Emma Elliott Freire

Emma Elliott Freire is a writer living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has also been published in The Federalist and The American Conservative.

Recent blog posts by this author

Easter Egg Hunts and Deluded Political Ideologies

Ah, Easter egg hunts. They’re a fun, wholesome, all-American tradition. Or are they? As many parents can attest, Easter egg hunts also have a dark side. Last Saturday, my husband and I took our four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son to...

How to Approach Your Friend's New Baby: 3 Tips for Childless People

Visiting a friend who has just given birth can be a daunting experience when you don’t have a child of your own. How do you act? What do you give? What’s polite to say and what isn’t? I have two kids now, but I didn’t give birth till I was over...

Tara Westover and the Contradictions Which Allowed Her to Write a NYT Bestseller

Human beings love a good rags-to-riches story. As proof of this, consider the enduring popularity of the fairy tale ‘Cinderella.’ In recent years, Americans have put their own unique twist on this genre: the memoirs of people who achieved success...

Three Ways to Stop Hating Taking Your Kids to the Playground

Most parents hate taking their kids to the playground. It’s mind-numbingly boring. It lasts forever. And no matter how long you stay, your kids always cry when it’s time to go home. If you don’t believe me, try Googling a phrase like “playground...

Sorry, Marie Kondo. Most People Have Too Little Stuff.

Marie Kondo’s Netflix show “Tidying Up” is a hit. Apparently, Americans love watching other people throw stuff into trash bags - saying “thank you” to each item first, per the KonMari method. In each episode, Kondo cheerfully sweeps into a new...

Netherlands Moving Towards Euthanasia for the Healthy

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia in 2002. Today, they are still the global pioneers. The Dutch keep pushing the boundaries wider and wider. Euthanasia is becoming increasingly common. In 2017 (the last...

4 Ways to Navigate Toddler Meltdowns While Shopping

What’s worse than being stuck in a long line at the supermarket? Being stuck in a long line at the supermarket while your child is having a meltdown. Every parent has been there, and it’s every parent’s worst nightmare. My kids are four and two...

A Simple Solution for Loneliness

“Are you lonesome tonight?” Elvis Presley asked that question in 1960 in one his most famous songs. Today, unfortunately, the answer for many Americans is “yes.” Modern loneliness is often described as an “epidemic.” That specific term may be a...

Are Plastic Straws the New Smoking?

Plastic straw bans are taking America by storm. Local governments across the country are jumping on the band wagon. Last week, the Washington Post shadowed a health inspector visiting D.C. restaurants to see if they were complying with the city’s...

Should You Give Up Your Metro Seat to a Pregnant Woman?

Should you give up your seat on public transport to a pregnant woman? Probably a majority of people would answer “yes” to that question. But how does that work in practice? The London Underground has a creative solution. They offer expectant...