HiTOPS Welcomes Jennifer Senior to Princeton Tomorrow to Discuss `All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood’

SeniorHiTOPS will host Jennifer Senior, a New York Magazine contributing editor and best-selling author on parenting, for a public talk at John Witherspoon Middle School tomorrow, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Senior will discuss topics from her recent book “All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood.” She will highlight research that shows how children affect their parents, and the many ways in which children reshape their parents’ lives, whether it’s their marriages, their jobs, their habits, their hobbies, their friendships, or their internal senses of self.

“Changes in the last half century have radically altered the roles of today’s mothers and fathers, making their mandates at once more complex and far less clear,” Senior said.

Senior explores history, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology, dissecting both the timeless strains of parenting and the ones that are new. She then applies her research to life in the homes of ordinary parents around the country. The result is a series of family portraits, starting with parents of young children and progressing to parents of teens. Senior follows mothers and fathers as they wrestle with some of parenthood’s deepest vexations and finest rewards.

Senior has appeared as a featured guest on numerous programs including The Colbert Report, Charlie Rose, The Chris Matthews Show, NPR, Hardball, Morning Joe, Washington Journal with Brian Lamb, and The Today Show.

“HiTOPS is particularly excited to bring Jennifer Senior’s presentation to Princeton because we know parents of every age child feel stressed and can use her wisdom,” HiTOPS Executive Director Elizabeth Casparian said. “Senior’s writing is affirming, comforting, funny and common sense. It’s a relief to hear someone talk to parents about parenting without preaching or blaming.”

The talk is open to the public, but geared to an adult audience. Tickets, which are $10, are available through the HiTOPs website.

HiTOPS is a non-profit organization located in downtown Princeton. Its mission is to empower youth to make health-enhancing choices and avoid negative health outcomes.