One breastfeeding mom who pumps at work would like her co-workers to dump their rotten attitudes towards her "apparatus" (as her HR official uncomfortably described her breast pump). For many lactating working moms, pumping is probably the low-light of their workdays. Rushing from a meeting, grabbing the "discreet" black bag and hurrying off to pump before the next conference call can range from stressful to uncomfortable (and not just when they're feeling a bit engorged, either). However, one mom who stores her pump in a bag (you know the one she's talking about) underneath her desk but with the parts partially exposed, received a complaint from a co-worker who was grossed-out by unstylish tote. Perhaps the mom should take her squeamish co-worker out for coffee (asking the offended colleague if they'd like milk with their beverage, of course) to discuss their working conditions.
Do dads need to wake up and smell the dirty diapers or are they generally a hard-working lot who deserve a break? Depends on who you ask. After one dad took fathers to task for being lazy, uninvolved and selfish, another father took him to task for being way off base, saying the dads he knows work hard both outside and inside the home. Is your partner involved with the daily childcare duties or are you a football/basketball/hockey/baseball/soccer widow?
Name one thing parents and the IRS have in common. Stumped? We thought you might be. Answer: they both love summer camp. Parents love getting a break from their kids whining about being bored and the IRS loves giving parents a tax credit for sending kids there. Well, maybe they don't love giving parents the cash but they do it anyways. Depending on your income, you could qualify for credit for up to 35 percent of camp expenses. Now where are those registration forms?
Many people were outraged that Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her young daughter. For many moms, just hearing that Casey didn't report her daughter missing for 30 days, was all the evidence they needed to confirm her guilt. As has often happened in the past, people are now channeling the hurt and indignation that resulted from the verdict, into an attempt to ensure the same thing does not happen again. "Caylee's Law," an online petition, would make it a felony for a parent or guardian to fail to report a missing child to law enforcement. Four states are already drafting the proposed legislation to make "Caylee's Law," the law.
This fall, schools in Indiana will only be teaching two of the three "r's," now that writing (at least cursive style) has been voted off the curricula. Keyboards have replaced quill pens and even signatures have gone digital at the majority of check stands, making it impossible to sign anything but a wiggly line on the touch screen. So, perhaps it's not too surprising that cursive's going the way of the chalkboard and book satchel. Adios, cursive, it's been nice knowing you -- not that we really remember much of you...
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.