All Modern Parenthood
- Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson make up: Why it matters 101Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson: Their off-screen romance is on again. Why the make up and break up cycle of two young adults has constructive potential for the millions of average teens who hang on their every date.
- Kate Middleton and sexting teens: Royal or not, don鈥檛 go nakedKate Middleton nude photos and teen sexting research suggest that in this era of the electronic eye,聽behavior still matters whether you're a royal assuming some sort of privacy or a teen snapping ill-advised photos.
- Cold feet? Pre-wedding jitters of bride is divorce indicatorBrides with cold feet 鈥 pre-wedding jitters 鈥 are 2.5 times more likely to divorce than those who stride the aisle with confidence, a new UCLA study shows.
- China adoption diary: When departure finds a new translation in returnReturning to a regular work schedule, the Belsie family confronts new daughter Madeleine Bao Yi鈥檚 separation anxiety, as Laurent returns to the office. Departure is freshly interpreted by Bao Yi as her father's daily arrival home becomes one of the most celebratory moments in her day.
- Compassion Games: Survival of the kindest right at my front doorThe Compassion Games 鈥 a volunteer effort to put the Golden Rule on everyone's agenda 鈥 is playing out this week in Seattle; and this mom found a perfect example of compassion right at her front door: A Norfolk Va. sheriff's officer standing guard over three squirrel pups fallen from their nest.
- Rescue dog: Albie breaks into new territory, puppy play dateAlbie got a new best friend when the Zheutlin family were asked to babysit Wilson, another lab from Labs4Rescue, who needed a聽crash-pad聽for the night.聽
- Instagram: An app for parents to keep up with their teensInstagram is the No. 1 photo site among 12-to-17-year-olds, according to Nielsen. Parents can have fun with the app that blends photography and social networking.
- Jessica Simpson, Levi Johnston: bikinis, guns, and babies 鈥 oh myJessica Simpson dresses her infant in a yellow bikini, Levi Johnston follows through on naming his baby, Breeze Beretta, after a gun. And one "regular" mom, pregnant with her second child, sighs in relief that she's not dealing with a babe c茅l猫bre.
- Chicago teachers strike: Mom鈥檚 long view of city鈥檚 work stoppagesChicago teachers strikes in perspective: A mom and veteran of the 1980s Chicago strikes recalls how the pain led to real reform. Then it was about money; now it's about class size, standardized testing, charter schools, and teacher evaluation.
- Breastfeeding professor: Students get lesson in nursing debateA professor who nursed her baby in front of her class at American University has become the latest breastfeeding controversy 鈥 and all sides are missing a chance to have a deeper, inclusive discussion about the unresolved challenges of childcare access, women's employment, and work-family balance.
- Poverty rate unchanged: Mom says hard times teach her kids compassionPoverty rate figures show 15 percent of Americans with family incomes under $23,021: One mom in that population sees lessons in compassion for her kids as a bi-product of her family's trials.
- 鈥淢orning wars鈥 d茅tente: Surviving bad socks and permission slips"Morning wars" 鈥 that great daily negotiation about food, clothing, getting to school on time 鈥 is one of Mom's biggest problems. Here are top tips for d茅tente.聽
- Do you know your toddler鈥檚 "slave footprint"? Mine has 20 slavesYour toddler's "slave footprint" 鈥 how many modern-day slaves have been used to produce those diapers, toys, and accessories 鈥 can be calculated on a new human trafficking website.
- Choosing a college major: Parents have a balancing roleChoosing a college major is as tricky for students as it is for their parents who can provide an important balancing role between idealism and realism.
- Childhood obesity: Having "The Talk" with kids can head off troubleChildhood obesity, studies show, is perhaps harder for parents to have "The Talk" about with their kids than it is to have "The Talk" about sex and drugs. But it does work, if parents walk their talk.
- Infant sleep training news: 'Cry it out' does no harmInfant sleep training study suggests a gentle approach to the 'cry it out' scheduling method does no harm. But it's not likely to end the emotional debates among bleary parents.
- Internet safety for kids: Mom, the benevolent dictator-snoop, is unrepentantBeware third grader: Don't fake e-mail to your teacher from your mom. This benevolent dictator-snoop mom 鈥 who asks questions and requires access to friend lists 鈥 will be on your case for the sake of Internet safety.
- Honey Boo Boo: Does her salary make her holler?Honey Boo Boo 鈥撀 6-year-old reality TV heroine 鈥 is making big bucks to live her life before TLC cameras. There's guilty pleasure in seeing her succeed.
- Michelle Obama speech: Adds Dad to Ann Romney鈥檚 tired momMichelle Obama and Ann Romney speeches: Agreement that moms are tired on both sides of the aisle. GOP equates parenting with mothering; Democrats seem to see parenting issues as family issues 鈥 with Dad just as tired as Mom.
- Drought in India: Disrupted rhythms of nomadic family lifeThe drought in India separates nomadic families by disrupting the rhythms of the seasons. Over a saucer of chai at the camp of some Maldhari tribeswomen, our blogger finds out nomads like to go home, too, but can't without the monsoon season in full gush.