A comforting recipe

My baby was three months old when I celebrated my first Mother's Day. As a gift that year, my dearest friend sent me her homemade chicken soup recipe with a little note expressing her confidence in me ("she's so lucky to have you as her mom"). It conveyed a trust in my ability to mother that I didn't have yet. It meant the world to me. —Tory Brogan 

A note of appreciation

The best Mother's Day gift I ever received was an email from my 33-year-old daughter. She [acknowledged] how much of a brat she was at times growing up and the sacrifice I made as a single mom to raise her to be a successful, educated professional. It made me cry! —Cindee Robertson

A surprise visit

I had always been with one of my two daughters or my own mom for Mother's Day. I had never been without one of them. One particular year, I was alone. So I wasn't looking forward to it. But at 7:40 am, the doorbell rang. To my surprise and delight, there was my college kid with a balloon and a card. Bari had gotten up at the crack of dawn and driven home from [her college in] Long Island for the day. That was my best Mother's Day gift. —Trish Morchower

Feeling anxious? Try smiling or doing a good deed to snap out of it. Feeling overwhelmed, panicked or anxious? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz offers simple techniques to improve your mood and calm your body and mind in minutes.

How to prevent stress from escalating into distress. If you've been experiencing negative feelings like panic or anxiety for more than a few days, you might be in distress, says psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus. Here's how to keep those emotions in check.

Parents, are you worried about burnout? Here are 3 red flags to watch out for. Parenting can keep you on your toes all day. But if you find it so physically and mentally draining you can't enjoy family time, it may be a sign of burnout. Here's what you can do about it.

Want to lighten your mental load? First, let go of these gender myths. "Men can't see the mess." "Women are better at chores." These myths position women to take on more emotional thinking, says researcher Leah Ruppanner. She shares what works to reclaim your headspace.

Unsure which retirement account to choose? We have some tips. Retirement accounts are not just a vehicle to let your money grow over time for when you're ready to stop working. They're also a tax shelter. In this episode, we talk about how much you can expect to save in taxes, the difference between pre-tax and post-tax accounts, and how to decide which to prioritize. Spoiler: when in doubt, just pick one and get started.

Going beyond 'sorry for your loss' when a friend is grieving. When a friend's loved one has died, what do you do? Send flowers? Condolences? Distract them? It can be hard to know how to support a grieving friend. You want to be there for them, but you also know there's not much you can do to heal their pain. This episode, reporter Julia Furlan talks to grief experts about the most effective ways to show up for someone. And she shares insights from the times she's supported her own friends through their loss. 

Make the most of a high-deductible health plan. Did you know that if you have a high-deductible health plan, some services like immunizations and screenings are free (even if you haven't met your deductible)? Or that you might be able to invest the money in your HSA? This episode, KFF Health News reporter Jackie Fortiér shares tips on getting the most out of your HDHP.

Live in a small space and want to try out some Life Kit tips to make it feel bigger IRL? 

Email us at lifekit@npr.org with the subject line "Small Space" to be considered for a before-and-after photo project for Life Kit. You'll get a sneak peek of the episode before it comes out, a chance to try the tips to make your small home feel bigger, and we may feature photos of your space before and after on NPR.org.