Anna Lee Beyer

In early 19th century India, against the arid and rocky landscape where sparse vegetation clings to craggy hillsides, the British Army’s iconic red coats made them vulnerable. For the first time, they had to consider being less conspicuous, showing less flare.
“The 19th century was a period of small colonial wars, and the British Army learned a lot out at the edges of the empire. They learned a lot about uniform and how better to be strategic—how to use the uniform as something that was integ...

From an ancient goddess to modern goddesses living among us
We rarely talk about women’s facial hair—maybe a bold celebrity admits to waxing her ’stache or a perimenopausal woman sheepishly posts on social media about plucking rogue chin hairs. But in quiet communities of women with hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome, we talk candidly about the shame of shaving and the never-ending search for something to stop hair growth.
I have wondered myself where else I might focus...

If you grew up on a farm, participated in 4-H, or went to a land-grant university, you are probably already aware of what a rich resource your county extension office is for pro tips and life skills. On the other hand, if half of that sentence sounded like gibberish, let me introduce you to the Cooperative Extension: your hyper-local link to the research and expertise of 112 universities across the U.S.
The cooperative extension system was formally started in 1914 as a way for researchers to ...

I was in a coffee shop the other day and overheard a group of four people discussing one of my favorite books. Through eavesdropping, I figured out they were a little book club. I wanted to talk to other book nerds about one of my favorite books! But, like, how?
Joining established groups is a skill we need from preschool through adulthood. Now, thanks to reading Dr. Robyn Silverman’s upcoming book How To Talk To Kids About Anything, I know there’s a six-step process to “merging” with a new g...

Forget multiplication—you're really teaching executive functioning.
Do you ever wonder whether homework is gauging the child’s ability to complete assignments or the parent’s? On one end of the spectrum, a parent might never mention homework and assume it gets done independently; on the other end are the parents who micromanage to be sure every worksheet is absolutely perfect.
Being too laissez faire about homework might deny a child the support they need to develop executive functioning skil...

Not every kid is cut out for a packed schedule of activities.
Do you wrap up every day looking at all the things you didn’t get done, and wondering how you will shoehorn them into tomorrow’s list? Your kid might be experiencing the same overwhelm if their slate of activities doesn’t match their personal energy profile. A culture of achievement and never-ending to-do lists leads to overscheduling, even for very young kids.
“With this as our norm, many kids end up with days filled with transact...

This post is part of our “Big Talks” series—a guide to helping parents navigate the most important conversations they’ll have with their kids. Read more here.
If you want to raise kids who are supportive allies to the LGBTQ community, are sensitive to the challenges they face, and feel safe expressing their own identity, normalize talking about these topics at every age.
I spoke to John Sovec, therapist and author of Out: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Kid Through Coming Out and...

I have type 2 diabetes, and after 10 years with my endocrinologist, I wasn't seeing progress.

I sought out a new practitioner and decided to approach things differently.

I created a 'chronic-illness résumé,' and I believe it made a huge difference in my care.

After seeing the same endocrinologist for type 2 diabetes for 10 years, I felt like my progress had stalled due to poor communication between the two of us, and I needed a change. My blood sugar was continuing to climb, and I left every ...

Fishing can help your young ones cultivate confidence and develop patience in the outdoors. Here's how to pull it off.
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Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
My daughters, ages 9 and 6, can’t pass up a claw machine full of prizes without feeding it dollar bills. The return on investment is abysmal, but they still crave the excitement of dipping that hunk of metal in a pile of stuffed animals in the hop...

Experts offer secrets for keeping a easy, memorable travel journal—without using social media to preserve your memories.

Want your children to have a deeper relationship with nature than you do? So did this writer. She found an entry point in Tinkergarten.

Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+.

My backyard is littered with art supplies, polished rocks, cardboard boxes, and containers of all sizes. The flower beds are overgrown with massive cucumber plants, spin...

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 17 years ago, at the age of 29.
One of the first steps I took following my diagnosis involved diabetes education. The classes were basically an orientation to dieting: what foods to enjoy (veggies and protein) and what foods to avoid (everything else).
I had been dieting since I was a teenager and was no stranger to the practice of food restriction. A diabetes diagnosis felt pretty cruel after I had already skipped so many carbs and attended so many ...

This story was originally published on Dec. 16, 2019 in NYT Parenting.
Every December, my husband and I make the 719-mile drive from our home to the farm where I grew up. When we were newly married, it was an enjoyable road trip, powered by gas station coffee and Slim Jims. We motored through the night on Interstate 10 and arrived like Christmas zombies at my parents’ front door.
Over a decade of driving halfway across the country, I’ve established three Road Rules: Stop when we’re not having...

In my family, going home for Christmas means driving from Texas to Alabama with my husband and two young daughters.
Staying home for Christmas, which we have never done, would mean catastrophic events have made that drive impossible.
This year, we are staying home. We will spend December 25 in San Antonio. This entire holiday season is a proxy for 2020, the weirdest and hardest year of our lives — a dirge of losses and longings that we did our best to brighten up with a little glitter and fre...