Crib notes: Siblings, scares and the wisdom of Mommy

Parenting stories from around the Internet. Invariably prompting many an emphatic utterance of “I told you so” comes a new study that asserts that first-borns really are typically smarter and have a higher aptitude. Younger siblings shouldn’t feel too bad, however, as researchers say that the younger ones tend to get better grades (how is that fair?) and are more outgoing. However scientifically conclusive this study remains, though, we doubt it’s about to settle any intra-sibling strife currently raging through your household. As if today’s story about the three adventurous kids from Florida who decided to take a little plane trip on their own wasn’t eyebrow-raising enough, Gothamist ran an item today about a 12-year old Canadian boy who was scarily separated from his parents in New York City’s FAO Schwarz, only to turn up hours later in Times Square. Mercifully, the boy was just a little shaken up. Police haven’t ruled out a possible abduction attempt, but as the article postulates, what are the odds of a tween boy leaving a giant toy store on his own volition? Also giving her loved ones (and local authorities) a good scare came Worcester, England’s ten-year old Azura Beebejaun. Little Azura apparently thought it would be a giggle to lie down on the street , face-down in a gutter. Unfortunately for all parties concerned, she decided to do this as the precise moment that Google Street View was taking a picture of the byway in question. Predictably, local residents assumed that the ensuing photograph showed the little girl’s corpse. It all came out in the wash, of course, but I’m sure Azura ended up getting quite a little talking-to by her parents. Another ten-year-old making headlines this week was the awesomely-named Remy Mumby of Lansing, Michigan. Little Remy, as it turns out, has eschewed the usual desired fare of the 10-year-old (i.e. burgers, pizza, etc.) in favor of baked deer hearts, blood sausage and a host of other acquired tastes normally reserved for the highly sophisticated palette. Yes, Remy is a fully-formed foodie and quickly becoming something of a YouTube sensation. While his adventurous tastes might probably be hard to please for the typical parent, it remains hugely refreshing to see a ten-year-old who is willing, nay, chomping at the bit to eat new things. But let’s face it, even the most docile and well-behaved child is bound to give you a good scare every now and then. Parents will wrack their brains trying to find answers for the behaviors of their children and will all too often shoulder a good share of the blame themselves. For mothers prone to this sort of self-defeat, the Huffington Post posted an interesting article this week about how combat those stubborn feelings of mommy guilt with every mother’s inner well of mommy wisdom. What about you? Spotted anything noteworthy on the Web that you’d like to share with TODAY Moms? Let us know in the comments below.