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Crib notes: Mommunes help single moms survive

Everything old is new again. Communes went out with bell bottoms and sitar music. But today, mommunes are all the rage. Single mothers are increasingly teaming up to cohabitate for a variety of reasons. While the economic advantages of sharing rent are one of the primary reasons moms are moving in together, shared childcare duties and developing a sense of community, are also prompting more moms

Everything old is new again. Communes went out with bell bottoms and sitar music. But today, mommunes are all the rage. Single mothers are increasingly teaming up to cohabitate for a variety of reasons. While the economic advantages of sharing rent are one of the primary reasons moms are moving in together, shared childcare duties and developing a sense of community, are also prompting more moms to take on a mommy-roomie. One single mom, who took on another single mom and her offspring, realized the demand for such arrangements was so great that she started an organization to help pair moms who want to share housing.

Not so long ago, teens would turn 16, run to the DMV to get their driver's license, pack their car full of friends and be on their way. Turns out that wasn't the safest plan and states started instituting graduated driver's licenses with restrictions around night driving and the number of passengers a young driver could have. The good news? Fatality accidents amongst young teens is down. The bad news? In order to avoid those restrictions, many kids are now waiting until they turn 18 to get their licenses. This has led to an increase in fatality accidents amongst older teen drivers.

The question of how to squeeze more hours into a day has long puzzled many a busy parent. An increasing number of moms seem to have answered that riddle -- by working the night shift. With 250,000 more women than men working the night shift, some have interpreted these numbers as a deliberate decision on the part of mothers, as a way to find a work-life balance. It's said that 26 percent of night-shift workers choose that schedule as a way to lessen the childcare burden. However, while it relieves some challenges, it can create other problems, mainly, making it difficult for working parents to have any time to spend together. Do you and your partner try to work alternate hours to help out with childcare?

Oh, to be a major movie star known for owning the red carpet and being a harbinger of style, only to upstaged by two adorable twins in matching outfits at the premiere of your own movie... While we're sure Sarah Jessica Parker looked lovely at the premiere of her new movie, I Don't Know How She Does It, no one's really sure, because everyone was too busy staring at the cuteness overload of her toddling co-stars. The two-year-old twin boys who played her sons in the movie walked the red carpet like they owned it, wearing bright short-suits with matching bowties and the cutest sneaks you've ever seen. A new toddler fashion trend may have just been set.

Dana Macario is a TODAY Moms contributor and Seattle mom to two sleep-depriving toddlers. She is currently developing an alarm clock that will start an IV coffee drip 10 minutes prior to wake-up time. Once properly caffeinated, she also blogs at www.18years2life.com.