DAD SAID: ‘IT’S GREAT UP HERE’.. THEN FELL – mirror.co.uk I just took my daughter parasailing in Hawaii. Several days before, I spent a ton of time researching whether there are ever accidents and if I was the worst dad ever for thinking of taking my nine year old daughter on a ride a couple hundred feet over the Pacific. The more I read, the better I felt though. Accidents like the one described here, which is about as horrible as they come, appear to now only happen outside the US, where there are few if any controls. I would never think of parasailing in Mexico, for example. The day of, we spent about two hours waiting for the winds to calm down so we could take our turn....

Admittedly, this is 20 times more stupid, if true, than leaving a baby in a locked car. The news reports though says there is some question whether he actually new the child was being towed. Even if he did know, I would think the judge would have to either say he was basically not competent to do anything rather than try to “punish” him for his stupidity. What good does that do anyone? DECATUR, Ill. – A central Illinois man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and 18 months probation for running over his 12-year-old son while towing the boy on a skateboard. Timothy W. Melvin on Monday said he didn’t realize he was pleading guilty to child endangerment. He says...

If you work in a large company, or even a small one, you’re likely feeling the change in power balance at work. History suggests that when our economy slumps, employers gain an edge in setting the rules of work, thanks to the basic economics of supply and demand. “In good times, employers may be willing to put up with things,” said Heather Boushey, a senior economist at the Center for American Progress. “These are bad times. There are 10 people who can take the job you have if you have any sort of extenuating circumstances.” [From Working Dad: Work-life balance is suffering from economic stress] When things are good, and managers are afraid of losing good and even...

“I thought it would be good to have a baby” “I didn’t think about how we could afford it” Unfortunately, in this case, it’s a 13-year-old who has become a dad as reported by The Australian. The British couple, only 12 when the baby was conceived, hid the pregnancy from their parents until 12 weeks. So far, the kids have been very responsible parents and are trying very hard. Still, I can only imagine all the stresses on their lives as they try to take care of a baby while still children themselves.

If you’re a dad with a daughter, you know that dancing with her is a magical moment for both of you, whether she is just three and you’re giving her a twirl, or if you’re dancing at her wedding. Knowing this, moms put on this father-daughter dance to raise money for a village in Africa. It’s a nice idea. In contrast to “The Chicken Dance,” “The Macarena,” “The Twist” and “The Electric Slide,” there was “Imagine.” Little girls in their fanciest party dresses paused, lifted their faces and watched the pictures projected on the wall of the gym where they had been dancing with their dads. » Click to enlarge image ...

This story is just fascinating for all of its implications for parents’ rights. So much of what we do with our own children is up to us; how they learn, what they eat,what they watch on TV. It’s tempting to think they are under our complete control, like little pets. But in reality, we are only custodians for several years and for good, and sometimes bad, the State watches how and what we do as parents. This story appears to be more complicated than just the naming part, but it’s always hard to know what goes on inside a family and what is really happening. As much as I think naming your children after genocidal historical figures is completely stupid, I would hope that they...

I guess the mom was screening for head size and not total body length. She’s lucky she didn’t have a five foot long baby though, with this history. CHIFENG, China, Nov. 19 (UPI) — The world’s tallest man, who hails from China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, said he has become the world’s tallest dad at the age of 58. Bao Xishun, who stands at 7 feet and 9 inches tall, said his newborn son, Tianyou, was born at an average 22-inch height, The Sun reported Wednesday. [From World's tallest man becomes tallest dad - UPI.com]

This headline gave me shivers. Whenever I see these stories in the paper, it’s hard not to conjure up images of little babies hurt by those meant to be there to protect them. Often, they haunt me for hours or days after reading. And, if can’t handle the stories, how can a child reconcile them. What do you tell a child who asks how a father can murder his two children and their mother? Child psychologists say the answer depends on how old the child is and how much he is capable of understanding. “Such a situation confronts a child with a loss of innocence,” said Binyamina Shilo, a senior educational and developmental psychologist. “The older they are, the more this...

This article is getting a lot of attention in the daddy world, and even among moms. Sorry, no dads. That’s the message a Clayton Hills father got when he tried to join the activities of the Cloverdale Mommy & Me Meetup group. Rick Kaselj is a registered kinesiologist and father of Cole, his infant son. A relative newcomer to Surrey, Kaselj was looking for opportunities to meet people in his neighbourhood when he discovered the group online. Rick Kaselj and his Cole are looking for a new place to meet other parents and children. “My wife and I just had our first child. She works days and I work evenings, so I’m a part-time stay-at-home dad. I found this group online...

Is Motherhood sacred? Is Demi Moore a mother? Is Demi Moore sacred? Are breasts sacred? Is “The Office” sacred? These are all questions being debated with the recent issue of Pregnancy (November 2008) which celebrates Melora Hardin (Jan in The Office) and her pregnancy. We’ll all have to keep guessing whose hands those are over her soon-to-be nursing boobies (Michael’s?), or whether this is just a good photoshop effort. {democracy:6}