When should you have babies? The widening gap between culture and biology. NPR
Some schools are implementing single-sex classes to help boys catch up. Boston Globe
Is your child addicted to video games? U.S. News & World Report
An Arkansas woman, Michelle Duggar, is pregnant with her 18th child! (She wrote an article for us back when she had only 14…) Yahoo! News
Facebook is making changes to protect its younger users. New York Times
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An article in the Los Angeles Times last week exposed a scary situation involving a fraudulent nanny agency. Gelila Puck, wife of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, found a nanny for their kids through an agency an acquaintance had recommended. She hired the woman, who traveled with the family, and then when double-checking one of her recent reference, Puck realized that it was fake. The woman pretending to be the nanny's former employer of five years was a friend of the head of the agency and had never even met her. This story shows the importance of always checking all references when hiring a nanny or a sitter–even if you find her through an agency you think is reputable. Have you ever been burned by someone taking care of your kids?
Some parents who've had it with all the baby gear decided to make a profit. Los Angeles Times
A new study finds that (in most ways) things are better for American children than they were a decade ago. Washington Post
Peanut allergies and bullying can be a dangerous combination. ABC News
Should an NYC 4th grader be allowed to take the subway alone? A debate over parenting styles. Newsweek
Biking sends kids to the hospital more than any other sport, according to a new study. Chicago Tribune
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As the recession looms, families are relying more on food banks, which are struggling to keep up with the need. Washington Post
Mind your manners! Do your kids need etiquette lessons? Boston Globe
What it's like to be a successful mommy blogger. Wall Street Journal
How to get your infant started on good sleep habits. Time
One out of 15 hospitalized kids is affected by medication errors, new research finds. Yahoo! News
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Meet the (surrogate) parents: A look at the women who carry other womens' children. Newsweek
Only a third of eighth graders and a fourth of high school seniors are proficient writers, according to a national test. New York Times
When the circus comes to town parents fret—Is it a nice family activity or a display of animal mistreatment? Washington Post
Eight glasses of water a day? That might be bad advice, says a new scientific review. Reuters
The stigma attached to men receiving alimony checks from their ex-wives may be on its way out. Wall Street Journal
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No child support? No hunting! A new program in Illinois encourages dads to pay up. Chicago Tribune
Why being pregnant makes you want to renovate. New York Times
A new study looks at the long-term health consequences of premature birth. Yahoo! News
Pregnancy discrimination complaints are on the rise. Wall Street Journal
Scary trend: Parents sign their kids up for human “cockfighting.” New York Daily News
How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Advocate
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Every mom loves beautiful baby photos, but are fancy ultrasounds of fetuses safe? Chicago Tribune
A good marriage is good for your blood pressure and a bad marriage is—you guessed it—bad for your blood pressure. Yahoo! News
A new California program modeled on America’s Most Wanted is targeting the 10 worst child support evaders. LA Times
Fear of food poisoning: Is washing your veggies in tap water good enough? Newsweek
More celebs contemplate trading in their baby photos for big bucks. New York Daily News
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The name game: If you choose a weird one, how will it affect your child’s life? New York Times
Harry Potter fans, listen up! The 7th and last book will be split into two films because there was so much good stuff to work with. Yahoo! News
A scary fact: One in four teenage girls have at least one STD, according to new CDC data. USA Today
Pets can spread deadly MSRA infection. MSNBC
How children handle their parents’ scandals. ABC News
Is your child studying engineering? There’s a new push in schools to start teaching the subject as early as kindergarten. Wall Street Journal
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Clothing company Abercrombie and Fitch pledged $10 million to help Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, build a new emergency room—a generous gesture that will help kids, but not everyone is 100% thrilled about it. The issue: Should it be called the Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center? Slapping a corporation’s name on hospitals, sports arenas, and more is nothing new (the hospital already has “Nationwide” in front of it, after all), but A & F is notorious for its sexed-up ads aimed at teens—not exactly a great fit for a kid’s ER. (Check out the hilarious mock-up of the ER’s entrance that Consumerist created using images from A & F’s now-defunct, not so tame catalog.) What do you think: Should the hospital keep the money and refuse to use the name? Should they have refused to work with the company in the first place? Or is this not such a big deal?
A few weeks ago, fellow Goodyblogger Kate wrote about the TLC show Jon and Kate Plus 8, which follows the hectic lives of a couple who have a set of twins and sextuplets. The newest parent-centric addition to the network's lineup is sure to add fuel to the stay-at-home mom versus working mom debate. As described on TLC's Web site: "The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom takes a stay-at-home mom and gives her a chance to secretly live the life she gave up to raise her family." I'm all for fish-out-of-water stories and shows that encourage women to achieve their dreams, but there's no doubt TLC is taking a risk with this premise. Only time will tell if it pays off. Tell us: Will you be tuning in?
