MomLogic

Holiday Child Custody How-To

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

Just when you think everyone is comfortable with the custody agreement, the holidays come around again. We asked an expert for tips on surviving the annual dilemma.

Rachel Sarah, a.k.a. Single Mom Seeking, knows firsthand how difficult it is to deal with broken families over the holidays -- Rachel's ex stepped out on her and her daughter on Thanksgiving day eight years ago. She offers us these great tips for surviving holiday custody dilemmas:

Keep the focus on the children. Remember that the holidays really are about your child. They may bring up anxiety, stress, and resentment for you, but it's important to unload these emotions on your peers and confidants privately and keep those feelings out of your children's earshot.
Try to manage at least a little bit of "togetherness." It is ideal for your children to have both of you together at some point during the festivities. For example, if you have custody of your kids this Thanksgiving, you might invite your ex for a glass of wine or for dessert. It may only be a half hour, but if you set your feelings aside for that short time, it will mean a lot to your child.
Don't get hung up on what's typical -- make new traditions. Whatever shape and form the holiday now takes, it's important to be flexible. For instance, my ex isn't even in the picture. What matters to my daughter is that she gets to be with both of her grandparents, her aunt, and her mom -- that she gets to have all of her family in one room. I'm the one who had to let go of the idea of what's "traditional." The holidays are not about husband and wife. They are about family, and sometimes families create new traditions.
Have the children involved in the planning. There are art projects like making ornaments or seating cards that children can help create. This can also help you take the focus off of your own stress and create new traditions. Have them help plan the menu and maybe help you cook, too. Also, make sure they are comfortable with the plan. Even if your children are young, you can give them the outline of the day so that there are no surprises.
Keep the other parent in mind. For example, if you have your child for Christmas Eve, don't bring them home at midnight. And talk to the other parent about what gifts they are giving. You don't want to "out-give" the other parent, or give your child the same present.

Rachel adds that you should expect your child to have a meltdown. The holidays are overstimulating for you, so imagine what it's like for a child. She says remember not to take it personally. If your child has a tantrum or breaks down, just hold them close and let them have their feelings. She also wants to assure everyone that every year it DOES get easier!

How do you deal with custody issues around the holidays?

Rachel Sarah, a.k.a. "Single Mom Seeking" blogs at SingleMomSeeking.com and co-founded SingleMommyHood.com, the first-ever website to offer "a whole new way to think about life."

Your Kid's Artwork Raises $ for School

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

We always knew our kids had artistic talent ...

Sick of being forced to sell cheesecakes and wrapping paper? This innovative new fundraiser highlights artwork made by your very own pint-sized Picasso. Now THAT'S something we'd happily plunk down our money for!

Worldwise Education's Artwork for Education program allows students to create art that is showcased on high-quality greeting cards, featuring the student's name, age, and school printed on the back of the card.

Every student gets published, and every product shows how much you care about helping schools, as forty percent of every sale is paid directly to participating schools.

This provides schools added revenue while promoting the creative arts. Plus, it gives us something we're actually excited about buying.

To find out more, go to: WorldwiseEducation.com.

Kids Watch: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Rhianwen Benner: This is a movie for adults masquerading as a movie for kids. Here's why.

THE LOWDOWN
When Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) suffers from a bit of a midlife crisis, he seizes an opportunity to relive his glory days as a skilled chicken thief. But when he begins stealing from a trio of evil farmers named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, he mistakenly entangles the entire animal community in a war for survival.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT
The cast is stacked: Clooney is joined by Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Willem Dafoe. Of course, they're all voicing animal puppets, but it is an impressive amount of star power for a stop-motion animated kids' film, and they all deliver great performances.

The film was directed by Wes Anderson, perhaps best known for "The Royal Tenenbaums" and other highly stylized and comedically dry films. Anderson seems to have given the same amount of detail and humor to "Fantastic Mr. Fox" as his other movies, which makes this a movie that adults will genuinely enjoy.

The world of the movie is incredible to look at, rich with details and neat touches: repurposed cellophane becomes a waterfall, a small river dam serves as the law offices of "Badger, Beaver and Beaver." Much like the recent "Ponyo," it's refreshing to see a movie eschew CGI in favor of more traditional animation. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is reminiscent of all those old stop-motion Christmas specials that you loved as kids.

The film has a few good messages, the strongest being that it's our differences that make us special. Every animal in the movie has unique gifts and strengths, each one indispensable, and when they come together as a community, they are a force to reckon with. Mr. Fox also grows to reconcile his "wild animal" instincts with his responsibilities to his family and community. Feeling guilt over endangering his community, Mr. Fox decides to sacrifice himself for their safety, only to have the community rise up with him and overcome the farmers as a team.

There are also realistic and touching depictions of family relationships. Mr. Fox's awkward son Ash (Schwartzman) and his talented cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) have a bit of a sibling rivalry, going from competitive to protective. Ash desperately wants his father's approval, and Mr. Fox seems to not know how to relate to his son, but their relationship improves and Mr. Fox tells a sweet story to Ash that affirms him in the end.

WHY YOU'LL HATE IT
The main issue here is drinking and smoking. Both the good guys and the bad guys drink and smoke: there isn't a clear stance on the issue. Mr. Fox admits to having had "too much to drink," and that it makes him feel good and sentimental. Alcoholic cider is compared to "drinking pure melted gold" by one of the good guys. Bean -- one of the bad farmers -- throws a cigarette at a musician because he doesn't like his song. Of course, all this is consistent with Roald Dahl's writing, but seeing drinking and smoking presented as "cool" in a kids' movie raises a few red flags.

Language isn't an issue, if only by technicality. Anderson replaces all curse words with "cuss," as in "What the cuss," and "Are you cussing with me?" Your more impressionable children will probably be yelling for their "Cussing apple juice" after this film.

A knife fight between Mr. Fox and Rat (Dafoe), who was attempting to kidnap Ash, ends in an electrocution death for Rat. With his last breath, he reveals helpful information and asks for alcoholic cider as a final request. As Mr. Fox sends his lifeless body floating down the sewer drain, Ash says he redeemed himself. "But in the end, he's just another dead rat in a garbage pail behind a Chinese restaurant," Mr. Fox replies. Have fun explaining this strange sequence to your kids on the car ride home.

The three farmers go to great lengths to try and kill the animals, though there is very little graphic content. (Mr. Fox does have his tail shot off, but it is surprisingly tame.) There is also one disturbing display of rage when Bean -- clearly the most evil of the three farmers -- realizes he has finally been outsmarted by Mr. Fox.

THE BOTTOM LINE
While "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is well-suited to kids seven and up, it really feels like a film for adults that happens to look like a kid's movie.

Though technically an adult, Rhianwen Benner voraciously consumes children's media with the passion and wonder of a child. As a researcher at Temple University, she has studied the relationship between media and children's development. She has witnessed many special moms and kids navigate the often complex world of children's entertainment. Based in Los Angeles, she is here to serve as your field guide to what kids watch.

'New Moon' Mommy MANIA

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0800

Whether you root for Team Edward or Team Jacob, one thing's for sure -- moms across the globe are crazy for "Twilight." Check out some of the best in "New Moon" mania, covered by some of our favorite "Twilight"-lovin' mamas.

"Twilight" brings moms to the movies, and more ...

• "Twilight" on Talk Shows: Where to Watch the "New Moon" Stars -- Lil Sugar

• NY Magazine: Teenage Vampires and the Mothers Who Love Them -- Twilight Moms

• "Twilight" of Our Youth -- Salon.com

• My Twilight Mom Time -- I'm a Hot Mom

• The World's Moms Heart Twilight. How Do They Show It? Let Us Count the Ways -- MTV Mom Blog

• Mom's a "Twilight" Junkie -- Hiccups

• I'm a "Twilight" Mom -- Raising Boys

• "Twilight" Moms -- Jew Mama

• I'm Not Too Old to Love Edward, Right? -- This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood

• Twilight Guys Report: Living with a Twilight Mom -- TwilightGuys Blog

• Mothers in Love with Twilight's Edward Cullen -- Real Life Support for Moms Blog

• What a Girl Wants: Mixed Messages in Twilight -- Moms Rising Blog

• Freaky Twilight Moms -- Martie Byrd Blog

• Twilight Obsession or Mid-Life Crisis? -- Suburban Jungle Blog

'New Moon' Breaks Midnight Screening Record

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Hollywood Reporter: Opening at midnight Thursday in North America, "New Moon" was way over the moon.

The second installment in the "Twilight" franchise scooped up an estimated $26.27 million in 3,514 theaters for a per-theater average of $7,476.

In doing so, it surpassed the previous record-setter in the midnight arena, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which opened July 15 with $22.2 million.

Summit also played the original "Twilight" movie in 2,057 on Thursday as a 9 p.m. warm-up screening for "Moon," and it grossed an additional $1.3 million.

On Friday, "Moon" played in 4,024 theaters as it settled in for its first weekend run.

Don't Be a Fool on the Sidelines!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Parents, calm yourselves at sports functions -- or our kids may be the ones to pay the price.

Lisa Pineiro: Don't get me wrong. I love cheering my kids on at their sporting events. Really. But after this last football season -- where the parents received the penalty that kept our kids from going to the playoffs -- I feel it's my duty to compile a little list of rules. A parent's guide, if you will, to avoid acting like a complete crazy-ass lunatic on the sidelines.

Rule #1: Cowbells are for cows. Do I need to say more? There is nothing about ringing a cowbell that is going to make your child run faster, hit harder, or score more points. It might, however, make a mob of angry and newly hearing-impaired moms jump you in the parking lot. And to the mom who thinks filling an empty milk jug with pennies and shaking that for an hour and a half is a better alternative? You're next.

Rule #2: Watch your mouth. Seriously. What is it about competition that makes people so nuts? When the head of the PTA is screaming "You suck, ref!! My friggin' 2-year-old could call a better game!" -- well, clearly, it's one of the signs of the apocalypse.

Rule #3: Dress-up is for Halloween. Let's think about this one for a minute: You're a 12-year-old kid out on the football field, soccer field, lacrosse field, whatever, and you're in the middle of an incredible play. You glance at the sidelines to make sure your mom is witness to your total awesomeness. That's when you see her -- because she's impossible to miss. She's running the length of the field, releasing some sort of primal battle cry, hands flailing in the air. She's dressed head to toe in your team colors; even her hair is sprayed purple. Your number is painted across her face, and ... is that your practice jersey that she's squeezed herself into? Oh. My. God.

Look, I know that you're just trying to support your kids, but what you're really doing is setting them up for midlife therapy. So, could we please just all follow these simple rules? And to all the kids who read this ... you're welcome.

Mother of Levi Johnston Sentenced to 3 Years for Drug Case

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

FoxNews: The mother of the man former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol had planned to marry has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Sherry Johnston was sentenced Friday in Palmer, northeast of Anchorage. She pleaded guilty in August to one count of possession with intent to deliver the painkiller OxyContin. Five other felony counts were dropped in the deal, which called for a five-year prison sentence with two years suspended.

The 43-year-old Johnston is the mother of Levi Johnston. He and 18-year-old Bristol Palin were engaged but called off the wedding after their son, Tripp, was born in December.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that Sherry Johnston will serve her sentence at Alaska's only female prison.

Read more hot stories Moms Are Talking About.

Tips For The Admissions Test ... to Kindergarten

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

NYTimes: Kayla Rosenblum sat upright and poised as she breezed through the shapes and numbers, a leopard-patterned finger puppet resting next to her for moral support.

But then came something she had never seen before: a visual analogy showing a picture of a whole cake next to a slice of cake. What picture went with a loaf of bread in the same way?

Kayla, who will be 4 in December, held her tiny pointer finger still as she inspected the four choices. "Too hard," she peeped.

Test preparation has long been a big business catering to students taking SATs and admissions exams for law, medical and other graduate schools. But the new clientele is quite a bit younger: 3- and 4-year-olds whose parents hope that a little assistance -- costing upward of $1,000 for several sessions -- will help them win coveted spots in the city's gifted and talented public kindergarten classes.

Motivated by a recession putting private schools out of reach and concern about the state of regular public education, parents -- some wealthy, some not -- are signing up at companies like Bright Kids NYC. Bright Kids, which opened this spring in the financial district, has some 200 students receiving tutoring, most of them for the gifted exams, for up to $145 a session and 80 children on a waiting list for a weekend "boot camp" program.

These types of businesses have popped up around the country, but took off in New York City when it made the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, or Olsat, a reasoning exam, and the Bracken School Readiness Assessment, a knowledge test, the universal tests for gifted admissions beginning in 2008.

Kayla's session at Bright Kids was an initial assessment; her mother, Jena Rosenblum, had not decided whether to put her through a full course of tutoring. She was considering it at the suggestion of Kayla's preschool teacher. "Even though we live in the West Village and there are great public schools, obviously, any opportunity to step it up a notch in caliber, we would like to try," Ms. Rosenblum said.

Melisa Kehlmann said her main concern was that her 4-year-old son, Adrian, would be shut out of the well-regarded but overcrowded schools in her Manhattan neighborhood.

"It's quite pricey, but compared to private school, which averages about $20,000 for kindergarten, the price is right," she said of the tutoring. "I just want the opportunity to have a choice."

Private schools warn that they will look negatively on children they suspect of being prepped for the tests they use to select students, like the Educational Records Bureau exam, or E.R.B., even though parents and admissions officers say it quietly takes place. (Bright Kids, for example, also offers E.R.B. tutoring.)

"It's unethical," said Dr. Elisabeth Krents, director of admissions at the Dalton School on the Upper East Side. "It completely negates the reason for giving the test, which is to provide a snapshot of their aptitudes, and it doesn't correlate with their future success in school."

No similar message, however, has come from the public schools. In fact, the city distributes 16 Olsat practice questions to "level the playing field," said Anna Commitante, the head of gifted and talented programs for the city's Department of Education.

As for parents doing more -- like hiring a tutor -- Ms. Commitante said she finds "anything else a little too stressful for young kids" but that "we can't dictate what parents choose to do."

There is no state registry or licensing for these services, but an Internet search turns up numerous companies with names like Another Young Scholar, Junior Test Prep and Thinking to Learn. Harley Evans, the owner of Manhattan Edge Educational Programs, raised prices this year to $90 a session from $65, but still has his maximum load of 70 children. Daniel C. Levine, the founder of Exclusive Education, based in Manhattan, said that a few years ago, 2 percent of his clientele were children under 6. Now it is about 10 percent.

"It's the same phenomenon as with the SATs: a gradual rise in test prep, until it becomes the norm," said Emily Glickman, a Manhattan educational consultant. "Given that the demand for high-stakes schools outstrips supply, that's what's happening."

Some of the thousands of students registered to take the gifted tests in January are also preparing at home. Bright Kids is selling a few hundred $90 workbooks per month, said Bige Doruk, the company's founder. Dr. Robin MacFarlane of Thinking to Learn said she was on track to sell more than a thousand $60 Olsat prep kits this year, though she advises parents against intensive cramming.

Tutoring preschoolers is not quite the same as drilling high school students for the SAT. At Bright Kids, Kayla was initially stumped by the visual analogy, but once the tutor, Meredith Resnick, explained that she was looking at a whole-to-part relationship, she easily found the right answer: a slice of bread. "You can see that when I scaffolded her, she knew it," Ms. Resnick said.

Children often have to be trained to listen to questions from strangers and to sit still for about an hour, the time it takes to complete the two tests.

"If their mind isn't keyed into listening, the whole question can fly over their heads," said one tutor, a retired teacher in gifted programs.

She spoke on condition of anonymity because she has administered the test for the city and wants to do so again.

"Some kids can do well without preparation, but children who are familiar have an edge," the tutor said. From an equity perspective, she said, "it's ridiculous."

Ms. Commitante said the city had not noticed any bias due to test preparation. For this year's kindergarten class, 3,231 students scored in at least the 90th percentile, the minimum to qualify for a gifted program, a 45 percent increase from the year before.

But that rise was attributable to "a variety of factors," including increased participation, she said: 14,822 took the tests, an increase of 19 percent. The percentage scoring 90 percent or higher rose to 22 percent from 18 percent.

"I would hope that parents make decisions around this program because they feel that this is an educational option that their child really needs, as opposed to, 'I have to get my child into this program because that's the only place where they are going to get a good education,' " she said. "I just don't think that's true -- we have a lot of really good schools."

Read more hot stories Moms Are Talking About.

Amanda Knox Tortured, Killed Roommate, Prosecutor Says In Closing

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

CNN: Accompanied by two smitten young men vying to impress her, a resentful Amanda Knox toyed with a knife and then plunged it into her roommate's neck, killing her, an Italian prosecutor charged in closing arguments Friday.

The November 2, 2007, death of British student Meredith Kercher occurred during a twisted sex game in which Knox taunted Kercher, and the two men -- boyfriend Rafael Sollecito and acquaintance Rudy Guede -- sexually assaulted her, prosecutor Guilano Mignini said during his seven-hour closing.

The prosecutor said Knox hated and resented Kercher and had decided the time had come to exact revenge.

Knox, 22, and Sollecito, 26, are on trial for sexual assault and murder. Police found Kercher's bloody body under a duvet on the floor of the apartment she shared with Knox. Both deny the charges.

Mignini said Kercher died about 11:30 p.m. after she and Knox had quarreled -- either over money or Guede's presence at the house.

The prosecutor said the men pinned Kercher down by her arms while Knox played with the knife, prodding at her throat and saying, "Ah, you were pretending to be such a little saint. ... Now we are going to show you."

Knox's lawyer, Carlos Della Vedova, later told reporters, "I believe that Mignini's presentation was very suggestive, but we are in a courtroom, and proof is needed in order to convict a person."

Mignini defended his investigation, saying the criticism came from journalists, detectives, bloggers and lawyers from Italy and abroad who were seeking fame. He said police and prosecutors handled the case professionally, adding that it was time to bring the saga to a close.

Francesco Maresca, a lawyer for the Kercher family, said he was "very satisfied" with the prosecutor's argument, adding that the crimes should bring a life sentence.

Knox appeared drained as she sat in court Friday. Prosecution arguments focusing on the forensic aspects of the case will continue Saturday, and possibly into next week. Then it will be the defense's turn to make its points. The jury is due to get the case December 4.

After the court recessed, Knox's stepfather defended her against the prosecutor's strong accusations.

"She's an innocent girl looking at having to spend a lifetime in prison," Chris Mellas told reporters. "Of course she was upset. She had to sit there as he continued to say, 'Amanda this, Amanda that.' Yeah, it gets to you."

Police arrested Knox and Sollecito soon after Kercher's death, along with Guede, a native of the Ivory Coast who opted for a separate, fast-track trial and was convicted of murder and attempted sexual assault in October 2008.

The court sentenced Guede to 30 years in prison. He began an appeal of the verdict this week.

The key piece of evidence against Knox is a 6½-inch kitchen knife that prosecutors say was used to slit Kercher's throat.

The knife belonged to Sollecito and was found at his apartment with Knox's DNA on the handle and Kercher's DNA on the blade, according to a source close to the prosecution who did not want to be identified discussing an ongoing case.

Kercher had never been to Sollecito's apartment and wouldn't have come in contact with the knife, which shows it played a role in the murder, the source said.

Experts testifying for the defense, however, say there is no way the knife could be the murder weapon because it would not have made the wounds left on Kercher's body.

Anne Bremner, a lawyer and former prosecutor working with the group Friends of Amanda, told CNN that investigators improperly handled the knife, leading to questions about the validity of the DNA evidence.

Another defense expert, geneticist and private coroner Sarah Gino, testified that the DNA sample on the knife was too small to be definitive.

Prosecutor Mignini, however, argued that the knife was not contaminated by investigators. He said it was picked up by crime scene investigators wearing new gloves, placed in a new bag and sealed.

He challenged the defense to prove that the knife had been contaminated.

On the night Kercher was killed, Knox and Sollecito say, they were at his house watching a movie and smoking marijuana.

They admitted their recollection of events was hazy from the drugs, but both swore they went back to the house the next morning. Knox said she could not get in, so she called police.

Prosecutors also pointed to what they say is a confession by Knox, but she later said any apparent admission that she was at the scene was made when investigators told her to imagine what she might have seen had she been there.

The argument became moot when a higher court ruled the alleged confession could not be used because the statement was made without an attorney or translator present.

Kercher had been away from home for only two months when she was killed. The Leeds University student was studying European politics and Italian in Perugia.

Knox, who attended college in her home state of Washington, also was studying abroad.

Read more hot stories Moms Are Talking About.

One Woman's Story about Having It All

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:00 -0800

We moms are always putting our kids' needs above our own -- sacrificing shopping, vacations, and even the occasional mani-pedi. This mom decided to splurge on a little something for herself: a man.

Essence: For years Towanna Freeman put her daughter, Jenesis, first. After being sideswiped by a divorce more than a decade ago, the 39-year-old management consultant and author ("Purposeful Action: 7 Steps to Fulfillment") cut back on her hours -- reducing her income by 50 percent, so she could focus on motherhood.

There were a few lean years, but disaster never struck, in fact things got better. Freeman revamped her career to suit her needs and even found time to pursue her passion, life-coaching. Despite all of her success, there was one things missing: a man. That all changed three years ago when she met Byron Freeman, a Colonel in the US Army. Freeman talks to Essence.com about her transition from life as a single lady to being "the Mrs."

Essence.com: You weren't always a single mother. Tell us how your life changed when you split from your ex-husband?

Towanna Freeman: My daughter Jenesis was 3 years old when I divorced my first husband. I had to make a lot of changes going from two incomes to one, but I was motivated because I knew I had a mouth to feed. I didn't want my daughter to come in second. I was a project manager for the CIA, but I downsized -- everything. My shopping had to change, vacationing, even getting a new car, were now all luxuries that I couldn't afford. My priority was making sure my daughter was in school and I could pay for aftercare.

Essence.com: After raising your daughter alone for 10 years, you recently got married. How did you know he was the one for you?

Freeman: My husband had to woo two women -- my daughter and myself. Once our relationship got serious -- and I knew I could trust him -- I let him spend alone time with Jenesis so they could bond. For example, we'd all go to the arcade, but I'd let them go off and play games while I watched from afar. I'd check in with her to see how he treated her when I wasn't around. I believe it's important for parents to listen to their kids -- because they see things we don't -- and not just focus on what our mates say.

Lastly, I made sure to talk to him about his views on parenting -- because I knew integrating families would require a lot of a man who didn't have children.

Essence.com: Many women who've been single for a long time find it challenging to open their hearts and minds to co-existing, though they want a mate. Did you find it difficult?

Freeman: As a woman, I'm naturally a nurturer, but after being single for so long I was used to bringing home the bacon and frying it. My challenge was allowing someone to take care of me. I had to learn to relax; I had to drop my defenses. It was like a changing of the guard. I had to acknowledge that my husband is capable. He's a man whose decisions I can trust, so I had to learn how to stop asking for details. I don't always need to be in control.

For more of Towanna's story, visit Essence.com.

Kids Reenact Thanksgiving with Smallpox

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:35:00 -0800

This very realistic reenactment of the first Thanksgiving, performed by a group of
young kids, is hilarious and horrible at the same time.

Kids Watch: The Twilight Saga: 'New Moon'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:20:00 -0800

Rhianwen Benner: Get ready for the second installment of the latest thing your teens are obsessed with.

THE LOWDOWN
After her vampire boyfriend Edward (played by Robert Pattinson) leaves town, Bella (Kristen Stewart) starts hanging out with Jacob (Taylor Lautner). Oh, and funny story, Jacob turns out to be part of a werewolf clan at odds with Edward's vampire crew. Can't this girl find a nice non-monster boy to go out with?

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT
Devoted "Twilight" fans will be gasping and squealing with delight over the second installment of the series. Newbies may enjoy the movie too, but not nearly as much as the devoted. If you're new to the series, expect more than a few things to fly over your head.

The characters in the film demonstrate abstinence. Of course, their motives for purity may differ from your children's, unless vampirism is a bona fide threat in their high school. Teens are bombarded with sex in everything from threesomes on primetime TV to even ordinary jean commercials, so it's a welcome change of pace to see these vampires keep their pants on.

The intense emotions and sexual tension between the characters is just so teen. There is a certain sweet earnestness that is captured by the film that may jog your memory back a few years to high school, when the fate of the world seemed to hang on every interaction with your boyfriend.

Bella has a sweet relationship with her bachelor father, Charlie (Billy Burke). Though at times it seems more of a peer relationship than a father-daughter one, it is touching to see Charlie try his best to understand and help his angst-ridden daughter.

In the world of "Twilight," friendship and loyalty are placed at a high value. Edward and his family are extremely protective of one another, as are Jacob and his pack of friends. Knowing Bella is merely human, both groups protect her at all costs.

And not for nothing, but the hunky leads are shirtless for most of the movie. Should this fall under "love it" or "hate it" is your choice.

WHY YOU'LL HATE IT
Given all the above, what messages are your kids going to glean from this film? While there is no presence of drugs, alcohol, and barely a foul word uttered, what we do see are some pretty unhealthy relationship dynamics. After suffering a three-month depression over Edward leaving her, Bella opts for self-destructive and nearly suicidal behavior, hoping for a glimpse of her beloved. Bella's platonic relationship with Jacob is wrought with sexual tension, and she admittedly leads him on for the purpose of distracting herself from losing Edward. On Edward's part, he attempts suicide over his unrequited love, taking direct cues from "Romeo and Juliet." It is love? Is it lust? Is it obsession? Whatever it is, your teens are going to imitate it.

Be aware that there's a decent amount of violence in the film, though it's not overwhelming. At one point early on, Bella is unexpectedly thrown across a room and smashed into a wall "for her own protection." We see a fleeting moment of a decapitation. There are several fights between werewolves, vampires, and werewolves and vampires. And, this being a vampire movie, there is some blood.

Did I mention the film is about two and a half hours long? Because it is. And it feels that way, especially if you're not a "Twilight" fan.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Considering all the hype surrounding this movie -- and the fact that your teens are probably already begging to go -- you probably won't be able to avoid "New Moon" for long. But it does present an opportunity to dialogue with your kids about love, infatuation, and genuine relationships. Just keep in mind that the PG-13 rating is right on with this one.

Has Michael Jackson Come Back to Life ... as a Girl?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:40:46 -0800

London Telegraph: Parents-to-be Dawn Kelley and William Hickman were looking at the ultrasound scan of their unborn baby when they realised it looked like the late pop singer.

Mr Hickman, 29, a window cleaner, said: "I showed my daughter Ami, who's six, and she saw it straight away, so I thought 'well if she can see it too it's not just me seeing things'."

Mother-of-six Miss Kelley, 34, went for her 20-week scan at Sunderland Royal as normal last month, but doctors could not see the foetus's stomach or diaphragm.

A few weeks later she was sent to Grindon Lane Walk in Centre for a closer look.

The more powerful scanner there is normally used to examine internal organs so the images it produces much more detailed.

Mr Hickman said: "We were looking at the pictures again, and I just saw Jacko there.

"None of us are really Michael Jackson fans. I mean I like him, but we're not crazy about him or anything."

The children Chris, 16, Amanda, 15, Jason, 13, Alisha, 10, Ami-Lee, 6, and Kye, 4, all see the famous singer's face in the scan photo too.

But the new family member will not be called Michael - the couple already know they are having a girl.

Miss Kelley is 24 weeks pregnant and due to give birth to her daughter in March. She said: "I've had plenty of scans before and none of the photos have ever looked like this one. It's a bit spooky really.

"But it is my seventh child, and they say seven is a mythical number."

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Insurance Co. Cuts Woman's Benefits Due to Facebook Photos

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:30:09 -0800

Global Montreal: A Quebec woman on long-term sick leave is taking her insurer to court over a decision to cut her benefits based, according to her, on photos she posted on Facebook.

Nathalie Blanchard, 29, is on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Que., since she was diagnosed with severe depression in February 2008.

But her benefits were suddenly cut off at the end of October. When she called to inquire with Manulife, her insurance company, she was told they established she was ready to go back to work based on photos they saw on Facebook.

Blanchard had posted photos of herself enjoying the beach at a sunny destination and partying in bars with her friends.

"They didn't ask her to explain those photos before making their decision," said Blanchard's lawyer Thomas Lavin.

Lavin said the Eastern Townships woman was encouraged by her doctor to take small vacations and go out more to try and forget about her worries and integrate herself back into her social network.

Blanchard is going to file a claim in Quebec Superior Court for wrongful dismissal and to seek damages against Manulife.

"She's in a fragile position to begin with and this has certainly not helped her recovery," her lawyer said Thursday.

Lavin said Blanchard also saw her mortgage insurance cut off because either Manulife or her employer called her financial institution to let them know what they saw on Facebook.

"That forced her to sell her house because she can't afford to pay her mortgage, her credit has gone down the tubes and her reputation has been damaged. She's not having a good time," he said.

What people post on social networking sites like Facebook is increasingly being used against them in legal proceedings or criminal investigations.

Manulife acknowledged they are using information on such sites to investigate clients.

"We carefully assess and pay all valid claims, plus we would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook," the insurer noted in a written statement sent to Canwest News Service.

Lavin said despite repeated requests from him and Blanchard, Manulife has refused to give them the evidence to back up their decision.

Earlier this year, a British Columbia court ruled that a woman who claimed that a car accident left her unable to enjoy her favourite activities should have removed her Facebook photos that proved otherwise.

Photos of Mirae Mayenburg hiking and cycling were entered as evidence in her court case against the Insurance Corp. of B.C.

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Alleged Teen Burglar Warms Up Bottle for Crying Baby

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:21:01 -0800

Associated Press: INDIANAPOLIS -- An 18-year-old is in police custody after he warmed up a bottle for a crying baby inside the house he was allegedly robbing. Indianapolis police arrested the suspect at Arlington High School on Tuesday after receiving a tip from a television viewer, who saw surveillance video on a newscast.

Detectives said two suspects forced their way into a home on Friday morning and began ransacking the house. Police said that when a baby started crying, one of them warmed a bottle in a microwave oven and gave it to a child to feed the baby.

The suspect was being held on charges of burglary, robbery, criminal confinement and pointing a firearm.

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