So asks John Cloud in the June 30 edition of Time Magazine. His premise: social-host laws and abstinence-only programs do not prevent teenage drinking and, may in fact be

encouraging kids to leave their homes (presumably by car) and drink in parks or abandoned warehouses or anywhere else they think they won't get caught and their parents won't get arrested.

I've been thinking about Amy's Icelandic Happiness diary and wonder where I would live if:

borders were open and healthcare and retirement benefits were portable?

Would I leave the U.S.? Hell yes. In a heart beat. I have no sense of pride or patriotism.

Thanks so much for sharing your story, GiGi. Every day on MT, I learn from all of you what motherhood really means, and all the joy, heartbreak, hope and fear it entails. -Erika

I thought I'd take this chance to write about my son, Sam, while he and his 5 yo sister are dancing to Green Day!

As many of you know, Sam has short bowel syndrome which means he requires a central I.V. line and g-tube to meet his nutritional needs. He has had six surgeries and numerous hospitalizations. The most recent inpatient visit was last week.

An ultrasound at 26 weeks showed a small bowel obstruction and we were told he needed surgery on Day 1 of life. The surgeon removed the blockage, reconnected his small intestine, sewed him back up and sent him to the  NICUfor two weeks. He was discharged and we were told that, other than the abdominal scar, there would be no consequences from the surgery.

I've posted before about my brother's troubled marriage and got some great advice on divorce resources. Well, DH and I had a mini-intervention with them over the New Year's weekend and they seem to be working on their marriage.

I asked my siser-in-law in an email today how it was going. Her reply,

Pretty good. For a while he was acting sort of Cocky and Cold. I mentioned it and things are better. Last night... we had a nice dinner at (a) fish house - very nice! Oh and I got a present on my night stand the other day "The proper care and feeding of husbands." I so hate it, but I told him if it's important to him that I read it - then I will. I'm on page 30.

Ugh. Laura friggin' Schellsinger....gross. Plus, I'm sure he hasn't even read it himself. Some idiot friend of his probably told him about it and now my brother thinks if his wife reads it the marriage woes will disappear.

There is a wonderful, quaint candy store in the heart of our little downtown area. I love it. My kids love it. The problem? They sell candy cigarettes. I didn't notice, but my 5 year old daughter sure did. She was mortified as we've been teaching her that smoking is a no-no. Below the fold is an email exchange between the owner and me.

I have to admit, I love computer games. Before computers, it was Atari and then Nintendo. My DH bought me Super Mario Brothers 3 for my birthday (many moons ago). I played that game for 12 hours straight – only taking a break to go to the bathroom or run outside to have a quick smoke (I quit 10 ½ years ago).  He swore from that day forward never to buy me another video game.

Editor's Note: Yup, I've been exempt in California for nursing -- and "childcare duties" for when I wasn't nursing. I was a SAHM and wrote a letter to the court saying I would go in if it provided me with childcare. Needless to say, I didn't have to go in. -Elisa

Today's Cincinnati Enquirer ran an article on proposed changes to the jury duty law. A group of Cincinnati moms wants breast feeding to be among the exemptions from service.

According to a study by the University of Maryland, moms today spend more time directly caring for their kids than in the 1960s. That's right, as busy as we are today, we spend more face time with our kiddos.

Hello All! My brother just informed me that he is seriously considering leaving his wife. They have two kids, 7 and 6, and I am in need of some resources for them and for the kids. I'm hoping they can resolve their issues, but I highly doubt it. As such, I encouraged him to tread lightly and to remember that a hideous divorce and custody battle will hurt everyone. My SIL is going to freak out, so I'm not sure how much control my brother will have over the proceedings. I am so worried about the kids.

Any suggestions? Any advice from the trenches?

A high school student filmed a documentary on doll preference among African American children. She basically replicated a test done over 50 years ago with strikingly similar results.

http://www.komotv.com/...

How do we change this? How do we teach children that there is no such thing as a 'good' or 'bad', 'better' or 'worse' race? I make sure my kids have dolls of many colors, books that are reflective of the diversity that surrounds us, and try to expose them to as much 'color' as I can. Indeed, sometimes I fear they will be ashamed of being white!

How do you teach your kids about race and how do we make sure this test can NOT be replicated in the very near future?

I have two wonderful children; an almost 5 year old ("I'm more than 4 and a half, you know") and a 2 ½ year old. My youngest was a surprise (although heterosexual sex without birth control can cause pregnancy!) and has a chronic, high maintenance medical condition. My pregnancies were not easy. Indeed, I am now 38 years old and was an insulin dependent diabetic with wicked all day sickness with my last one. I haven't had sleep in 2 ½ years, I constantly stress out about my DS's health, and my 'mini-me' of a DD drives me up the wall half the time. Oh, and DH does not want another one. So, why, oh why do I?

Is it hormonal? Is it selfish? Is it crazy? Should I count my blessings and get over it? What? Help me, my comrades in mommy hood!

Researchers at Northwestern University are linking dementia to vasectomy. Although I have not read their findings, nor am I a doctor, I am indeed rolling my eyes! They used a small sample, I'm not sure what the ethnic makeup of the participants was, they haven't followed them over any period of time, and who knows how they 'control' for such a thing. http://news.yahoo.com/...

So now there is 'scientific evidence' to keep the reluctant ones from getting snipped. The little I've seen of the research findings seems to me as specious as the "circumcision prevents HIV" 'evidence'.

What do you think? Will this scare men away from a relatively 'easy' sterilization procedure? Will it add to the burden of birth control that women already shoulder? Or, am I overreacting? Take the poll and leave a comment!