Big Kid Buzz

in the news

Twilight Obsessed -- Who's Worse, You or Your Daughter?

November 22, 2009 at 7:34 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (0)

cloud over the moon

Photo by SnoWhiteImages

If you or your big kid hate Twilight, just skip right on over this post -- and the like 20 others that the Buzz bloggers and I have written this week. Huge Twilight fans, all of us. We just can't stop thinking and talking about New Moon's premiere today.

Our official Daily Buzz Twilight Reporter got into the Thursday midnight showing -- read her Twilight review (she won't spoil anything) over in Entertainment Buzz. Moms are also sharing why they are so obsessed with the story and the characters.

Click over there to hear what they say. Then come back and tell me if you agree with some of these moms? And is your daughter obsessed for the same reasons you are -- or for a totally different reason?

Help to satisfy my Twilight fascination and tell me!

FILED UNDER: activities, in the news, teens

Cop Tasers 11-Year-Old With Mom's Permission

November 20, 2009 at 12:38 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (12)

taser gunThere've been times when I've had the urge to use a taser on my son. Oh, have there.

Like last night when I told him to go to his room after he batted his sister in the head with a light saber and he matter-of-factly said, "No. No, thank you, not happening," cloaked in that irritating 6 year old attitude of his ...

But I can't imagine I would ever really do that ... or even ask a police officer to!

An Arkansas mom did! Last week, on Veteran's Day, she called police after her 11 year old daughter refused to take a shower. She gave the responding officer permission to "tase" the unruly girl if necessary, according to a report in the Huffington Post.

The officer did tase the 11 year old girl -- a quick pop on her back -- but only after the girl kicked him in the groin when he tried to take her into custody.

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FILED UNDER: discipline, in the news, safety

New Moon Night! Is Your Tween or Teen Going?

November 20, 2009 at 7:03 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (6)

new moon paperbackI know what a lot of you will be doing tonight! The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens in theaters today. They say Thanksgiving is the worst travel day of the year, but I'd say this is the night to stear clear of the areas of town that have movie theaters.

Lots of CafeMoms love Twilight as much -- or even more! -- than their kids and have been making plans for today for a while. I hope you were lucky enough to get a ticket for tonight or this weekend. Will your tween or teen be joining you?

 

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FILED UNDER: activities, in the news

Working Moms Are Losing Custody

November 18, 2009 at 1:43 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (11)

stormy seas

Photo by Emily_Dollface

Oh, great. It's not enough that this working mom already feels guilty about not spending enough time with my kids. Now here's another bit of info I'm going to stash away and hopefully never use ...

Being a working mom is not looked on too favorably by the courts during custody battles. No one likes to think about divorce and I don't wish it on any of us. But according to a report in Working Mother magazine, more fathers, stay-at-home dads particularly, are fighting for primary custody of their children -- and winning.

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FILED UNDER: child care, in the news

The Fair Way to Punish Bad Kids

November 13, 2009 at 2:39 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (3)

lawyer leaving the courtoomMy oldest child is in first grade, so I'm new at this, but I think I understand pretty well the term zero tolerance. It means that schools take guns and weapons super seriously. No second chances. You bring one, you're out. Seems fair enough.

I didn't realize that zero tolerance was the result of a 1994 law in which public schools accepted money from the federal government in exchange for automatically expelling all students who brought guns on the property.

As we know, schools have taken things to the extreme. Kids who are involved in non-gun offenses that were once considered normal childhood behavior or simply the result of bad judgement are wrongly getting suspended, expelled and even arrested in the name of the policy.

Remember the 6 year old suspended for bringing the Boy Scout fork to school?

Crazy things like this happen all the time. Which is why all eyes are on a better system that's currently being used in a school district in Georgia ...

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FILED UNDER: discipline, education, in the news, safety

I Was Bullied and the Teacher Laughed

November 11, 2009 at 6:56 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (6)

school classroomCyberbullying is the buzz word these days, but let's not forget about the regular, old-fashioned, in-person bullying we knew as kids. It's still happening and one of the many disturbing things about that is that it mostly takes place in the classroom, according to a new study by the American Public Health Association. Not in unsupervised locations. But right under the noses of teachers.

I'm not shocked at this. I have firsthand experience.

This mean boy I'll call Tom Sawyer used to bully me in high school. Anytime I wore a piece of clothing the color red, Tom would call me a "Communist." If you were a teen during the Cold War era, you'd know how hurtful that insult was. Why Tom started doing this IDK. I guess because like all bullies he was a weak jerk and it made him feel good to pick on shy girls.

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FILED UNDER: behavior, bullies, in the news, teens, tweens

11 Year Old Helps Deliver Baby

November 10, 2009 at 7:34 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (6)

baby in knit sweater

Photo by ventichaitea

I'm just so impressed with the 11 year old girl who helped to deliver her mother's baby at home. She's just five years older than my son. He's only mastering opening the door with the key. It's amazing to think what he'll be capable of in a couple of years.

Kierra Nubin called 911 when her laboring mom reported that the baby was starting to come out.

"I need an ambulance now," the girl told the 911 operator.

The operator told the girl to tell her mom to assume the most comfortable position, and have her to take deep breaths between contractions. Nubin continued to relay the information to her mom.

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FILED UNDER: health, in the news

Vaccinated Without Consent: A Mom's H1N1 Story

November 9, 2009 at 2:29 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (24)

Swine Flu Guide

school corridorCafeMom RaeLynn1221 does not vaccinate her children against the seasonal flu, nor did she want her little girl immunized against H1N1. She just doesn't believe the illness is as bad as the media is making out to warrant it.

And yet, the school vaccinated her daughter without her consent. There have been stories of this happening other places, but this is the first I've heard involving a CafeMom.

RaeLynn1221 is sharing her experience her to let other moms know that while it may not be common, mistakes are being made:

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FILED UNDER: elementary school, health, in the news, swine flu

Love Notes Left by 6 Year Old Cancer Victim

November 6, 2009 at 12:43 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (3)

This is one of those sad but sweet stories that makes me take pause and not worry so much about the Legos and the laundry.

Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer just before her sixth birthday, and was only given about four months to live. She lived a bit longer than that, and during that time she hid little loves notes to her parents and little sister Grace all over the house, where her family later found them after she died.

Click the upcoming link and scroll to the bottom of that page to see some of Elena's hidden notes.

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FILED UNDER: health, in the news

Obama Daughters Vaccine Controversy

November 1, 2009 at 7:41 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (8)

Swine Flu Guide

swine flu vaccineMany CafeMoms are in no rush to line up for the controversial swine flu vaccine. Some say the Obamas weren't either. Malia and Sasha apparently waited two weeks to get their shots along with other school children in Washington D.C. Seems like a non-issue, right?

Some people are commenting on blogs and the web that the Obama girls got preferential treatment for access to the vaccine, given to them by the White House doctor last week.

It started when a man from Texas, with two compromised special needs kids living in his home, complained he hasn't been able to get the vaccine for the children, who would be given priority over healthy children. But different areas are getting the vaccine at different times. There's no shortage in Washington, D.C.

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FILED UNDER: activities, health, in the news, swine flu

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