Anjali Mehta
South Asian parenting, family planning, marriage, in-laws
Anjali Mehta writes about marriage, in-laws, family planning, and the quiet negotiations of South Asian family life in North America.
Guides by Anjali
The Asian American Family Planning Checklist
A thoughtful starting point for couples considering kids, covering finances, family expectations, health conversations, and your own timeline without pressure to have it all figured out.
Anjali Mehta · 7 min read
What to Talk About Before Having Kids
Questions that help you align on values, division of labor, family involvement, and identity before the stakes feel higher and the sleep feels lower.
Anjali Mehta · 8 min read
Navigating In-Laws, Childcare, and Expectations
When elders want to help and you need boundaries, a practical guide to aligning with your partner and finding balance between gratitude and autonomy.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
When Parents Want Grandchildren Before You Are Ready
How to hold your own timeline when grandparents are ready for a grandbaby and you are not there yet.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
IVF, Fertility, and Family Pressure
Navigating treatment, privacy, and well-meaning relatives when building a family takes a different path than expected.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
Grandparents, Guilt, and Love Languages That Do Not Always Match
Grandparents may show love through food, money, advice, or presence. When their love language clashes with your parenting, guilt follows. How to navigate it.
Anjali Mehta · 7 min read
How to Say No to In-Laws Without Starting a War
Declining an in-law's offer or opinion can feel dangerous. Clear scripts and strategies for peace where possible, distance where necessary.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
When Your Partner Won't Stand Up to Their Parents
You need a united front with in-laws, but your partner goes quiet every time their parents push. How to respond without turning marriage into a battlefield.
Anjali Mehta · 7 min read
When Aunties Comment on Your Child's Weight
Comments about thinness, chubbiness, and eating start early at family tables. How to shield your child and reset the room without starting World War Three.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
Raising Girls in Families Where Colorism and Beauty Standards Run Deep
Fair skin, long hair, slim bodies: beauty messages start young in many Asian families. How to raise girls who know they are more than a mirror score.
Anjali Mehta · 6 min read
Sunscreen, Skincare, and the Beauty Burden
Sun protection is health. In many Asian families it also arrives wrapped in comments about fairness, marriage, and worth. How to protect your child's skin without passing on shame.
Anjali Mehta · 7 min read