ParentDish

Are Moms Unsexy?

Elise Nersesian — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

This week on "The View," the ladies discussed actress Julia Roberts' wavering popularity and whether being a mom (or not) is what makes a woman sexy.

Julia Roberts, 42, is often photographed with her three children, pushing a stroller and looking frumpy. "View" co-host Sherri Shepherd compared her to the ever-popular Jennifer Anniston, 40, who is single, just two years younger than Julia, and a box office hit -- and rarely photographed looking anything but fabulous.

So what makes one celebrity mom sexier than another?

Does giving birth zap a celebrity's sex appeal in the eyes of the public? That's not the case with Angelina Jolie, 34 (mother of six), who is hailed for her exotic beauty and as Shepherd mentioned, has given birth twice, just like Roberts.

Perhaps a star mom's sexiness is dependent on her ability to make headlines. Jolie consistently graces the covers of weekly tabloid magazines for her scandalous romance with Brad Pitt, while Roberts (who also started dating camera man Danny Moder while he was still married) seemingly makes a concerted effort to stay out of the limelight when she's not working, and focuses on family life.

Could age determine sexiness? One would be hard pressed to argue that Jolie's beauty is greater than Roberts'; after all, Roberts was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by "People" magazine in 2002 - when she was roughly Angie's age.

And consider Reese Witherspoon, a beautiful mom of two who makes a point to avoid the spotlight when it comes to her personal life. No doubt she is equally as gorgeous as mom Kate Hudson, yet Hudson is portrayed as a sex symbol far more often than Witherspoon, and appears in the tabloids on a regular basis for her fickle romance with Owen Wilson. Witherspoon, on the other hand, seems to have settled down with boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal.

What do you think - does age, motherhood, or plain old controversy determine sexiness?

Beauty After Motherhood

Angelina Jolie
The actress and her partner Brad Pitt have three adopted children -- Maddox, 7, Pax, 4, and Zahara, 3 -- and three biological children -- Shiloh, 2, and baby twins Knox and Vivienne. "I know this is going to sound corny, but I first became happy with the way I look when I became a mother."

Getty Images

Halle Berry

Berry and boyfriend French-Canadian model Gabriel Aubry have one child, Nahla Ariela, born on March 16, 2008. It was her role in the film, "Things We Lost in the Fire," that convinced her motherhood was for her. "I think it validated that I was meant to be a mother because every day I dealt with the character as a mother and thinking as a mother...It let me know that I must be a mother."

Getty Images / FilmMagic

Gwyneth Paltrow

Has two children, Apple, 4, and Moses, 2, named after a song her husband Chris Martin. "It's like being the most in love you've ever been...but mixed with the worst heartbreak...because one day you're not going to be together anymore."

Getty Images

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder, have 4-year-old twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus, and a boy Henry, 17 months. She told Vanity Fair: "At this point I'm having so much fun with them. You only have so much energy and you want to put so much energy into each child. I wouldn't know how to have five kids. And they're a really good trio, these three."

Getty Images / AP

Jennifer Lopez
her twins with husband Marc Anthony, Emme and Maximillian, were born 2008 by C-section. According to People, "Jennifer described it [motherhood] as the most magical time of her life. She said, 'You know what? You can win an Oscar, you can win a Golden Globe, and as an ambitious artist you strive for those things. But when you have a kid, all of that is irrelevant."

WireImage.com

Gwen Stefani

She says that Zuma Nesta Rock and Kingston have brought her closer to husband Gavin Rossdale. Also, "I've gotten a little more feminine over the last few years. "As the years go by, you get more comfortable with looking more like a woman."

Getty Images / FilmMagic

Uma Thurman

She's says she's open to the possibility of having more children. "If it's meant to happen, it will. I love and adore being a mother." Thurman has two children with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, Maya, 10, and Levon, 6.

Getty Images

Thandie Newton
The British actress, most recently starring in "W" as Condoleezza Rice, has two daughters, Ripley, 8, and Nico, nearly 4. "So many people thought I was a really cold person, but I was just painfully shy. But having a kid made me explore how I was going to guide another beautiful being in this world. I was released -- it doesn't happen for everyone, but it happened for me."

WireImage.com

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Feeling Fat Can Lead to Suicide

Elise Nersesian — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nutrition: Tweens, Expert Advice: Tweens, Nutrition: Teens, Expert Advice: Teens

We all know dwelling on your weight is a downer. But did you know that thinking about being fat can lead to suicide?

Researchers at Georgia State University have found that the mere perception of being overweight among girls raises the probability of suicidal thoughts by 5.6 percent, the probability of a suicide attempts by 3.2 percent and the probability of injury causing suicide attempts by 0.6 percent.

That's scary. How can you prevent your daughter from becoming a victim of bad body image, especially in a culture that emphasizes thinness? ParentDish spoke to author and self-esteem expert Jessica Weiner on how to build your daughter's body confidence.

What can parents say to kids to encourage healthy body image?

Building a child's self esteem isn't just about what you say. It's how you eat, relate to your own body, and whether you as a parent apply media influence on beauty standards to your own life. It isn't enough to tell your kid, "You are beautiful." You must act as though you feel beautiful yourself. Girls look to parents for how to model a s realistic relationship with their bodies. The first step is to stop talking negatively about your body ("Ugh, Mommy feels fat") and don't be hyper critical of her body either ("Should you be eating that?"). A conversation about body image should be ongoing and frequent, not just an off-hand conversation. Use everyday activities such as passing a billboard with a racy ad to talk to your teen about what she thinks of the message it sends.

Continue reading Feeling Fat Can Lead to Suicide

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Family of Four "Too Fat to Work"

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True

One British family, who reaps more than $30,000 a year in benefits because they are "too fat to work," says they want -- and deserve -- more money, according to London's Daily Telegraph. Philip Chawner and his wife, Audrey, weigh 336 pounds each. Emma, 19, weighs 236 pounds and Samantha, 21, weighs 252 pounds. The family, who live in Blackburn, England, have a combined weight of 1,160 pounds.

Philip Chawner has Type 2 diabetes and was eligible for gastric band surgery until he developed a heart condition. Audrey has epilepsy and asthma as a result of being overweight, and says her family's obesity is "genetic" and they can't afford healthy food. "What we get barely covers the bills and puts food on the table," says Philip. "It's not our fault we can't work. We deserve more."

What's more, the Chawner parents haven't worked in 11 years.

Each member of the Chawner family consumes 3,000 calories each a day. (The recommended maximum intake is 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men.) "We have cereal for breakfast, bacon butties for lunch and microwave pies with mashed potato or chips for dinner," says Audrey.

"All that healthy food, like fruit and veg, is too expensive. We're fat because it's in our genes. Our whole family is overweight," she adds.

"I'm a student and don't have time to exercise," says Emma. "We all want to lose weight to stop the abuse we get in the street, but we don't know how."

What do you think - is this family making excuses for their extremely unhealthy lifestyle and taking advantage of the government?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

School Principal Accused of Locking Students in Cages

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Most parents would agree that our schools need to step up the discipline, particularly when it comes to kids and fisticuffs. But there's a point where discipline goes too far: A Texas high school was accused of locking kids in steel utility cages to battle out disputes with their fists and without head protection.

According to The Dallas Morning News, the staff at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas was under a 2008 investigation by the school district's Office of Professional Responsibility because school officials "knew of the practice, allowed it to go on for a time, and failed to report it."

The cage fights reportedly occurred in the boys' locker room between 2003 and 2005, and it's unclear exactly how many fights took place.

Top 10 Teacher Meltdowns

Sleeping With Students

A Houston teacher was fired after she was caught one of her teenage students. READ MORE

pokoa on flickr

Teacher Claims to be Impaired by Baldness

Impaired from what exactly? READ MORE

Rubyyot on flickr

That's Just Gross

A Texas band teacher had a very unique (and nasty) punishment for one child who forgot his instrument. READ MORE

SXC

Caught on Camera

If you're going to freak out at the kids, make sure the security camera isn't taping your every word. READ MORE

SXC

Sleep, Or Go to Jail!

One 4-year-old was handcuffed at his preschool for refusing to nap. READ MORE

SXC

Suspended for a Cell Phone Call

...to his dad, who was stationed in Iraq. Not exactly supporting the troops. READ MORE

SXC

Bomb Threat!

A student teacher faked a bomb threat to get out of class. READ MORE

SXC

Teacher Accused of Being a Wizard

Sounds like a Harry Potter plot, but JK Rowling had nothing to do with this one. READ MORE

SXC

Teacher Fired for Branding Students With a Cross

Ouch! READ MORE

SXC

Teacher Sued for Calling Teen "Ugly"

And on Valentine's Day to boot! READ MORE

SXC

In one case, a school hall monitor tried to fight a student in the cage, but then-principal Donald Moten broke up the fight. However, in a separate incident, Moten reportedly told staff to put two teens (who were already fighting with each other) in the cage to "let'em duke it out." Moten denies the charges.

"I don't even know what you're talking about," says Moten. "That's barbaric. You can't do that at a high school. You can't do that anywhere."

But one middle school counselor has a different take on the incident: "It was gladiator-style entertainment for the staff," says Frank Hammond. "They were taking these boys downstairs to fight. And it was sanctioned by the principal and security."

Continue reading School Principal Accused of Locking Students in Cages

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Imaginary Friends - Normal or Not?

Elise Nersesian — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Kids

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have another kid under their roof: daughter Shiloh's imaginary friend Amy.

Reportedly two-year-old Shiloh's best friend is a make-believe little girl. "Shiloh says she likes Amy more than Knox and Viv," says a source close to Brangelina. And during dinner, Shiloh pushes away her plate and says, "Amy's not hungry." And although Brad and Angie have tried to reason with their daughter, Shiloh insists Amy is real.

Is this typical, or is it a Hollywood kid thing?

Jolie-Pitt Clan

Girls' Day Out
Zahara and Shiloh enjoy a shopping trip with mom Angelina Jolie in New York. They look like typical little girls -- comfortable and warm and ready for fun with their mom.

Bauer-Griffin

Just when it seemed you'd read every sappy tidbit about the picture-perfect Jolie-Pitts and their nigh-on-holy parenting prowess, it turns out these immaculate specimens are even more flawless than originally assumed. But no matter what they tell reporters, the Hollywood power couple don't exactly practice what they preach.

James Devaney/WireImage.com

Brad recently told Hello! magazine that he and his family are too cool for fancy Christmas presents, saying: "We do exchange gifts, although we don't feel any pressure to make them big or expensive gifts."

Getty Images

And not only that -- the reason the kids don't ask for the latest cheap, plastic, Elmo-inspired gadgets is because they don't watch American cartoons, thereby avoiding all the "manipulative" ads run by toymakers.

Getty Images

Which, to be fair, is nice to hear. After all, in tough economic times, it's refreshing that even the wealthiest families are taking a sensible approach to the holiday madness.

Or, it would be, if the Jolie-Pitts weren't just spouting off about their holier-than-thou approach to child rearing. 'Cause, as it turns out, Angelina can be quite the spendthrift.

Getty Images

Angie recently ordered a 2009 Ducati 1100s Monster for her hunky hubby's 45th birthday. The bike isn't available yet for us mere mortals, but when it is this hot ride will set you back $12,000.

Ducati

And you may remember in September of last year, when blogs were buzzing with the news that Angelina had bought daughter Zahara a mini Valentino braided leather shoulder bag (to match the grown-up version she was carrying at the time -- then worth $1695).

INFphoto.com

Not that the Jolie-Pitts are horrible people (I mean, what else would you do with hundreds of millions of dollars to spend?) -- but next time you're bummed because your family doesn't live up to Brangelina's unattainable standards, remember that their squeaky-clean celebrity image is just as much PR spin as it is reality.

Getty Images

Angelina Jolie with Shiloh, Pax and Zahara walking in New Orlean's French Quarter in 2008.

Chris Wolf, FilmMagic

Brad Pitt carrying Shiloh and Zahara at the Lenval Hospital in Nice, where Angelina gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in July 2008.

Lionel Cironneau, AP

"It's totally normal for children ages three and four to have imaginary friends," says child psychologist Fran Walfish, Psy.D. "Often times kids invent a pretend playmate because they don't know how to relate to their parents - or their parents can't relate to them - so they create a 'friend' who understands them unconditionally."

According to Walfish, not only are imaginary friends a normal stage of development, it's also common for kids to create playmates when they feel lonely. In large and busy families where communication is scarce, a child may conjure up a buddy to keep them company or to comfort them when they're upset. In other words, a child may pretend -- or create -- someone who understands them.

Another reason kids invent friends is to avoid accountability. In Shiloh's case, pushing away her plate and saying "Amy's not hungry" is likely her way of expressing that she doesn't want to eat. "A child may fear his parents will be angry if he tells them how he feels, so he might say, 'So and so made me do it' or 'So and so wants a cookie,'" Walfish says.

Continue reading Imaginary Friends - Normal or Not?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Oprah - "Love Doesn't Hurt"

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Last week Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks teamed up for an hour-long discussion about domestic violence inspired by the Chris Brown and Rihanna February 8th domestic assault case now before a Los Angeles court.

The question on everyone's mind is: Can Brown overcome his anger problem? Well, according to Oprah, "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again...Love doesn't hurt."

"Rihanna reconciled with Chris because she doesn't think she's worthy of being with someone who won't hurt her," says Oprah. "If you were raised with self esteem, to think you're a worthy person you won't tolerate abuse."

And the same principal rings true for the abuser. Oprah says when a child grows up witnessing domestic abuse, violent behavior becomes ingrained. And the abusive cycle perpetuates because the child doesn't have an alternative coping mechanism for his anger.

Continue reading Oprah - "Love Doesn't Hurt"

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Shauna Sand - Mother of the Year?

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Parents

Actress, former Playboy model, and mother of three Shauna Sand is no stranger to controversy. From performing public stripteases for the paparazzi, getting into physical brawls with former hubbies Romain Chavent and Lorenzo Lamas, and donning high heels on the beach, one thing is clear: This woman spends a lot of time in the public eye -- and not nearly enough time at home.

Recently, TMZ caught Sand out with her daughters, Alexandra, Victoria, and Isabel. In the video -- which you can see here -- Sand asks Alexandra if she would like to pose for Playboy (just like Mommy!). The girl rolls her eyes and replies, "No, Mom ... Yeah, a little girl on a magazine with stripper shoes and a bathing suit."

Hmm. Maybe Sand's not such a bad mom after all -- her daughter seems to be pretty savvy. Still, we think Sand could give could give Dina Lohan a run for her money in terms of parenting skills. And we don't mean that as a compliment.

Celebrity Moms We Love to Hate

Gigi Levangie-Grazer
Hollywood producer Brian Grazer has been paying his ex-wife Gigi, who penned "The Starter Wife," $75K monthly, but she wants nearly $1 million per month for child support for two kids. Come on, Gigi.

Getty Images

Pamela Anderson:
We applaud Pam for refusing to allow her kids to be filmed on her short-lived reality show Pam: Girl on the Loose, but Pam, your sons can still see you prancing around naked and your partying antics in Hollywood-as long as they have television and the Internet.

Getty Images

Denise Richards:
At first we gave Denise Richards the benefit of the doubt when her reality-show Denise Richards: It's Complicated premiered-maybe she wasn't as bad as she seemed. But shortly after the first episode, it was clear the show was nothing more than a public forum for her bitter divorce from actor Charlie Sheen. From screaming the C-word to perpetuating the feud between her and her ex, Denise was quoted as saying, "The gloves are off. When I keep my mouth shut, [Charlie] continues to fuel [the feud] anyway, so I'm not gonna sit back anymore." What about staying classy for your kids?

Getty Images

Christie Brinkley:
We admit we couldn't stop watching the very messy-and public-divorce between model Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook. But at the heart of the drama was a mom who seemingly had no qualms about humiliating her ex at the expense of her children. Do kids ages 13 and 10 really need to know about their dad's porn addiction and penchant for underage girls? Christie decided to keep their divorce a media circus and as a result, came off as an unfit mom.

Getty Images

Courtney Love:
We all know Courtney is an unconventional mom. But in 1992, Vanity Fair shocked the world by claiming the rock star took heroin while unknowingly carrying daughter Frances Bean, and as a result, she had to fight for custody. And in 2003, she was arrested for breaking and entering at her ex-boyfriend's home. She was hospitalized for a drug overdose and Frances Bean was placed with the Department of Children and Family Services for over a year. Never mind a month-long stint in rehab in 2004, followed by six months in lock-down rehab, then house arrest. After publicly claiming she was suicidal when late husband Kurt Cobain's ashes were stolen from her home, and a constant battle with yo-yo dieting, we have to wonder how her daughter feels. Courtney, will you ever pull it together?

Getty Images

Dina Lohan:
From late drinking and clubbing right alongside daughter Lindsay, it's a miracle Dina Lohan was voted a "Top Mom" by "Mingling Moms," a group for new mothers in Long Island, New York. Sure, Dina could have used Lindsay's mistakes to ensure younger sister Ali didn't follow suit, but this stage mama shocked fans during the premiere of Living Lohan when she enjoyed online porn-with Ali in the next room. When Ali walked in she asked, "Oh, is that Lindsay?"

Getty Images

Linda Hogan:
Newly divorced Linda Hogan, 50, can certainly play the field, but she's dating a 19-year-old child-who's two years younger than her daughter Brooke. Despite the fact that Brooke has told the world her mom's actions are damaging their relationship ("I'm totally freaked out!"), and she's tired of the media attention, Linda seems oblivious to her daughter's pleas. Shouldn't she re-focus her priorities?

Getty Images

Kate Moss:
Being pregnant didn't stop supermodel Kate Moss from posing nude in a life-size photo spread called "Naked Portrait 2002" Later that year, Kate gave birth to daughter Lila Grace-but she also continued her partying ways. During New York City's 2005 Fashion Week, London's Daily Mirror printed a photo of then 31-year-old Moss, mother to then two-year-old Lila, cutting lines of cocaine on a CD jewel box.

Getty Images

Kathy Hilton:
The mother of heiress Paris Hilton says she's unfairly portrayed as a gold-digging stage mother, but where was mom when daughters Paris and Nicky, then 16 and 14, were hitting the New York club scene? In 2007 when a judge ordered 26-year-old Paris to serve 45 days in county jail for violating probation on a reckless driving case, Kathy laughed and said, "May I have your autograph?" And according to a Hilton biography, Kathy is proud of Paris's sex tape, painting her daughter a "victim." Maybe it's unfair to blame Paris's uncontrollable ways on her mom, but does the apple really fall far from the tree?

Getty Images

Sharon Stone:
When earlier this year actress Sharon Stone lost physical custody of her 8-year-old son Roan, we were shocked. And while Sharon is known for creating controversy (suggesting the 2008 earthquake in China was the result of "karma") and for her extreme parenting style (pushing Roan to have Botox injections in his feet to cure foot odor), we had no idea how out of control this mom really was.

Getty Images

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are Stay-at-Home Moms Taking Advantage of the Recession?

Elise Nersesian — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Work Life

No doubt about it, hard economic times have women entering the work force in droves. Some are struggling to make ends meet after a divorce or the death of a spouse, while others are driven by the pressure of a husband's job loss. But for some women, there's more to it than that. In an article published by "Forbes" last week, writer Heidi Brown makes a subtle (but powerful) point about women who re-join the work force: The recession is just an excuse for stay-at-home moms bored by changing diapers and baby talk, to reinvent themselves.

For some women, the recession is a time to clear up ongoing dilemmas and regain independence. For others, it's a time of survival.

Amy Keroes, an attorney and creator of the website Mommy Track'd, says there has been a huge increase in women entering the job market. According to her, those clamoring for work are educated, wealthy women who had the advantage of leaving their jobs, but are now experiencing an existential crisis (Who am I without a career?) and for these women, the recession came at the perfect time.

"These women were struggling with their identities because they weren't working," says Keroes. "I think 'having to' has made it easier for lots of women who were already struggling with whether to return."

Her point subtly implies that women aren't working out their personal struggles, but are instead using the recession as an easy-out for being dissatisfied with their lives. What's more, Keroes claim emphasizes the idea that staying at home is a decision commonly wracked by guilt -- but the guilt works both ways: Many working moms struggle with their decision to work and feel guilty about not spending "enough" time with their kids. And many stay-at-home moms also second-guess their decision (Am I not setting a good example for my daughters?). However, some women simply aren't career oriented and are fully satisfied by caring for their families full-time.

Women move in and out of the workforce for many reasons -- for those who left, perhaps they need to stay at home to care for a special needs child or aging relative, maybe they can freelance from home, while others may just need time off from the daily grind and have the resources to do so. The point is there are legitimate reasons for staying at home - and most certainly reasons for going to work.

Isn't it time to stop judging women for being breadwinners or breadmakers and cut everyone some slack for their choices?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Barbie Turns 50!

Elise Nersesian — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Sure, Barbie's wrinkle-free with impossibly perky boobs (after all, she's never breastfed) -- however the iconic blond turned 50 on Monday.

Barbie has been a busy girl these past 50 years.

She's a career woman: Holding 108 different jobs including surgeon, teacher, veterinarian, news reporter, and UNICEF ambassador, Barbie is one ambitious lady. She's even served in the military and has run for President three times.

She's a property owner: Barbie owns a three-floor mansion in Malibu, a jet, a cruise ship, and of course, countless convertibles.

She's independent: After a 43-year romance with Ken, Barbie dumped him in 2004 for Australian surfer Blaine. Word is she and Ken made up, but her fling was fun while it lasted.

She's endured more bad press than Paris Hilton: For five decades Barbie's been criticized for her Waspy looks, shapely figure, and incessant shopping habit. She's been banned in Iran for her sexy "Western lifestyle" and blamed for poor self-image, even eating disorders among tweens. But...

Continue reading Barbie Turns 50!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Barbie: Victim of Violence?

Elise Nersesian — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Funny Stuff

Did you ever abuse your Barbie doll? We don't mean just putting the buxom blond in compromising positions with Ken. We're talking real "abuse" -- baking her, melting her, shaving her head, burning her, twisting her arms off -- even driving a nail through her heart.

Well, if you're guilty of inflicting such torture on the beloved icon as a child, the good news is, torturing Barbie is completely normal.

When researchers at England's University of Bath conducted a study of children's play habits, they discovered that Barbie was used to the abuse.

"The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving," writes Dr. Agnes Nairn. "The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a 'cool' activity in contrast to other forms of play with the doll."

Experts surmise that Barbie is a "hate figure" among 7- to 11-year-old girls -- and that's got people talking.

Continue reading Barbie: Victim of Violence?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Miley Cyrus Was Tormented By Bullies

Elise Nersesian — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Kids, In The News

Recently, teen sensation Miley Cyrus made a shocking revelation in her upcoming memoir, "Miley Cyrus: Miles To Go:" Her younger days were spent being teased, tortured, and humiliated by school bullies.

In fact the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star says she was "friendless, lonely and miserable," and believes she would have been physically harmed if the abuse hadn't stopped.

In her book, Miley writes, "The girls took it beyond normal bullying. These were big, tough girls. I was scrawny and short. They were fully capable of doing me bodily harm."

Miley even says there was an "Anti-Miley Club." She describes one incident: "Three girls strutted up and stood towering over me. My stomach churned. I clutched my grilled cheese sandwich like it was the hand of my best friend. It pretty much was my best friend those days. I was done for. They started cussing me and telling me to get up. I sat there, frozen. I didn't know what to do. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up, still a foot shorter then they were, and said, 'What's your problem? What did I ever do to you?' "

Continue reading Miley Cyrus Was Tormented By Bullies

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Family of Five Sells Themselves on eBay

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Weird But True

Have you ever sold your child's old stroller or crib on eBay to make a few bucks? Well, a family of five from Austin, TX is doing much more than that to make ends meet - they're selling themselves on eBay.

Huh?

When he was laid off, dad Loren Guerra had an idea. In the hopes of getting corporate sponsorship for his family, he decided to offer their services to companies in need of advertising. The Guerra's eBay page reads: "Let us represent you and be your brand ambassadors."

What does that mean exactly?

"We are auctioning off our brand ambassador services for a brand that is looking to have an all-American family basically represent their brand," says Loren.

The Guerra's are willing to do anything to advertise a brand for the reserve price of $50,000. They say they'll wear shirts with brand logos emblazoned on them, participate in parades, stick signs in their yard, even wrap their cars in advertisements. But they have one strict rule: They'll only advertise for "family-friendly companies." This means no tobacco, alcohol, gambling, or adult-themed advertisements allowed.

Sure, this stunt may sound far-fetched, but is it really? In a dwindling economic market, families are getting more and more creative with making ends meet.

Continue reading Family of Five Sells Themselves on eBay

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

"Dancing with the Stars" Host Samantha Harris on Life After Baby

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Parents

Despite hosting seven seasons of the television hit "Dancing with the Stars," joining CBS's "The Insider" as their newest co-host and filling in for host Meredith Vieira on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" it's a miracle we caught up to 35 year-old Samantha Harris at all - this woman is busy. But despite her grueling schedule, Samantha says she's never been happier. She filled us in on life at home with her daughter, seventeen-month-old Josselyn and those crazy DWTS rumors.

You've been hosting Dancing With the Stars for seven seasons now -- ever been tempted to compete yourself?

Ha! I've been spun around the dance floor a few times by Jonathan Roberts (a professional). When I first took the job in season two, I admit I wanted to be on the show. But once I saw how strenuous and intense the workouts were, I was intimidated. But it would be fun to learn all the dances.

It looks fun! What's your most memorable DWTS moment?

It was during the first episode of season seven when Cloris Leachman sat on judge Carrie Ann's lap and then thrust her leg up on the judge's table next to Bruno Tonioli while he kissed her calf! She's so hilarious -- and 82 years old!

We've all heard about singer Jewel and "Access Hollywood" host Nancy O'Dell withdrawing from the competition five days before the season eight premiere due to dancing-related injuries. Jewel is being treated for a fractured tibia in both legs, and Nancy has a torn meniscus. Do you think the workouts are too strenuous?

Every season is more competitive than the last, and that's probably why we see more injuries as time goes on. The average training day is six to eight hours - that's a lot! We even had an Olympian on the show last year who tore her Achilles tendon. And with each season, comes more pressure to make it better than the last. So it's easy for the stars to push themselves past their limit without even realizing it. Dancing is a true sport and people don't understand that until they're on the show.

However despite the grueling work, I've never heard one contestant say they've regretted being on the show - many say it's been the best experience they've ever had. Even Nancy O'Dell has said how grateful she's been for the opportunity to compete.

Continue reading "Dancing with the Stars" Host Samantha Harris on Life After Baby

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is Your Kid a Sore Loser?

Elise Nersesian — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Development: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Development: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Big Kids

Recently, a mom at her wit's end wrote a letter to Dear Abby: What should I do, the mother worried, with a sore loser?

It seems that her 10-year-old son, "Harry," ends up in tears if he doesn't always win -- and has no problem with cheating, if it'll help. "We have told Harry repeatedly that games are supposed to be fun," writes the mom, "but he seems unable to grasp the concept."

As a general rule, of course, no kid likes to lose. A certain amount of sulking and crying is perfectly normal, say the experts. Especially for little ones, who lack the vocabulary to express their emotions with words.

But by age 10? Come on, Harry. Keep it together. Unless, perhaps, mom is leaving out a key part of the story. Maybe, just maybe, mom and dad have problem with losing, too.

Continue reading Is Your Kid a Sore Loser?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Preschooler's 911 Call Saves Mom's Life

Elise Nersesian — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids

"My Mommy's sick. Can you please come over here?...Can you pick her up?"

Those words from an "unusually calm" four-year-old Thornton, Colorado, boy to a 911 operator saved his mother's life after she collapsed while making him lunch.

Thomas "TJ" Roller called 911 and calmly told the dispatcher, "She's on the floor...She's on her stomach...She dropped her food." TJ also added that his mother, Jennifer Roller, couldn't speak and that, "I'm a kid."

Here's where we all need to listen up: "She told me whenever she gets sick ... call 911," says TJ. (Listen to TJ's call here.)

An emergency operator asked TJ to check if his mother was breathing, then to roll her on her back. After he answered a few questions, the boy asked him to come over again. As a reward, the heroic tot had the ride of his young life on a fire truck, courtesy of the emergency response crew that came to his mom's rescue.

Continue reading Preschooler's 911 Call Saves Mom's Life

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mother Sentenced for Attacking Sex Offender

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Tammy Gibson will be spending three months behind bars for taking a baseball bat to a sex offender for talking to her then-10-year-old daughter last summer.

Is this Puyallup, WA, mom remorseful or scared? "I'd do it again, if not better," she tells ABC News Seattle affiliate KOMO-TV.

Gibson's older daughter, Rachael Porter, came to her mom's defense saying, "She was protecting her kids like she should have been. They locked her up for way too long."

What would you have done?

Parents Who Sacrificed for Their Kids

Mother Beats Sex Offender with a Bat
Tammy Gibson, a Tacoma, WA, mother beat a sex offender with a baseball bat after she saw him chatting with her young daughter. She was sentenced to three months in jail, but says, "I'd do it again." READ MORE

Courtesy KOMO

All parents sacrifice for their kids -- it's part of the jobs. But for some the struggles are harder to overcome.

Divorced parents under the same roof? Anyone who's separated from a spouse knows how hard it'd be to live with your ex. But tough times are keeping some former couples living together against their will.

READ MORE

LilGoldWmn on sxc

Surprise! Brad Pitt is a great father. The man who's arguably the most high-profile father on the planet spends a surprising amount of time with his kids.

READ MORE

Getty Images

When they learned their daughter would die before she finished high school, these parents cut back at work and sold their house they'd have the time and money to make every moment spectacular.

READ MORE

omster-com on SXC

We think they have it easy, but celebrity parenting certainly has its drawbacks. Not only has Kyra Sedgwick has given up her anonymity, she lives in LA for work while her daughter finishes high school in NYC.

READ MORE

Getty Images

Family time can be tough for separated parents, who only get to see their kids according to a court order. Single dad William Leith talks openly about this emotional challenge.

READ MORE

simmbarb on SXC

Rough economic times are hard on all of us, but some more than others. One mom, even though she was working full-time, couldn't make ends meet, and recounts taking her three kids to a soup kitchen.

READ MORE

duchesssa on SXC

One Nebraska dad made the ultimate sacrifice for his nine children. Knowing he couldn't care for them himself, he left them in state custody in the hopes that they might have a better life. Was it the right decision? If times were bad, could you imagine doing the same?

READ MORE

surfkid74 on SXC

Gibson pleaded no contest to assault charges last week against hulking 7-foot-3 William A. Baldwin, a Level-3 sex offender. She could have received as much as eight months in jail.

"I don't care if it hurts me, I don't regret it," says Gibson. "It got him away from my kids and all the other kids in the neighborhood."

Continue reading Mother Sentenced for Attacking Sex Offender

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sasha and Malia - New Home, Same Rules

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Kids, In The News

Think First Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama will be waited on hand and foot in their new digs? Ha.

According to the new issue of PEOPLE, the rules are the same in the White House as they were in their home in Chicago.

Sasha, 10, and Malia, 7, are expected to make their own beds, keep their bedrooms spic-and-span and clean up after dinner. And although their grandmother, Marian Robinson, 71, is living in a third-floor guest room to assist the family, the girls are not allowed to take advantage of Grandma's help.

Malia and Sasha Obama

Your Kids Can Hang Out With Sasha and Malia (Kind of)
Just days after the inauguration, the makers of Beanie Babies introduced "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia." Now they're valued at over $3,000 for the pair.

Getty Images

Sasha Obama runs down the colonnade as she returns from a February 2009 weekend visit to Chicago with her father, President Barack Obama, to the White House.

Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

Sasha Obama back in DC after a weekend visit to Chicago.

Nicholas Kamm, AFP/Getty

US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and mother-in-law Marian Robinson walk across the tarmac to board Air Force One at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Obama and his family were returning to Washington after spending the weekend in Chicago.

Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty

The First Family walks down the stairs from Air Force One upon they arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on February 2009.

Jose Luis Magana, AP

Malia, Sasha and the Luckiest Friend Ever Return From Camp David
The Obamas recently jaunted off to Camp David in Marine One, the president's swanky chopper. The girls and an unidentified friend are pictured here after landing on the South Lawn of the White House.

Getty Images

Sasha and Dad Take in a Show
President Obama took a night off from running the nation to hang out with the fam and watch the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform at the Kennedy Center.

Getty Images

Sasha Obama Takes Her Ugly Doll to School
The newest Obama trend, courtesy of Sasha, 7, is an Ugly Doll by the name of Babo's Bird. Photographed with the stuffed toy on her backpack, Sassy Sasha sure is trés-cool for school.

Callie Shell, HO/Change.gov

Malia and Sasha's Excellent Adventure
Malia, 10 (right) and Sasha, 7, wave to the crowd at the 2008 election night rally in Chicago. Politics are child's play to these sweethearts, and we can't wait to see them come into their own.

Jae C. Hong, AP

Sasha and Malia, kissing her mother Michelle, get ready for the first day of school in Washington, DC, as President-elect looks on. The Obama family are staying at the Hay Adams Hotel prior to their move into the White House.

Callie Shell, HO / Change.gov

Michelle Obama has even asked the White House staff not to dote on the girls. "People want to make your life easy, and when you have small kids -- I've explained this to the staff -- they don't need their lives to be easy. They're kids," she says.

However, the girls can roam all around the White House and even hang in the Oval Office whenever they want. "I've tried to encourage them to feel like this whole place is their home," says the First Lady. "We actually had this conversation -- just let us know where you're going."

And if the girls need more tips on life at the historic mansion, they can always rely on former First Twins, Jenna and Barbara Bush, who passed on a few pointers on life in the "magical" kingdom. "Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties..." Or, in Sasha and Malia's case, dust the banisters, wash your play clothes and put away the pool noodles. Kidding.

What do you think of the Obama's parenting style? Are they setting appropriate boundaries, or are they too tough on those girls?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

U2's Bono: "I Embarrass My Children"

Elise Nersesian — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parents

It may be hard to imagine growing weary of U2 front man Bono, but according to the Daily Mail, the rock star has to work at impressing his two teenage daughters.

Bono admits he is guilty of the same parental fate as most parents -- his children think he's embarrassing.

Bono, 48, has two daughters, Jordan, 19, and Memphis Eve, 17, with wife Ali Hewson, and says his children cringed and rolled their eyes at the music he played at the band's after-party for their recent tour.

He also says Jordan and Memphis Eve feared he would 'bore the butts off" Beyonce and Jay-Z when they came to stay at the family home in St. Tropez.

He says of Jordan: "I went in to get some wine out of the fridge and I heard her talking to her friends, because she loves Jay-Z and Beyonce. And I heard her saying, 'He's probably boring their a***s off talking about Africa.' And actually I think I was at the time. Not boring their a***s off...Actually, I probably was."

Bono also adds, "There was a funny moment on the last tour when there were formal objections by our kids to some of the music that was being played at the after show party."

But this isn't the first time celeb parents have mortified their children. Kate Winslet recently told the ladies of The View that her 8 year-old daughter Mia rolls her eyes at her mom's all-black wardrobe, and Reese Witherspoon told Parents magazine that her daughter Ava, 9, is "mortified" when the actress sings in public.

And Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's kids Isabella, 9, and Connor, 12, have said they are so mortified by their famous folks that they won't let them pick them up from school. Says Kidman, "They even tried to change their last name, and they say, 'Don't come to our school. Whatever you do, don't come.'"

Who knew--celeb parents: Just like us!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Octomom Drama Continues

Elise Nersesian — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Parents, In The News, Weird But True

The spotlight seems to have permanently shifted from the octuplets themselves to octomom, Nadya Suleman, her father, Ed Doud, and the octo-nana Angela Suleman. And now, boyfriends from the past.

Doud hit the television circuit, appearing on yesterday's Oprah to defend his daughter against claims that she doesn't deserve empathy.

Octuplets Gallery

A child stands in a bedroom in the home of Angela Suleman, the grandmother of the California octuplets. Nadya Suleman, the mother of the babies who also has six other children, said this week that she is done having children. See More Photos From RadarOnline.com

Stewart Cook, RadarOnline.com

The Southern California woman who gave birth to octuplets on Jan. 26 had the embryos implanted at a Beverly Hills clinic run by a controversial doctor, it was revealed Monday. Here, Dr. Michael Kamrava is shown performing an ultrasound on a pregnant Nadya Suleman in 2006. In addition to the octuplets, Suleman has six other children, ages 2 to 7.

KTLA / AP

Suleman is shown with two of her children in 2006. The single mom told NBC's 'Today' show that she was "fixated" on having children. She said all 14 of her children were conceived through in vitro fertilization with sperm donated by a friend. She said she used the same doctor for all her pregnancies.

KTLA / AP

Suleman looks at an ultrasound of her unborn twins in 2006. She told NBC that she is not "living off the taxpayers," but she has accepted food stamps. RadarOnline.com reported that she is living in a hotel room, although it's not clear who is paying for the room.

KTLA / AP

NBC's 'Today' broadcast footage Monday of Suleman visiting her octuplets in the California hospital where they were born Jan. 26. There are six boys and two girls.

MSNBC.com

A combination picture shows the octuplets. Clockwise from top left are: Josiah, Makai, Jeremiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Noah, Maliyah and Isaiah. All share the middle name Angel and the last name Solomon.

NBC / Reuters

Suleman did not disclose the name of her doctor, but she said on 'Today' that she went to the West Coast IVF Clinic in Beverly Hills. Its director is Kamrava, shown being followed by reporters Monday. Kamrava, 57, would not comment, but told reporters outside his clinic on Rodeo Drive that he had granted an interview to one of the television networks.

Nick Ut, AP

Kamrava enters his office Monday. Some fertility specialists have questioned his methods. "He's tried some novel techniques and some of those methods have been controversial," said Dr. John Jain, founder of Santa Monica Fertility Specialists. Ethicists have questioned the decision to implant so many embryos in Suleman, saying the health of both the mother and babies were at risk.

Nick Ut, AP

Without identifying the doctor, the Medical Board of California said last week that it was investigating Suleman's physician to see whether there may have been "a violation of the standard of care." The board said Monday it has not taken any disciplinary action against Kamrava in the past.

Nick Ut, AP

This is the building where Kamrava's clinic is located. Many have questioned why a doctor would help a single woman with six young children and no visible means of support to conceive more babies.

Nick Ut, AP

"Don't punish her or her babies," he told the rapt audience. "It's God's will. If he didn't want this to happen he would have destroyed her embryos. I will do whatever I can to help her."

What's more, Suleman's dad says he had no idea his daughter was pregnant -- and apparently neither did her mom. According to Radar Online, when Angela confronted her daughter, Nadya denied she was pregnant and said: "I have a tumor."

Sigh.

Continue reading Octomom Drama Continues

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alex McCord - 8 Questions for a Real Housewife of New York

Elise Nersesian — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celeb Parents

"Real Housewives of New York" star Alex McCord and hubby Simon van Kempen are penning a new parenting book, "The Urban Parent: Tales From a Real House in New York City," expected to hit the shelves by the end of 2009. Despite those that say the aspiring Brooklyn socialite, mother of two and racy Internet phenom has no business preaching parenting skills, McCord defends herself to ParentDish: "If it were a requirement to be a perfect parent in order to write a parenting book, there would be no books on the subject."

Reality TV Moms

Alex McCord
"Ultimately there's not a lot of difference between me and most other moms. We all want the best for our children, to love them, educate them and provide them with the tools needed to launch themselves successfully into the world." -- Alex McCord, The Real Housewives of New York City

Getty Images

Michelle Duggar

"I'll put it the way my daughter, Jill, said it: 'Mama, they just don't understand or know what it's like to be in our large family and how much fun we have and how sweet is it to have these little ones that look up to us and want to be like us. -- Michelle Duggar of "17 Kids & Counting"

Beth Hall, AP

Amy Roloff

"Those moments [on the show] don't represent the last or the next 20 years of our lives, whether we are going through the best times or the most horrible times. You almost want to say, "Can I put a mirror in your face?" -- Amy Roloff, "Little People, Big World"

Thos Robinson, Getty Images

Kate Gosselin

Kate Gosselin didn't set out to create a family of eight, but her genes had other plans. Managing her set of twins and sextuplets with ease, this model mother makes having eight children look manageable, and maybe even a little bit fun.

Amy Sussman, Getty Images

Amy Wolff
"I know I will get bigger, and I know I will have a lot of baby weight. But I alsoI know it won't be this huge, insurmountable thing. If I had gotten pregnant six months after the show, I would have been in the head space of worrying about my weight, and being really focused on that." -- Amy Wolff, "Biggest Loser"

Trae Patton, NBC

Denise Richards

We've been hearing about Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen drama in the tabloids for years, but when Richards decided to get her own reality TV show, "Denise Richards: It's Complicated," we learned she wasn't kidding. Between her messy, public divorce, raising her children and maintaining her status as a sex symbol, Richards' life is certainly more dramatic than the average mom.

Jason LaVeris, FilmMagic

NeNe Leakes

Arguably the most popular of the "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," it's not surprising that NeNe Leakes upstages her two sons with social drama and her outspoken personality. Despite the controversy, Leakes says she still makes time to help others through her organization, "The Twisted Hearts Foundation," which promotes knowledge about domestic violence in the community.

Bravo

Tori Spelling

Although she was often upstaged by her late pug Mimi La Rue in the past, Spelling is a force to reckon with as she pursued entrepreneurship and stayed in the spotlight all while eight months pregnant with her second child, Stella. Now, as a mother of two back in L.A., Spelling continues to take on Hollywood at full steam with her role on the newly renewed 90210 series.

Chris Polk, FilmMagic

Mommy Meerkat

These moms are wilder than most of the other matriarchs on reality TV, but they manage their families with the same loving care. Dominant female Flower rose to power and led her pack, the Whiskers, for more than five years. These tough mommas are experts at multi-tasking, as they are filmed foraging, caring for their young and fiercely battling enemies to protect the pack.

Animal Planet

Renee Wilson

Appeared on "The Biggest Loser" with daughter Michelle Aguilar. Renee, 47, lost 45 pounds in seven weeks. "She was the quintessential yo-yo dieter," Michelle, 27, told "Prevention." Luckily the mother-daughter team was able to use familial motivation to break their old habits and start living a healthier lifestyle.

Trae Patton, NBC Photo

Finish this sentence: A good parent is ... A present parent. You can't be with your kids all the time and you can't catch everything. But you can be present in the moment.

Are you happy with the way your family life is portrayed on camera? It's been a real learning curve. Working with young children on camera is not easy, and we definitely walked into a few traps. The truth is, we were fairly naïve. We had never watched reality TV before! In the new season you'll see a more accurate representation of us. It may not be any more flattering, but it will be more real.

Continue reading Alex McCord - 8 Questions for a Real Housewife of New York

Permalink | Email this | Comments