Mommy Dearest,

I was downtown shopping with my friend and her two-and-a-half year old son, who is being potty trained. We were in a communal area admiring the city's Christmas tree when he announced he was about to have an accident. My friend knew he wouldn't make it to the department store across the street (where the closest restroom was) so fearing he would soil himself, she pulled down his pants and let him pee in the shrubbery. It took me a minute to realize what she was doing, but after he was finished and we continued on our way, I told her I thought it gross to let him pee on public property. She said I'd understand once I become a mother that it was an emergency and since he was wearing underwear, it was the only option other than letting him wet his pants. What do you think?

— Timid of Tots Tinkling in Public

To read the response from Mommy Dearest, read more

Shopping for kids that aren't yours can be challenging, but many people find it particularly difficult to find an appropriate present for children with special needs. As a gift giver you want to tailor toys and goodies to the kid's situation without always having to ask their parents the best items to buy. Toys"R"Us partnered with the National Lekotek Center to offer its shoppers in this situation a lil help with its toy guide for differently-abled kids.

The 55-page booklet that is available, free of charge, at the toy store has a toy selection guide with icons to show which items promote development in the following areas: auditory, language, visual, tactile, gross motor, fine motor, social skills, self-esteem, creativity, and thinking. Customers can also access the information online.

Santa likes his cookies, so maybe, just maybe he's leaving your tot a red-hot retro kitchen under the tree! The set will occupy your offspring's time while they make inedible eats. Lucky for St. Nick they come at two price points to accommodate the wad of cash he has in his sack.
Simple: The KidCraft Vintage Kitchen Play Center ($110) is made of sturdy wood and offers ample storage, oven knobs that click and turn, a cordless telephone and supplies like a ladle, pot, and apron.
Swank: Pottery Barn Kids Retro Sink, Icebox, and Oven ($700) has fun features like a sink that holds water, removable salt and pepper shakers, and a ticking timer.
Which one do you prefer?
*Update: The simple version is currently on sale for $98!

Thanks to technology, you're able to get a look at your wee one before she makes her debut. New parents cherish the blurry black and white image that is their bundle of joy's first ultrasound picture and the refrigerator door (where it usually ends up) hardly seems like a worthy spot to display it. Instead, frame it. Simple frames such as the Koala Baby Sonogram Frame ($17) will show off your prized possession.