Sean Duffy Announces Run for Congress
The Duffy family gears up for a run for Congress. Photo: www.duffyforcongress.com.
Rachel Campos-Duffy spoke to ParentDish about her husband's decision to run for public office, and about what it will mean to their family and their children. "This is a real education for [the kids]," she says. In fact, she tells us, concerns about their children's future were a driving force in her husband's decision to run for office. "The feeling that all this debt is going to get passed on to our kids is the reason he got involved. It isn't fair to our kids to borrow this money and leave it for [them] to pay back," she says.
But while a commitment to his children are a focal point of Duffy's campaign, Rachel says that the decision to run was "very complicated" specifically because of their concerns about the kids. Their children, she says, were "both the reason why he got in and the reason that gave us the most pause." The Duffys are trying to make campaigning a family affair as much as possible, for several reasons. Rachel says that her older chidren are intrested in politics and are excited about their father running for office, and she is aware that this is a unique opportunity for them. She is also aware that the work of campaigning for public office will take Sean Duffy away from his family a great deal, and she wants them to have every opportunity to be together, even if that time is in the car on the way to an event.
And at least for now, though, the kids are loving it. "The idea of a parade or a dairy breakfast or any event seems fun to them," she says. Then she adds, laughing, "They may hate it at the end but right now it seems appealing."
Of her husband and his choice to run for office, Rachel says, "I am really proud of him. I think he's really stepping outside of himself. He's a very humble person; he's not taking this lightly. He is confident in himself but he understands what he's taking on." We look forward to hearing more about the Duffy family's journey in Rachel's View from the Home Front columns -- and for more information about Sean Duffy's Congressional campaign, you can visit his web site.
Baby Names, Male MidWives, and More - Links We Love
Helmets really do keep kids safe. Image: sxc.hu
Don't waste the beautiful belly bump! Here are five creative ways to celebrate that beautiful belly before your baby is born. -- LilSugar
Momversation weighs in on who they think should raise Michael Jackson's kids. Who do you think will or should get custody of them?
The best doctor I've ever had is a male OB, so why not a male midwife? Would you use one? -- CafeMom
Kid complaining that you enforce that pesky bike helmet rule? Show her this: They really do work. -- New York Times
Here's an interesting take on work/home balance: In our effort to not short-change our children, do we short-change our career? How do you strike the right balance? -- Motherlode
Teens still play at the park, it's just that their activities aren't always appropriate. Would you confront a teen at the park so your kids could play? Or would you just find a new park? -- MomLogic
Is too much information a terrible thing? Raina Kelley explains why she thinks a new green parenting book goes too far. -- Newsweek
Teen Auctions Mom's Naked Photos
Teen exposes his mom to the Internet. Image: sxc.hu
He went straight to the Internet with his find and offered them up to the highest bidder at an online auction site called Trade Me. In an ad that read, "If you're going to make someone clean up your crap you might want to go through it first," Michael set the starting bid at $5 and offered to throw in a frame for free.
"I did it a bit sneakily but she found out. At first she was was pretty shocked, but then she went along with it. I just wanted a bit of extra cash, we're not rich or anything," he says.
Evian's Roller-Skating Babies Ad - Cute or Creepy?
The video -- of 96 computer-animated infants roller-skating to a remix of the Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight -- is mesmerizing. Something about babies in diapers and onesies doing sophisticated skate tricks and break-dancing moves just makes me smile. And yes, there's an element of creepy about these babies (that first one, leaning up against the boom box, is particularly weird to me), but it's hard to deny that the ad is eye-catching and, frankly, fun to watch.
Michael Aiden, Evian's worldwide brand manager, says that the company returned to the more fantasy-style ad because, "consumers expect more from a big brand..." And while we're impressed with the fancy water company's initiative, we think the real kudos should go to Evian's ad agency, BETC Euro RSCG, for coming up with the one-minute clip.
So is the ad cute or creepy? We polled people in our office, and they were split pretty much down the middle, although commenters at YouTube overwhelmingly find it cute. What do you think?
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Have You Named a Guardian for Your Child?
Just for moms, Just for dads, Relatives
Who would care for your child if you weren't here? Image: sxc.hu
If you have yet to make arrangements for your children in the event of your death, you are not alone. Judging by the comments at Cafe Mom, many of us are loathe to even think about it. We may have some vague idea of who we would prefer and perhaps even a strong opinion on who we would not prefer, but many of us have not made it legal.
In reality, making your wishes known about who will care for your children is the easy part. Get a lawyer to draw up the necessary papers and you are done. The hard part is choosing just who to name as legal guardian. It's a huge decision in which many factors come in to play.
Your sister might be a wonderful parent, but with 5 kids of her own could she really make room in her family for yours? Your own parents might be willing and able, but depending on their age, that could spell even more upheaval and distress for your children should they pass away before the kids reach maturity.
Nobody wants to plan for their own death, but as parents we have a responsibility to our children to do so. Have you done it?
Get Me Outta Here
Daily Cutie
I'm a (baby) celebrity, get me out of here! Thanks to lishahs for this cutie patootie.
lishahs, Flickr
What a perfect reflection. Thanks to Lemon-Drop for this lovely shot.
Lemon-Drop,Flickr
According to this precious expert, pink pacifiers rule! Thanks to Jokin Sukuntza for this darling photo.
Jokin Sukuntza,Flickr
The hair, the dimple, the smile! We can't get enough of this adorable tot. Thanks to redfox1 for this great shot.
redfox1, Flickr
How can anyone say no to those eyes? Thanks to alenzisaad for this beautiful portrait.
alenzisaad/Flickr
We really love the composition in this shot. Thanks to ( .Victory. ) for the cool photo.
( .Victory. )/Flickr
We agree with Boom Got Em – God did send him an angel!
Boom Got Em/Flickr
Nobody puts baby in a corner. Thanks to Sarah Stewart for this adorable shot.
Sarah Stewart/Flickr
A future phone-talker is in the works. Thanks to anuragyagnik for this glimpse into the future.
anuragyagnik/Flickr
Such a happy little cowgirl. Thanks to 4peasinapod for this adorable portrait.
4peasinapod/Flickr
If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. We'll highlight an image every day. Remember: We're on the lookout for shots with interesting backgrounds, cool angles, or original composition. Be sure to read the intro on our main Flickr page for more information and limit your uploading to 5 photos per day.
White House Aides Missing out on Family Time
The Obamas have family time at the White House, but they're the only ones. Photo: The Official White House Photo Stream, Flickr
So why is this news? After all, there are plenty of parents out there working long hours, missing dinners, kissing their children goodnight after the kids have already fallen asleep -- parents who don't rub elbows with the President on a daily basis. Why should working in the White House -- running the country -- be any different?
It's news because when President Obama and First Lady Michelle moved into the White House, both breathed an audible sigh of relief. Finally, after several long years of campaigning, they'd get to spend time together. In May, Michelle Obama told Time magazine, "It (moving to the White House) has been the greatest single benefit of this for us as a family. It means that we see each other every day. And that hasn't happened for most of the kids' lifetime."
Letting a Child Win - How Bad?
"You're it!" Photo: stockxpert.com
Many parent-friends were split on this issue -- and had pretty strong feelings about it, I might add. So I asked Parental Advisor Robert Schachter, a New York City-based psychologist and faculty member of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, if it's cool to let kids win or if it's better for them to let them "practice losing."
"It's cool to let them win," Schachter says, "As long as you don't let them know you're letting them win."
But what about the idea that they're going to lose in the real world, so they should get used to that experience in a safe environment?
'The Great American Road Trip' - The Reality Vacation of a Lifetime
"The Great American Road Trip" sends seven families on the reality vacation of a lifetime. Credit: Paul Drinkwater, NBC
I know, it sounds horrific to me, too. But for the families participating in NBC's "Great American Road Trip," it's the reality television summer vacation of a lifetime.
The show's premise is this: Seven families, from very different walks of life, are each given an RV and a road map. Their journey starts in Chicago, at Wrigley field, and winds west on historic Route 66, ending in Santa Monica. But it's not just a matter of getting to Cali first; along the way, the families will be competing in challenges to win the right to keep driving west.
Oh and the family who wins goes home with $100,000. As contestant Silvio DiSalvatore says, "A road trip? A chance to see America? Plus 100,000? I was elated." Who wouldn't be? The money will almost make up for the trip.
But just to clarify: "The Great American Road Trip" isn't about the money. "This is not a race," host Reno Collier tells the participants. "This has nothing to do with the destination. This is all about the journey of you and your families. What's better than that, huh?"
How about a week in Hawaii?
Pass the Potatoes
Greens
Popeye and his spinach. George H.W. Bush and his (hatred of) broccoli. Mom leaning over you and admonishing, "Eat your greens!" The leafy green vegetables we're told more and more often to eat by the shovelful evoke strong feelings or memories for many of us. But are all greens as healthy as they've been made out to be? Read on to find out ...
sxc.hu
Spinach
Spinach is loaded with vitamins A, C, E, and K, carotenoids, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and iron--in short, it's a nutrient-dense food containing many of the phytochemicals that help prevent chronic disease. But like its relatives chard and beet greens, spinach is very high in oxalic acid, which leeches calcium and iron from the body.
Verdict: Consume spinach in moderation--eating a spinach salad every day is not the best idea. While cooking spinach with fat-containing foods like cheese, seeds, eggs, or oil will help counteract the effects of the oxalic acid, it's best to alternate between spinach and some low-oxalate greens, like kale and collards.
sxc.hu
Lettuce
While many types of lettuce are full of vitamins and minerals, the most commonly consumed lettuce in the U.S. is iceberg, which offers little more than water and a small amount of fiber. For comparison, romaine lettuce, the staple of Caesar salads, contains six times more Vitamin C.
Verdict: Eat the darker lettuce varieties. And watch what kind of dressing you put on your salad--creamy dressings are often loaded with fat, sugar, and additives, and will turn your healthy salad into something with the caloric profile of a fast-food meal.
sxc.hu
Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the world's most widely grown vegetables. A member of the cruciferous vegetable family, cabbage contains sulforaphane, which helps guard against the development of cancerous tumors. And when fermented to make sauerkraut, cabbage does everything from helping to foster clear skin to promoting the growth of healthy flora in the digestive tract.
Verdict: An underappreciated nutritional powerhouse. And sauerkraut is truly a health food if bought fresh and unpasteurized (pasteurization kills the beneficial bacterial cultures) or made from scratch.
sxc.hu
Wild Greens
Edible wild greens--including such common weeds as dandelion, lamb's quarters, chickweed, and amaranth--are often more nutritious than the cultivated greens available in your supermarket. If you take a class or go on a nature walk with a knowledgeable guide who can help you ID these plants, you've got yourself a way to add some exotic flavors, for free, into your diet.
Verdict: Put away that weed-whacker! If you're up for a little experimentation, wild greens are worth checking out.
sxc.hu
Jennifer Schonborn is a holistic nutrition counselor based in New York.
