Ashley Tisdale Essay Fuels Debate Over Mom Groups

Madeline Mitchell reports that Ashley Tisdale’s essay for "The Cut", published Jan. 1, has reignited debate over "toxic" mom groups and prompted fresh reactions including a Jan. 6 Instagram jab by Matthew Koma at Hilary Duff.Earlier coverage referred to the author as French and the essay described mothers brought to tears by exclusion and comparison, naming Meghan Trainor, Mandy Moore and Hilary Duff among the circle that spawned speculation.Experts Orestes P. Hastings, Kristin MacGregor of LifeStance Health and Maia Cucchiara of Temple University say parent communities can increase anxiety and comparison, and advise curating a smaller supportive village and distancing from judgmental groups.