All Family
China adoption diary: The Great Wall and pig knuckle pizza itineraryPart 2 – China adoption diary: The Belsies follow the routine intinerary for adopting families. Pizza Hut and the Great Wall help decompress before meeting the new daughter. And Grace sees some of her Chinese heritage.
China adoption diary: over the pole, the odyssey beginsPart 1 – China adoption diary: The Belsie family begins their journey to adopt their second daughter from China with a 12-hour, 7,000-mile flight over the pole and down through Siberia to Beijing.
China adoption diary: Join the odyssey to adopt MadeleineInternational adoptions by Americans have dramatically dropped because of safeguards that make them more difficult to do and longer to accomplish. The Belsie family waited five years for their second adoption in China – and Mom Gretchen begins her China adoption diary here in Modern Parenthood.
Andy Griffith dies: The last Great American Dad who knew bestAndy Griffith was "Paw" to a city girl from a broken home – the last Great American Dad was so much more than TV fathers today who have slid into comic relief and perpetual beer swilling, cheating, idiocy.
Andy Griffith, beloved family TV actor, diesAndy Griffith, who starred in family TV favorites "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock," died today at age 86. His career spanned more than 50 years, but he was best known as Sheriff Andy Taylor.
Spanking: Should you or shouldn't you? Recent study says noSpanking as a discipline tactic has been linked to mental illnesses later in life, according to a new study. But it also showed that cross-ethnic and international research found that when a culture views spanking as normal, then spanking does not cause later harm.
Bullied bus monitor: 'fine' with boys' one-year suspensionBullied bus monitor Karen Klein says she is 'fine' with the punishment of the four boys who verbally abused her while riding the bus two weeks ago. The boys will be suspended from their public school for one year.
Having it all? Women struggling with work-life balance are fortunateHaving it all – excelling in a meaningful career while having plenty of time for family – is a struggle for educated, privileged women, and the focus of a recent article in The Atlantic. But maybe the challenge of 'having it all' should be placed on society, not individual women.
Kentucky father arrested for leaving 2-year-old in sweltering carKentucky father Kenneth Robinson was arrested on Monday for leaving his 2-year-old son in the car when he went to work.
Animal shelters overloaded in summer, but adoptions also go upAnimal shelters receive more animals during the summer at the same time losing money and volunteers. On the bright side, adoptions generally go up as families spend more time at home.
Nora Ephron: My life, her script, classic American romanceNora Ephron spoke to the author's Wellesley college graduating class in 1996 and told them "Be the heroine of your life." Her scripts were classics of American romance.
Colorado wildfires: How prepared a parent would you be?The Colorado wildfires – like every disaster from earthquakes to hurricanes – make a parents' preparedness antennas bristle. How prepared a parent are you? How prepared do you need to be?
Having it all: The work-family balance debate continuesHaving it all – a professional career and a family – isn't possible, says Anne-Marie Slaughter in a recent Atlantic article. The piece reignited the debate about difficulties for working mothers and the need for more flexible time in the workplace.
Summer activities for kids: A sprinkler as fun as Little Gym?Summer activities for kids can get as booked solid as the rest of the year. Why not create your own summer memories – with a sprinkler, and not necessarily a Little Gym reservation.
Sunscreen: Mom challenges school over kids' sunburn. Who's fault?Sunscreen pros and cons aside, institutions, individuals, moms, dads, and kids have to start thinking more, and passing the buck less. There's a bigger social question about responsibility behind the story of two girls who got sunburned on a school field trip.
Girls in science: Gender gaps still persist in STEM subjectsGirls in science and other STEM subjects — technology, engineering, and mathematics — are underrepresented compared to boys despite the progress made in the 40 years since Title IX was signed into law.
Travel with toddlers: Six tips for avoiding airplane meltdownsTravel with toddlers, especially on an airplane, can be a disconcerting experience for parents. There are no foolproof plans for avoiding meltdowns, but here are six tips for getting toddlers through a long (or short) flight.
Ponytail punishment: Utah mom upset over judge's hair-cut rulingA Utah mother is upset that a judge told her to cut off her 13-year-old daughter's ponytail in order to reduce the girl's sentence. The girl and her friend were in juvenile court for cutting off a 3-year-old's hair in March.
Tropical Storm Debby reminds mom of her Haiti ‘hurricane box’Tropical Storm Debby reminds a mother of preparing for hurricanes in Haiti and Miami with you two children and filling their 'hurricane box' with extra water, food, batteries – and some musical improvisation.
Snooki and Miley Cyrus: helping teens evaluate pop star behaviorSnooki and Miley Cyrus, regulars in the celebrity news cycle, probably don't model ideal behavior for teens. Parents can help teens evaluate pop star behavior by discussing how their family values relate to what they see in the media.
