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Crib notes: Expectant mom won't give up hair dye during pregnancy

Hey baby, I've given up caffeine, sushi, and a lot of cheese, not to mention alcohol for you. But, I'm drawing the line when it comes to my hair. If you think I'm forgoing touching up my roots for you, you've got another think coming. One mom talks about her wildly controversial decision to get her hair dyed while in her third trimester. In a Salon article, she reports that, based on the faces of

Hey baby, I've given up caffeine, sushi, and a lot of cheese, not to mention alcohol for you. But, I'm drawing the line when it comes to my hair. If you think I'm forgoing touching up my roots for you, you've got another think coming. One mom talks about her wildly controversial decision to get her hair dyed while in her third trimester. In a Salon article, she reports that, based on the faces of the other salon patrons, "you would have thought I had walked in the door with a joint and a half-empty handle of vodka." Having done her research and chosen a semi-permanent color, she believes she made a safe choice, but, as a result, has already found herself in the judgmental world of motherhood. While most sacrifices expectant mothers make are sound and based in good intentions, she can't help but worry that, to some degree, they start the process of stripping a woman down to nothing but "mom." Do you ever feel that society expects you to give up all (or at least, most) of the parts of your former self, to devote yourself entirely to your identity as mom?

Futuristic car seat "cocoons" babies in a protective shell, in case of crash
The world promised to us in the Jetsons may finally be here, at least when it comes to child safety seats. According to the Telegraph, a new car seat, called the Carkoon, is expected to hit the U.K. market next year and, by looking at it, one can only assume it's based off the model Jane used to strap Elroy into when he was a baby. Under normal circumstances, it looks fairly standard, with just a touch of high-tech flair. But, on impact, a protective shield emerges, covering the baby from head to toe, while leaving enough space for breathing. In this state, the thing looks like a pod that could be shipped into orbit. They say the airbag will stay firm and won't deflate after impact, protecting wee ones from flying objects, like water bottles and purses. Did we mention it's also said to be fireproof, insulating little tykes from flames and providing them with 20 minutes of breathable air? Some models will even sent emergency responders an automatic message, letting them know that an accident involving a baby has happened, so medics can prioritize the call. This bad boy doesn't come cheap though, it's expected to sell for £499, or about $800.

Forget senioritis -- for many kids, it's now all about junioritis
Aah, senior year, when you finally get to rule the school. Except for the growing number of kids who already booked it out of there, after earning their diploma in just three years. According to the Wall Street Journal, more and more kids are managing to earn their high school diplomas in just three years. Kids are bulking up course loads and taking extra classes online in order to graduate early. A number of states have even started giving out scholarships to state universities to students who graduate early from high school. One kid, who managed to graduate after his junior year, was rewarded with a $4,000 college scholarship. Many states are offering teens the chance to earn college credits while still attending high school. For some, the chance to leave behind a small town and enter a more diverse college campus is incredibly appealing and rewarding. For others though, especially those trying to cram in advanced placement classes, the workload can wind up being overwhelming.

Girls, your teachers think math is hard for you
Sadly, discontinued "math is hard, Barbie," isn't the only one who thinks girls aren't as good at math as boys are. As the New York Times reports, a new study has been published, saying that high school math teachers have a "subtle" but "definitely present" tendency to believe that white girls weren't as good at math as white boys are. The researchers say previous research has already documented a racial bias. Even if their grades and test scores are pretty even, the teachers were still likely to perceive the boys as being more comfortable or more likely to advance. Researchers think it's likely that most teachers aren't even aware of their bias.

Expectant mom highlights the role of hair dye during pregnancy
Hey baby, I've given up caffeine, sushi, and a lot of cheese, not to mention alcohol for you. But, I'm drawing the line when it comes to my hair. If you think I'm forgoing touching up my roots for you, you've got another think coming. One mom talks about her wildly controversial decision to get her hair dyed while in her third trimester. In a Salon article, she reports that, based on the faces of the other salon patrons, "you would have thought I had walked in the door with a joint and a half-empty handle of vodka." Having done her research and chosen a semi-permanent color, she believes she made a safe choice, but, as a result, has already found herself in the judgmental world of motherhood. While most sacrifices expectant mothers make are sound and based in good intentions, she can't help but worry that, to some degree, they start the process of stripping a woman down to nothing but "mom." Do you ever feel that society expects you to give up all (or at least, most) of the parts of your former self, to devote yourself entirely to your identity as mom?

Dana Macario is a TODAY Moms contributor and Seattle mom to two sleep-depriving toddlers. Once properly caffeinated, she also blogs at www.18years2life.com.