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Teenagers: The Most Feared Creatures on Earth
Teenagers are not just larger children. Teenagers are terrifyingly large beasts of drama and mystery.
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Amy Winehouse: I'm ready to start my family, and I want five kids!
"Amy Winehouse has revealed she wants at least five children and twins.
The troubled singer insists she and husband Blake Fielder-Civil - who this week was sentenced to 27 months in prison for GBH (grievous bodily harm) and perverting the course of justice - are ready to start their family.
She said: "I love kids. To be honest, I think kids have got a lot more going on than adults. They've got their heads screwed on a lot better. Blake and I can't wait to have kids. I want at least five kids, and I want twins.
"Blake is going to be the most amazing dad. When Blake was about we talked about it all the time. We'd like to have identical twins. Blake had a dream that we had a girl who was dark like me.
"And then I had a dream that I had one older, like 18 months old, dark like me and identical twin babies. I want twins so I'll keep going until we have them."
Amy also revealed she would be just as happy with Blake if she was a housewife.
She added to Britain's OK! magazine: "I really enjoy ironing. If I was a housewife with Blake we would like in Camden. Blake would work from home.
He's got all his cameras at home and his projector, and he would just live in his little editing room and edit his films. And I'd sing to him.""
Just what every struggling train wreck pop star needs: children! "Amy Winehouse has revealed she wants at least five children and twins. ... more -
More family meals mean less risky teen sex
Parents who do not want their teens to engage in risky sexual behaviour should make family time a priority, a new study suggests.
Adolescents who took part in family activities more often had sex less frequently, less unprotected sex, and fewer sex partners, Dr Rebekah Levine Coley of Boston College and her colleagues found.
Most research on parenting and teen sexual behaviour has simply looked at whether or not a teen has had sex, not the degree of sexual risk he or she takes, Coley noted in an interview with Reuters Health. But given that two out of three US teens have sex before they turn 19, more specific information would provide a better understanding of the risks involved, Coley and her team point out in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The more times a week that an adolescent reported having dinner with their family, "doing something religious" as a family, or having fun with their family, the less likely he or she was to engage in risky sexual behaviour, the researchers found.
However, having a parent who used "negative and psychologically controlling" behaviour increased the likelihood that a teen would be having risky sex. This includes "criticizing the ideas of the adolescents, controlling and directing what they think and how they feel," Coley explained."
Parents who do not want their teens to engage in risky sexual behaviour should make family time a priority, a new study suggests. ... more -
Teens want to talk more about sex, parents are too embarrassed!
"Parents are missing out on vital conversations with their children about sex because of embarrassment, a report for the government says.
A study by author and agony aunt Anita Naik found three-quarters of 11-to- 14-year-olds wished it was easier to talk to their parents about sex.
And a poll found that 44% of young people did not trust the information they received from friends.
Most felt talking would not encourage them to have sex, as many parents fear.
More than half of parents (55%) held back from talking about sex, the survey suggests, because of embarrassment about how to start.
Fathers were much less likely than mothers to get involved in conversations with their sons about sex. " "Parents are missing out on vital conversations with their children about sex because of embarrassment, a report for the government sa... more -
Scientific Progress or Has Big Brother Gone too far?
Should parents be required to have their babies undergo genetic testing?
The governor of Pennsylvania just signed a new law mandating newborn screening for six genetic and metabolic conditions. "Pennsylvania now joins many other states that screen for at least 29 conditions at birth."
Is this a sign of progress, or has government stepped too far?
Should parents be required to have their babies undergo genetic testing? ... more -
Fatherhood Rules
Rory Stamp, the new and slightly confused father of baby Lucie, decides to gives Current viewers his own, unique 10 point guide to fatherhood. Rory Stamp, the new and slightly confused father of baby Lucie, decides to gives Current viewers his own, unique 10 point guide to fat... more
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New programs target shaken-baby syndrome
Pablo Cano-Lopez told detectives he was at "the breaking point" when he lifted his crying stepson, 4-month-old Elijah Llanos, and shook him four or five times. The baby stopped crying and whimpered before falling asleep. Pablo Cano-Lopez told detectives he was at "the breaking point" when he lifted his crying stepson, 4-month-old Elijah Llanos, and shoo... more
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NY law to restrict violent video games
ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson signed a law Tuesday that he said will lead to restrictions on video game violence and help families better monitor grisly games.
The law will create an advisory council to study the effects of violent games on the children. It will also require parental controls on game consoles by 2010 and prominent displays of age ratings on game packages.
But critics say the bill is too vague and too watered down to accomplish its goal. And critics including the group Americans for Tax Reform contend that curbing video violence wasn't really the point in New York or nearly a dozen other states that enacted similar laws, only to see them struck down by courts as unconstitutional.
"It's moral preening," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "The bill is unconstitutional and has been found that way in other states. And when the inevitable lawsuit comes, the state pays for everybody's legal expenses."
"The reason it is politically popular," he said, "Is the average citizen will read a headline that says, `State Legislature is against violence in children's video games.' They are unlikely to read a headline that says, `Legislature will waste $70,000 of your tax dollars.'"
"It also unfairly singles out the video game industry over all other forms of media," said Richard Taylor of the Entertainment Software Association. "If New York lawmakers feel it is the role of government to convene a government commission on game content, they could next turn to other content such as books, theater and film."
Violations of new labeling and parental control provisions in New York could result in $100 civil penalties. However, the parental controls and the voluntary ratings are already common in the industry.
Language making a felony of selling video games that are sexually explicit or contain depraved violence was lost during furious lobbying that derailed the bill in May 2007. That provision would have made the law among the strictest in the nation.
Then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer made a high priority of the issue in 2007 and it was the subject of several press conferences. The effort continued in the Legislature after Spitzer resigned in March after being disgraced in a prostitution investigation.
The new law was strongly supported in the Senate and Assembly this legislative election year.
The question was never whether to do something about video games that star automatic weapons and gore — that's been politically attractive for years, resulting in legislation in the other states besides New York. The question has always been how to do it without losing a constitutional challenge in the courts.
A prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Andrew Lanza of Staten Island, said the felony provision wouldn't have held up in court, but the remaining elements should stand and help limit access to the games. When the bill was passed this spring, Lanza said the criminal sanction sought by some is already addressed at least in part under pornography and other laws.
Most of the cities and states that have seen their regulations invalidated by courts tried to equate video violence with pornography and restricted the sale of the games to children. The courts have ruled the restrictions violated the U.S. Constitution's freedom of speech protections.
"New Yorkers do not need the state judging which video games are appropriate and which aren't," said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "Parents, not government committees, should be responsible for making those judgments." ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson signed a law Tuesday that he said will lead to restrictions on video game violence and help familie... more -
Developing a Love of Reading With Your Child
Do you have a child who is a reluctant reader? Here are some ideas that will help motivate your child to read.
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Seven Secrets of Successful Parents
Shhhh, these secret tips are attributes that most people don't talk about.
What kind of parent are you? Do you have what it takes to raise a well-adjusted child?
Here are some guidelines to get you started.
Shhhh, these secret tips are attributes that most people don't talk about. ... more -
Mean Girls: Society's Creation
Our society raises boys to be loud and aggressive. However, we raise our girls to be controlled and quiet. "Mean girls" are a creation of repressed girls in our society. "Mean girls" are lurking on a school campus near you. Our society raises boys to be loud and aggressive. However, we raise our girls to be controlled and quiet. "Mean girls" are a creation... more
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11 Summer Mistakes That Parents Make
It's summer. Do you know what your child is doing?
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Newsflash: Teenage Pregnancy is Not Glamorous
I was standing in a bookstore yesterday and saw a young teenage girl beaming into the cover of a magazine with a picture of Jaime Lynn Spears and her new baby. I could tell she was enchanted with this illusion of perfection depicted on a glossy magazine. This magazine cover was simply another Hollywood fairy tale which lies about reality and gives teenage pregnancy a "happily ever after"ending. I was standing in a bookstore yesterday and saw a young teenage girl beaming into the cover of a magazine with a picture of Jaime Lynn... more
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11 Mistakes That We Make As Parents
Parenting is the most important thing that we will ever do. Here are some suggestions for finding success as a parent.
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women at 100 could give birth with new fetility treatment.
In 30 years time women could conceive at any age and infertility could be eradicated, say scientists Woman will soon be able to give birth at the age of 100 due to advances in fertility treatment, scientists have predicted. Within three decades, women of any age - from children to pensioners - could successfully conceive as infertility is effectively eradicated, it is claimed.
Parents would then be able to choose a so-called 'designer' baby, selecting their perfect child based on characteristics such as hair colour and height to intelligence and disease-free genes.
The forecast, reported in Nature, were made by leading scientists who were asked to anticipate advances in reproduction by 2038 to mark the 30th birthday of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby.Experts say advances in germ cell technology in which skin cells are used to create sperm and eggs and then combined to make human embryos will soon allow women to start a family at any time in their lives.
The technology is still to be developed, but biologists believe that treatments using cells from skin called induced pluripotent stem cells could replace IVF
In 30 years time women could conceive at any age and infertility could be eradicated, say scientists Woman will soon be able to give b... more -
Tourist Beats Daughter Into Coma
A French tourist has beaten his four-year-old daughter's head against the stone base of a Rome monument so hard the child is now in a coma.
And when passers-by finally managed to snatch the child away, the man tried to bash his own head against the stone.
The pavement in the Piazza Venezia at the heart of the city is still stained with blood after the violent attack late last night.
Paediatric hospital Bambino Gesu said the child, named Luna, was already in a coma with severe head injuries when she was admitted shortly before midnight.
"Her condition is stable but very critical," spokesman Daniela Perrotta told reporters.
The father, who has been named as 37-year-old Julien Monnet, was behaving strangely moments before the attack, according to a Canadian tourist who grappled to try and stop him.
Traffic officer Anna Esposito told Italian broadcasters: "He was holding the child in an unhealthy way. The child was crying and screaming.
"He was holding the girl by her arm and then started striking her (head) against the stone," Ms Esposito said.
The Canadian grabbed the child while she struggled to hold the man and called for reinforcements.
"He was like a furious beast," she said.
Police have since said that Monnet's backpack contained medicine indicating he was receiving treatment for psychiatric problems.
Monnet is believed to live with the child's mother near Paris - she is thought to have been on holiday in Turkey at the time of the attack and had no idea they had travelled to Rome.
Police say Monnet appeared to be in a state of shock when arrested, before being taken to Rome's Coeli jail on suspicion of causing grave injury.
A French tourist has beaten his four-year-old daughter's head against the stone base of a Rome monument so hard the child is now in a ... more -
Meryl Streep slams young Hollywood moms
Actress Meryl Streep is disgusted with young Hollywood moms and the choices they are making when it comes to their newborn babies.
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McDonald's apologises after group of mothers stage sit-in over breast-feeding ban
A McDonald's manager who told a young woman to stop breastfeeding found himself faced with a demonstration of Mum Power.
Maddie Reynolds returned with five friends she had met at ante-natal classes and they staged a mass feed-in at the restaurant.
'We all walked in to McDonald's together and sat around one table right by the counter,' said 27-year-old Miss Reynolds, a nursery nurse from Bournemouth. We began breastfeeding our babies all at the same time to make a point. We caused a bit of a stir among customers but none of the staff looked our way. Someone told a manager what we were doing but he just muttered that he couldn't comment.'
The incident happened at the McDonald's branch inside an Asda supermarket in the resort. Miss Reynolds was feeding ten-week-old Sophie when the staff member intervened.
'I had a proper maternity top on which is designed for breastfeeding so no one could see anything,' she said. 'I was angry when the man told me to leave but knew I wasn't doing anything wrong so I carried on. But he just stood there and watched me for a few minutes. I felt so humiliated but put my head down and didn't stop and eventually he walked off. I felt so cross and upset.'
Miss Reynolds lives with partner Karl Brackenborough, 29, who works as a television fitter and repairer.
She added: 'I choose to breastfeed Sophie because I know it's healthy and the best thing for her. I remember reading about a similar incident a while back where a woman was thrown out of a coffee shop for breastfeeding. She was so upset by it that she started using bottles instead. I wasn't prepared to let something like that happen to anyone else again.'
Fellow protester Catherine Davis, 19, took her seven-week-old daughter Amelia along to the sit-in. She said: 'I just thought the way Maddie was treated was disgusting. It's the most natural thing to feed your baby and there's nothing wrong with it. Everyone says breast is best. I have breastfed in public and no one ever has ever said anything to me. I think it's fine as long as you are discreet.'
Alison Purves, spokesman for McDonald's, said the company was 'disappointed' by the junior manager's actions. Breastfeeding mothers were welcomed in all its restaurants.
'This manager was working unilaterally and not following company policy at all. If another customer ever expressed their discomfort about breastfeeding we would encourage them to move rather than the mum. What we don't want to do is to make mums feel as if they have to hide away.'
She said the manager involved had been told he had made a mistake.
'We are confident he will make the right decision in future.' A McDonald's manager who told a young woman to stop breastfeeding found himself faced with a demonstration of Mum Power. ... more -
Women to give birth at 100 within three decades
Women aged 100 will be able to give birth within three decades as infertility is eradicated, scientists have predicted.
They foresee a world where every female of any age - from childhood upwards - could successfully conceive.
Employing techniques still to be developed, scientists believe they could create sperm and eggs from skin cells and combine them to form embryos.
Parents would then be able to choose a so-called "designer" baby, selecting based on characteristics such as hair colour and height to intelligence and disease-free genes.
The forecasts, reported in Nature, were made by leading scientists who were asked to anticipate advances in reproduction by 2038 to mark the 30th birthday of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby.
Davor Solter, of the Institute of Biology in Singapore, said: "It means every person regardless of age will be able to have children. Newborn children could have children and 100-year-olds could have children. It could easily happen in the next 30 years."
Could we mess with nature any more? Surely there has to be a dviding line between useful weird science (the enabling of organ transplants, for example) and the just plain wrong? Women can't have babies beyond a certain age because they wont be around long enough to look after them - right? Or wrong?
Women aged 100 will be able to give birth within three decades as infertility is eradicated, scientists have predicted. ... more -
2-year-old dies in baking hot car after parents go shopping
The parents of a two year old boy face charges of manslaughter after leaving the boy in a baking hot car while they enjoyed a shopping trip.
The boy died from dehydration after being left in the car without the windows open. The parents of a two year old boy face charges of manslaughter after leaving the boy in a baking hot car while they enjoyed a shopping... more
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