Days aren't so sunny on Sesame Street, or many other places in America, lately. Recognizing that many kids struggle with poverty, the iconic kids' show has now added a muppet, whose family has an ongoing struggle with hunger. Lily, who meets the furry cast while they're collecting food donations from a community garden and food bank, teaches kids about the difficulties faced by many families these days.
Thumbs-up for hands down? Kids at one school in the U.K. are now giving a subtle, thumbs-up sign to teachers when they want to answer a question aloud in class. The school has subbed in this discreet signal as a replacement for the traditional raised hand. While many have given the concept the thumbs-down, the school insists the practice has encouraged greater class participation. The school also hopes that this calmer approach will settle the over-enthusiastic hand-raisers. Though naysayers question the practice, some research has indicated that kids actually learn faster when their hands stay down.
Moms, if you're lying about your kids' primary residence so they can attend a particular school, be careful what you post on Facebook. One mom got both of her sons kicked off the football team after she posted “How can two boys mess up their room as badly as they do when they’re only here on Saturday and Sunday?” Some of her friends reported her status update to coaches and school administrators, leading to an investigation. The team was further penalized for having ineligible players when its first three victories of the season were also nullified. While parents are often cautioning their kids to be careful what they write online, in this case, the kids should have been warning their mom...
Would you suffer through two days of painful labor pains for your best friend? One gal, whose doctors had advised her not to attempt pregnancy again after a particularly difficult and complicated experience with her first child, desperately wanted another child. One day, she and her daughter went to story time at the library where she met another mom. The two quickly became friends and grew closer over the years. When the second mom offered to serve as a surrogate for her bestie, it was a hard offer to accept. Accept she did though, and both gals, along with their husbands supported the idea and both couples were present at the birth of the baby. As if carrying the baby weren't gift enough, the surrogate is also pumping to ensure the baby gets an adequate supply of breast milk. Those of us who only got our best friend a cheesy card for their birthday are feeling pretty chintzy right about now...
Would you ever take your teenage daughter on a SlutWalk? One woman advocates dressing up in skimpy attire and walking the streets (along with other, similarly-minded women, of course) in protest of the idea that women who dress provocatively are somehow "asking for it." While she admits that her participation in these walks mortifies her kids, she believes the demonstrations provide an opportunity to talk with teens about the role of clothing in sexuality and the persistent problems of gender bias in our society.
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 http://18years2life.blogspot.com/.