Image by OPUS Hotel via Flickr

While your average person does listen to the radio, read a magazine, or watch television it’s not likely that they are taking parenting advice from the celebrities that grace the screen. Although, this doesn’t limit the ability of those celebrities from dishing out that advice none-the-less. Often, they can be a bit of insight due to their famous faces, a lot of the time however celebs can be just as confusing as taking advice from any other stranger.

There have been some celebs who have said some outright insane things, and generally the public sees it as the strange thing it is, but for some reason when a celebrity says something about parenting, many seem to actually listen.

Some do argue that this is still  a part of our brain that has been stubborn with evolving, others see it as just a silly thing to do. However, many seen to still take in their gossip in the celeb snark magazines, and may take parenting advice from the same place.

Do you take parenting advice from someone, just because they are a celebrity?

Next vacation?  Farming!

Stony Creek Farm in the New York area are opening their doors to the public to experience life on the farm.  It’s definitely a very novel idea, and it’s a great way to help out agriculture and some ‘little guy’ business.

A small number of farms in the United States have begun to offer vacationers a chance to camp in a tent, milk goats and pick vegetables.

(Source: NY Times)

While I may not be cool enough to understand this, I suppose a good part is I personally can’t rationalize actually doing it. It does look very cool, and it’s an awesome way to both have fun and support local agriculture.  The cost is about $335 dollars a night, with a few things included (you can also pitch in and help out for $35 extra).

Only a short time ago, only a handful of states reqired testing for a variety of diseases and conditions.  

The panel of tests checks for genetic, metabolic, hormonal and functional disorders, according to the organization. Many of the disorders cause no visible symptoms in a baby until after damage, often permanent, is done. Some of the disorders lead to mental retardation, and others end in death.

The first test that was made available was for phenylketonuria (PKU), a condition in which the body can’t process part of a protein called phenylalanine. The disorder affects about one child in every 25,000 born in the United States, according to the March of Dimes. Left untreated, phenylalanine accumulates in the body and can cause serious brain damage and mental retardation. Changes in diet can prevent these problems from occurring, but the diet must be started soon after birth and followed for the rest of the child’s life to prevent brain damage.

(Source)

This can protect many children from the start against potentially devastating illnesses and prevent tragedy before a disease has time to do too much harm. By the end of 2008 all 50 states and the District of Columbia have some law in regards to childhood illness testing.

Alfie with Daughter

Alfie Patten is by most accounts your average 13 year old boy. He plays video games, hangs out with friends, and well, generally acts like a 13 year old boy. Alfie however isn’t a typical 13 year old boy, this baby faced kid, happens to now have a baby of his own.  

Alfie and his girlfriend, 15 year old Chantelle Steadman are now the proud parents of a little girl named Maisie Roxanne. ( All of whom you can see here in photos.  These truly highlight the ages of the parents, don’t they?)

The pair are amazingly in the dark over how much raising a child costs, although with their ages in mind, this isn’t surprising.  When asked how much diapers costs, Alfie responds with a simple “I think it’s a lot”.  It’s glaringly obvious these two will need all the help they can get, which thankfully is quite a bit.

Both families are taking on responsibilities and helping out, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  

Many are blaming the lack of sex-ed for the new bundle people are blaming the schools, and the parents.

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Valentines day is right around the corner, and love is in the air (not to mention the candy that is soon to be on our hips, the chocolate is so worth it though).  In the spirit of the forthcoming holiday, I would like to share a few things you can to for your special Valentine kiddos.

If you think heart-shaped pancakes are too passe (or if you just want to try something different), here’s some alternate ideas.

*Get creative with food.

*Their breakfast can be dyed red (pancakes, cereal milk, butter, or anything else really) .

*Spell out things using their food (shaping or cutting things into letters).

My favorite both to the fact it’s easy as can be and it looks really cool.  :

*’Doily’ Pancakes (or toast for that matter).

What you need:

• Pancakes (or toast)
• Syrup or Jelly
• Powdered Sugar
• A doily (or anything that has a design with holes or spaces in it).

1. Lay the pancake out, place doily (or whatever else you have) over it.
2. Sprinkle powdered sugar through it and onto the pancake.
3. Put the syrup on top in the shape of a heart (or spell out ‘love’ or anything else).

Does your family have any kind of special thing you do for Valentines day?