There are countless essays, books, poems and films describing the emotions and experiences of being a mother. But often the most powerful way to express the power of motherhood is through photos.

Caitlin Domanico would agree. The photographer started capturing images of motherhood in 2007.

“I was instantly drawn to the intimate bond that radiates from a new mother and her baby,” the photographer told HuffPost. “Looking back now, I can say for sure that I was greatly influenced by the relationship I shared with my own mother.”

Domanico was only 20 years old when her mother died in 2003, but their time together greatly affected her life ― both in her career as an artist and her experiences as a parent when she became a mother years later. 

Over the past decade, the photographer has taken countless images focused on the bond between mothers and children and even made headlines for her “United We Feed” series, which depicts moms nourishing their children in a variety of ways ― from breastfeeding to bottle feeding to tube feeding. 

In 2017, Domanico and fellow photographer Jade Beall released Photographing Motherhood: How to Document the Lives of Women and Their Families, a book of images and tips for taking captivating photos of mothers at various stages in their lives. For Domanico, it’s all about the small things. 

“My eye is drawn to the little details ― the way a baby holds his mom’s necklace while eating, the way a mother tenderly strokes a baby’s toes, the way a baby gravitates toward her mother’s hair, twirling it in her tiny fingers,” she explained. “I try to document the teeny tiny things that are so rote, routine and seemingly normal, that one day ― it feels like in the blink of an eye ― just disappear as our little ones grow.”

Domanico hopes her photos give families members sweet memories to hold on to as life moves ahead at its “lightning-fast pace.” As for other viewers and fellow moms, she hopes her images give them “warm fuzzies” and encourage them to appear in more photos with their kids.  

“I hope it surfaces happy memories of your childhood or your children’s early years. I hope it inspires you to step in front of the camera, no matter what you are wearing, whether or not your hair and makeup is done and no matter what your weight is right now,” said the photographer. 

“Jump in the picture, capture memories and do it without hesitation,” she added. “Do it often, even if you are setting up your phone on a self-timer, just do it. Your family loves you today, for exactly who you are, without even trying. I promise you, if you do, your children will thank you one day.”

Keep scrolling for more love-filled photos of motherhood from Domanico’s book. 

Marriage is paved with all kinds of hurdles, from major stressors to the petty annoyances of everyday life. So when it comes to the small stuff, sometimes it’s better (and easier) to laugh it off rather than let it stew. 

To that end, we’ve gathered 24 tweets about married life that are as relatable as they are funny. 

On the evening of Feb. 22, 2017, Sunayana Dumala heard a knock on the door of her home in Olathe, Kansas, that would change her life.

Two police officers entered her house to break the news that her husband, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, had been shot dead. Dumala  lost her soulmate, friend and confidant to a suspected hate crime.

But in addition to her psychological turmoil, Dumala had another reality to contend with: She had just lost the one person whose life tied her to the United States.

At the time of Kuchibhotla’s death, Dumala held an H-4 visa, which is given to spouses of high-skilled foreign workers. Since Dumala’s H-4 visa was dependent on her husband’s H-1B, his death immediately threw her own immigration status into question.

“It’s like being in hell,” Dumala told HuffPost about the months that followed her husband’s death. “It’s so stressful. I was dealing with two things, trying to move ahead without Srinu being on my side. To do that, my status has to be stable, so I was also fighting for that.”

With the help of her congressman and other supporters, Dumala was eventually able to get her own H-1B visa. But not everyone has that kind of access to people who can help.

Dumala’s story highlights the uncertainty faced by thousands of other Indian women in the U.S. Ninety percent of adult H-4 visa admissions are women, according to The Guardian. State Department data suggests that in fiscal year 2017 alone, 86 percent of H-4 visas were issued to Indian nationals. Most H-4 wives are generally prohibited from working or obtaining a Social Security number which in turn makes it more complicated to open a bank account or get a driver’s license.

These Indian women received a boon in 2015, when the Obama administration allowed H-4 visa holders whose spouses were already approved permanent residents to apply for a temporary employment authorization document, known as the H-4 EAD. Over 100,000 H-4 visa holders have received work permits through this program.

But in line with President Donald Trump’s “America-First” philosophy, the White House has promised to crack down on the H-1B visa program, which critics say has been abused in order to displace American-born workers. In conjunction with that push, the Trump administration is also seeking to reverse the Obama-era policy allowing H-4 spouses to work.

The Department of Homeland Security is currently putting final toucheson a proposal to rescind the H-4 EAD program. The rule is expected to be published in June, after which it will go through a series of reviews and clearances that could take months, according to Stephen Yale-Loehr, professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School.

While they wait to hear what comes of this new proposal, these H-4 spouses have become increasingly worried about whether there is a place for them in this country.

Many Indian H-4 wives arrive in America as newlyweds. Within a matter of months, these highly educated, cosmopolitan women go from working respectable jobs in India, surrounded by their family, friends, and domestic help, to being isolated inside their suburban American homes. 

For some Indian women, this enforced break is an opportunity to discover new hobbies or concentrate on the hard work of raising children. But others say they end up feeling a loss of control over their own lives ― whether it’s depending on their husbands for menial tasks, like grocery shopping, or being anxious about how they would provide for their families if their partners ever got sick. 

In addition, it may take years for these women to see any substantial change in their immigration statuses. No more than 7 percent of employment-based green cards can be given to natives of any one country. With India’s booming population and the high number of Indians arriving in America on employment-based visas, Indian nationals face much longer waits for a green card than those coming from other countries. A study from the National Foundation for American Policy suggests that at the current rate, Indian nationals could wait over 20 years for their green cards. For H-4 wives, that could mean decades of waiting in limbo.

Lawmakers and activists have come up with a number of proposed solutions for the challenges facing H-4 wives. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mia Love (R-Utah) are urging the DHS to maintain the current rule granting work authorization to certain H-4 spouses. In a letter signed by 130 bipartisan members of Congress, the politicians insist that giving H-4 spouses the opportunity to work helps both the economy and the women’s children ― many of whom are current or future U.S. citizens.

Other advocates, like Dumala and her congressman Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.), have their eyes set on something bigger. Yoder is sponsoring a bill that would eliminate the per-country caps that have caused green card backlogs for Indians. 

Dumala told HuffPost that while the H-4 EAD program is important, it’s not a permanent solution. She believes Yoder’s bill gets to the root of the problem.

“After having seen the worst, I cannot lead others towards a short-term solution,” she said. “Having a H-4 EAD will give us job security, but will it give us life security if an unexpected tragedy knocks on our door?”  

As their futures hang in the balance, many of America’s H-4 wives have not been content to continue to live in limbo. Numerous Facebook groups connecting these women have sprouted up online. Like Dumala, many have gotten involved in advocacy and have been sharing their stories.

Below, HuffPost has gathered together the accounts of five women who are in the U.S. on the H-4 visa. In interviews, these women painted portraits of their lives ― how they fell in love, how they decided to come to the U.S. and the dreams they have for themselves and for their children. All of these women are also recipients of the H-4 EAD, which means they’ve tasted the freedom that comes with having the ability to work and are fearful of what could happen if the program is rescinded.

Having an H-4 EAD also means these women are citizens in waiting. Often, they are already the mothers of American citizens.

Read on to learn about these women’s lives as they fight for a chance to achieve their American dreams.

These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

“I always thought of myself as a feminist ... I don’t feel like a feminist in this situation.” 

— Karunya Rao, Stamford, Connecticut

If you’re 25 and a single girl in India, alarm bells start ringing everywhere. I was initially extremely skeptical about this whole concept of arranged marriage. But when I met my now-husband, it was completely different. He had a very progressive state of mind. I really liked everything about him. I did not expect to find love in such a method, so I didn’t want to let go of it. 

He had moved to the U.S. for his master’s. He had been with the same employer for years and was very happy. I was initially not keen on coming to the U.S. But I happened to like the boy and I found out that there was a chance that I could work, thanks to a new rule by the Obama administration. So I took my chances. 

I probably would have had second thoughts if I knew what was to come. It’s hard to go back now and say that, I don’t want to think like that. But this sheer idea of having this possibility of an EAD is what drove me. My priorities were more about sticking to a person that you like, versus being adamant about the place where you stay. 

We got married in June 2015 and moved here soon afterwards. We lived in Manhattan first. It was initially exciting, but later, I went into this shell. It’s so easy to isolate yourself in a dark apartment, in a country where you barely know anybody. 

If I just walked into a Dunkin’ Donuts, I would be at a loss for words. In India, I worked in corporate training, helping new hires in various companies in Bangalore become more confident speaking English. Here, I would make grammatical errors. Just think what that could do for a person’s self-confidence.

We eventually moved out of the city to Stamford. I got my EAD in December 2016, but I haven’t found a job yet. I am a living example of why it’s not a privilege to have an EAD. I got a few interviews for marketing positions that I couldn’t take up because I don’t drive. I had plans of starting an online art shop but then came the news of the possible H-4 EAD revocation. The stress and uncertainty is enough to make one’s creative mind shut down completely.

I always thought of myself as a feminist. I was always standing up for all my women friends who had to take unfair injustices in their families. But imagine coming here and not being able to do anything yourself, not being able to actually have equality in marriage in the truest sense because I don’t work. I feel like I can’t talk in a social gathering about today’s feminism. I don’t feel like a feminist in this situation, that’s the problem. 

“I felt that I was being caged inside my home.”

— Priyadarshini Chandrasekaran, Seattle, Washington

My husband and I had an arranged marriage. I didn’t know much about the person I was marrying, except that he worked for Microsoft and that his parents lived in the same city as mine. My mom had brought up a lot of proposals for me and I did speak to a couple of them. What struck me about my now-husband was that he was completely supportive of me taking care of my mom financially in the future. I was completely thrown aback by that and I thought that this is the guy I want to be with, who can treat me right and equal. We met in a restaurant in February 2010, said yes to each other the same evening, and got married in June 2010. I came to the U.S. a few days later.

I knew when I came that I wouldn’t be able to work immediately, but I was hoping I’d be able to work after two to three years. The first few months were great, but after some time, I just felt useless. I felt that I was being caged inside my home. I don’t think I actually understood what I was signing up for.

My husband used to go to work in the morning and come back late, while I would look at the four walls of my home. I would get up, do chores, call my mom. My husband’s friends would be my friends. It took a long time for me to make friends of my own, to feel like I’m somebody here, that I had a friend. 

When I heard about the H-4 EAD, I felt so happy. It was like a dream come true. After I got a job, we were able to buy a home and I’m able to contribute to the mortgage. There’s a little free cash flow in the house. I’m sending my kid to swim classes and enrolled him for tae kwon do. We got a nanny. All I needed was the opportunity to be interviewed, to go to work, to do something I like and that I’m passionate about.

My husband will eventually be a citizen and I will eventually be a citizen. If you’re going to have me stay home, I’m not going to be useful to the family or the community. I feel like my independence is being cut off by hearing this news that I may not be able to work.

Overall, it’s the women who are going to be at a big loss. What are these women going to do? Are we really a society that is going to cause trouble to so many women? I’m sure that will also indirectly affect families and kids. You’re going to be all day home, looking at four walls while the kids are at school. What would you do with those eight, nine hours? 

“There’s no stability, even though we are doing everything right.”

— Poonam Gangawane Ghelani, Waldwick, New Jersey

I had a wonderful picture of life in the U.S. I thought we would have a better life. We didn’t have any plans to settle over here in the beginning. We wanted to study, get some experience and go back to India. Once you come over here, you start working, study, get married, your children are born here, then you slowly start to think about settling in the country that we have heavily invested in.

I come from a family where boys and girls are raised as equals. I always wanted to have a career like my husband’s. He has more stability because he’s been with a single employer so long that the employer has filed for a green card. That’s not the case with me. I got consulting roles and I don’t get full-time benefits that other employees get. There’s a discrepancy between his career and my career, even though we put in a similar amount of effort. 

My husband never made me feel bad, but I feel like I should have that monetary power. I should have that confidence you get when you’re earning, when you’re in society, when you have your colleagues outside of home that you talk to about your field of interest. That gives you happiness that can’t be fathomed. And losing that happiness, it will just put you in a depression. 

It’s just a waste sitting at home and not contributing to the economy. I don’t think stay-at-home moms are not important. The toughest job is a stay-at-home mom. But when you’re qualified, you want something else from your life, you want some more freedom, some independence, some decision-making power. Who doesn’t want that?

After hearing about the threat to the H-4 EAD, I have had many sleepless nights thinking about alternatives. We have jobs, kids, a social life, everything, and apart from that this thing is always at the top of our minds. Our lives are depending on these political changes. There’s no stability, even though we are doing everything right. We are legal. There is not a single day that we have been illegally staying in this country. We have been paying our taxes, doing everything right by the book. Why are we being punished for this?

“My intention is not to make money — I just don’t want to rot.”

— Anupama Krishnamurthy, West Norriton, Pennsylvania

When you don’t have a car and you stay at home all day long, no family, no friends, just you and the screen connecting you to the world, you get so depressed and lonely.

I lost my self-esteem and my-self respect fell to ground zero. I felt like I was forgetting how to speak in English. Because if you don’t often to speak to other people, if you don’t interact socially and professionally, you start stuttering your own words. You get panic attacks about whether you are speaking right or wrong. You become an introvert even though I’m not an introvert at all.

After I had a kid, I didn’t want him to go through what I went through. Putting him on child care was hard on us financially, but very necessary for my mental peace and his growth. If I didn’t put him in child care, he wouldn’t pick up the accent and because of his skin color, he would feel that he’s not an American. I want him to grow up as American and not feel aloft from the community.

I literally cried when I got my EAD. I felt that I had gotten a freedom card. My intention is not to make money ― I just don’t want to rot. I eventually got a job in the field that I studied for. It’s indescribable ― the confidence, the self-respect you have. 

When we heard that the EAD could be revoked, we canceled our plan of buying a home and now we’re thinking about what we can do. We can’t live in this uncertainty forever. The stress eats you up so that you’re not normal anymore. It’s like we are living a nightmare every day. 

You leave your fruitful career behind and come here for an American dream, for something better. But it’s not better. Everyone expects to grow, not to be pulled back. We’re not asking too much. Let us work, let us contribute to society, to ourselves, so that we have some self-respect when we look at ourselves in the mirror.

America is a land of immigrants; it’s made out of immigrants. We have been contributing, not just Indians, but all immigrants, have been contributing for themselves and for the country. It’s just because of our broken system that we are stuck in line and treated unfairly.

“I think the most devastating effect was on my confidence.”

— Molika Gupta, Sterling Heights, Michigan

I came to the U.S. as the wife of student, then became a student myself. In 2015, the company I was working with filed my H-1B, but it was not picked up in the lottery. I had no option but to convert my visa status to H-4.

Before I changed to the H-4, I was constantly on my toes, studying, working, pursuing my passion, meeting people. I went from attending meetings on Monday mornings while I was working, to watching Netflix on Monday morning the next week. During the two years that followed, it was a period of all the emotions a person can go through, from depression to loneliness to questioning your self-worth. It was a dark period of my life and my career.

I think the most devastating effect was on my confidence. Even if you have a supportive spouse, it’s about the basic decision-making power, a sense of freedom. I would say it took me a good year to really embrace the fact that I cannot work and after that, I just wanted to understand what else I can utilize my life for.

That’s when I decided to pursue my passion of writing and building a community of immigrant spouses who are in a similar situation like me. I started a Facebook group [Immigrant Spouses ReWrite Your Story]. The biggest goal was to connect to other spouses, men or women, who are on different journeys with different visa categories, to know how they’re pursuing their skills, how they’re waking up every day and putting a smile on their faces.

After the EAD, I felt like I can visualize my future again. All the EAD does is give you the eligibility to apply. We are competing with the same highly skilled competent workforce. Right now, I’m working as a freelance professional and I’m looking for full-time opportunities. There’s still a gap in my resume that has posed questions and it’s difficult to make employers understand why these gaps are there. It’s still very difficult to find a position even after the H-4 EAD. 

If the EAD is revoked, I’m clueless about what I’m going to do. The thought of leaving this place I call home shatters me to the core. 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Molika Gupta came to the U.S. as a student. She came as the wife of a student.

A bit of dry British humor on a muggy day did not amuse some Taylor Swift fans.

BBC Radio 1’s Greg James lightheartedly told the pop superstar “I think you need to have a shower now” after she performed at the Biggest Weekend festival in Swansea, Wales, on Sunday.

A sweaty Swift, who sang an energetic six-song set in high humidity, appeared to take the comment in stride.

“I agree,” she said. “And I’m not offended that you said that. There’s a lot going on and none of it’s good here.”

But some of her fans did not appear to shake it off so easily ― prompting the interviewer to share on Twitter that Swift “has a great sense of humor” and they had a pleasant follow-up chat.

Here’s a sampling of negative comments. Look what you made them do, Greg James.

There’s not a lot that can prepare you for baby. But as you’re riding out the late night feedings and sleep deprivation, it helps if you can cross one (kinda major) worry off your to-do list: your finances. No, you can’t account for every single cost that’s going to come up, but you can plan in a way to prepare yourself for the long, loving and expensive haul ahead.

SET UP A WILL

No one enjoys this type of conversation, but it’s so, so important to chat through the logistics of who will take care of baby (and handle their finances) should something happen to mom or dad. An estate planner or lawyer can help you put everything in writing once you choose a guardian, and help you figure out things you might not have thought to include… like at what age you’d entrust your child with his inheritance or where you expect your children to reside.

GET LIFE INSURANCE

Speaking of who will handle the finances, getting a life insurance policy (or bolstering your current one is the best way to guarantee that your baby is taken care of should you no longer be able to provide for her. Sure, it’s an icky topic to get into, but we promise it will bring peace of mind. With the help of a financial planner or insurance agent, you can quickly map out how much you’ll need and figure out what type of coverage you qualify for.

BUDGET FOR CHILD CARE

Daycare, nanny share, your in-laws — whatever your child care arrangements may be, you’ll want to start setting aside cash (and re-aligning your overall budget) now. In most cases, you’ll be able to work out a ballpark figure for the average monthly cost even if you haven’t committed to care just yet. Depending on the type of care you select, it’s worth considering if you want to enroll in a dependent care FSA. (This basically gives you the option to tap into pre-tax dollars to cover qualified child care-related costs like daycare.) And while you’re budgeting, don’t forget to account for the incidentals: For example, some nannies require you to pay for groceries or chip in for gas while daycares require you to pre-pay in large chunks.

…AND DATE NIGHT

Yes, an evening babysitter is a separate expense from daytime child care. (Some babysitters charge as much as $15-$20 an hour as a nighttime rate, FYI.) To carve out funds before baby, try nicknaming (or subdividing) your savings account. Most banks offer this as an option since it allows you to label a savings goal and put savings dollars specifically toward that. (Think about it: It’s much easier to direct $100 a month toward an account labeled “mama needs a night out” vs. a generic savings fund.)

OPEN A 529 ACCOUNT

College! You’re still wrapping your head around the fact that there’s a baby the size of a lemon/eggplant/watermelon growing in your belly. Still, even if you’re not ready to begin making regular deposits yourself, opening up a 529 plan — aka a tax-advantaged savings account to help you budget for future education costs — means you’re set up for your relatives to kick in funds, too, when your baby is born. They can pay by check — which you can deposit — or you could try a new crowd-funding site like UGift to help spread the word. The benefits of the plan are huge: Besides the fact that earnings on the account are tax-free, more than 30 states offer additional credits for annual contributions.

TALK TO YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE

The reason for this is twofold: You’ll want to be aware of what’s covered (and what’s not) when it comes to prenatal and postnatal costs, but you’ll also want to find out in advance how your medical insurance premiums will change when you add a dependent. It’s as simple as a phone call — and will help you anticipate huge out-of-pocket expenses. (For example, genetic testing… or delivery itself, depending on your coverage.)

Related:

• 4 Baby Items That Are Totally Fine to Buy Used (and 5 That Aren’t)
• 75 Things to Put on Your Baby Registry
• 20 Things More Women Need to Start Talking About
• What Your Zodiac Sign Means for Your Finances
• 4 Things to Know About Your Taxes If You Had a Baby Last Year

Sharing a bed with your partner can be warm, cuddly and wonderful ― except when it’s not. Think snoring, stealing all the covers and breathing way too loudly, among other bedtime transgressions.

Below, we’ve gathered 31 tweets that hilariously and honestly describe the nightly struggle of sharing a bed with another human.

The Danish Parliament voted on Thursday to ban clothing that covers the face, including the niqab and burqa worn by some Muslim women. 

Denmark’s center-right government enacted the law with a vote of 75-30, with 74 absent, The Associated Press reported. The decision puts the country in league with France, Austria and Belgium, which have adopted similar laws.

The government said that the law is not aimed at any specific religion. Along with Islamic full-face veils, balaclavas would also be banned, Agence France-Presse reported. The law does not ban headscarves, turbans, Jewish skull caps or face coverings worn for a “recognizable purpose” during cold weather or while riding a motorcycle. 

Still, the law has become known as a “burqa ban” directed at Muslim women who wear veils as part of their spiritual practice. The burqa covers the face completely, leaving a net screen for women to see through, while the niqab leaves the area around the eyes open. 

Most Muslim women in Denmark do not wear full-face veils. In fact, a 2009 study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that the number of Muslim women who wear niqabs in Denmark ranges from 100 to 200.

After the law goes into effect on Aug. 1, first-time offenders face a fine of 1,000 kroner ($156). Repeat offenders could risk fines of up to 10,000 kroner ($1,571), plus jail time of up to six months. Anyone who forces another person to cover their face could be thrown in jail for up to two years. 

Justice Minister Soeren Pape Poulsen said that police officers will be trusted to use “common” sense when they see people violating the law. He told Reuters that officers would fine the violators and tell them to “go home.” 

In February, when the Danish government formally proposed the face veil ban, Poulsen said that such veils were “disrespectful” to the community.

Muslim activists have claimed that European governments’ attempts to ban face veils are more of a “symbolic stance” that frames Muslim women and their religious beliefs as antagonistic to European societies. 

Lamia El Amri, chair of the international advocacy group European Forum of Muslim Women, told HuffPost earlier this year that burqa bans are a reflection of a “dangerous rise” in Islamophobic political rhetoric in Europe.

A Pew Research Center study published this week found that Danish Christians are more likely than religiously unaffiliated Danes to say that Islam is fundamentally incompatible with Danish culture and values. Fifty-five percent of Christians in Denmark who go to religious services at least once a month agree that Islam is incompatible with Danish culture. 

Amnesty International’s Europe director Gauri van Gulik said that the ban fails to protect women’s rights and instead criminalizes women who choose to wear face veils. 

“All women should be free to dress as they please and to wear clothing that expresses their identity or beliefs,” he said. “This blanket ban is neither necessary nor proportionate, and violates the rights to freedom of expression and religion.”

While Queen Elizabeth II may have kept a very straight face at the royal wedding, it’s clear that Her Majesty is pleased with the newest addition to the royal family. 

In a photo taken on Wednesday of the queen and Honorable George Brandis, the Australian High Commissioner to the U.K., eagle-eyed viewers noticed a previously unseen photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the background on a table. 

A close-up of the picture shows the Duke of Sussex in a blue suit and the Duchess of Sussex in a light blue dress. Both have big smiles on their faces: 

The suit Harry wears looks quite similar to the one from the couple’s engagement photos. Some outletsspeculated that the picture is an outtake from the same session, which was shot by celebrity and fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski. 

Lubomirski also shot the official portraits taken shortly after the couple’s nuptials on May 19. 

Whatever it takes! 

Royal news doesn’t stop at the wedding. Subscribe to HuffPost’s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor (and beyond). 

Things just got weird.

Everymonth, we round up the 10 most-liked recipes from the HuffPost Taste Instagram account, and each batch of results tells us which foods the internet has been craving during that time period. 

From the looks of all the salads on our top 10 list this May, one would assume health is a priority for our followers. But alas, there’s also a chocolate cake on the list (as per usual), and the top spot is awarded to a food that totally destroys the notion of healthy eating: Cheetos-flavored ice cream.

We don’t have a recipe to share, because this “Cheat-ohs” ice cream is sold by the geniuses at Big Gay Ice Cream in New York. But this cone rightfully earned a spot at the top of the list despite not having a recipe, so we’re leaving it there.

Check out the 10 most-liked foods from May below, and then go follow HuffPost Taste on Instagram.

For his new exhibition, artist Jonathan Lyndon Chase uses bedsheets to relay an “ever-changing and evolving” message about race, gender and sexuality.  

“Sheets,” which opens Friday at Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles, is a mixed media series of about 12 paintings by Chase that asks viewers to “unravel or disrobe the layers of multiple identity we maintain for the outside world in order to live,” according to organizers. An adjacent, salon-style display will feature additional sketches on paper. 

To create the series, the Philadelphia-born Chase used sketches, photos and collages in addition to traditional oil paint. The contorted and often sexually explicit images reflect the artist’s experiences as a queer and non-binary black man. Many of the men depicted wear lipstick, eyeshadow and jewelry in a deliberate nod to 1980s and ’90s ballroom culture. 

The aim of “Sheets,” Chase told HuffPost, is to encourage viewers to “embrace the potential for change both outside of their own body and world as well as inside of themselves.” 

“Our stories are not necessarily rooted in pain ― that’s just part of our experience,” he said. “Oppression is not our entire story. It’s important for us to continue to center our own narratives, documenting and adding to our history for the future.” 

The 28-year-old is open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, something he also aimed to subtly depict in “Sheets.”

“The highs and lows are, in ways, like dreams and nightmares,” he said. “This is just one facet of my own story and experience, but prominent in many LGBTQ lives as well.” 

His impetus for using bedsheets as a base material, meanwhile, was manifold. 

“Bedsheets have a lot of different connotations to me,” he said. “Reality is made up of socio-cultural threads that are woven together. We’re all part of society, and the common thread is our bodies, which we use to rest, resist and to navigate our identities as well as the outer world around us .... I also think of a bedsheet as similar to a body in that both hold memories, smells and touches.” 

Meanwhile, Kohn Gallery’s associate director, Joshua Friedman, praised Chase for “transforming the very nature of representation” through his art. 

“His work is rooted in a personal narrative, but he transforms these subjects into an open visual dialogue that can be interpreted and understood by all viewers,” Friedman said in an email. “Jonathan wants to create images that function as we might ... these works are the fabric of life and embody the raw and tender beauty of the human experience that does not hide a single stitch.” 

Jonathan Lyndon Chase’s “Sheets” opens June 1 in Los Angeles. 

Warning: Spoilers for “Avengers: Infinity War” below!

“Deadpool 2” and “Solo” may be new at the movie theater, but people still can’t stop talking about “Avengers: Infinity War,” which came out on April 27.

Some Marvel fans were upset by the way Chris Pratt’s character, Star-Lord, let his emotions get the best of him in a critical moment during the battle against the villain Thanos. 

During a pivotal scene, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy are holding Thanos in a trance as they try to wrestle his infinity gauntlet away from him. The infinity gauntlet, if adorned with all six infinity stones, would make Thanos essentially a god.

Just as they nearly have it, Star-Lord learns that Gamora, the woman he loves, has been killed by Thanos. In a rage, Star-Lord starts punching Thanos, which releases the villain from his trance and allows him to reclaim the gauntlet.

Some fans have given Star-Lord a tough time on social media. 

Ouch. But Pratt doesn’t think it’s fair to blame Star-Lord ― neither do the movie’s directors ― and he has responded to the fans over his character’s emotional outburst.

“The guy watched his mother die. He watched as his father figure died in his arms. He was forced to kill his own biological father and now has suffered the loss of the love of his life,” Pratt told RadioTimes.

“And also, I blame Thanos, OK? Jeez, how come he’s not getting any blame? Clearly, I’m very sensitive about this,” Pratt laughed.

Marvel and Disney are certainly not blaming Star-Lord, as “Infinity War” currently sits with an astounding global box office gross of $1.92 billion.

Anyone who’s taken care of a toddler can tell you the experience comes with unending chaos, messes and laughs. 

The parents of Twitter can attest to this, as many have vented about their toddler struggles and poked fun at their tiny humans in the form of hilarious tweets.

To offer some comic relief to other toddler parents (or remind them that they aren’t alone), we’ve rounded up 35 of these spot-on tweets about life with toddlers. Enjoy!

I’m currently sitting at my desk, very dehydrated. If you’re thinking, why don’t you just go get a glass of water? Well, that’s because I’m fasting. And no, not even water.

What else is on my mind is that sometime during what Muslims like to call “The Holy Month”, I will eventually bleed because, well, I’m a woman. My thoughts about my period this month aren’t focused on how crappy I may feel the first day and how many desserts I’ll get to binge on because I deserve it. Instead I’m thinking about my relationship with my period during Ramadan.

In Ramadan, there are boxes you have to tick in order to fast. If you are on your period you do not have to fast because your body is already going through so much, never mind having to crave a chocolate doughnut you are banned from eating (in the name of understanding how a large portion of the world lives, of course).  

When my period arrives, I will be able to eat at times other members of my family will not. I will not hide this from my immediate family - including the men - but eating in front of them will make it apparent I am on my period. And if I was invited to an iftar party (a dinner party where you break your fast) I would not eat in front of everyone there before the sun goes down for two reasons: 1) I don’t want to tease people with sugar all over my lips and 2) I would feel slightly strange about everyone knowing I was on my period. Why does my granddad need to know that?

Personally, I am open about talking about periods to anyone who wants to discuss my blood. However, my mother on the other hand feels awkward about talking about it to anyone, so she herself will choose to put on the front that she is always fasting.

But for many Muslim women, awkwardness does not even begin to cover how they feel about eating in front of others during Ramadan. Many feel as though they have to pretend they are fasting by eating in secret or not eating at all. This may be either because they have been period shamed in the past (something that women are talking about on Twitter) and so the subject feels too taboo to talk about or simply because they do not want to have to share information about their monthly cycle with others. It is a personal issue, which they shouldn’t have to discuss unless they choose to. Who really wants to walk into a crowded room and announce they’re on their period?

It may be difficult at first but the only solution to this is normalising periods and the conversation around it. There are too many women who go through double the emotional labour during Ramadan for us all not to talk about what is a very normal thing to happen to half the population every 28 days. The idea that women are walking around feeling lesser than and even less of a Muslim during Ramadan makes my blood boil as this isn’t an Islamic issue, it’s a patriarchal one.  

I am definitely speaking from a place of privilege as my family is more open to this conversation than some and I have not been instructed to pretend to fast, but if we never let all those who bleed - including transgender men - simply be and act for what is right for their body, then frankly we’re going against anything human. Ramadan is intended to be a time when we take a second to humble ourselves, especially those who are fortunate. It’s to think of others and understand our lens for the world is not universal, so if you do not have periods, please do what you can to be understanding of those of us who do.

Serena Williams believes more new mums should talk about the struggles of the fourth trimester after they give birth. The 36-year-old, whose daughter Olympia was born in September 2017, has previously spoken about her traumatic birth and has now revealed she suffered from postnatal depression. 

“Honestly, sometimes I think I still have to deal with it,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “I think people have to talk about it more because it’s almost like the fourth trimester, it’s part of the pregnancy. I remember one day, I couldn’t find Olympia’s bottle and I got so upset I started crying because I wanted to be perfect for her.” 

So what is the fourth trimester?

A full pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, which each lasts between 12-14 weeks. The term “fourth trimester” is a phrase sometimes used to describe the first six to eight weeks after a baby has been born; a period when women are adjusting to motherhood, dealing with the aftermath of birth and the reality of having a newborn baby. 

Elizabeth Duff, senior policy advisor at the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), tells HuffPost UK: “It often takes new mums a while to recover from the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and childbirth, while at the same time caring for a baby. This period is sometimes referred to as the ‘fourth trimester’.

“[This] can leave mothers feeling emotional, irritable and depressed and there can then be a ‘roller-coaster’ of ups and downs as the enjoyment of parenthood on some days contrasts with anxiety, fatigue and frustration on others.”

Kate Pinney, a Tommy’s midwife, says the fourth trimester can sometimes go on for longer than eight weeks and can vary between women: “Each experience is different and can be heavily influenced by many factors such as how you felt during your pregnancy, your labour and birth experience, but also what support networks you have around you.”

How may new mums feel during the fourth trimester?

Guilty.

Pinney says Serena’s comments about “wanting to be perfect” for her baby are not uncommon as parents often speak about feeling guilty for a variety of reasons, such as not feeling like they are able to settle their baby, having struggles feeding, or not taking their baby to the latest group or activity.

Lonely.

“Early parenthood can also be a lonely place, and for many speaking out about the difficulties of this time is still a taboo,” says Pinney. “Saying that it is tough, is no reflection on how much you love or care for your baby, it is just reality.”

Distant.

For some, bonding with their baby does not always come straight away and that can come as a shock, explains Pinney. If a mother doesn’t experience the rush of love shortly after she gives birth, she may find the next few weeks challenging. 

Low.

Pinney says many new mums experience episodes of low mood and changing emotions during this period, often due to a lack of sleep and altering hormones.

Is this linked to postnatal depression?

Duff says if low mood and psychological symptoms worsen, it can be due to something more serious such as postnatal depression (PND) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Recent research by NCT found that half (50%) of mothers experienced emotional problems at some time during pregnancy or within the first year of their child’s birth,” she says.   

What can mums do to make the fourth trimester easier?

- Remember, it doesn’t just affect mums.

Parenting author, Sarah Ockwell-Smith, has previously discussed how the fourth trimester can be exhausting because newborns hate being put down in this period of their life. “Understanding this and treating newborns as if they were still ‘in utero’ for their first three months of life can make life much easier for new families,” she wrote. 

She explains how when a mother is pregnant, the baby is in constant physical contact with her. After the birth, the baby has to get used to lots of different sounds, spend time flat on their back rather than tightly curled and start to experience sensations of hunger and thirst. She argues, therefore, that women should replicate the baby’s “womb world” post birth, which can help reduce the amount of time they spend crying and increase how long they spend asleep, giving parents more time. Find out how here.

- Don’t suffer alone.

To combat loneliness, new mums are encouraged to join expectant and new mum groups, which are run through the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). Branches across the UK organise relaxing and informal get-togethers for new parents. Many of the groups are free, while others charge only a nominal fee to cover costs. Depending on the local branch there are separate groups for parents with newborns and groups for toddlers. Find out more here.

Mums should also speak to their health visitor after giving birth about how they are feeling. Duff says the NCT are campaigning for improvements to the six-week postnatal check-up to reduce the number of mothers who don’t get diagnosed and treated properly if they experience PND during the fourth trimester. Find out more here.

For information and support:

Mind: A mental health charity there to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone. Call: 0300 123 3393. 

Pandas Foundation: Charity to support and advise any parent who is experiencing a perinatal mental illness.  Call: 0843 28 98 401.

Mothers for Mothers: A postnatal depression support group with information and peer advice. Call: 0117 975 6006.

PNI: A website run by women who have suffered from postnatal illnesses to share personal experiences and offer support. 

Serena Williams is a member of a board of advisers to Oath, HuffPost’s parent company.

In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Newcastle University have successfully 3D printed the cornea from a human eye.

This is the first time that we’ve been able to 3D print such a complex part of the body and it’s thought that in just a few years it could be ready for human transplantation.

The cornea is a vital part of the eye but unfortunately there are some 10 million people around the world requiring surgery there is a chronic shortage or corneas available for transplant.

By creating a potentially limitless supply of artificial corneas this development could eventually help the millions of people who either require surgery or who suffer from total blindness as a result of burns, lacerations, abrasion or disease.

So how do you 3D print one part of an eye? The process involves taking the stem cells from a healthy cornea and then mixing that with alginate and collagen to create a ‘bio-ink’ that can then be printed.

The ink was then inserted into a simple low-cost 3D bio printer and told to print in concentric circles into the shape of a cornea. The whole process took just 10 minutes.

Once printed the stem cells were then left to grow into a transplantable cornea.

What’s even more impressive is that the cornea can be tailored to each patient. By scanning a patient’s eye the team were able to then enter the exact dimensions into the 3D printer and recreate an identical match.

Professor Connon from the University acknowledges that it will be “several years before we could be in the position where we are using them for transplants.”

“However, what we have shown is that it is feasible to print corneas using coordinates taken from a patient eye and that this approach has potential to combat the world-wide shortage.”

Despite the progress that has been made, both the team and other experts are still keen to highlight that for the time being, cornea transplants are desperately needed.

“It is important to note that this is still years away from potentially being available to patients and it is still vitally important that people continue to donate corneal tissue for transplant as there is a shortage within the UK.” Said Dr Neil Ebenezer, director of research, policy and innovation at Fight for Sight.

“A corneal transplant can give someone back the gift of sight.”