She says that Michael saw his death coming, telling her that he feared for his life and that he thought he might be murdered for his music catalog and his estate. This prediction lends eerie significance to his last words to his daughter, Paris, who told her aunt “Prince and I were arguing, and Daddy said, ‘Stop fighting with your brother. I’m not always going to be here, and you’re going to have to be the lady and watch over them.’”

On June 25, 2009, La Toya recalls receiving news of her brother’s death and rushing to the hospital. There she found her mother with Michael’s weeping children, and at the kids’ insistence they all went in to say their farewells. “We all held hands. And we all prayed to him. And we all just said all of our special thanks to him, what he’s done for the world and for his family and the whole bit, and how much we loved him, and brushing his hair, wiping his face.”

Having a final moment with their father was an important act. “It was closure for them,” says La Toya. “They never cried again. I never saw them shed a tear after that.” She recounts the touching last gift that Paris gave her father: “She had made a special request of me during our fitting for the clothes we would wear to the memorial: ‘Auntie La Toya, I would like to give Daddy a half of a heart necklace. I’ll have one half, and he’ll have one half.’ … ‘Daddy, this is for you,’ she said. ‘I have this part of the heart. And I want you to have this other part and carry it with you.’”

She describes Michael Jackson as a strict and protective parent, shielding his children Prince, Paris and Blanket from the media and allowing them to watch only educational programming. They were never exposed to any media accounts of their famous father. Not surprising, given the late King of Pop’s own first-hand experience with childhood in the spotlight. Wonder what he’d think about his sister selling them out now?

While everyone should know about the dangers of backyard pools, it seems many parents are not including small portable pools in that category, not realizing that any amount of water in a pool can pose a drowning risk. “Because they’re relatively cheap, and they’re easy to assemble and disassemble, they’re really not on the radar screen,” says Dr. Gary Smith, senior author of study and a pediatric emergency physician.

The study, conducted at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is the first to look specifically at drownings that occur in portable pools. Researchers reviewed information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and found that 244 serious incidents involving children under 12 in portable pools were reported from 2001 to 2009, including 209 deaths and 35 near-drownings. These findings are in fact very similar to drowning rates in in-ground pools, showing that portable pools are no safer than bigger pools.

 Dr. Smith and his team found that 94% of reported incidents involved children under 5, and 73% were in the child’s own backyard. Disturbingly, only 43% of incidents were under parental supervision, indicating that in nearly 6 out of ten incidents the child had been left unattended in the pool. In the remaining cases, although parents were present, they had let their guard down momentarily, underestimating the risks.

Researchers focused on portable pools ranging from wading pools less than 18 inches deep to inflatable pools up to 4 feet deep: anything that is filled only temporarily and can easily be drained and put away. For small, temporary pools like these, safety measures such as fences, alarms and safety covers are not really possible. The critical requirement, as for any pool, is direct adult supervision. It is not enough for parents to be nearby; children should always be accompanied in the water and never out of arm’s reach. The study concludes that more consumer education and affordable protective devices are needed.

Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury death among young children. “I tell parents that drowning is quick, it’s silent and it’s final,” says Dr. Smith.

The U.S. Open golf tournaments brings throngs of visitors to the neighborhood around the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, and many residents are cashing in. Many opted to pay the county around $300 for the right to charge up to $60 per car to park on their property. Some claim to be making enough “to send their kids to college” – implying up to tens of thousands in profit.

Meanwhile, one small lemonade stand has drawn the attention of county officials, because it was operating without a permit. Yes, it is actually illegal for kids to run a lemonade stand in their own front yard without a county-issued vendor’s license.

Although most lemonade stands making a few dollars in pocket change might not draw the attention of local law enforcement, officials argue that this one was making considerably more. Also, they pointed out that other vendors have received similar warnings not to set up in the vicinity of the U.S. Open due to safety and traffic issues.

Still, it seems a little harsh to shut down a bunch of little kids, taking part in a quintessentially iconic bit of summertime American free enterprise, especially since the money raised was to go to pediatric cancer research. Now instead, their families will be coughing up 5 bills for the county coffers.

So what’s the appeal? Why do so many people tune in to watch inappropriately dressed, spoiled, 5-year-old brats throw temper tantrums and get their eyebrows waxed?

Maybe, as women, we like to revisit our girlhood fantasies of dressing up like princesses, because really, that part of it would be many girls’ dream come true. Maybe, as mothers, we like to be judgmental of the pageant moms who are screwing their daughters up way worse than we are. Maybe, as humans, we just like rubbernecking at other people’s outrageous behavior.

While I like watching a train wreck as much as the next TV-addled couch potato, when I take a step back and realize that these are REAL LITTLE GIRLS and not just pixels on the TV screen, my stomach churns. Yes, the pageant moms have their heads screwed on backwards and yes, these little girls are missing out on normal childhoods, but the real problem here is that America keeps watching.

If you don’t like these pageants, STOP WATCHING. We live in a capitalist society, and anything that continues to draw an audience and make money will continue to happen. You may not be pushing your daughters to compete against Makenzie Myers or Eden Wood; you may not be driving either of these girls from the spray tan salon to the pageant stage; but as long as you keep watching, you’re contributing to the mess.

Old Glory is a beautiful flag, but let’s face it: it’s not the easiest for little hands (or even big ones) to draw! So many stripes, so many stars… it’s easier to remember how it all fits together if you know what it means. Here are the basics:

• There are 7 red and 6 white stripes, adding up to 13 to represent the original 13 colonies.
• These stripes alternate so that the top-most and bottom-most stripes are red.
• There are 50 white stars on a field of blue, representing the 50 states in the Union.
• Start with a row of 6 stars, followed by 5 stars underneath; alternate until you have 9 rows, ending with a row of 6 stars.
• Red stands for hardiness and valor.
• White stands for purity and innocence.
• Blue stances for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Do you fly a flag at your home or cottage? Will you be decorating with flags for the 4^th of July? Here are some rules of flag etiquette to remember, as set out in the Flag Code:

• The flag should not be used as drapery or decoration. Blue, white and red bunting should be used instead, with the blue stripe on top.
• The flag should not be embroidered or printed on items such as cushions, napkins, boxes or anything intended to be discarded after use.
• The flag should never have any mark, number, word, figure or drawing of any kind upon it.
• No part of the flag should ever touch the ground.
• The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly.
• The flag should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset, and it should be illuminated if displayed at night.
• The United States flag should be raised before and flown higher than the flag of any state, community or organization. If the flags are the same height, the U.S. flag should be to its own right.
• When flown with flags of other countries, all national flags must be on separate poles of the same height. All flags should be the same size and raised and lowered at the same time.

The flag should be cleaned and mended as necessary. When it becomes too old to represent our country, it should be burned ceremoniously. Many American Legions Posts and Boy and Girl Scout Troops have annual flag burning ceremonies on Flag Day. If your flag is looking tattered, call your local Legion Hall or Scout Troop to participate.

The Wiggles – Getting Strong

Please God, make it stop! My kids love these four Aussies and their dinosaur, but it gets limited play in our house because I simply cannot stand it. The too-short, too-cheerful ditties have no artistry that a grown-up ear can appreciate.

Choo Choo Soul – Choo Choo Soul

Why do kids love trains so much? This CD/DVD combo was an instant hit in our house. The videos of Genevieve, the conductor, and DC, the engineer, singing and dancing with real kids on an animated train are as colorful and fun as you would expect from Disney. The R&B styled songs about ABCs, 123s and zoo animals are as catchy as anything on the radio, and I don’t even mind when I find myself singing them after the kids are in bed.

Raffi – Singable Songs for the Very Young and The Corner Grocery Store

These are absolute favorites from my childhood, and my kids love them too. Raffi, to me, records perfect children’s music – simple and silly, with an emphasis on vocals rather than instrumentation so kids really can sing along. If these were the only kids’ albums we had, I’d be happy, and I think my kids would be too.

Nana Mouskouri – Pour Les Enfants

Another classic from my childhood, and does this woman ever have a beautiful voice! This is a children’s album sung in French. The melodies are beautiful, even haunting, and perfect for relaxing before naptime or bedtime. Your kids may not understand the lyrics but exposure to another language can only be a good thing.

For the Kids – For the Kids and For the Kids Too

This series of compilations features artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tom Waits and Cake singing kids’ songs that sound more like grown-up music. That’s great, for the grown-ups. Actually, there are some real gems on both of these albums, and the kids do like them even if they can’t sing along. These may be more accurately considered kid-friendly music for parents.

They Might Be Giants – Here Comes Science

Welcome to geek central! This is an entire album of songs and videos about photosynthesis, evolution and the scientific method. My kids love it, even if most of the science is going over their heads. And if you’re at all familiar with TMBG, you’ll know it’s maddeningly catchy. Really, I can’t stop singing about computer assisted design, for Pete’s sake. This one’s love/hate for me. It’s great music; I just wish it would leave me alone when we turn it off.

1. Bed time. It’s not just the bedtime routine that’s important; it’s the actual bed time. We had been starting the bedtime routine at 8:00, which generally meant lights went out around 8:30. And then kids were up with one complaint or another until 10:30. Then one day we decided to shift bedtime snack up to 7:30, so that meant actual bedtime was 8:00. And like magic, the kids fell asleep. Really, are you kidding me? Putting them in bed earlier means they fall asleep faster? Turns out there’s a magic bedtime window when kids are tired, but not too overtired and cranky to fall asleep. Try an earlier bedtime, and for Pete’s sake, don’t keep them up later so that they’re “good and tired” – that backfires!
2. Music. Both of our kids have CD players in their rooms that play lullaby CDs on endless repeat until they are deep, deep in dreamland. Our four-year-old has a selection of favorites he’s built up over the years, ranging from Fisher Price Tender Lullabies to Leonard Cohen. Our two-year-old has listened to the same dime-store lullaby CD every nap time and every bedtime for over a year. It’s part Pavlovian response – the first few bars of the first song are enough to make them drowsy. It’s part comfort and familiarity – something kids crave at bedtime, like a favorite teddy bear. And it’s part soundproofing from the rest of the house – we play the CD just loud enough to cover up the sounds of life in the rest of the house.
3. Nightlight. Our oldest had never complained of the dark or asked for a nightlight, so we hadn’t bothered with one. Just before his fourth birthday, though, he started coming into our room almost every night, complaining of nightmares. Our pediatrician suggested a nightlight, saying that he might be rousing slightly in the middle of the night, after we’re in bed and the lights are off, and getting disoriented and frightened in the dark. This was another magic solution – he immediately went back to sleeping soundly through the night.
4. Massage. My daughter has always loved massages. In fact, she liked it so much that by around a year old, anytime she sat in Daddy’s lap she would put his hands on her back and say, “Rub!” Soon, she was asking for a bedtime rub, and that’s still the final step in her bedtime routine. My son, also, at some point started asking for a bedtime massage, and he’s very particular about how it’s done – legs and feet first, then arms, then back, then face. That last part goes back to when he was a tiny infant and I would stroke his face to get him to sleep. It still relaxes him, and my intense little boy often drifts off to sleep with a relaxed smile on his face.
5. 15 minute check-ins. This is something I stumbled across in a moment of parenting genius. It has worked on both kids, on many occasions, despite their very different temperaments. Every kid goes through phases from time to time of just not falling asleep. For whatever reason, they stay awake for hours, calling Mommy or Daddy every few minutes because they need a drink, they heard a noise, they need to go pee, etc. When these bedtime callbacks get out of hand, I say, “Don’t call me for anything. Just relax in bed. I will be back in 15 minutes, to see if you need anything.” This has a few advantages. It puts you in charge of the situation, rather than being at the child’s beck and call. It lets you continue with whatever you’re doing – at least the interruptions are predictable. It forces the child to lie quietly and begin relaxing in spite of himself, while still addressing his anxieties. It usually only takes a couple of 15-minute periods for kids to fall asleep, and after a couple nights of this they’re back to falling asleep on their own.

I live on a corner lot, which means that my “backyard” is exposed to the street on two sides. Due to an unfortunate combination of lot layout and local by-laws, we’re not allowed to put up a privacy fence. All we have is a token 27-inch tall ornamental fence, mostly to discourage neighborhood dogs from trampling our gardens. For the most part I don’t mind this. We live in a great neighborhood, and we get along with all of our neighbors in spite of their wandering dogs. We don’t feel too badly on display – our little fence actually seems to work as a psychological barrier, telling passersby to avert their eyes. One thing recently has been making me uncomfortable, though.

My two preschool-aged children, like most I would imagine, have a habit of stripping off their clothes and running around as free and beautiful as Nature made them. This, to me, is one of the prerogatives of early childhood. My sister and I did it, and there are snapshots of us running naked through the sprinkler to prove it. Those were more innocent times, I suppose. Now there’s a general taboo around birthday-suit photos. And while I don’t want to crush my children’s free spirits or teach them shame of their bodies so early, I can’t help being afraid for them. Who knows who might be walking by at any given moment? I don’t want my children providing fodder for someone’s fantasies. From there, my imagination runs to them becoming targets of a perverted photographer, and worse scenarios that my media-fueled paranoia won’t allow me to set down in black and white.

My then 4-year-old nephew once told me after his mother dropped him off for a play date that he wasn’t allowed to play outside because “somebody might steal me.” Where do you draw the line between protecting your children and allowing them the simple joys in life?

When my husband and I decided to start a family, we agreed right off the bat to space our children close together. It was mainly a matter of age: we had left the child-rearing stage of life a little later than some, and we didn’t want to be changing diapers in our 40s. We felt it was the only suitable option, but we debated the pros and cons nonetheless. We discussed our own childhood situations, and those of people we’d known growing up. Would a bigger age gap between children make a close sibling relationship less likely? Would siblings close in age be best friends or bitter rivals?

Naively, perhaps, we didn’t really give much thought to the logistics of parenting two small children at once. Our kids are 23 months apart. The first month verged on a nightmare. My 2-year-old son absolutely adored his baby sister, but had an extremely difficult time adjusting to the change in family dynamic. Between 24-hour newborn care and what felt like 24-hour toddler tantrums, we nearly lost our minds. Thankfully, just as my midwife promised, toddler memories are short, and after the longest, haziest four weeks of my life it was as if he’d always been an older brother. The next 12 months continued to be trying, though. Trying to get two small children ready and out the door to go anywhere in the bitter Northern winter was a monumental task. Forget sleeping; they never napped at the same time, and the baby was a night owl for the first six months. In retrospect, potty training a toddler while breastfeeding an infant every two hours may not have been the best idea.

When my youngest was nearly a year old, we encountered another mother with her kids at the park. Her children were 2 and 4, respectively a year older than mine. She smiled knowingly and told me that the first year was really hard, but the payoff in the end was worth it. And sure enough, a month or so later my daughter was walking and talking, gaining a little independence, and able to play with her brother. They’ve been inseparable ever since. I can cook dinner or talk on the phone without constant interruptions and demands for attention, because they entertain each other. Dropping my daughter off with a babysitter is no problem as long as her big brother is there. And nothing brings me pure joy like hearing my two children, now 2 and 4, giggling insanely together, or seeing them cuddled on the couch in front of morning cartoons, arms around each other.

I know that every child is different and every family is different, and that what worked for us won’t necessarily apply to anyone else. I also know that my children are still young; there are many ages and stages to get through yet, and they may not always be this enamored of each other. For the time being, however, not a day goes by that my husband don’t enjoy our children enjoying each other, look at each other smugly and congratulate each other on our wise decision.