• We allow our 10-year-old to go places on his own.
• He bikes alone to the library, a place that says that kids under 10 need to be present with an adult.
• It all started during the pandemic, but we agreed with other parents to let it keep happening.

Sure, turning 21 has its benefits, and so does 18. But 10 is the first magic number in our family.

When my son turned 10 in 2024, he entered a new measure of independence. He is now welcome to go on his own to places that had previously required a grownup to accompany him.

He drops in at the local YMCA, where he and his friends of age can swim, play basketball, or participate in board games, pool, or foosball (and eat snacks) in the "teen center." A voracious reader, he can bike to the town library, which asks that adults supervise children under 10. He and his best friend have permission to walk to the video game arcade that recently opened in the center of our town.

It helps that Northampton is small — about 30,000 people — and largely accessible on foot or bike from our house. School, the Y, the library, and the arcade are all less than a mile away.

We agreed with other parents to let our kids roam

Visiting those places without a parent is the latest development in what I call "Not Knowing Where Our Kids Are Every Second," a very informal arrangement among some of my eldest son's friends' families.

Allowing our children a measure of independence is our conscious but unfussy contrast with the helicopter parenting approach that became so prevalent between when we were young, in the 1980s and early '90s, and now. Research backs us up — a 2018 study showed that children of parents who hover over their every activity are more prone to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Also, under surveillance parenting, children take longer to learn how to do for themselves. With five colleges and universities nearby, the Northampton area is home to professors, including my wife, with plenty of stories about students whose parents try to intercede on their kids' behalf, from picking their classes to complaining directly to professors, or even the administration, about a low grade. It makes me wonder how or if those newly minted adults manage to do their own laundry without multiple phone calls home.

It all started during the pandemic

Our journey into independence began, counterintuitively, during the pandemic.

School in the fall of 2020 was limited to classes on Zoom, a wholly ineffective way to engage with 5- and 6-year-olds. A handful of families in our neighborhood formed a pod and had the good fortune to find a teacher with a nature kindergarten background. Our kids spent the vast majority of their time that fall and winter outside, riding their bikes like a gaggle of two-wheeled geese and learning how to handle themselves, with gentle supervision, as they explored the world around them.

These days, as fourth-graders, they're free to range back and forth to each other's houses. That's how they've been spending afternoons over the past few months.

Instead of participating in structured (and not inexpensive) after-school activities, they interact on the playground or entertain themselves at one of our houses, as long as a parent is present. Many of us work at home, so someone is generally around.

Though we tend to have a rough idea of where they are when they're out in the world and when they'll be home, we're happy to leave the rest up to them. Most of them have other activities, too, like sports or music lessons. But when they have free time, they're old enough now to figure out how they want to spend it, without the grown-ups arranging every detail in advance.

I want my kids to have age-appropriate independence

We parents are here to answer questions, offer guidance, and assuage doubts — that's part of our job. But giving my kids the latitude to make their own decisions when the stakes are low is how they will learn to make good decisions when it matters. It's part of how they'll develop the confidence to advocate for themselves and to manage social and academic demands as they grow up.

Ultimately, offering them an age-appropriate sense of independence now is how they will learn to run their own lives in a way that has taken 10 years longer for kids 10 years older than they are.

In my house, at least, the kids are even folding their own laundry.

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• I'm a chef with experience picking and preparing the best cuts of meat for almost any steak dish.
• Filet mignon pairs well with many flavors, but it's crucial to not overcook this cut of meat.
• The tri-tip sirloin and flank steak can be great for grilling and should be cut against the grain.

The sheer number of steak options at a grocery store can be overwhelming, with a myriad of available cuts at a variety of price ranges.

When it comes to selecting a steak, it's important to remember that fat equals flavor. Some cuts have a lot of marbling, or fat, woven throughout the piece of meat. A fat cap, which is a thick outer layer on the meat, also adds flavor to different cuts.

Here's how I cook different cuts of meat for the best steak.

Filet mignon plays well with a multitude of flavors

Filet mignon is one of the most expensive cuts on the menu because it plays well with so many other flavors.

Sear this steak in oil with some salt and pepper, being careful not to cook above medium, and add any sauce you prefer.

Anything fat-forward, such as browned butter and sage, a béarnaise sauce, or a red-wine reduction with cold butter, would taste great. Wrapping the filet in bacon also adds flavor and fat. 

The T-bone is two cuts in one

This cut is actually two steaks — the New York strip and the filet mignon — separated by a bone.

With the combination of the full, meaty flavor of the strip and the tender filet, I recommend cooking this cut over high heat with just salt and pepper.

Any brown butter or steak sauce would pair well and offset the flavor profile.

The Tomahawk can take longer to cook, but it's worth it

With a fat cap and at least 5 inches of rib bone extending from the meat, the Tomahawk is actually a rib-eye or cote de boeuf.

The extra 5 inches of bone can be cleaned of excess meat and then cooked over medium-high heat.

This cut is often aged before selling and can take a bit longer to cook than its thinner counterparts, but I think the extra effort is worth it.

Flank steak is perfect for marinating

To make a great flank steak, marinate it and do not overcook it. 

Cook the steak in a pan or on a grill to medium-rare to ensure the most tenderness and get those juices flowing.

You should let your steak rest for a few minutes before slicing it against the grain. If you're cooking it in a skillet, use the marinade for a quick pan sauce. 

Grill and slice the tri-tip sirloin steak against the grain

The trip-tip is cut from the bottom of the sirloin and is shaped like a triangle.

It's perfect for marinating and grilling but should be cooked to medium and sliced against the grain to be truly enjoyed.

The flat iron is very versatile

This newer cut, also known as blade steak or top blade, is found on the shoulder of a cow and is incredibly versatile.

The flat iron is one of the most tender cuts of meat because of its great marbling and also boasts a bold flavor at a lower price point than other cuts.

Treat this steak like a New York strip and cook at high heat until the outside is seared and the inside is medium-rare to medium for best results. Season with salt and pepper, or add a spice rub for a little kick.

This story was originally published on February 21, 2022, and most recently updated on February 3, 2025.

• Leading researcher Meredith Whitney shared the trends she has her eye on this year.
• Consumer spending could surge, sparking a rebound for beaten-down retailers.
• In real-estate, a key trend that Whitney had highlighted is now no longer likely.

Nearly two decades after her prescient warnings about the financial crisis, Meredith Whitney remains one of the more widely followed research analysts in markets.

Although no one's calls are always correct, Whitney is known for bold, outside-the-box thinking that gets gears turning — like why young people could get a leg up in the housing market, or why remote workers secretly working two jobs were at risk of getting caught.

Business Insider recently caught up with the "Oracle of Wall Street," who shared in an interview the three under-the-radar economic trends she's watching most closely in 2025.

1. Consumer spending reaccelerates

After countless hours of studying the US economy, Whitney's highest-conviction call this year is that consumer spending will strengthen across income strata and keep growth humming.

"The takeaways are clearly that consumer spending strength is going to broaden this year, so that means it will accelerate," Whitney said.

In recent years, Whitney's research suggests that spending has been disproportionately driven by higher-income consumers and the mid-20s to late-30s cohort, whom she affectionately calls "avocado toasters." Whitney noted last May that their young people's spending far exceeds that of baby boomers, and she now estimates their discretionary spending is five to six times higher.

Contrary to what some might suggest, these whippersnappers may not be being irresponsible. Instead, Gen Zers and millennials have been largely shut out of the housing market due to high mortgage rates and may be making up for it with retail therapy — or simply because they can.

"The avocado toasters who don't own homes — this is the 24- to 38-year-olds who don't own homes — have more discretionary spend, because it's gotten so expensive over the last three years to own a home with rising homeowners' insurance, property taxes, homeowners' association fees," Whitney said.

Besides being unburdened by expensive mortgage payments, many young people are finding creative ways to team up and save money. Whitney pointed out that password sharing is the norm for younger generations, and even those who don't snag log-ins for streaming services or YouTube TV can stay on their parents' phone plans for $10 a month instead of $50 or more.

Other consumers are in a much different spot. Lower-income consumers have felt the highest inflation in a generation most acutely. In fact, Whitney said last spring that households making between $50,000 and $70,000 a year could only afford to save 0.3% of their post-tax income.

"What has been clear is that the 52% that have been living paycheck to paycheck — over 50% of the households — are really struggling," Whitney said.

Consumers could make a financial comeback this year if inflation fades and interest rates inch down, Whitney said. And while some economic observers are anxious that Trump's tariffs could cause prices to reaccelerate, Whitney didn't cite that as a major near-term risk.

2. Dollar-store sales boom

A long-awaited rebound for consumers, including those in the lower-income bracket, could spark a turnaround for beleaguered dollar stores and other struggling retailers, Whitney said.

"The dollar stores and all the discounters — and I'll throw Target into the mix; it's neither — will have a great 2025 and beyond," Whitney said. "They've been beat up for a number of reasons, but one of them has been that their primary customer really had a hard landing after COVID stimulus checks ended."

As Whitney noted, pandemic-era government aid and inflation were major tailwinds for dollar stores. Consumers of all income types flocked to Dollar Tree and Dollar General for their rock-bottom prices, pushing their shares to record levels. Dollar Tree's stock even doubled in the five months from late September 2021 to mid-April 2022.

But ever since, Dollar Tree and Dollar General have been dead money, with shares down 57% and 72%, respectively, from all-time highs. Inflation has become a major headwind by eating into profits on dirt-cheap products. Dollar Tree's earnings have been hammered, and Dollar General's operating income growth has been negative for seven straight quarters.

Dollar Tree and Dollar General's standing among investors went from bad to worse early last fall after alarming earnings reports. Both companies lost about a third of their market value as they slashed full-year guidance, blaming consumer spending weakness among income cohorts.

Whitney said she became bullish about dollar stores shortly after, and it's not because she was bargain-hunting. Instead, her research indicates that consumers may get more breathing room.

Since last summer, Whitney said property owners have increasingly taken out lines of credit from their home equity, which is a relatively cheap way to borrow money. Consumers can take this cash and use it to pay down their credit-card statement and other costlier bills, she added. Armed with money in their pocket and lower card balances, households can spend more freely.

"What I expected was this to have almost like a trickle-down effect," Whitney said. "It's happened a lot faster than I would've thought. So if you look at the same-store sales year on year, they've already picked up dramatically with the dollar stores and with Target. And when the retailers report, I think the investors will be surprised by how strong the results are."

3. Older homeowners stay in place

Whitney's most surprising take is one that's the opposite of what she believed a year ago.

The Oracle of Wall Street had spoken for years about a so-called "silver tsunami," reasoning that older homeowners would flood the housing market by listing their homes en masse. This would send property values plunging and allow younger buyers to swoop in at steep discounts.

But after examining more data, Whitney recently said that her theory is no longer likely.

Although the US population is still steadily aging, the researcher now expects older people to "age in place" instead of moving to ranchers, retirement communities, or nursing homes, which can be very expensive. Only about one in eight seniors can afford assisted living without tapping into their assets, Whitney noted, citing a 2023 Harvard study on housing older adults in the US.

Her change of mind comes as older property owners are seemingly deciding not to move. Instead, seniors are taking out lines of credit to renovate their homes. That could mean putting bedrooms in on the ground floor, adding walk-in tubs, or installing movable stairs, Whitney said.

If grandpas and grandmas across the country stay put, there will be fewer houses for younger buyers to choose from. That could be disastrous, if new home inventory wasn't rising like it is.

"Their best chance of owning a home is with new homes — not existing," Whitney said of younger homebuyers.

Millennials and Gen-Zers might not get the revenge over owners that Whitney thought was possible last year, but they'll likely be better off than in the least affordable market of their lives.

• I've developed the best recipe for mashed potatoes that takes less than 15 minutes to make.
• My biggest tip is don't over-mash the potatoes — a few chunks are fine.
• The recipe is simple, but you can add herbs, spices, cheese, bacon, and other garnishes.

I've loved mashed potatoes since I was a kid, but it wasn't until well into adulthood that I realized how simple they are to make.

After years of practice in the kitchen, here's my quick and easy recipe for perfect mashed potatoes.

• Ukrainian forces launched a stunning invasion into Russia's Kursk region last August.
• A Ukrainian commander revealed new details of the operation in an interview with BI.
• He said his forces didn't know they were going to cross into Russia until the day before.

Ukrainian forces who took part in last year's shock invasion of Russia had no idea they were about to launch a cross-border assault until the day before the mission, a commander told Business Insider.

Oleksii Vovkotrub was the commander of the 1st Platoon, part of the 1st Assault Company of the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, when his unit entered Russia's Kursk region on August 6. He revealed new details of the operation in a recent interview with BI.

The daring invasion, which came as a surprise to Ukraine's partners and caught Moscow completely off guard, marked the biggest attack on Russian soil by a foreign enemy since World War II.

Vovkotrub, whose call sign is Wolf, said that the operation was classified. Ukraine's forces had been gathering in the northeastern Sumy region, which borders Russia, but they didn't know the final objective of their build-up at the time. Up to that point, the war had been fought almost entirely in Ukraine, a few cross-border raids aside.

"The details of the mission were only revealed to us the day before deployment," Vovkotrub, now the acting commander of the 1st Assault Company of the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, recalled. "Of course, the guys were a bit nervous, but overall, the mood was high," he said. "We were eager to strike the enemy on their own territory."

Vovkotrub said that his mission in Kursk was to seize and hold a platoon strongpoint until infantry soldiers arrived to secure the position. His unit advanced into Russia as part of an armored formation supported by German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

"Riding in on armor felt good," Vovkotrub said. "I won't hide that, especially after everything they did on our land." By this stage of the war, the Ukrainians had been fighting Russia's invasion of their country for about two and a half years.

Ukrainian soldiers have said that they were able to easily breach Russia's borders, meeting little to no resistance until they reached the outskirts of Sudzha.

It wasn't until the second morning of the invasion into Kursk that the platoon first engaged in combat, trying to capture the objective strongpoint. The Ukrainians clashed with Russian soldiers while clearing two villages in the Sudzha district, just a few miles across the border, and fighting to secure enemy positions in the tree lines.

"In the end, the mission was successfully completed without any losses on our side," Vovkotrub said. His unit stayed in Kursk until late August, though they would deploy again later.

Ukrainian forces quickly seized some 500 square miles of territory in Kursk and captured dozens of villages during the early weeks of the invasion, which was intended to ease some pressure off other areas of the front lines and provide Kyiv with more leverage at potential peace talks.

Russian counteroffensives in the months since have seen the country regain roughly half of the land that it initially lost in Kursk, but Ukraine still has a foothold in the region. It is proving difficult for the Russians to dislodge them completely.

Moscow has relied on the deployment of thousands of North Korean forces to help with these efforts, but they have been taking heavy losses in combat. Ukraine's military revealed recently that the North Koreans hadn't been seen in weeks, suggesting they may have withdrawn.

Hard fighting continues in this sector. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, said Monday that the Kursk operation remains a key priority for Kyiv.

• Lady Gaga has been dating Michael Polansky, investor and CEO of the Parker Group, since 2019.
• They isolated together during the pandemic and attended President Biden's inauguration in 2021.
• The couple got engaged in April 2024, though Gaga didn't confirm the news until September 2024.

Lady Gaga recently declared, "The missing piece in my life was having real love."

The movie-slash-pop-star was referring to her fiancé and partner of five years, investor and entrepreneur Michael Polansky.

The duo was first seen showing PDA on New Year's Eve in 2019. When the video appeared on Twitter, Gaga's fans scrambled to identify Polansky, CEO of the Parker Group, and learn more information about the star's new beau. The couple, who were introduced by Gaga's mother, have been together ever since.

These days, when Gaga performs at major events — from President Joe Biden's inauguration to the Paris Olympics — Polansky is often waiting in the wings. Here's everything we know about their relationship. 

Claudia Willen contributed to a previous version of this article.

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Several restaurants and stores are closed as part of an initiative to raise awareness of migrants' role in the U.S. workforce.