LilSugar

Do John Edwards' Actions Make Him Less of a Daddy?

LilSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:01 -0700

To say that John Edwards surrounded himself by loyal women is an understatement. He recently added one more to the mix by acknowledging his paternity of 2-year-old daughter Quinn with Rielle Hunter. The former vice presidential candidate who rode largely on the ticket of being a "family man" had the public support of both his wife and mistress when news of the love child surfaced. Elizabeth Edwards went so far as to say that she creates a picture of him for their three children - Cate, Emma Claire and Jack. The couple has since separated.

Now, in a recent and eye-opening interview with GQ, Rielle Hunter (who John initially denied involvement with) is singing his praises as she speaks out for the first time. When asked why she remained silent until now, Rielle said:

I feel comfortable talking now, because Johnny went public and made a statement admitting paternity. I didn't feel like I could ever speak until he did that. Because had I spoken, I would have emasculated him. And I could not emasculate him. Also, it is not my desire to teach my daughter that when Mommy's upset with Daddy, you take matters into your own hands and fix Daddy's mistakes. Which I view as one of the biggest problems in all female-and-male relationships.

Despite the chaos of the last few years, Rielle is committed to loving John. This begs the question does a man's actions (however dishonorable), affect his abilities as a dad?

Photo Credit: Mark Seliger/GQ

When Mom's Away, the Kids Will Play

babysugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Mommy's going on vacation without the wee ones leaving daddy in charge. While many fathers are beyond capable of manning the house on their own, they often times need to be prepped like they're going into war. An instruction manual with schedules spelled out, babysitter information and playdate contacts are filed away for safe keeping should mother not answer the urgent call. But little does mom know...when she's away, the kids will play... at least differently from their usual routine.

Many pops are less than skilled in their cooking abilities, which means trips to McDonald's are common. A happy meal and a ball pit all in one - what could sound better? While the babysitter may only visit the house on a typical Saturday night, she may be invited to keep the crew company all day so that dad can get some sane alone time to check a few things off his to-do list. And if he's feeling in a social mood, he may just rent a jumpy house for the heck of it and invite his momless buddies and their kiddos over for some brews and lemonade. And on any given day, solo dads and their offspring can be found wondering around amusement parks as they provide endless hours of entertainment and food. Some fellows take the kiddos to the ballpark or the museum for a lesson in sports or ancient artifacts.

What does your man do with your kids while you're catching up on some Mom-Me time?

Is There a Sexist Double Standard For Older Moms and Dads?

LilSugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:00:40 -0700

Mother Nature made it so females can only reproduce between menstruation and menopause. In many cases, science allows males to procreate at an older age. Fertility and medical advancements have made it possible for both sexes to have children later in life. While 56 percent of lilsugar readers believe it's selfish for women to get pregnant past a certain point, do you believe the same is true for men? Or is there a double standard when it comes to hopeful mothers and fathers?

Brad Pitt Says His Partying Ends at Six

LilSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Hollywood's hottest sugardaddy and father of six said when he's with the kids, his partying ends at 6 p.m. However, that may not be the case when he's on set, wrapping or promoting a film as evidenced by photos from last night's Inglourious Basterds Berlin premiere. And who can blame the 45-year-old daddy to Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox - for having some fun when he's flying solo? He's definitely got his hands full when he's home being Papa Pitt to his and Angelina Jolie's big brood. Once you became a parent, did you give yourself a kid-friendly curfew?

Do You Make Your Hubby Out to Be a Better Dad?

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:03:39 -0700

This morning on the Rachael Ray Show, Rachael asked Jennifer Lopez if Marc Anthony was a hands-on daddy and the mother of two joked that since she was on television, she'd say he was great. The quadruple threat - actress, singer, dancer, and postpartum triathlete - was pure mama when she talked about their one-year-old twins Max and Emme's personalities. Since the kids made Jennifer a first-time mom, she credits her husband, who was already a father of three, with teaching her about parenthood. While the celebmama was candid about her spouse, do you make your partner out to be a better daddy to those who inquire?

When Daddy Becomes Mommy: The Acceptance of Children

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:56:23 -0700

If only adults had the open minds of children. A woman once teased my son about wearing his sister's hat. My daughter turned to her and said, "It doesn't matter if he cross dresses, people can do what they want." I attribute my children's liberal opinions to growing up in a progressive city, but children all over the world are accepting of people's differences. Last night, Primetime followed a pair of Northern Ohio brothers who have matured way beyond their six and seven years. Logan and Barry Prince are dealing with the effects on their family after their father, Ted, had a male to female transsexual operation. So now the boys have two mothers, Renee and Chloe. Watch the clip and see what the children had to say about happiness being the most important thing.

Are Depressed Daddies to Blame For Colicky Babies?

LilSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:00:19 -0700

All babies cry, but parents who have a colicky baby, defined as a child between three weeks and three months old that cries for three hours a day at least three days a week, may have a hard time coping. According to a new study released in the July issue of Pediatrics, dads-to-be who are depressed throughout their partner's pregnancy may be responsible for the crying babes. It said:

Paternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy might be a risk factor for excessive infant crying. This finding could be related to genetic transmission, interaction of a father with lasting depressive symptoms with the infant, or related indirectly through contextual stressors such as marital, familial, or economic distress.

The study followed 7,600 babies and their parents, screening the couples halfway through their pregnancies and two months after the births. In cases where the expectant father was found to be depressed, there was a 1.29 percent higher risk of the baby exhibiting excessive crying. Though the researcher has said that the study is not definitive, the results are interesting.

Are Parents Entitled to Quarter, Third, or Midlife Crises?

LilSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:02:03 -0700

Everyone likes their freedom and moms and dads are no different, but once you make the decision to have a child is it ever appropriate to act like one? Life's milestones - turning 25, 30, or 50, braving marriage, starting a family, or changing careers - affect people differently. Some adapt and excel to their situations while others get the urge to break free.

The big announcement episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 featured the 32-year-old father of eight sporting diamond earrings and a rather upbeat attitude toward the next chapter of his life. The soon-to-be divorced daddy who we used to watch change diapers and corral his kids, has been spotted smoking, hanging out at rural nightclubs with 20-somethings, and looking for a pricey bachelor pad in NYC as of late.

While Jon Gosselin is just one example (and not to say his actions are adversely affecting his children), do you think parents have a right to indulge in extended periods of "me time" while they are raising kids?

Would You Take Parenting Advice From Alec Baldwin?

LilSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

As parents we all make mistakes, but are you willing to learn from someone else's? Alec Baldwin thinks so. The famed actor who became infamous for an abrasive voicemail he left his daughter, Ireland, in 2007, is now considering penning a parenting book. In an interview with Playboy magazine, Baldwin discussed the notorious message, how he and the child repaired their relationship and why moms and dads need to take a long look at how they parent. Alec said:

It will be ironic for some people, but I’m going to write a parenting book. We’re at, not a crisis, but an awful place right now in terms of parenting. People are raising their children with the belief that we need to be friends with our children. Kids have too much power and call too many of the shots, telling their parents what they will and won’t do.

The actor is not the first adult to question current child rearing philosophies, but do you consider him an authority on the subject?

Obama Makes Up For Lost Time With Essay on Fatherhood

LilSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:05:51 -0700

After years of women working to achieve the unattainable role of "perfect mother," many moms are settling for just being the best they can and admitting their shortcomings both anonymously and publicly. While mamas spend plenty of time complaining about their spouses' inabilities to care for their kids the way they do, they forget to acknowledge that dads have their own misgivings and guilt about parenthood too. With Father's Day upon us, the most powerful pop in the nation took some time to reflect on what it means to be a father. In an essay he penned for this weekend's Parade magazine, President Obama says:

"I know I have been an imperfect father. I know I have made mistakes. I have lost count of all the times, over the years, when the demands of work have taken me from the duties of fatherhood. There were many days out on the campaign trail when I felt like my family was a million miles away, and I knew I was missing moments of my daughters' lives that I'd never get back. It is a loss I will never fully accept.

Whether in the White House or middle America, most parents connect with what the Commander-in-Chief said about missed ballet recitals, soccer games and spelling bees. How do you make up for missed events?

Photo courtesy of Parade