Suri Cruise steps out in heels. Again. Boston Credit: PPNY / GSNY / Splash News

But walking the walk ain't so easy, as the famous preschooler discovered. Credit: PPNY / GSNY / Splash News

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The annual Becher-Ware Turkey Bowl. Credit: Gary Becher

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Jack McLaughlin, 11, who has diabetes, needs gym class every morning to stay healthy, his parents say. Credit: Clem Murray, Philadelphia Inquirer / MCT

Students at Lionville Middle School in Exton, Pa. have morning gym class two out of every six days. David and Cathy McLaughlin say their diabetic 11-year-old son Jack needs more exercise than that.

School authorities disagree.

Gym classes rotate with music and reading-skills classes. School authorities tell the Philadelphia Inquirer that the McLaughlins have been offered exercise options for Jack that don't cut into those other classes.

Jack with his parents David and Cathy McLaughlin. Credit: Clem Murray, Philadelphia Inquirer / MCT

The McLaughlins and school officials disagree on how important the gym classes are for Jack.

His parents say the insulin-dependent sixth-grader needs daily exercise to counter an after-breakfast sugar spike. Jack tells the Inquirer that morning physical activity helps him through the rest of the day.

"I did feel a lot better [after morning gym class]," he tells the paper. "I don't see what the big deal is."

School officials said the McLaughlins have not sufficiently demonstrated that Jack's health would be threatened without daily gym classes, instead of informal exercise opportunities such as a school walking club and intramural sports. Both sides will present their arguments at a hearing Dec. 16.

Kelly Darr, a lawyer with the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, tells the Inquirer that the McLaughlins have to prove that Jack will not get the same quality of education as his classmates if he doesn't have gym every day. If they can do that, she says, "they've got a pretty good case."

However, Darr tells the newspaper, the accommodation the family seeks is unusual. Plus, some diabetes specialists aren't convinced by the McLaughlins' arguments.

Howe tells the paper that the McLaughlins risk sending "a message that children with diabetes need special treatment, and that is not the case."



Cathy McLaughlin tells the Inquirer that she wants her 11-year-old son to fit in. "But my overriding concern is to make wise choices with regard to his health, both today and in the future, and to help him enrich his school day."

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Suri Cruise owns this sweater dress and red velvet dress from Jacadi. Credit: Jacadi

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Today Translations will tell you what your baby's name means in 100 languages - for a price. Credit: BalaGopalanA, Flickr

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An image on an eighth-grader's math homework has one community embroiled in a debate about racism. Credit: Todd Huffman, Flickr

"I couldn't understand what I was looking at," says the woman, whose identity was not revealed by the newspaper. The work sheet, titled "Solving Equations using Multiplication and Division!," featured a photo of a black man in a straw hat and a shirt and suspenders, his mostly toothless mouth agape. Underneath the picture is the grammatically incorrect phrase, "NO WAI!!!"

"I chose it because it said 'no way,' which is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation," he writes in an e-mail. "I had no idea that I might offend anyone. I am very sorry for any distress that this has caused my students and the community." Curran claims that he found the image through a Google search for "multiply and divide."

The student's mother was not only distressed by the image, but also by reports of what happened to her son when his classmates saw the work sheet. The boy is the only African-American student in the pre-algebra class, and he says he was teased by other students.

"One of the kids in the classroom turned around and said, 'Is that your father?,' " she tells the Courier. "We are highly insulted and offended. We sent him to school to learn pre-algebra. He should be protected from this stuff, not have it thrown in his face ... He gets enough (racial slurs) and negativity from the kids. To have the teacher encourage it?"



The boy's family met with NAACP Bucks County President John Jordan, and released a written statement about the incident, the Courier reports.

"It brings into question whether all of our children are being provided a safe and fair environment in which to learn. What happened here is unacceptable, and we will take steps to make sure it never happens again," the statement reads.

According to the NAACP, several other students expressed their concerns about the picture, but the teacher told the kids to keep working, says the boy's mom. She did, however, ask her own son why he didn't leave the classroom. "He said, 'Mommy, I'm in school.' He knows the rules. He has to follow the rules," she tells the Courier. "He's trying to get on the honor roll right now."

Nick Chubb, Lenape Middle School principal, declined to comment but did tell the newspaper that administrators are investigating the matter. In the meantime, the boy's mother is keeping her child home until the situation is resolved.

"Racism is usually so subtle. To have it so blatant is what is so shocking," she says. "Hopefully, we can all learn from this and move forward in a positive way -- for everyone, not just the black kids or the Hispanic kids or the Jewish kids or the other subgroups ... We need some peace and understanding. I don't want hate."

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Are snack bars healthy? Or glorified candy bars? Credit: anne.oeldorfhirsch, Flickr

There are so many different kinds of snack bars available that pretty soon they're going to need their own aisle at the supermarket. Can any of them be considered a wholesome snack for your kids? Or are they basically glorified candy bars?

VERDICT ...

Granola Bars: The good thing about granola bars is that the main component is a whole grain. But read the labels -- some brands have twice as much sugar as others, and some contain partially-hydrogenated oils. The less a granola bar resembles a candy bar, the better, so avoid varieties that are dipped in chocolate or spiked with white chocolate chunks.

Cereal Bars: Initially devised as a breakfast option for those who feel they need to eat on the run, cereal bars are composed primarily of sugar and white flour (and in some mainstream brands, artificial colors). These are not a good breakfast. The organic brands, in particular, are fine as an occasional snack, but understand that cereal bars are not health foods -- think of them like you would Pop-Tarts or cookies.

Energy Bars: Be careful with these. Energy bars formulated for adults have adult quantities of vitamins added to them, and some, like Clif Bar's Carrot Cake and Chocolate Brownie flavors, contain five teaspoons of sugar per bar, which is more than a chocolate-glazed cake donut from Dunkin' Donuts. Plus, there's nothing about energy bars that make them more energizing than whole foods like cheese or nuts.

Fruit and Nut Bars: Fruit and nut bars, like Larabars, contain very few ingredients -- they tend to be made of nothing more than dried fruit and nuts. Unlike some other snack bars, fruit and nut bars are not just a dessert disguised as a healthy snack. These are your best bet.

Jennifer Schonborn is a holistic nutrition counselor, certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Sign up for her newsletter and free consultation at jenniferschonborn.com.

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TV host Larry King, left, and his sons Cannon Edward King, center, and Chance Armstrong King, right, earlier this year. Credit: Michael Kovac, FilmMagic

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Kids are now discouraged from hand-to-hand contact. Credit: Corbis

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Divorced parents may find themselves shopping for their exes during the holidays. Credit: nkpix, Flickr

If you're divorced, you might find yourself in the uncomfortable position of having to help your child buy a holiday gift for your ex-spouse -- and possibly a stepparent.

It can certainly test your character.

"Hey, son, I have an idea. Give your mommy a bag of broken glass and your new stepfather a big box of Band-Aids. Tell them you want them to share."

Resist the temptation to expose even the slightest hint of bitterness, Bonnie Ross, an Oregon-based family and child therapist in private practice said in an interview with ParentDish.

"Make the event planning and purchase an adventure of fun," she said.

Make the child an integral part of the process. This doesn't mean your child should only select the Christmas or Hannukah gift. Involve her in the financial part as well and make the outing a teaching moment about sound holiday shopping decisions.

Set a price. "Have the amount you want to spend in mind, perhaps even lower than you had in mind," Ross said. "Then sit with your child and have him/her brainstorm possibilities within your lower price range. Emphasize the gift is for the parent, not the child. Then the child -- if he or she chooses to increase it up to your limit -- can actually pitch in and earn part of it."

Remember that you are really shopping for your child, not your ex. This isn't about your ex, said Susan Stiffelman, a marriage and family therapist and resident AdviceMama for ParentDish. "It's a tremendous act of love -- for the child -- when divorced parents help their child shop for gifts for the other parent," Stiffelman said. "The child gets the clear and important message that they have two caring, mature adults to lean on."

Help with a homemade gift. There's nothing wrong with children giving homemade gifts and cards whether during the holidays or for other occasions, like birthdays. "I'm for homemade cards personally," Ross said. "If not homemade, then definitely at least a heartfelt note."

Keep the magic in the holidays. About.com offers a Web site to help divorced parents cope with Christmas shopping and other holiday traditions that can be fun but also stressful following the breakup of a marriage.

"There is a certain amount of magic and wonder about Christmas that no child should be robbed off," the Web site tells parents. "How you deal with your separation and divorce during the holiday will have a lot to do with how much magic and wonder your child experiences during the holiday season."

One other thing to remember, Ross said: Your ex-spouse might well go holiday shopping with your child for you. If your ex is the cranky sort, he or she might want you to send extra money. After all, why should he or she have to spend money on you?

"At this point, swallow and remember why you are no longer with ... blank," Ross said.

If you are a spiritual person, just ask that the good Lord bless them and keep them -- far away from you.

"Children don't sign up for divorce," Stiffelman said, "They are, in effect, the innocent bystanders of a huge disruption to their lives. When parents rise to the challenge of putting their children first, they will find the strength to put their own hurt and anger aside to help their children know that both of their parents support them through the holidays."

Related: More on Divorce & Custody

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Olivia Newton-John (R) and her daughter Chloe Lattanzi. Credit: Charley Gallay, Getty Images

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A father in Texas allegedly forced his 8- and 9-year-old daughters to watch hardcore online pornography. That's not against the law in the Lone Star State.

The girls' mother thinks it ought to be.

She is protesting a law passed by the Texas Legislature in the 1970s that allows parents to show children "harmful material." The law was intended to protect parents using graphic material to teach their children about sex.

"I understand in the '70s everybody wanted the government to stay out of their homes," Crystal Buckner tells The Associated Press. "I don't want to stop parents from having that right to teach sex education, but there's a big difference, and there's a line you shouldn't cross when teaching."

Buckner's ex-husband is not charged with a crime, but he is accused of forcing the girls to watch adults having hardcore group sex on the Internet. Unable to get criminal charges filed against him, Buckner has mounted a public crusade to get the law changed.

Buckner tells the AP that she learned about what her ex-husband did after one of her daughters talked about it with a counselor in June. Her ex-husband still has visitation rights with the girls once a month. However, given the allegations, officials at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services have exercised their authority to require the visits be supervised.

State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, vows to take Buckner's crusade to the Legislature. He tells the AP that he hopes to see the law changed in the 2011 Legislature.

Meanwhile, Randall County District Attorney James Farren has asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to review the law to judge the exact size of the loophole it gives parents who may have more sinister agendas than education.

Farren doesn't see much hope outside the Legislature. The law is the law, he tells the AP. For now, it provides cover for the wrong people.

"I don't think that's what the legislators intended, but it's the result," he tells the news service. "If our interpretation is wrong, that'd be great. It's fine. We'd love to go ahead and prosecute."

What do you think? Does the law open the door for children to be exposed to pornography? Or is this an isolated incident that threatens people's privacy and how they teach their children about sex?

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Expecting parents who hope for a specific gender -- and then get the opposite -- can go through real feelings of depression and shame. Credit: sallyrae17, Flickr

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A family looks at a gun during the National Rifle Association of America's annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. Credit: Getty Images

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Now, this doesn't mean that you might have a great relationship with your children because you have problems getting them into the car the first time you call them or convincing them to brush their teeth dutifully. Kids are biased towards maximizing their enjoyment of life; they are fully committed to having as much fun as possible in each and every moment. When you ask a child to do something that's not fun or that requires her to give up the good time she's having, she is likely to resist. It works a whole lot better when we come accept that reality rather than pretend we don't understand why our kids would rather wrestle with each other on the floor than take a bath and get ready for bed.

THE BRAIN MATTERS

Now and then I want my son to do something that he has absolutely no interest in doing. At seventeen, I'd like him to assert himself, and I usually try to avoid power struggles with him when he protests so we can sort things out without a lot of drama. But sometimes we hit a stalemate.

Recently I told Ari we had been invited to drop by a very distant relative's house for a little going-away party. We had rarely socialized with this family, and my son felt it wasn't necessary. ("Lame" would more accurately describe his feelings about going.) I knew that their son-a few years younger than mine-had been through some rough times recently and that it might mean something to them if we stopped by.

I said to him, "I'm not going to make you go. I don't want you to resent me for it or have a sulky attitude, and I have no interest in laying a guilt trip on you about why we should go. But here's the thing: It's the right thing to do.

BACK TO EVELYN AND HER TWIN BOYS

About a week or so after the workshop she attended, Evelyn came to see me and offered the following update:

"I was skeptical at first about your idea that behavior problems often indicate problems in the parent/child relationship; but the more you spoke about it, the more sense it intuitively made, so I promised myself I'd try your approach out. I have to tell you that by just implementing a few things, my boys' behavior has gotten a better. I've made a point of carving out just a few minutes of time to listen to music with Eddie, and I'm holding back on giving him advice right away when he starts to vent. It's not like things are perfect, not by a long shot. But I can't deny the difference." Evelyn paused, trying to find the right words. "He seems softer . . . more open to me, and he's not putting up such a battle when I ask him to help out."

Evelyn went on to tell me how things were going with her other son. "I think the thing that's really working with Matthew is coming alongside him instead of coming at him forcefully. I'm trying to avoid giving him anything to push against. I can see how my bossy approach-with things escalating if he resisted-made things deteriorate rapidly. The other thing that is making a huge difference with my boys is when I Request into the Yes.It's amazing how quickly things turned around in our house when I gave up on trying to control my kids' behavior and instead began focusing on my approach and working more from the standpoint of making a connection with them."

Getting kids to cooperate can be challenging, but let's face it: Most of us don't exactly trip over ourselves in our excitement to do our taxes or fold the laundry. Modeling your own willingness to deal with life's unpleasant tasks, coupled with working within a strong connection, should make things go more smoothly for everyone, leaving all of you in happier moods!

Susan Stiffelman, who is ParentDish's AdviceMama, is a licensed and practicing psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in developmental psychology and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology.

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