“Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year.” First of all, since when is a prom considered part of the educational process? Second of all, is it really that big a deal if two girls are dancing together? I don’t know if you’ve been a chaperone at a prom recently, but girls already tend to flock together and dance. Third of all, has anyone complained?

This is such a huge and obvious violation of a student’s rights it’s nearly unbelievable. Dan Savage, author of the referring article and famous for his column Savage Love, has taken the step of providing the names and contact information of the school’s administrative board, publishing them right in the article. He exhorts us all to “Keep it respectful, but let them hear from you (emphasis Savage’s).” The idea is to show the leaders of Itawamba Agricultural what a real distraction looks like.

Savage also points out that there is a possibility for McMillen’s safety to be in danger, as other students might blame her for the loss of their prom. This could be the beginning of something ugly. We’ll keep our eyes on it.

Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are among the other likely results seen in adults. It’s thought that when the body undergoes a stressful situation, elements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system help regulate the body’s response. However, repeated trauma may damage this system, leading to the far-reaching effects outlined above.

As parents, we tend to forget sometimes that when we argue, the tensions can spill over and affect our children. They may be sitting in the next room, but when a certain angry tone comes to them, they tend to stop and listen. Not only is it unfair to the child to be witness to this, according to this study, it may actively harm their future selves. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, really, but a long-term research project like this one is more proof that we do not exist in a vacuum. Our children must be taken into account at all times.

When you feel yourselves on the cusp of a big public blowup, it’s helpful to ask of each other: “Does this help?” It may ease your personal stress to shout and get angry, but does it really help? Chances are that even arguments of substance can be shelved until your child is sleeping. Best yet, just learn to cope with frustration before it happens. Practice breathing. Exercise more. Anything you can do to prevent your children from future pain should be your goal at all times.

I have traditionally been against remakes of classic movies in general — my son and I recently watched the Judy Garland masterpiece, and it holds up just as well today as it ever has — taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. At the same time, there has been enough space between big-screen attempts to make the idea of a return to Oz actually kind of fresh.

One thing you encounter upon reading the Oz books is that, first of all, they’re very, very strange. They feature an odd internal logic to them that make events feel dream-like; if you recall, it’s strongly suggested that what happens in the movie version are a dream. Secondly, they’re quite a bit different than the movie was, in both tone and actual events. The broad strokes are there, of course, but there are more things in the book than made it to screen. So there is a history of strong adaptation that puts any new remake in good standing.

However, the kid in me would love to see an updated Oz, where time did not stand still and events have progressed. Such a plot would free creators from the need to maintain continuity, and thus the baggage that hardcore fans would bring to the viewing. Regardless of which gets made first – it’s possible for both or neither to occur, being Hollywood – I think the public is ready to embrace something new. Let’s face it: the studios are always trolling the past for new (old) ideas. Is there any reason why Oz shouldn’t return?

It could be said that America is obsessed with having things. We are one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, and that is the by-product of our need to own things. It’s such a powerful need, in fact, that we’ve got other countries making things for us; it’s not a local phenomenon. But for all of our focus on procurement, we spend very little time thinking about where all of these things go when we’ve lost our use for them and throw them away.

This issue is the subject of a successful viral video made by Annie Leonard entitled “The Story of Stuff”, a 21-minute long look at the chain of events that brings things into our homes, from extraction, to production, to distribution, to consumption, to disposal. The video was so successful, in fact, that it spawned a new book of the same name, in which the author details her journey of learning about how this process works, and what it’s done to the world we inhabit.

Most of us don’t consider trash after it’s been taken away by the garbage men, and because we don’t, our children won’t either. It’s up to us to take the time to learn more about the Materials Economy, how it affects our environment, and to teach that to our kids. They’re going to inherit what we’ve left behind, and they’re the ones upon whom it will fall to invent new ways to manage their world. This is not a problem that’s going to just vanish. Let’s figure it out while we still have time.

Sadly, this is the kind of world in which we have to raise our children. A seemingly casual, flippant remark, made in innocence, can easily backfire and turn the speaker into something perceived as malevolent. It’s no longer enough to say “That’s not what I meant”; we have to edit ourselves before saying anything at all.

However, we should be teaching our children this lesson anyway. If a child inadvertently hurts another’s feelings, she might say “I didn’t mean to”, but the result speaks for itself. It’s a sign that, good intentions or ill, mistakes sometimes get made. Maybe you didn’t mean to hurt someone, but you did, and now you know better. This is good for growth. We can’t expect a five year old to be aware of her strength, or limitations, or boundaries at all times. She’s learning from experience, which is the best teacher. But we can show that there are always consequences for every action, whether purposefully made or accidental. There is always room for apologies, and a genuine desire to make amends, which is, in the end, the most important issue.

That this has taken place in D.C. must surely signal a significant change in the nation’s politics regarding the human rights of homosexual citizens across the country. Though die-hard traditionalists will likely continue to bear animosity in their hearts, this is how true change occurs: slowly, but surely. The more states that transition from the past to the future, the more obvious it will become that there was never any danger or threat posed by the union of two people who share the same gender.

What this means for our children is one more barrier of acceptance removed, and one less need for an awkward attempt to explain an illogical inequity. If a child loves her mommies or daddies, she shouldn’t have to ask why they can’t be happy like other couples are. The answer to that has only ever come down to “They just can’t,” and that is no answer to tell a curious child. Let there always be reasons for our children to accept, and they will grow up knowing that there is an order to society, an order that they can understand and grow within. These children will grow wise, free from prejudice and judgment, and help shape a world that will benefit us all.

• Trying to cover his eyes every time a movie featuring gunfire suddenly popped up. Thanks to “Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker“, this became challenging. We’re trying to raise our son to be unaware of the use of firearms as much as possible. Sure, he’s been to friends’ houses where there are Nerf guns present, but he calls them “launchers”, and is (we hope) unaware of the death-dealing nature of real guns. Someday, of course, this will come to a head, but we believe by that point he’ll have developed the necessary understanding to deal with it all. But it is kind of a problem when you have something that interests a child — the cartoonish nature of the graphics of “Avatar” and “Up” combined with the serious violence of “Hurt Locker” and “District 9″.

• Explaining to my son that there are hundreds of people involved in the making of any movie, not just the people who come up to receive the award. It’s kind of a difficult process to describe, the notion that nothing of what you seen on screen is real. The people are actors, saying things written by someone else, wearing clothes designed for them, walking around an environment with some degree of artificiality — even if it’s just the lighting — right down to the people in the background who are just passing by. None of it is real. This turned out to be a great conversation, as it seemed to open to my son the idea that he too could work on a movie some day, in some capacity.

• Describing the process of selection of winners. This is a thornier issue than you might think. If you like a movie and think it should win, what does it mean when it doesn’t? Do you just have bad taste? Explaining critical thought is a toughie to a 6 year old, who has pretty strong ideas of what he likes and dislikes. And that’s even before any talk of “politics” or “favoritism”.

• Picking up on what excited my son. While he enjoyed seeing clips of movies he hadn’t seen, what really drove his attention was the constantly changing backdrop. Every time a new element would appear (what was the idea behind that wall of lamps, by the way?) he’d say “What is that?” and there wasn’t always a good explanation for him. I had to admit: as a visual phenomenon, the Oscars isn’t the best. The majority of the time is spent watching people talk, and unless you know the speaker or have a personal stake in what’s being said — neither of which can be said of my son — it’s all blah blah blah until you get to the next moving set piece or movie clip.

* Having to hurry my son out of the room when the suddenly announced tribute to horror movies appeared on screen. Thanks, Academy.

The final take away from all this for me was: Where does true value lie? If you and I disagree about the worth of a thing, are we both right or both wrong? Does it even then matter to make a judgment at all? What does it mean not to win an award of any sort? Isn’t the value in the effort, as researchers are now telling us we should emphasize to our kids? Is this idea reflected in our media? Watching the Academy Awards with my 6 year old son was more enriching than I expected it to be, and I’m happy that we did — if not for the reasons ABC hoped.

This is clearly seen by the fact that the main part of revenue for “Alice” came from theaters with 3D-enabled screens — IMAX was first place, then regular 3D screens. With the next potentially big (though maybe not in these numbers) 3D movie on its way — DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” — expect to see far more 3D content than you might even want to watch.

This is also huge news for makers of home 3D TV sets, as studios are betting big that you’ll want to carry the immersive experience of the movies home with you. What this means to you as parents is yet another device that needs feeding of batteries in the 3D glasses. Expect to lose and/or break these things, as my recollection is that they look and feel pretty flimsy. This is fine for in-theater use, as they need to be light enough to wear over an extended period, and then you just hand them to the theater’s employees, but home users might want something more sturdy for long-term viewing.

Another thing to watch for: updated versions of movies you already own. The 3D process can be added to existing content, though my understanding is that the result is a more heavy-handed approach. It looks and feels tacked-on, as opposed to integrated. Also down the road: development of a new breed of eyestrain/neurological dysfunction based on prolonged 3D glasses use. To paraphrase Michael Crichton: “Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should.” This 3D thing won’t go away soon, and it’s just picking up momentum. Someday we’ll be able to tell our grandkids “Back in my day, you couldn’t walk around talking with the characters! They were flat and ignored us! And we liked it that way!” If you’re still on the fence whether or not to take your kids to the new “Alice”, check out our review and don’t forget our giveaway!

Sometimes it takes a while for adults to catch on to something kids already know. Case in point: Yo Gabba Gabba!, the Nick Jr. program that features tons of musical guests, cutting-edge animation, and enough pop culture references to keep even the most jaded hipster entertained. The show debuted in 2007, and will soon air its third season.

So why is it suddenly hitting big? When you combine the goofy fun quality of the visuals with its outstanding indie band line-up — past groups have included The Shins, Mark Mothersbaugh, and the Aquabats, not to mention the regular beatbox feature starring Biz Markie — you can’t help but be noticed by stars whose kids turn them on to the show. Entertainment Weekly magazine covers this phenomenon in its latest issue, which is on shelves now. It offers a great deal of encouragement from such luminaries as Christina Aguilera, who has performed in a past episode said “The Music Yo Gabba Gabba! offers is like no other kids’ show. It’s nice to have something my son, Max, enjoys that’s also fun for me.”

Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen chimes in: “A friend showed me some of it, and right away I was like, these songs are great. It was obviously a cool show. I told my manager to get me on it!” It is, in fact, so successful that a movie is being planned, but there is no release date as yet. Future episodes will feature more musical guests, including Weezer, a bit of whose performance you can catch on ew.com.

When designing a kids’ show, it’s easy to play it too twee and obvious. Yo Gabba Gabba! is just pure fun without being cloying or simpleminded. Check out the rest of the story in the latest Entertainment Weekly.

The other side of Barbie’s coin, of course, is what some have called an unrealistic role model — Barbie doesn’t work (or, rather, has so many jobs that she effectively doesn’t have one), is perpetually thin, and has no obligations. Though recent years have seen significant changes to the standard Barbie doll, the toy remains a charged phenomenon.

Regardless of public perception, the Barbie team is working to inspire girls to dream big with its “I Can Be … ” campaign, for which they’ve partnered with The White House Project, an initiative designed to increase the incidence of women in leadership roles throughout America. The “I Can Be … ” campaign asks respondents to sign an online declaration that will be presented to the Obama administration on April 22nd, to the effect that they take seriously the role of women in society and contribute to the further growth of this movement by continuing to mentor young girls.

If you’d like to support this movement to reach a million signatures by the proposed date, you can do so online at barbie.com. This is a project worthy of support, no matter your personal feelings towards Barbie.

Though no-one really knows what started this decades-long beef, one of the major elements is Plumb’s contention that McCormick alleges that the two of them shared a lesbian relationship, which Plumb disagrees ever occurred. Outside observers, however, maintain that their bad blood goes back even farther. Whatever the true story is, we’ll likely never know it, and it doesn’t really matter.

Perhaps the two had played at being sisters for so long — the show lasted five seasons, after all — that they began to actually act like sisters toward one another. As those of us who have siblings know, that’s not always an easy road to walk. When you’re essentially forced to be around the same person all the time, it’s common for a little heat to build up now and then. Hopefully, though, you learn to make allowances for each other, and the bonding makes you both stronger. Indeed, many people report that they’re closer to their siblings than to their spouses. But when you, as a parent, see these sorts of flare-ups in your kids, it can be a good time to step in and moderate a bit. Teach your kids that whatever the issue is, it’s temporary, and that being siblings is lifelong. You’ll be in each others’ lives for a long time, and down the road, you’ll be glad you’ve got each others’ backs.

Two air traffic controllers operating out of JFK Airport have been relieved of their duties due to an incident that occurred on February 17th. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a controller brought his son to work with him that day and allowed the boy to speak directly with active pilots, giving directions to takeoff to several en route airplanes. “This is what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school,” the controller said. The entire set of exchanges are caught on audio.

It has not been revealed how old the boy was, nor exactly what will happen to the two controllers — one of the two being the supervisor of the man who brought the child in — but it’s clear that the authorities don’t find this event amusing, even if the pilots themselves seemed to. One pilot even quipped “Wish I could bring my kid to work.”

Now, it must be said that we have to officially agree with the FAA on this. While it might be okay to have your son sitting beside you and watching as you work, it’s conceivable that a pilot might become a little thrown off his game by suddenly hearing a child’s voice on his headset — at the very least, it might cause him to doubt the information being related, and that could potentially cause some serious issues. However, we have no doubt that the boy was merely repeating what his father was telling him to say, not actually directing the planes himself. If the suspension here seems unjust, it’s important to bear in mind the full scope of what’s at stake, which includes human lives. This incident is unfortunate, no less so for the boy, who we hope doesn’t take the guilt of his father’s suspension on himself.

Among these categories are Favorite Music Group, Favorite Cartoon, Favorite Book, Favorite Male and Female Athlete, and a host of other choices as well. The landing page offers up Favorite Couple, which has historically featured fictional pair-ups, and this year’s offerings are similar: “New Moon’s” Edward and Bella, Jacob and Bella, and “Avatar’s” Neytiri and Jake. However, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are also on the ballot, an interesting change from standard form.

Though the Web site does not specifically state when the voting will shut down, because it’s an online submission, presumably voters will retain the opportunity to make their choices right up until the moment the show airs; there is a countdown timer on the site to remind visitors when that will commence.

While some may deride the Kids’ Choice Awards vote as being merely populist and twee, and despite some controversy over other show’s awards, there is real value in introducing kids to the power of casting their vote. Though it’s likely that not every choice of theirs will win, there’s a good chance that at least one of them will. Once a kid sees that her vote helped her choice to win, she will feel a surge of empowerment, and that’s a significant feeling for a child. It sends the message that individual voices matter, and that can lead to a lifetime habit of voting, which can only benefit us all. So vote early, vote often, kids and adults! Check out the Kids’ Choice Awards website and make your voices heard!

TO VOTE, CLICK HERE!

Michael had been in drug rehab numerous times, but coroner reports on the possibility of drugs in his system at the time of his death are inconclusive. It could take up to six weeks for the full toxicology report to reveal the full story.

Mourners are shocked that such a close-knit family — and one that on the surface seems to positive and full of joy — could lose a member to a depression-related death. It’s not always easy for people to appreciate the factors that can lead to true, clinical depression, and exactly how insidious the condition can become. Those who have known loved ones with depression understand that it’s very rarely a case of outside influences being the sole cause, and that many times it can be the result of a chemical imbalance. From the outside looking in, one might seem to have a blessed, happy life, but we can never truly know what demons a person might be wrestling with — or how long they can continue to endure them.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the crippling effects of depression, please consider seeking professional help. There is nothing shameful in a desire to improve the quality of one’s life, and there are numerous programs available that can be of great assistance in your darkest moments. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Osmond and Blosil families.

The baby is the first child of Carrey’s daughter Jane Erin and her husband Alex Santana, a musician with the group Blood Money. The baby is said to be healthy and doing well, no birth complications reported.

What kind of grandfather do you think Jim Carrey will make? Will he be the goofy, lovable grandpa who resembles the manic characters he plays on-screen? Or is that film persona just an act he’ll drop in favor of being a more calm, yet no less loving grandpappy? Will Jackson make the connection between the movie madman in a grotesque green mask and the man bouncing him on his knee? Films live on forever … what will this grand baby think of Jim Carrey the actor?

“There is a possibility there was a cyberattack,” said Minnesota Department of Commerce spokesperson Nicole Garrison-Sprenger, though given the popularity of such programs around the country, it seems more likely that the site simply wasn’t prepared to handle the number of visitors it had received. By all accounts, it’s likely that the money allocated to this program won’t last for long, so it’s important to take advantage of this initiative while it lasts.

[UPDATE] The daytime toll-free number is 1-800-657-3710, the hotline number is 1-877-230-9119, and the website is mnappliancerebate.com. This program is country-wide, and already in effect in some states. You can get specific information at EcoRebates. It must be said that committing to “greening up” America is a laudable step for the government to make, and every little bit does help. At the same time, most people probably think their existing appliances work just fine — at least well enough for them not to consider having to spend money on a machine that isn’t immediately at death’s door. In this economy, the purchase of a new refrigerator might seem like a luxury to some. Given the events of the morning, however, it does appear to be the right move at this time for the government. Whether or not this flurry of new economic activity trickles down to have a beneficial effect remains to be seen.

For the most part, this is rock ‘n’ roll easy listening. The songs are fairly catchy, but you might tire of the “brain” theme after a while. Of the 14 songs on the album, 10 have the word “brain” in the title. Fortunately, the tunes are unique to themselves and are well-crafted. On a second listen-through, the lyric “Turn on your brain like a laser beam of light” really snagged my attention. For an album about intelligence and brainy matters, a redundancy like “laser beam of light” just irked me (for those not in the know, “laser” is an acronym that means “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation” — a laser can’t be anything other than light).

In general, I appreciated the wit of the rhymes (“They send the blueprint to the cerebellum/That’s the part of your brain that knows just what to tell ‘em”), even though “The Left Brain/Right Brain Song” features an extremely poor fake British accent that had me gnashing my teeth. Will kids like this? It might be better experienced live, with a chorus of kids singing along. As a standalone album, it’s fine, and maybe your little listeners will learn a few things about the brain while they’re bopping along.

Bari Koral is a singer-songwriter and yoga instructor from New York with an indie music solo career who decided to start writing kid-friendly music after performing for a crowd of children one day, finding that she enjoyed the enthusiasm and great vibes from the audience. Her voice is reminiscent of performers like Jewel and Jill Sobule, but she’s definitely got her own style — bubbly and personable, with a sense of humor that shines through the lyrics.

Her album “Rock and Roll Garden” features songs about how different colors make her feel (“Colors”), filling a backpack with yummy things (“Backpack”), and popcorn (“Pop”). Don’t let the seemingly tween nature of these descriptions dissuade you from giving Koral a try; her music is catchy and lively, and you’ll find yourself humming them to yourself after only a couple of listens. Many of these tunes feature a vocal hook that kids will love to repeat (and really, isn’t that the essence of all good music?), and a few even offer somatic instructions for kids to follow, getting them to jump, sit and stand, spin, and dance along with the lyrics.

“Rock and Roll Garden” singlehandedly goes a long way toward changing parents’ presumption of what kid’s music is and can be. It’s well-worth the purchase.

Quest’s game designer and technology professor Katie Salen says “Games are exceptionally good at engaging kids. They drop kids into complex problems where they fail and fail, but they try again and again.” Among the topics being studied are math, English, health, social studies, science, and of course, game design. The key to success for Quest’s 72 students are learning lessons through hands-on play in a social context.

Whether or not this approach will prove viable remains to be seen, but Department of Education director Gregg Betheil is optimistic. “We need new ways to create a passion for learning. The planning has been extremely thoughtful. It seemed like a chance worth taking.”

As a lifelong player of video games myself, I’m of two minds about this approach. First, these are obviously custom-built games designed to teach very specific concepts within the school itself. Second, it’s true that, as Mr. Spock has famously said, “The greater the intelligence, the greater the need for play”. However, I wonder if any thought is being given to teaching these kids how to think of real-life problems as video game puzzles that need to be solved? Will the concepts still carry over when presented in a non-game context? The world of the video game is a safe one, where rules are followed and players have special powers. Is Quest helping prepare kids for the real world, or will this training collapse under the weight of reality?

After leaving the board of directors in 1984 and experiencing a series of changes of fortune, Roy returned to Disney and was instrumental in installing Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, and Jeffrey Katzenberg into executive positions, paving the way for the new computer-based animation methodology that led to the studio’s triumphant return to moviemaking prominence.

Roy E. Disney died today at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach of stomach cancer, which he had been fighting for some time. He is survived by his two daughters, two sons, and sixteen grandchildren.

It’s clear that Roy’s strong sense of ethics and values were the motivating factor in his decision to challenge the top executives at Disney, and the results speak for themselves — “The Princess and the Frog” is a direct descendant of the classic films that made the studio a household name. Though his path may have been rocky, and his fortunes at times tumultuous, Roy was a living example of how important dedication to one’s ideals can be.

School officials apparently mistook the picture for a sign of mental instability, and not only suspended the child, but refused his re-entrance to school pending a psychological evaluation at his parents’ expense. Of course, there was no finding of threat, so the boy was readmitted to his class the following day, though not after feeling reluctant to return due to the traumatic event.

Let’s be clear on two points: 1) in Christian mythology, Jesus did die on the cross. The Crucifixion is the main element of the attendant iconography; and 2) There wouldn’t be a Christmas without Jesus Christ. So it’s incredibly short-sighted for the school to have punished this 8 year old for simply connecting the dots. Simply depicting an image that is both widespread and publicly available is neither a crime nor an example of instability. That the referring article links this incident with an earlier one at a different school in which a drawing showing actual violence is misleading.

It’s understandable in these times to be vigilant and cautious, but sometimes greater wrongs are committed in an excess of fear. Please, everyone, let’s temper our concerns with the judicious use of reason.

Over the course of eight weeks — twice a day, for an hour and fifteen minutes’ play time — Bunge’s team discovered that the students’ IQ had jumped an amazing 13 points, at least in the realm of reasoning. To put that in perspective, this type of leap typically takes a child a full year of education to achieve.

Bunge’s team also tested processing speed using different games that focused on that type of intelligence, and found a similar increase. However, a closer look at the results of both tests also displayed that there were no crossover benefits — each student gained an increase in the type of intelligence specific only to that test. The most interesting finding of these experiments, however, is that the students with the worst scores before their eight weeks began ended up showing the strongest improvements after their stint had concluded.

Clearly, there is more going on in our minds when we play than mere amusement. As heartening as these studies are, let’s not forget the significance of the social aspect of gaming, especially for families who make time for regular gaming with each other. Co-operation, strategy, resource management — many games teach valuable lessons for young brains. By playing games with our children, we’re also letting them see that being an adult doesn’t mean constant seriousness; we can have fun too. So if you haven’t already, tuck in a boardgame amid your child’s Christmas gifts this year. It really will be a gift that keeps on giving.

In 1967, Roberts’s biological mother was raped by Charles Manson, the notorious head of the “Manson Family”, who were responsible for the infamous Los Angeles murders in 1969. Roberts has since been carrying on correspondence with Manson, who is 75 years old and still in prison.

More than anything else, this seems to me to be the clearest case for the notion that it’s nurture, not nature, that determines what a child’s personality will become. Roberts describes himself as someone who “worships Gandhi” and “[doesn't] even kill bugs”. It isn’t known whether or not Roberts’ adoptive parents were aware of his paternity, so we can’t say whether they felt misgivings about his search. From numerous second-hand reports, however, it is something that many adoptive parents dread. In this particular case, how will this revelation affect Roberts? Will it spur him to become an even better person? Will he attempt to try to make amends for the sins of his father? We wish him only the best, and hope that he will achieve the insight to know how to integrate this event into his life in a positive way.

The stranger then went next door and began to pound on Duri’s neighbor’s door for help. The neighbor called an ambulance, which arrived with the police to take care of the wounded man. And finally, after enduring two years of legal proceedings, court prosecutors have said ” … there was no reasonable prospect of conviction”. When asked about his experience, Duri said ” … you’ve just got to get on with your life, put it behind you.”

There have been some extraordinary measures taken by parents in fear for their families’ safety; prodigious feats of strength and endurance, and personal safety ignored. It’s a terrible thing not to feel safe in one’s own home, and surely any court in the world would understand a father doing anything in his power to protect his children. It’s incredible that what seems cut-and-dried can drag out to two years of deliberations. But as with everything in life, we must all learn to be patient and have faith — in whatever you choose — that the truth will out, and wise heads will prevail. The wheels of the justice system turn slowly at best, but they do turn. Let’s model calm and surety for our children, who will profit from our teaching.

Daniella Delaney, editor of Practical Parenting and Pregnancy, says that it’s normal to remove blotchy coloration from skin and spittle, but neither confirmed nor denied that fat rolls were removed. ” … we don’t have a hit list of thing[s] we look out for.”

This is an alarming trend that has been in the media for years, but it never once occurred to me that it might be applied to babies. I’d think the reasoning behind retouching adult models is to project an ideal to the reader that they can emulate if they choose to, and the magazine is then filled with advertisements for products that will help them do that. But babies look the way they do naturally, and develop the way they do according to biological imperatives. Why on Earth would you want to slim down your infant, or even pretend that that is a desirable outcome?

This expectation of an arbitrarily-decided perfection is insidious in many respects, not the least of which is the fact that it’s non-functional. If you are a horrible person, your physical appearance will not change that. The beauty industry emphasizes all the wrong aspects of humanity, and it needs to stop. No one can ever look as “good” as they do in a photo, nor should they. Parents, please raise your children to understand that outward appearances are never as important as inner beauty. You will spare us all a lot of grief in the long run.