Digital Deprivation?

If you have recently stopped your child from watching their tenth TV show of the day, chatting online until midnight, or constantly text messaging their friends, you may be causing them permanent damage. This is according to a study by Nickelodeon (they’re the ones that make kids’ TV shows, right?)which says that “digital deprivation” negatively impacts everything from family togetherness to kids’ capacity to do homework and socialize.

I know my kids ability to get their homework done certainly skyrockets over that time period when they are simultaneously watching TV, chatting on the phone, and IMing friends; this is when they produce their academic masterpieces.

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Boomerang Kids

Hi Mom! I’m home….again! That’s the greeting many moms are getting from their college grad children who are flocking back to the nest. This is such a phenomenon that there is a whole new vocabulary surrounding it. We have the “adultescent,” “kiddults,” “rejuvuniles,” and my personal favorite, the “boomerangers” –no matter how many times you send them out they always come right back to you.

I have mixed feelings about this trend. On the one hand when I start freaking out about my teenagers rapidly approaching college years it is somewhat reassuring to realize that chances are they, like Schwarzenegger, will probably be ominously proclaiming, “I’ll be back!” upon their departure. Thanks to this movement I can delay my inevitable panic attacks about being an empty nester for a few more years anyway.

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Sweet Dreams: Even Parents of Older Kids are Sleep Deprived!

When I first became a new mom, one of the things that was most difficult for me to get used to was the lack of sleep. Up all hours of the night comforting a crying baby can be an exhausting task. I would dream of the day when my child would sleep through the night, so I would be able to as well. It turns out, however, that even moms of older children aren't getting the sleep they need.

According to a recent report from CNN.com, 2/3 of women experience symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week. And for those over 30, the average woman gets less than 7 hours a night, not nearly enough for the traditional 8 hour recommendation. Not nearly enough, either, to keep up with the kids.

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Katie Homes: Taking control or being controlled...by Victoria Beckham?

Tabloids love to claim to report that Katie is starting to take control of her relationship with husband Tom Cruise, however I feel that she may just be slipping to the mold of what it means to be a superstar's wife.

She certainly seems to be getting advice on her public presentation. Recently she had been sporting the latest fashions, shedding the baby weight and more, and attending events sans Tom.

Kate's changes seem to be ironically on the heals of her relationship with Bristish football royalty Victoria Beckham. Victoria has been notoriously known as "wearing the pants" in her relationship with soccer star husband, David Beckham. They have even recently started their move to the states, one Victoria has been talking about for years, leaving behind the "small town" of England to gain more celebrity in the United States. The Beckhams have even been looking for a house neighboring Tom and Katie's.

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