Given the spate of media bs floating around the Internet these days part of me finds it hard to believe a rumor that anyone would want to botox their kid's feet. Then, part of me realizes the drama is surrounding Sharon Stone and thinks there could be a kernel of truth to the rumor. After all, the actress and one-time sexpot has basically gone off the wall in recent years, making crazy statements and acting crazy in general--and it no longer seems like a publicity stunt to draw attention and viewers to Basic Instinct 2.
Stone is mom to eight-year-old Roan, and her custody of him is currently under question. Allegedly she has lost custody of her son after overreacting to his foot odor by thinking he should get botox in his feet. According to reports (rumors!) the judge agreed that Stone was overreacting and causing pain to her child, and has granted primary custody to the actress' ex, Phil Bronstein. Sharon will get to see him one weekend a month.
That seems so terrible for a mother to lose custody of her child and to only be able to see him on a monthly basis. I would be crushed if that happened to me. Of course, as crazy and hormonal as I am in the last stages of pregnancy, I still wouldn't think it was a good idea to botox my son's feet. Poor Sharon--she really must be suffering from some sort of emotional disorder or complications from her brain surgery to make those sorts of decision (if they're true, and they appear to be).
A family of nine children, ranging in age from one to seventeen, was left at a Nebraska hospital on Wednesday, thanks in part to the state's unique safe haven law. Generally, such laws are intended to protect newborn infants from being killed or left to die by allowing the parents to leave them at a hospital or police station without fear of prosecution.
That's the way Nebraska's law started out too -- but concern over arbitrary age limits led to the inclusion of the term "child" in the law, allowing it to apply to, some say, anyone up to the age of nineteen. The nine children left at Creighton University Medical Center were brought in by their father. "It was the parents not wanting to continue the journey with their kids," said Todd Landry of Children and Family Services, speaking of the older kids that have been abandoned since the law went into effect. In addition to the nine siblings, two other, unrelated, boys, aged eleven and fifteen, were also left at a hospital.
I can sort of understand a parent feeling the need to give up a newborn infant -- they may be unable to care for the baby or may not be ready for that sort of responsibility -- but I can't imagine abandoning a child older than that, let alone a teenager. By the time a kid is a year or two old, I would imagine that any parent would have bonded with them enough to make such an action impossible. And what about the kids? What sort of effect would this have on kids old enough to understand what's happening? It seems to me that Nebraska better start budgeting for a whole lot of therapists if this keeps up.
These days, you can get just about anything on-line. Apparently, "just about anything" includes a sperm donor. I don't know how legitimate this is, but given the purchases made by the Golden Palace Casino, and the recent auctions for young women's virginity, it certainly could be real, even if it isn't. A blogger has decided that she's ready to have a baby and, not having a handy man around the house, has posted on her blog looking for one.
Amy Jones says she is twenty-six years old, has "most of a PhD in Biophysics and will be finishing my JD before the child is born" and will be able to work from home, for the most part, once she returns to work. Going by the picture posted (which may or may not be of the young lady in question), I would think she would have little or no trouble finding a "sperm donor" in the real world, without putting it all out there on the internet. It strikes me as a little sensationalist and unnecessary.
Further, if she is really interested in raising a child (and not just some hot unprotected sex), why not consider adopting? Then she wouldn't have to go through nine months of discomfort at best and sheer hell at worst. Even if she is desperate for a genetic connection, at twenty-six, she's still got at least a dozen years to find a partner to help raise the kid. I'm not saying two parents are necessary, but it sure makes it a lot easier. Truth be told, I'm not sure what to think of this. What say you?
Kate Moss has been known for a lot of things. In the eighties she was the face of the Calvin Klein fragrance Obsession. She was a supermodel. She was constantly embattled over her (lack of) weight. Then she had a child, and normalcy returned, until she was constantly in the spotlight for drugs and alleged partying ways.
In fact, rumor had it that Kate split from her most recent boyfriend, rocker Jamie Hince, because of her lifestyle. Not so, insists a source, who claims the real reason the couple split is that Moss was ready to become a mom again. According to the source the supermodel was keen to add to her family, which already consists of five-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
So maybe Kate really is like the rest of us? She wanted a commitment, couldn't get one from the guy--he wanted to focus on his band--and perhaps she felt the clock ticking. Or not. I mean, this woman carries handbags that are worth more than my rent. But hey, you gotta feel for a woman who, if it's true, puts her family (and her biological needs) first. Good luck, Kate!
Kate's no stranger to the camera. Perhaps if she succeeds in becoming a mom again, she can join the ranks of these pregnant cover girls:
Very few people in my high school managed to get through those years without at least dabbling in recreational drugs. While I think that speaks volumes about the high school I attended, it also reveals the inexperience and ignorance of most of our parents. Having grown up in a different era, our parents just had no idea the kind of trouble available to us kids.
These days, most of my high school classmates are parents themselves and have long since lost interest in getting high. But for some people nearing middle age, these are the years to experiment. In Australia, a national study has revealed that many suburban moms over the age of 30 are discovering the drug ecstasy - and liking it.
Ecstasy produces a euphoric feeling while at the same time diminishing fears and anxieties. Experts say this type of high appeals to people who see it as a safe alternative to alcohol. Relationships Australia vice-president Anne Hollonds says that these women are misinformed about the harmful effects of the drug and are putting themselves - and their children - at risk. "These are people who sometimes haven't had involvement with substances the first time round, but second time round they might, particularly to reinforce their youthfulness, to be able to fit in and all of those things because they're often quite emotionally vulnerable," she said. "There's also a lot of risks associated with that in relation to the care of the children."
There have been very few studies into the harmful effects of ecstasy, but what is known about the drug is pretty scary. The main ingredient, methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), is a neurotoxin which kills brain cells and can possibly cause permanent brain damage. And that is if you get the real stuff. Authorities say that some dealers are selling 'fake ecstasy', which contains no MDMA, but is loaded with amphetamines and ketamine, a horse tranquilizer. That cannot be good.
Of course, this study focuses on Australian women, but I would imagine the chances are good that this is happening in the U.S. as well.
Actor Mark Wahlberg says he is committed to making his relationship work. The former Funky Bunch member has realized, right along with the rest of us, that staying together and keeping a relationship going is hard work, but is committed to staying the course.
Walhberg at one time broke up with partner Rhea Durham, who is the mother of two of his children. The couple, now very much back together, are expecting a third child together in a matter of months. The two are planning on getting married at some point after being on and off again several times over the years. Wahlberg admits that walking away from the relationship was a mistake.
It takes a strong person to admit mistakes and an even stronger one to try to work them out. Harder still is staying together in the Hollywood climate. Couples seem to get together and break up with the weather, even when there are children involved. Kudos to Wahlberg for not giving up (Durham too--she could have said no to getting back together). As Wahlberg said in his own words, "...going away doesn't make it work."
Ladies and gentlemen, Minnie Driver has finally had her baby. After what seemed like an endless pregnancy, and one surrounded by mystery, the Circle of Friends star has given birth to a baby boy.
First time mom Driver chose to forgo finding out the sex of her baby and refused to reveal the name of the baby's father, although much speculation has come of her decision. Little Henry Story Driver arrived Friday weighing in at nine pounds, twelve ounces! No word on whether the birth was natural or C-section, but both mom and tot seem to be doing just fine.
Driver was previously seen flaunting her mommy curves in a bikini and clearly enjoying her pregnancy. She has also stated she plans on most likely being a single mom and raising Henry with the help of family and friends. Oh, and she STILL hasn't spilled the beans about the daddy. You go, girl!!!
Saturday Night Live alum David Spade is a father, thanks to the miracle of science. According to DNA tests, he is the daddy of ex-girlfriend Jillian Grace's new baby. Although Spade and the model are no longer an item, he did not deny her claims he was the father of her unborn child.
Spade had previously noted that if the DNA tests came back positive for the new tot he would accept responsibility. Well, David, welcome to the wonderful world of (celebrity) parenting. Few other details are known of the baby, who was born August 26th. Looks like Spade is taking the high road on this one and keeping his child out of the spotlight.
The Rules of Engagement star kept in contact with Jillian during the pregnancy and plans to see the baby during breaks in filming. Let's hope he does more than that--I want to see Spade in a sling, or at least a bjorn!!!
Parents every where are finding themselves saying "no" more often this summer. This tough economy, coupled with painful gas prices and the rising costs of feeding a family mean that there's less money leftover for luxury items. I was relieved when my daughter decided to reuse last year's backpack, and since she's not yet old enough to realize that back-to-school often means an entire new wardrobe for other kids, I was able to get off easy with one new "first day" outfit (on clearance, no less), a lunch box, and a new pair of sneakers, making back-to-school shopping relatively painless.
But in these difficult times, some families aren't just having to say no to "wants," they're finding themselves unable to fill the needs of their families as well. Heather Ryan recently shared her own experience in Salon's new regular feature "Pinched," essays about life in a poor economy. Though Heather was employed and working full time, she couldn't cover her monthly expenses and ended up taking her three children to a soup kitchen one summer, because she feared running out of food by the end of the month.
She writes eloquently, and you can feel her pain and her fear as she worries about condemnation from the soup kitchen staff and faces her older daughter's shame and embarrassment. It had to be difficult to take the step, but far more difficult to realize that you were unable to provide in the first place.
We've all seen swimmer Micheal Phelps' mother and sisters cheering him on from the stands as he makes history at the Beijing Olympics. Conspicuously missing from this family picture is his father, Fred. Not only is Fred absent in China, he hasn't even spoken to his son since the games began.
"He's so busy, I'm sure not even his agent can get a hold of him," Fred said. "I'm very proud of him and all he's done. This is not about me, it's about him." Michael's parents were high school sweethearts who divorced when he was just nine years old. "It was like a storybook [marriage], but sometimes chapters go in different directions," says his mother Debbie. "We were close, but we grew apart."
Clearly Fred Phelps grew apart not just from his wife, but from his son as well. When Fred showed up at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Michael admitted that up until that point, he hadn't been in contact with his father since he graduated high school. He also revealed that his father hadn't even reached out to him after he set his first world record in 2001. "There are reasons and I really don't want to get into that," Michael said.
Whatever those reasons were, they clearly were not resolved. After the 2004 Games, father and son became estranged once more. And while Fred Phelps watches from afar, Michael Phelps gives credit for his success where credit is due. "The person I love the most is sitting in the front row - my mom - for everything she's done," Michael told reporters in Beijing.
(Click the photo to see the 10 Dumbest Laws in America)
For one thirteen-day-old baby, life is turning out to be no cake walk. A newborn brought into the world nearly two weeks ago by native Indian Priti Patel, who served as a surrogate mother, is stuck in India. Her would-be parents, Ikufumi Yamada and Yuki Yamada, divorced right before she was born.
Yuki no longer wants to adopt the child, but Ikufumi does. According to Indian law, however, children may not be adopted by single men. As a result, the newborn is living in India with Ikufumi 's mother, who is staying on to care for the newborn. The baby has yet to be adopted. Since she has no adoption papers, she cannot be issued a passport. And, because she can't get a passport, she can't leave the country.
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Patel has also left the scene after serving as the surrogate. She is part of a process known as commercial surrogacy wherein couples who cannot have a child on their own provide the sperm and eggs to a surrogate mother, who carries the child to term and then is paid a fee for her services. The couple then generally adopt their child and are on their merry way. Not so much for the twelve-day-old, who at this point I don't think even has a name! What a sad state things are in when a little technical legality keeps a man from legitimately adopting his own child!
Did you ever play with paper dolls? Perhaps you did when you were young. Perhaps, even now, you continue to collect them for nostalgia's sake, or to refrain back to your old days when you didn't have kids and were one yourself. Well, in the world of paper dolls comes along a set that is fun and humorous and possibly just a wee bit controversial: The pregnant paper doll.
The pregnant paper doll is intended as a gift for the mother-to-be who has a sense of humor and doesn't mind yet one more reminder that her waist is about to become a thing of the past. There's a doll and requisite set of clothes for each trimester, including what some women call the "fourth" trimester--you know, the one after the baby is born but you still feel and look ginormous? The first trimester offers a few tummy-bearing options and some strategic layering, while the third trimester offers sweatpants, a mu mu, and, oddly, a wedding dress.
Not sure what comment the creators of the paper dolls had in mind when they decided to add that garb to the mix. Are they secretly (or not so much) hinting that pregnant women ought to get married? Maybe I'm just being overly analytical; after all they are just paper dolls. The only other thing I think is worth mentioning is that this is a kitchshy item that, while fun, will most likely just sit on the shelf. No mom-to-be is going to take time out of her busy nesting schedule to cut these out.
Unless you've maintained one of your own, it's difficult to describe how addictive keeping a blog can be. Having a corner of the internet people visit just to read your words and thoughts on life and issues can make an ordinary housewife feel like an A-list celebrity.
So you might guess it would be easier for a celebrity to give up their blogging habit, as they already have opportunities in the limelight and have supporters and fans outside the internet. Rosie O'Donnell, who just announced plans to take a blogging break for the month of August, begs to differ. Her most recent blog post read:
i am taking off august in blog-ville 2 c if i can rosie unplugged happy summer peeps peace in peace out
The opinionated former talk show host shared with People magazine, "I'm wondering if I can do it. Every time I watch [the TV show] Intervention I'm like, 'They need this show for people who need to get off their computers!' My real addiction is the computer and the blog."
Some things Rosie could do to help survive her non-blogging month:
Take the kids to the beach
Create toupees for Donald Trump out of craft supplies
Prank call "The View"
Cover Elizabeth Hasselbeck's toilet seats with plastic wrap
We all know the economy is bad these days -- have you filled up your car lately? bought milk? checked the stock market? For many families, the one thing standing between them and financial stress is Mom's job. Except that in an economic downturn, women's jobs may be at particular risk, according to a government study released this week.
So don't count on Mom to pay for your gas.
Wives are providing up to thirty percent of household income, the study states, which is a big number, even in a house with two wage earners. In addition, nearly one quarter of kids in this country are being raised by single mothers, which leaves them particularly at risk should Mom lose her job.
Why are women more likely to lose their jobs than men? The study blames this partly on the fact that since the last recession, in 2001, women haven't really found a foothold in the job market again, with fewer women working now than seven years ago. Women are also statistically more likely to lose manufacturing jobs than are their male coworkers. It's possible that this is due to the fact that women, particularly women with kids, often opt for flexible or part-time work schedules, which are typically the first to go in times of economic belt tightening. Or maybe it's just that women are easier to fire.
Anecdotally, I am hearing stories of families who have decided that Mom's job costs too much -- that transportation and day care and other related expenses are outweighing whatever paycheck comes home. Of course, those are moms who are quitting, not getting laid off. Either way, though, it seems that women's jobs are more expendable than men's.
For someone who had little to say about her pregnancy, Minnie Driver is certainly opening up these days. She won't reveal the name of the baby's father and she has no plans on finding out the baby's sex before the big day, but she has a lot to say about the rest of parenting.
The actress recently revealed she has no real plans to stay with the baby's father and is seriously considering single motherhood. Now she admits she is prepared to be a "chubby" mother as well. As opposed to other Hollywood starlets who look like they were never pregnant to begin with (Keri Russell, I'm talking to YOU) or those who hit the gym moments after they shed the placenta and worked out frantically to reduce their size, Minnie has no plans to do anything other than be a mommy! Take that, Kate Hudson! (Hudson gained seventy pounds with son Ryder.)
Driver says to plan on seeing her around Malibu, and to plan on seeing her fat. As most of us realistic gals know, it takes a year to put it on, and heaven knows it can take at least a year to take it back off--if we ever do. Nice to hear someone from tinsel town taking a breath of reality! I doubt Minnie will stay 'chubby' as she likes to call it, given that she gained a ton of weight for her breakout role in Circle of Friends and lost all of it, but only time will tell. I just wish someone would advise Minnie she doesn't look fat now that she's pregnant--she looks fantastic!
A family of nine children, ranging in age from one to seventeen, was 
These days, you can get just about anything on-line. Apparently, "just about anything" includes a sperm donor. I don't know how legitimate this is, but given the purchases made by the 
Very few people in my high school managed to get through those years without at least dabbling in recreational drugs. While I think that speaks volumes about the high school I attended, it also reveals the inexperience and ignorance of most of our parents. Having grown up in a different era, our parents just had no idea the kind of trouble available to us kids.
We've all seen swimmer Micheal Phelps' mother and sisters cheering him on from the stands as he makes history at the Beijing Olympics. Conspicuously missing from this family picture is his father, Fred. Not only is Fred absent in China, he 
Unless you've maintained one of your own, it's difficult to describe how addictive keeping a blog can be. Having a corner of the internet people visit just to read your words and thoughts on life and issues can make an ordinary housewife feel like an A-list celebrity. 
We all know the economy is bad these days -- have you filled up your car lately? bought milk? checked the stock market? For many families, the one thing standing between them and financial stress is Mom's job. Except that in an economic downturn, women's jobs may be at particular risk, 
