The Age of Anxiety

On maternal fear, Lynn Steger Strong’s new novel Flight, and the angst of parenthood—and community—at the end of the world

To be a parent is to worry. Parents worry about children’s injuries, feelings, behavior, and relationships. We worry about how our kids treat others—reflecting poorly on us, especially if we are mothers. When they are new, we worry about keeping our children alive, and as they grow, we worry about how they will weather the darkest parts of society. When…