Maggie Downs, Washington Post

Maggie Downs

Washington Post

Palm Springs, CA, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Washington Post
  • O.C. Register
  • The Desert Sun
  • Timothy McSweeney
  • BabyCenter
  • Narratively
  • TODAY
  • Racked National

Past articles by Maggie:

Isolating in Iceland gave me a new outlook in uncertain times

When a positive coronavirus test forced me to isolate there, I discovered an Iceland I would not have seen otherwise. → Read More

First Person: Stinkface and schooling in the time of quarantine

“Mom. Hey, Mom,” the voice hisses. “Are you ready for school?” My 5-year-old son, Everest, stands next to my bed, his face inches from mine. He’s naked except for his choo-choo undies, and he’s hol… → Read More

Abortion bans punish women, regardless of state, whether or not they're terminating a pregnancy

Maggie Downs views Alabama's ban on virtually all abortions through the prism of her difficult loss of a wanted baby in California. → Read More

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” as Written by Walt Whitman

I do not want much this Christmas time There is but one thing I need. It is not a gift that can be placed beneath the holiday tree, The house is fi... → Read More

How do you travel with a child but without a car seat?

Years ago I went on a year-long backpacking trip that took me through Southeast Asia, where I fell in love with golden temples, kind people, night markets, … → Read More

Packing my kid’s lunch for school is a dumb competition with myself

The scene is something out of a horror movie. An artisan, free-range horror movie. I pull the silicone mold from the refrigerator. The homemade gummy bea… → Read More

Viral photo proves breast milk is seriously amazing

I saw the most amazing viral image recently on Facebook. It was two sacks of breast milk from a tandem-feeding mom — which I know doesn’t sound too excitin… → Read More

How do you teach kindness to your children?

My son was about 2 years old when I received his first “ouch report” from school. The report said there had been an incident with my child and another b… → Read More

This brilliant “library” helps moms find the best bottles for their babies

Until I became a mom, I thought all bottles were the same. Container for liquid, put a nipple on it, boom. You’re all set, right? Wrong. I spent count… → Read More

Do you hold your baby on your left hip? There’s a reason for it

There was really only one thing that came naturally to me after I gave birth to my son, and that was holding him on my left side. I snuggled him in the croo… → Read More

This new IKEA ad doubles as a pregnancy test

Pregnant and looking for a sweet deal on a crib? Urine luck. IKEA teamed up with Swedish advertising agency Åkestam Holst on an innovative print concept… → Read More

Confession: I hate playing with my child

I am sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor with my 3-year-old son. Joining us are two stuffed animals — one a seal that my son named ContaDontaSau… → Read More

Will all this snow inspire a bunch of baby making?

Baby, it’s cold outside! A massive winter storm called a bomb cyclone has unleashed snow, wind, and ice throughout the East Coast, leaving most everyone … → Read More

America Ferrera is celebrating pregnancy with her “Sisterhood”

After I had my son, I passed along my maternity jeans to a friend. When her baby was born, she passed the jeans along to another friend, who then gave th… → Read More

Your holiday mama style according to your zodiac sign

Ever wondered, secretly or out loud, how your sign affects how you roll with the holiday season? Wonder no more. Here is the definitive holiday horoscope fo… → Read More

“I’m fine!” How I lied my way through postpartum depression

I reclined on the hospital bed, four days after giving birth, while my husband gave me a pop quiz. He ran through through a list of questions: “I have felt sad or miserable. Yes, most of the time? Yes, sometimes? Not very often? No, not at all?” We were both aware that all women are at risk for postpartum depression. Though my husband felt powerless to protect me from mood swings, sleep… → Read More

It’s here: The cutest holiday photo you can possibly take

Are you ready to take the cutest photo in the history of photos? (Excluding this photo, of course, because there’s no topping that. Look at that little floo… → Read More

You’ll never see an elf on my shelf

I can’t boast a lot of smug moments as a mom. When I’m not plagued by self-doubt, I’m overcome with mom guilt. Last week my 3-year-old blew his nose on my s… → Read More

I tested positive for meth when I was in labor

Of all the things I found to worry about when I was pregnant, birth wasn’t one of them. I was the person who cracked jokes during childbirth classes. → Read More

I’m a survivor of the “Frozen” short that played before “Coco”

I have been to hell and back, and still I live to tell the tale. And by that, I mean I successfully made it through 45 minutes of previews, advertisement… → Read More