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Crib notes: Would you pay to get your kid into the V.I.P room -- at the middle school dance?

No, it's not a joke. A middle school in L.A. really is offering  students the chance to buy their way into a V.I.P room at an upcoming dance. $15 gets you entrance to the dance, but if you want to ditch the commoners, you need to pony up an extra $5. As the New York Times reports, once inside the exclusive zone, you'll be treated to a dessert bar and take-home swag. As one mom asked, "What's next

No, it's not a joke. A middle school in L.A. really is offering  students the chance to buy their way into a V.I.P room at an upcoming dance. $15 gets you entrance to the dance, but if you want to ditch the commoners, you need to pony up an extra $5. As the New York Times reports, once inside the exclusive zone, you'll be treated to a dessert bar and take-home swag. As one mom asked, "What's next, bottle service? $10 for a jug of Coke maybe, served by a high-schooler in short shorts? While everyone else gets Capri Sun pouches grabbed out of a tub full of ice??” Yikes and here we thought middle school was tough when we were kids.

Friendly skies getting increasingly hostile to families
Hey parents, how do you feel about train travel? As airlines make it increasingly clear that we're less than desired customers, we may soon be reduced to riding the rails. As MSNBC reports, United Airlines is the latest to launch an assault on families by ending their early boarding option for people traveling with small children. That's right, pretty soon you, your baby, toddler, diaper bag, stroller and backpack full of bribes (otherwise known as candy, new toys and books), can soon join the cattle call, along with all of the passengers who are traveling with just a latte. Have a nice flight...

Thank you for not talking during the movie
Sometimes when people keep talking during the movies, you just want to turn around and smack them. But one grown man actually punched a chatty 10-year-old boy who allegedly kept yapping during a showing of Titanic. As Fox News reports, Yong Hyun Kim supposedly asked the kids behind him to be quiet, and they responded by laughing at him and throwing popcorn. The kids say they quieted down, but did whisper later on. One thing they all agree on is that Kim stepped over the seat and punched a 10-year-old, knocking out one of the kid's teeth and giving him a bloody nose. Kim's been charged with second-degree assault and could get three to nine months in jail if he's convicted.

Superheroes have super hearing (aids)
Even if you've never read a comic book before, you're likely to be a big Marvel fan after this next story. One day, a four-year-old boy refused to put on his hearing aids because superheroes don't wear hearing aids, which he calls "blue ears." His mom told him they did. Then, on a whim, she emailed the good folks at Marvel, telling them about her hearing-impaired son and his "blue ears." In response, they sent her a comic book cover featuring a character named Hawkeye who was hearing impaired. The little boy was mesmerized. Then, Marvel did him one better. As WCVB TV reports, Marvel created a new superhero, called Blue Ear and they sent this special little boy a sketch of Hawkeye and Blue Ear together. Holy awesomeness, Batman.

Dana Macario is a TODAY Moms contributor and Seattle mom to two sleep-depriving toddlers.