi agli insorti e ai popoli schiacciati dai carri armati sovietici? Come mai nessuno allora si sognava di dire che oggi invadono Praga, Stettino o Budapest e domani saranno a Roma, Vienna o a Parigi, quindi dobbiamo armarci? Ci fidavamo più del regime totalitario sovietico che di Putin, nutrivamo più fiducia nella dittatura comunista rispetto all’autocrazia di Putin, o non c’importava niente delle popolazioni schiacciate e delle tante vittime? O quei predecessori nostrani erano realisti e sapevano che il mondo era stato spartito in aree e nessuno poteva cambiare gli assetti disegnati dalle potenze con le loro aree di influenza e di pertinenza? Come mai nessuno invocava il riarmo dell’Europa quando i carri armati russi erano quasi ai nostri confini, e oggi invece dobbiamo riarmarci e sfidare i russi pur sapendo di non essere competitivi sul piano militare? Era realismo geopolitico.
Anzi, visto che ci siamo, ci chiediamo cosa ha fatto l’Europa in questi ultimi anni davanti ai massacri di Gaza e alle aggressioni dei coloni, davanti alle follie di Trump in Iran e in Venezuela e un po’ ovunque? E di fatto quali sono stati i risultati del grande sostegno europeo in favore dell’Ucraina e dei suoi armamenti? In tutti questi casi l’Europa è stata irrilevante, non pervenuta, come davanti al tema dell’immigrazione o ai grandi temi geostrategici, energetici, tecnologici del nostro tempo. Quest’Europa ibrida, cioè bastarda, cosa rappresenta sullo scenario mondiale se non la caricatura di se stessa, la parodia di un continente che nulla conta in sede diplomatica e strategica? E allora vai con la guerra ibrida, bombe e cotillons, armi nucleari e assalto ai negozi griffati, aggressioni alle centrali nucleari e alle gioiellerie, manovre di guerra e saccheggi di negozi e librerie, tutta una stessa pasta. Un élite di psicopatici in divisa di guerra, di eurocoglioni armati fino ai denti.
Losing Chagos would end the claim that the sun never sets on the British Empire. From Bermuda to Pitcairn, the UK's remaining territories form an unrivalled network worth keeping, argues James Alexander.
European Union energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Thursday, 29th October, to discuss proposed changes to electricity network charges that could alter how households and businesses pay for the operation and expansion of Europe’s power grids.
The European Commission wants to revise the rules governing network tariffs, encourage more efficient electricity consumption and accelerate the introduction of smart meters and digital grid technologies. The measures form part of a wider effort to reduce electricity costs, which remain a significant concern for European households and industrial competitiveness.
According to the Council’s published agenda, ministers will examine legislation presented on 17th July alongside the European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan.
The proposals come as Europe faces continued energy-market volatility, with the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East affecting supply expectations and prices. Ministers will also assess energy security ahead of the 2026–27 winter.
Why electricity network charges matter
Electricity bills contain several distinct components. Consumers pay for the electricity itself, the operation and maintenance of transmission and distribution networks, and applicable taxes and levies.
Network charges finance the infrastructure needed to deliver electricity from generating facilities to homes and businesses. They also contribute towards grid maintenance, balancing and new investment.
Unlike wholesale electricity prices, which fluctuate according to supply and demand, these charges are generally determined through regulated national tariff systems.
The Commission argues that existing arrangements do not always encourage efficient use of infrastructure or reflect the costs created by electricity consumption at different times and locations.
Its proposed regulation would amend Regulation 2019/943 to strengthen incentives for network operators to control costs and use existing capacity more effectively.
The legislation would also encourage tariffs that reflect when electricity is consumed and the demands placed on local networks.
For example, consumers who can move electricity-intensive activities away from periods of peak demand could face lower charges under certain tariff arrangements.
However, the financial benefits would depend on national implementation, available technology and individual consumption patterns.
Industry presses for lower energy costs
The Commission’s proposal recognises that electricity prices have become a major issue for European industrial competitiveness.
Energy-intensive manufacturers, including steel, chemicals and other industrial producers, face particular difficulties when electricity costs are substantially higher than those of international competitors.
The proposed legislation would allow specific categories of users, including energy-intensive businesses and data centres, to benefit from differentiated network charges where justified by their consumption patterns.
Such arrangements would be subject to safeguards intended to prevent disproportionate costs being transferred to households and smaller businesses.
The proposal also addresses energy taxation. Brussels wants the minimum taxation level for electricity to remain below that of natural gas, reducing a financial disincentive to replacing fossil-fuel equipment with electric alternatives.
As EU Today previously reported, the Commission has been examining changes to electricity taxation as part of its response to Europe’s exposure to imported energy and volatile international markets.
However, reducing charges for one category of consumer does not automatically reduce the overall cost of maintaining a national grid. Regulators must still determine how those costs are recovered.
A growing problem of grid congestion
Europe’s electricity networks require considerable investment to accommodate renewable generation, electric vehicles, heat pumps and expanding industrial demand.
The Commission estimates that approximately €600 billion in electricity-grid investment will be needed by 2030, rising to around €1.2 trillion by 2040.
These figures, outlined in its accompanying assessment, illustrate the difficulty of pursuing lower consumer charges while simultaneously financing substantial infrastructure expansion.
Grid congestion is already delaying connections for renewable-energy projects, industrial facilities and other electricity users.
The latest proposal therefore places greater emphasis on making better use of existing infrastructure before committing to conventional network expansion.
It would encourage regulators and operators to consider digital technologies, flexible connection arrangements and improved network planning.
Smart meters and the distribution of costs
The Commission is also seeking faster deployment of smart meters, which can provide consumers and network operators with more detailed information about electricity consumption.
In principle, such systems allow households and businesses to adjust demand in response to changing prices and network conditions.
Industrial consumers may have greater flexibility to shift production schedules or invest in electricity storage. Households, however, may have fewer opportunities to change when they use energy, particularly where consumption is linked to heating or essential daily activities.
This raises questions about how tariff reforms would affect different consumers.
A system that rewards flexible consumption could reduce costs for households with smart appliances, batteries or electric vehicles, while offering fewer benefits to people unable to alter their electricity usage.
National regulators would therefore have to balance economic efficiency against the risk of unevenly distributing network costs.
Ministers face difficult choices
The 29th October meeting will not itself introduce new electricity charges or establish binding national tariff rates.
The Commission’s proposal remains subject to negotiations through the EU legislative process, involving the Council and European Parliament.
Governments will need to consider how much discretion national regulators should retain, whether tariff structures can be made more consistent across the single market and how vulnerable consumers should be protected.
The meeting will also examine longer-term energy security and possible targets for the period after 2030.
For Brussels, the difficulty is that electricity must become sufficiently competitive to encourage industrial investment and electrification, while the infrastructure required to support increased consumption must still be financed.
Whether the proposed reforms eventually reduce electricity bills will depend on their final legislative form, national implementation and the extent to which more efficient grid management produces measurable savings.
Leslie Hodgin and her husband moved to the Netherlands in January 2026.
Leslie Hodgin
Leslie Hodgin and her husband had dreamed of moving abroad.
They finally took the leap in January, deciding not to waste time in their 50s.
Hodgin said the move was expensive and time-consuming, but she's been happy with their relocation.
This story is based on an interview with Leslie Hodgin, a 55-year-old marketing consultant who moved from the US to the Netherlands with her husband, John Lyman, 52. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Until 2026, I was living in Richmond, Virginia, with my husband and our cat.
My dad was in the Army, so I grew up all over the world, but Richmond is my adopted home. I lived there for about 10 years.
During that time, I got an offer to move to Seoul, South Korea, for my marketing job. My husband, John, and I were dating at the time. We got married one week before moving to Seoul for two years.
After the contract ended, we returned to the States. I love Richmond, but it did feel small after I had been in Korea.
Some events happened in both of our families that made us want to move abroad again sooner rather than later. My dad died. My husband's mom died. We had a couple of dear friends pass away. It was all very quick. And it made me think, "What are we waiting for? We don't have promises for tomorrow. Now is the time."
We don't have kids, so that wasn't holding us back. We had some money in the bank to move, which I know is a privilege. It was like, "Let's just go and live our lives. We shouldn't just keep hoping for someday because there may not be someday."
Moving to the Netherlands
John had gone to graduate school in the Netherlands, so we'd visited before. Through my work in advertising, I also had a fairly large network of people living there.
There's a visa for Americans called the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) that allows freelancers and entrepreneurs to live in the Netherlands. It made the country seem like a great choice for us.
The couple moved in January 2026.
Leslie Hodgin
My husband works for himself, so it was easier for him to pick up and go anywhere. I started my own consulting business and left my agency. I knew there was an advertising community in the Netherlands, and I planned to freelance if my consulting business wasn't doing well.
My husband's dad is in his 90s, and my mom just turned 80. Moving far from them was probably the hardest part of the decision. I have a little guilt for that, but they're excited for us. I've promised my mom that I'll be home for any big family and important events.
That's a hard thing to do, but we felt it was right for us not to put our lives on hold.
Downsizing our lives
We moved in January. We did it in six months. We'd sold our house about a year before moving and were living in an apartment.
We decided to sell almost everything we owned to keep costs as low as possible. We shipped a half-crate over, which is quite small, so we had to get rid of a lot of stuff. We made close to $12,000 selling everything and used it to pay for the visas and help with some of the moving costs.
When we moved, we had nine suitcases, including a large piece of art. It was the largest oversize item that would fit on an airplane, and we had a special museum-packing company pack it. And our cat, of course, came on the plane with us.
They sold most of their belongings before moving.
Leslie Hodgin
We live in a two-bedroom apartment. It's an old, old building, but the apartment is newly renovated and has a patio.
We do feel lucky that we found a place because there is a housing shortage, and it's quite hard to find housing, particularly if you're American or from another country and you don't have Dutch income. We had to pay six months' rent upfront to secure our rental.
Life in Europe
It still feels surreal that we live here. My husband and I will frequently look at each other and say, "Oh my God, I can't believe that we're here." I never want to lose that feeling.
Business seems to be going really well. I also already knew some friends, but I've met so many amazing people through social media and made some great friends with our neighbors.
They love life in the Netherlands.
Leslie Hodgin
We love the sense of community. I appreciate the social contract that people afford each other in the Netherlands, from the opportunities the government provides to the respect and trust they show each other in general.
Recently, there was Open Monumentendag, or Open Monuments Day, with over a thousand monuments, churches, houses, farms, and historic places across the Netherlands open to the public for free. They do that every year, and it feels so special. It seems like every other weekend there's a festival.
There are always challenges. I'm very slow to pick up the language. Most people speak English, but I feel like I need to be better.
Moving also costs a lot more than you plan for. Even if you've tried to pad all the numbers, it still costs more than anticipated. Because our work was quite slow earlier in the year, we were like, "Gosh, what have we done?"
Our cost of living is fairly similar to what it was in the US. We don't have a car, so we don't have that expense. We would be paying double the rent in New York City for this same apartment.
A fresh start
I feel alive again. I felt a little stagnant in Richmond after living overseas, and moving has opened a lot of doors for my creativity.
On social media, I've documented trying one new thing a week. It's gotten us out to meet people and have some interesting experiences.
It's a new chapter.
Leslie Hodgin
There's a risk in moving abroad. You have to get yourself over the hump, and you have to be brave.
Believe in yourself. If there's something you want to try, like moving overseas, going on a solo trip, or taking a cooking class, take a chance on yourself. You're never going to regret trying it if it doesn't work out. If you don't ever put yourself out there, you're going to look back in 20 years and be like, "That would have been great. Why didn't I give that a shot?"
We encountered lots of surprises, like the lengthy Dutch application process.
Although we love our apartment, we've had to get used to a few cultural differences.
After living as digital nomads for nearly two years, my husband and I decided to move from the US to the Netherlands.
We'd visited several times and fell in love with the walkability and bike culture. Plus, I have a connection to the country, since my great-grandparents were Dutch.
With the help of a real-estate agent, we found an apartment remotely from the US, signing a yearlong lease in the city of Utrecht before ever setting foot in the home.
We encountered some surprises while looking for an apartment
Since we couldn't physically be in the Netherlands, our real-estate agent went to walkthroughs for us.
Emily Pogue
Since the process of finding an apartment abroad can often take months, we chose to search remotely from the US. To make things easier, we hired a Dutch real-estate agent with local connections who could view apartments for us in person.
The prep work was much more intense than I was used to. In the US, I've leased apartments in three different states, and the extent of the application typically included filling out a basic form and sometimes completing a background check.
That wasn't going to cut it in the Netherlands.
Our agent gave us a long list of materials to prepare, from 12 months of bank statements and links to our LinkedIn profiles, to a "get to know us" letter, which included our hobbies and photos of us. Then she went looking.
Rentals often get snatched up within a few hours or days, so my husband and I were regularly waking up at 4 a.m. in Colorado to read our agent's emails about the new listings each day.
When we finally found one that checked all our boxes, we asked her to schedule a walkthrough. Luckily, she recorded a video for us to review, so we didn't need to wake up early for this part of the process.
It was during the walkthrough, however, that we learned Dutch apartment listings aren't as detailed as the ones we were used to in the US. When our agent arrived, we discovered the listing had omitted several important pieces of information.
I was surprised that our beautiful back garden wasn't mentioned in the listing.
Emily Pogue
For example, there was a fully fenced-in back garden, complete with a shed, picnic table, and blackberry and rose bushes. The kitchen had a dishwasher. And there was a washing machine hidden away behind a cabinet door — and a dryer (which is not as common in Europe).
Score, right? So we jumped at the opportunity, put in our bid, and jumped for joy when our offer was accepted.
Despite a few setbacks, we fell in love with our apartment
Thankfully, we ended up loving our apartment once we saw it in person.
Emily Pogue
We arrived in the Netherlands a few weeks later, traveling directly from the airport to our rental. When we unlocked the door for the first time, hoping we'd fall in love with our new home, it was … freezing.
Turns out, the heat had stopped working, and the rental company couldn't send someone to fix it until the next day. So, we spent our first night in the Netherlands at a hotel.
Thankfully, the heat was fixed the following day, and then we could start unpacking. This is when we began to notice some of the more nuanced differences of a Dutch house compared to an American one.
The first thing to get used to? The alarmingly steep stairs (a hallmark of skinny, tall Dutch houses) which made moving furniture up to our second-floor office feel like a Herculean feat.
We also learned to accept moths and gnats as houseguests, since Dutch windows don't typically have screens. However, with no air conditioning and a 100-year-old house that was built to retain heat, we definitely want to keep those windows open.
Overall, aside from a few stowaway insects and some hot days, we've been very fortunate with our rental. I particularly love the neighborhood and how we can walk to a grocery store, bakery, or park within five minutes.
The biggest lessons have come from being part of a Dutch neighborhood
I love being part of the community in Utrecht.
Emily Pogue
Although finding our rental was a whirlwind process, I've found the most interesting parts of living here have come from the cultural differences between American and Dutch neighborhoods.
For example, shortly after arriving, our neighbor invited us to the neighborhood WhatsApp group. If you need to borrow a drill or lose your cat, you send a message to the group.
It's very active, and joining the group helped me feel like I was part of a community before knowing anyone here. Although I've heard of similar groups in the US, I've never been invited to join one.
Ordering packages is also very different. Back in the States, packages would be left by my door. In the Netherlands, however, they aren't left unattended.
Instead, the delivery driver will start ringing the neighbors' doorbells until someone is home. Then, they'll leave a digital note about which house has your package.
One place I didn't expect to feel such a contrast is the sidewalk. On sunny days, my Dutch neighbors bring out their dining room chairs, park them on the bricks outside their front door, and enjoy a cold drink. Sometimes, it'll feel like an impromptu block party — and I couldn't be happier to join in the festivities.
After leasing an apartment across the world, sight unseen, would I do it again? I sure would — especially if I could hire a real-estate agent to check out the home in person.
The quirks of our apartment and neighborhood are all part of the experience of living abroad, and although I may not have expected them, I've now grown attached to these cultural differences.
My world was turned upside down while my husband's life remained virtually unchanged. I was swamped with diaper changes, feeding, bathing, and preparing for my fifth-grade class the next day.
He accepted a longer commute so we could live closer to my work and both of our families for support. His impediments consisted of challenging weather and swerving to avoid wildlife, but mostly he enjoyed driving to his tunes without kids whining or fighting in the back seat, something I would have traded my right arm for on many occasions.
He came home to a home-cooked meal and continued playing hockey with the guys a couple of nights a week. He was no deadbeat, though — he put in long, physically demanding days working outdoors in all weather. Then on weekends, he kept up with the seasonal demands of our 23-acre property.
In those early years, his help with household chores and children was minimal. It was our system, and not uncommon in our generation.
My sons are more involved parents
Thankfully, gender roles have changed since then, and a generation later, my sons have taken on more significant parental duties. It is not for me to judge whether they do their fair share, but they certainly do more meal-making, cleaning, and childcare than their dad did.
I also remember my delusion of believing I would be a better mom than my mom was. I thought I could be more emotionally present, able to provide and respond to my kids' every physical, mental, and emotional need.
The author is now a grandmother.
Courtesy of the author
I juggled raising three rambunctious boys alongside my often absent husband while aspiring to be a perfect mom and teacher. Something had to give, and I refused to let it be family, so when my burnout was diagnosed and labeled as depression, I took a sick leave from work. Creative workshops, me-time, time with family, and a diet-and-exercise reset helped me recover enough to return to work, choosing part-time to avoid the same pitfalls.
My mother's unconditional support was essential, and so was learning to ask for help
This is the point where I became more forgiving of my mother for not meeting all of my emotional needs growing up. I finally understood that I could not be all things to everyone, and despite my resistance, I still needed my mother's support to deal with all of it. I felt both too proud to ask for help and humbly grateful to accept it.
My mom never judged me. She calmly listened and offered support, something I have always deeply appreciated. I was too proud to confide my deepest insecurities, and she never pried. I hid my low self-esteem and low self-confidence by projecting false bravado to the world, but I'm sure she saw right through me. Her unconditional love and support generated and now drives my need to honor her by paying it forward to my own kids.
My kids are approaching this same point in their lives. Their perfect parenting honeymoon is over, and they often find themselves in survival mode. It is hard to watch as I remember those times well and how hard I fell. It must have been just as difficult for my mom to see.
As I listen to my sons and daughters-in-law share their challenges, I remember how the business of meal prep, naps, bathing, grooming, and potty training takes up so much mental space. Previously able to eat and sleep according to your own goings-on, you suddenly pivot to adapting to the kids' needs and current schedule. Although I hear them proudly declare they are handling it, they underestimate my ability to read their betraying eyes.
I'm trying my best to pay it forward without losing myself
I am careful about offering unsolicited advice. I want to be supportive without meddling, so heeding the fact that I have two ears and one mouth, I try to listen twice as much as I speak. Instead of voicing my opinion when I would do things differently, I hold my tongue as I am certain my mom did when she questioned my way of doing things.
So many times, I had to be brave, reading the fear in my sons' eyes as they experienced various growing pains, both physical and emotional. I learned to transition from hand-holding to standing by their side to finally letting them go to live their own journey. I must be brave again as I now watch them struggle with their own children's growing pains, knowing that their problems and wounds will increase in direct proportion to their age and physical growth. I will stand by as my mom did, watching my pain, powerless to protect me, knowing I had to learn on my own.
I am also mindful not to forsake my whole life for them. It is important to me to be an honest role model by being just as kind to myself as I am to them, as the analogy goes: put the oxygen mask on yourself before you can save others.
Every autumn, Corvo Island in the Azores turns off its public lighting for a few key days to help fledgling Cory’s shearwaters as they attempt to fly to the ocean guided by the stars
Once a year, Corvo, the smallest and most northerly island of Portugal’s Azores archipelago, goes dark. Since 2019, the island’s 450 or so inhabitants have chosen to switch off the lights every autumn for five nights to tackle the disastrous effects of artificial light on Cory’s shearwaters, a seabird endemic to the Atlantic Ocean.
It began in 1991 when the community noticed huge numbers of deaths among young shearwaters.
At the University of California campuses in Berkeley, Irvine and Santa Barbara, students get an unwitting education in navigating the housing market.
The University of California, Santa Barbara, recently said incoming undergraduates would be guaranteed on-campus housing for just two years, up from one before.
A deep earthquake struck near the Ogasawara Islands, about 1,000 kilometers from Tokyo, without triggering a tsunami warning.
A powerful earthquake struck the waters near Japan’s Ogasawara Islands on Saturday, with no casualties or material damage reported and no tsunami alert issued, according to information from U.S. and Japanese monitoring agencies.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at magnitude 6.5, with its epicenter at a depth of 492 kilometers. Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured the magnitude at 7 and placed the epicenter about 1,000 kilometers from Tokyo.
The quake occurred in a remote oceanic area southeast of Japan, far from the capital and difficult to access. Authorities continued monitoring seismic activity for possible aftershocks, according to the available reports.
Preliminary: M6.3 earthquake 🟠 – Bonin Islands, Japan region
Oct 25 11:09 local time (7m ago) Depth 497 km Source: EMSC
Japan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, where the Pacific, Philippine, Eurasian and North American tectonic plates converge.
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