LilSugar

A Name Isn't Just a Name

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:00:25 -0800

I was named after a shrub in my parents' yard that never flowered until the day I was born. My daughter is named for the most beautiful place I've ever visited, and my son after a character in a book I read in college, whose name means happiness. I had a hard enough time adding my married name to the end of my given one, so I can't imagine changing the seven letters that I've been known by all my life.

But according to an article on CNN, "In a recent poll of 1,219 mothers conducted by BabyCenter.com, 10 percent considered changing their baby's names."

When it comes to baby name remorse, some unsettled parents end up legally changing them, while others allow their offspring to decide. The article said:

Noting that by 12 months children already recognize the sound of their names, Dr. Karla Umpierre, a Miami psychologist and family counselor, encourages parents to get the child's input and approval if they decide to change the name after age 2. "It's best to change the name before then, because by 2 or 3 they have a sense of identity, and it could send mixed messages. The child might ask himself, 'Do you want to change me?'"

Would you change your child's name after it was on the birth certificate?

Source

Campbell Brown Covers Pregnancy

LilSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:00:47 -0800

Pregnancy Magazine has a triple threat on this month's cover - Campbell Brown's got beauty, brains, and a baby on the way.

In the upcoming issue, which hits stands on Thursday, the 39-year-old correspondent who recently left NBC for CNN discusses the changes pregnancy has brought on - root beer cravings and a nesting instinct to wake up at 6 a.m. and clean closets.

Married to Republican strategist, Daniel Senor, the soon-to-be mom also talked openly about her fears for motherhood likening them to those of most working mothers. She said:

"You worry about striking the right balance and being there enough for your child and still holding up your end of the bargain at work."

Source

Hate Trying New Foods? Blame Your Genes

YumSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:01:33 -0700

If you know anyone who has a fear of new foods - food neophobia - it might not be their attitude, it might actually be their genes.

In a recent study at University College of London, scientists determined that almost 80 percent of children's tendency to dislike unfamiliar foods was inherited. Dr. Lucy J. Cooke stated:

"Parents can be reassured that their child's reluctance to try new foods is not simply the result of poor parental feeding practices, but it is partly in the genes."

The study used twins as subjects in order to separate the effects of genes and environments - identical twins share 100 percent of their genes, fraternal twins share about 50 percent, while both share the same environment.

Once the results were in, they discovered that the identical twins were more likely to share food neophobias than the fraternal twins. Simple translation: identical twins have the same phobias, while fraternal twins have different ones, proving that food neophobias are related to genes.

However, just because it is in someone's genes, doesn't mean they can't overcome it. Research has also shown that the more frequently children are offered a particular food, the more likely they are to enjoy it.

So start offering your little ones brussel sprouts everyday and who knows, they might start liking them eventually.

Source: CNN

Mother Stands by Her Transgender Child

babysugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:00:24 -0700

The responsibility of raising a child to be a contributing member of society can be enough pressure to drive a mother crazy. Add illness, divorce, other traumatic events or life's natural happenings and parents may reach their limits much earlier.

One Omaha mother is determined to put her eight-year-old child's needs first as he is certain he is a girl trapped in a boy's body. Putting his happiness, self-awareness and desires as the priority and ignoring society's gender stereotypes, she and her husband are doing everything in their power to make the transgender child's life as normal as possible. Their story is touching.

Would You Demand to Know if Hubby Fathered Love Child?

LilSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:22:36 -0700

Like many wives, Elizabeth Edwards made a life with her husband, John. The couple had four children and lost their eldest son to a tragic car accident. Elizabeth supported John on two presidential campaign tickets and even as she battled cancer. All she asked of him was to be faithful. Today on Oprah Elizabeth addresses the rumors about John's alleged love child and says she doesn't know if the baby is his as it does not look like her offspring. Would you be so indifferent if your spouse was in this type of situation?

Kidmazing: Tot Knows How to Break 'Em on the Pool Table!

LilSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:00:45 -0700

A 23-month-old doesn't come to mind when one conjures up the image of a pool shark, but it should. Keith O'Dell, 23 months old, keeps his eye on the eight ball and can't stand to scratch! The tot who is likely still in diapers spends two to three hours a day angling his stick around his mini felt table perfecting shots. His parents say they aren't pushing their son, but will allow him to continue as long as he's happy.

Would you let your youngster spend this much time focused on one activity?

Lil Girl's Last Wish to Marry Her 7-Year-Old Sweetheart

LilSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:00:01 -0800

Most parents dream of their daughter's wedding day, but don't expect it to come when their daughter is just nine-years-old. Jayla Cooper, a child in Texas given a death sentence with cancer, recently celebrated her marriage to a fellow patient, Jose Griggs, in front of their family and friends. The two promised to be friends forever.

Nanny Saves Toddler During Mumbai Siege

LilSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:09 -0800

We all live with the hope that our caregivers would give life or limb for our child in the event of an emergency, but rarely does a situation come to the point where the person needs to do so. One of the most miraculous stories to come out of the massacre in Mumbai last week was the heroism of Sandra Samuel, the nanny who risked her own life by whisking two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg to safety in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. After spending the night of the bombings hidden in a storage closet, Samuel heard the toddler calling for her. When she found him, he was standing between his unconscious parents, with serious bruises on his back. After safely arriving at the Israeli consulate, she and the toddler were transported to Jerusalem, where they are living with Moshe's family's community. Samuel says she intends to stay with her charge as long as she is needed.

The Obama Girls Will Get Presidential Perks, But at a Price

LilSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:00:50 -0800

Malia and Sasha Obama have already been promised a puppy by their president-elect papa, Barack, and as America's first daughters, we're sure many luxuries will be afforded to them. But every slumber party thrown at the White House comes with a price says a recent CNN article - the girls will grow up in the public eye and under the watch of their parents and the Secret Service. The piece discussed the media scrutiny and antics that long haunted past presidential kids. To see what they are known for, read more. It said:

Theodore Roosevelt's children used to like to drop water balloons on foreign dignitaries, Wead said. They also let their pet snake slither around the White House dining room.

John F. Kennedy Jr. was known for hiding under his father's Oval Office desk. His older sister, Caroline, had a pony who romped untethered around the White House grounds.

President Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Thomas, used to startle everyone in the building by making all the White House bells ring at one time.

These tidbits make me think the walls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are alive with childhood history.
Source

Seven-Year-Old Breaks into Zoo, Kills Reptiles and Feeds Croc

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:00:07 -0700

Not all seven-year-olds spend their time hanging out in the school yard. A while back, lil Latarian Milton stole his grandmother's SUV and it took it for a joyride plowing through things in his path, but now an Australian boy of the same age has done something even more frightening. The child broke into the Outback zoo and killed 13 reptiles in a rampage some of which he fed to a crocodile. Since he is under the age of 10, Australian law prevents him from being charged with a crime.