Do You Gossip About Other People's Kids?
Nearly 75% of you said yes; 44% gossip with close friends, while 30% limit your gossiping to "when it's relevant."
sxc.hu
The Science of Premature Babies
Despite the cost and the risks, 53% of you say that medical advances in caring for micro preemies are "a miracle." Another 36% are just plain impressed by what doctors can do to save these littlest babies.
sxc.hu
Hollywood's Hottest Dad
51% of you voted Hugh Jackman the Hottest Dad in Hollywood by a landslide. Wolverine edged out Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp -- and we can see why.
Jewel Samad/Getty Images
Best Stepdad
How cool would it be to have Ashton Kutcher as your stepdad? Pretty cool, according to 52% of you. After all, you wouldn't have to teach him how to send a text message or use Twitter! Kutcher is pictured here in 2007 with stepdaughters Rumer and Tallulah Willis.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Who cares about IQ?
Not ParentDish readers! 80% of you said that this 24-year-old UK mom should be allowed to keep her baby--even after social workers said she was "too stupid" to take care of her.
Jenny Goodall, Daily Mail / ZUMA Press
Enough With the Gosselins!
Will you buy Kate Gosselin's cookbook? 64% of you say no -- and you're also tired of hearing about her.
David Livingston, Getty Images
Best Babysitters
31% of you said that you would leave your kids with Ellen and Portia, while only 9% would trust Oprah to babysit. Interesting, since none of the celebs are parents.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Fav Celeb Mom
Jennifer Garner is your favorite celebrity mom, beating out Angelina Jolie and First Lady Michelle Obama with 37% of the vote.
Kris Connor, Getty Images
Bad Mommy
Dina Lohan and Courtney Love tied for worst celebrity mom, each with 32% of your votes. Only 3% of you said that Kate Moss was a bad mom, though, which says a lot -- mostly what a mess Dina Lohan is.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
Unimpressed
Only 8% of you think Bristol Palin a better parent than baby daddy Levi. [Get the full story]
Getty
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jen 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
That was laugh-out-loud funny. Especially the last line of the letter.
Reply
Nicole 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
I wonder if the network is already planning a reality show about the therapy he'll have to go through for the rest of his life.
(I also think the State of New York should provide him with a certificate for a free name change, redeemable at age 18...)
Reply
cooper 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
So, when this article first came out I was just as befuddled/bemused as the next person at the whole Alpha Mom thing and thought "Oh good lord, this can't be for real." But reading this Metafilter letter about the son, I have to say: what's it to you, internet? I mean, live and let live, right? Who cares about the kid's name? My children have different names and when I wrote an article once with their names in it I actually got a hate letter from someone who objected to them. Why do people even give a damn? So, I just have to ask, who cares if this family chooses to live a certain way? Really, why get so bent out of shape about it and then include this poor kid? He loves his mom, no doubt. Why does he need to find this kind of stuff, directed at him, some day (probably much sooner than age 18)? Kalman probably had the misled impression that Alpha Mom TV would help people (and, perhaps, for some it will), and she talked waaaaay too much in that article and said a bunch of dumb things but it seems as if anybody who tries to do something high profile, somebody, somewhere, no matter what it is you are doing, will find a reason to bitch about it. I am sure many bloggers have been attacked on their own blogs for things related to parenting that they did or thought or said or wrote and it probably hurt. It is not just the Isabel Kalman's of the world who get the fire, it happens to parents everywhere, everyday. Why can't we just back off each other (and, especially, leave the kids out of it) and let each other carry on the way we feel is right for ourselves and our families?
Reply
L. 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
One of the commenters makes a good point -- no one beats up workaholic dads the same way.
Reply
Regi 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
First of all, why do you assume that the NY Mag article was a fair representation of Isabel, Alpha Mom TV and the Kallman family? Have you spoken to Isabel? Have you watched Alpha Mom TV? How can you judge then? Was it only from the slanted second-hand account in NY Mag?
Melissa, given your personal experience with the NY Times earlier this year, very surprised to read this from you. No less, as Cooper highlights, dragging Isabel's son into the equation. Very disappointed in you-- you seem quite smug that this Metafilter letter was written-- as if-- "Ha! she deserves it?"
Melissa-- do you consider yourself part of the media now or still a blogger? If so, perhaps you should do some fact checking, rather than spreading HATE on the internet. If not, forgive me, you obviously don't have a journalistic code to respect. Unless of course you feel that there's a greater code we should all be repecting....
A Former Fan, Regi
Reply
MelissaS 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
I took Cooper's words to heart and gave them a lot of thought. It's true. We do need to live and let live. I felt Ms Kallman's profile in New York Magazine was amusing, for several reasons. I thought the letter was amusing, for several reasons.
I didn't feel I was "spreading the hate" I didn't feel smug about the letter. I thought the letter was amusing and Ms Kallman's belief that there is a right and researchable way to raise children seems sad to me. It's only my opinion. There was no way to "fact check" since I was simply linking to someone else's opinion of Ms Kallman's profile. Sigh.
Sometimes I think things are amusing, I'm sorry that hurts your feelings Regina.
Reply
Regi 12-18-2005 @ 6:34PM
Melissa--
Here you go again... making assumptions. How do you know Isabel Kallman believes "there is a right and researchable way to raise children?" Did she ever say that? Or, did you read it in the editorial of a misogynistic journalist with a slanted agenda? Have you ever watched any of the programming? Have you ever spoken to Isabel Kallman? Again, how can you judge?
BTW-- you didn't just link to someone else's opinion of Ms Kallman's profile. I read some editorial of your own up there.
Again, very disappointed in you....
Also, saddened that you could be "amused" by yet another "psycho" portrayal of a mother. I guess it would only be my hope that other mothers, whose voices I (or did) view to be important in the community should understand the necessity for skepticism when they read these shocking stories and stereotypes. "SIGH."
- your former fan, Regi
Reply