Work & Life

I noticed on the Mommy Talk Show Fan Page that many of you had helpful hints when I asked for suggestions on how to give A.J. some relief from his cold or cope with teething. Isn’t it horrible when your little one is sick or uncomfortable? Source: www.aroundtownkidsfrisco.com It made …

Think about something you need to buy for your child. Maybe it's a lightweight stroller, book bag or spring jacket. Wouldn't you like to buy them at a discounted price? Buying used items from a consignment sale helps your wallet (items are priced low) and the environment (the previous owner doesn't have to throw them away). Consignment and second hand stores are great ways to find deals. This week in Atlanta, Georgia shoppers can find lots of great deals at the Kids' Market. It's Wednesday, February 9 through Friday, February 11 at Druid Hills United Methodist Church and it benefits Morningside Day Out. Here's a preview of what you can find there:

I heard my husband chuckle during the Superbowl when an ad featuring a "Little Darth Vader" came on-screen. I thought it was cute too. Little did we know the star, 6 year old Max Page, was a relatively new actor who was born with a heart defect. In fact, his mom told the Today show that he has a pacemaker and occasionally needs to go to the hospital. The lesson Max can teach parents of children with serious medical conditions and disabilities is not to hold them back or underestimate what they can do physically.

An Alaska mom sent video to Dr. Phil's show of herself putting hot sauce in her seven year old son's mouth and forcing him to take a cold shower after he misbehaved. Once the video went viral, Alaska authorities got involved and now mother of six, Jessica Beagley, faces charges. I hesitate to judge another mom because I don't know what the child did and how often she's tried to correct his behavior. Since I absolutely hate hot sauce I can only imagine the terror this child felt as it was poured in his mouth. As a TV journalist with more than a decade of experience covering child abuse and child deaths, I can tell you the fact that this boy was in a house where they could afford to buy hot sauce makes him luckier than a lot of kids. Beagely made several key mistakes. She got angry, mistreated her child, allowed another child to videotape it and then sent it to a nationally televised talk show to ask for help. What she should have done was talk to her son's pediatrician, teacher, child psychologist, family member, trusted friend or neighbor and asked for suggestions on how to correct his behavior. Or she should have at least asked them to watch the tape and offer their opinion on whether she should send it in. It never ceases to amaze me the things people do on camera and think that it's "normal behavior."

Ohio mother, Kelly Williams-Bolar, served one day of a ten day sentence for falsifying residency records so her daughters could attend a better school district. Her story is a huge controversy in education circles. It illustrates the lengths some parents will go to so their children can attend a preferred …