LilSugar

South Korean Baby Dies as Parents Tend to Virtual Daughter

LilSugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:05:43 -0800

Can you imagine neglecting your own child in favor of a virtual one? A South Korean couple did exactly that, and their 3-month-old daughter died of malnutrition. The dad, 41, and mom, 25, both unemployed and depressed, spent long periods of time at an Internet cafe preoccupied with their online child and only fed their human preemie once a day. A report said:

The couple had become obsessed with nurturing a virtual girl called Anima in the popular role-playing game Prius Online, police said on Friday. The game enables players to interact with Anima and as they do so, help her to recover her lost memory and develop emotions.

The parents have since been arrested. While this is an extreme and devastating example, it begs a question about technology. More than ever, parents have the power to stay connected on gaming and social networking sites. And, what starts out as a few minutes online can quickly turn into hours. Do you think today's kids will be adversely affected by all the time their moms and dads spend on the computer?

Cars-N-Kids Car Seat Monitor: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:00:02 -0700

Every year we hear horrifying stories of children who die after being left in cars by their parents, about half of the youngsters are left unintentionally by relatives who forgot to remove them from the vehicle.

The Cars-N-Kids Car Seat Monitor ($40) is designed to prevent such tragedies. Using a monitor placed under a car seat, the device turns on when a child is placed in his seat. When the car stops for more than four seconds, a lullaby plays to remind parents about the lil one in the back seat. The device also beeps if a creative kid climbs out of their chair while the car is in motion.

Would you invest in this product?

The Custody of Michael Jackson's Kids in Question

LilSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:44:22 -0700

The death of American icon Michael Jackson has rocked the world. The man known for his single glove, moonwalk, and videos was a musical legend. While fans and famous friends of the musician mourn, those most affected by the 50-year-old's passing are his children - Prince Michael Jr., 12, daughter Paris Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7. The kids have spent their lives sheltered from the public often out sporting veils, masks, and blankets to shield their identities. Now in the wake of their father's death, who will care for the youngsters?

Prince Michael and Paris Katherine's mother, Debbie Rowe, was once married to Jackson and petitioned for custody, but the children have always lived with their dad. The surrogate mom of Prince Michael II was never made public. One report said that the singer's wish was to have his longtime confident and the children's nanny, Grace Rwaramba, raise them if something were to happen. Meanwhile it is said that Jackson's parents, Joe and Katherine, have also expressed interest in adopting their grandchildren. But, given the late king of pop was very public about his tumultuous relationship with his father, this may be unlikely. Hopefully, all involved will put the children's interests first and help them through this tragedy.

Are You Still a Child Until Your Parents Pass?

LilSugar — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Some people believe that they never really grow up until their parents die. Even as adults raising their own offspring, they can seek advice in mom or dad. But, it is in their absence that they need to become independent of those ties. Do you find this to be true?

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Parenting Q&A: How Do I Tell My Kids About Miscarriage?

LilSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:00:26 -0800

Q. My four and seven-year-olds were thrilled when I told them I was pregnant. How do I break the news that I miscarried? Should we do something to commemorate the baby?

A. The celebration of life is the most wonderful experience to share. We have come so far as a culture in enjoying the process and sharing it with our children. Mourning a loss, one we know can happen during any pregnancy, is not as comfortable. However, loss is a huge part of life. As our children’s first teachers we must teach them how to mourn. Find the words that your heart and faith can stand behind. Tell them something very sad happened and that it is no ones fault, the baby could not be born. Don’t be afraid to cry. Most importantly, listen to them. Listen to what they ask and answer as simply as you can. As a family you may need closure by commemorating, but don’t rush into anything. Give your heart and mind time to heal a little before you act. Take cues from your children. Help them move on by grieving, listening and giving everyone time.

- Lonna Corder

Parenting expert and Montessori school director, Lonna Corder has been doling out advice for 25 years as a teacher, parent/child consultant and on television. For more information, visit lonnacorder.com.

If you're at your wit's end about an issue and want another take on the situation, private message your question to lilsugar. We'll be running this feature all week!

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Do You Discuss Death With Your Children?

LilSugar — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:00:20 -0800

By the time my daughter was two she had attended three family funerals. In the years since, more people have passed including her great-grandfather and a preschool classmate. She notices when the phone rings with bad news or someone disappears so I've always told her the truth - that people eventually die. How do you handle death with your children?
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How to Help Parents Grieving the Loss of a Child

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:00:36 -0800

Actor John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston suffered a devastating loss on Friday when their 16-year-old son, Jett, died. Being predeceased by a child is a parent's worst nightmare. The mere thought of losing one's offspring is enough to bring a mother or father to tears. The reality is difficult to fathom so finding the words to appropriately comfort someone who is grieving such a loss can be hard. Here are some tips to use in coping with the sensitive task of supporting a parent whose child has died.

Behave naturally
Show genuine concern
Offer love patiently and unconditionally

To see the rest of the suggestions, read more.

Offer hugs or an arm around the shoulder, as appropriate
Sit next to the person who wants closeness
Make it clear that you are there to listen
Express your care and concern
Say that you are sorry about the loss
Say “I love you” if you feel close enough
Talk openly and directly about the person who died
Cry if you feel like crying
Keep in mind that evenings, weekends, anniversaries and holidays can be extra challenging times.

Our hearts go out to the Travolta family.
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Mommy Dearest: Should I Bring My Son to a Memorial?

LilSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:38 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My husband and I are debating whether or not we should bring our five-year-old son to a memorial for a family friend. The gentleman passed away last year and since our child was close with him and we have to travel for the event, we are leaning towards bringing him. Do you think he's at an okay age to deal with death?

- Should I Bring My Son to Memorial

To read the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Should I Bring My Son to Memorial,

Most memorials I have attended have been celebrations of life and appropriate for children. At four-years-old, my daughter has been to a few family members' funerals. Though I initially took her out of necessity because it was hard to find a babysitter as our relatives were all attending the services, I am glad I did. She seems to understand that death is part of life and copes with it in her own way. My grandfather passed away last year and she often talks about him - telling stories and how sometimes she looks up to the clouds and can see him.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.
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Parents Charged For Not Getting Diabetic Daughter to a Doctor

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:30:00 -0700

The Wisconsin couple who let their eleven-year-old diabetic daughter die instead of getting her medical help were charged today.

If convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in the death of Madeline, also known as Kara, each parent faces up to 25 years in prison. To see what happened, read more.
According to a CNN report:

Family and friends had urged Dale and Leilani Neumann to get help for their daughter, but the father considered the illness "a test of faith" and the mother never considered taking the girl to the doctor because she thought her daughter was under a "spiritual attack," the criminal complaint said.

Do you think the charges are justified?

Pregnancy Death Rate in California Higher Than That of Bosnia

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:18 -0800

California boasts three of the nation's leading hospitals in gynecology including UCSF, Stanford, and UCLA, but the state's most accomplished medical facilities aside, the death rate directly related to pregnancy is higher than that of Bosnia and Kuwait. A recent report said:

In 2006, 95 California women died from causes directly related to their pregnancies - out of more than 500,000 live births. That's a small number by public health standards. But if California had met the goal set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring the state's maternal mortality rate down to a level achieved by other countries, the number of dead would have been closer to 28.

The article cited possible factors being morbid obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and hemorrhaging from C-sections. Elective induction without medical reason was also mentioned. Does this statistic alarm you or do you think it's still too small for concern?