A weekly glimpse of what moms are saying on the Web.

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“Nani and I took Sadie out for a girls’ lunch today at Round Table, before we headed to the supermarket to pick up lasagna for dinner. When we walked in the door, a little girl in a pink hat started pulling on her mom’s arm and pointing at Sadie. Five minutes later when we sat down a few tables away she was still very interested in “that baby.” When I walked by to get a salad I noticed that there was actually a high chair next to the little girl, complete with a cute little baby boy, who looked to be a few months older than Sadie. Minutes later Nani heard her loudly tell her mom, “I want us to get a baby exactly like that one over there.”...

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A weekly glimpse of what moms are saying on the Web.

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“Nani and I took Sadie out for a girls’ lunch today at Round Table, before we headed to the supermarket to pick up lasagna for dinner. When we walked in the door, a little girl in a pink hat started pulling on her mom’s arm and pointing at Sadie. Five minutes later when we sat down a few tables away she was still very interested in “that baby.” When I walked by to get a salad I noticed that there was actually a high chair next to the little girl, complete with a cute little baby boy, who looked to be a few months older than Sadie. Minutes later Nani heard her loudly tell her mom, “I want us to get a baby exactly like that one over there.”...

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Feuding over breast-feeding

A recent Facebook controversy, in which some photos of nursing mothers were yanked from the social-networking site because of their potentially “pornographic” nature, is the latest reminder that our country’s sexualized notion of breasts remains, shall we say, front and center. But the continuing debate uncovered another stubborn truth: Mothers still can be tough on other mothers.

“Breast-feeding may be a natural thing,” one mom wrote in the often-heated Facebook exchange. “However … why would I want to flop out a milk jug and show the world? ‘Hey, look at me. I got a jug, and I’m feeding my kid. I dare ya to say something.”‘

“It is a sad, sad country we live in that breast-feeding should feel...

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How to use Phelps’ case to talk to kids about pot

NEW YORK (AP) — As a mother, I get some of my best material from headlines.

Every Hollywood princess in rehab, every celebrity death by overdose, and every pregnant teen from Bristol Palin to Jamie Lynn Spears provides more fodder for my favorite maternal lecture on how easy it is to mess up your life.

But I had a hard time extracting simple lessons from the photo of Michael Phelps at a party with a bong.

On the one hand, eight people were arrested after the investigation into the party Phelps attended. OK, that’s good ammunition for my “Marijuana is illegal, and you can get in trouble for it” talk.

Phelps’ photo in a newspaper proves another point I’m fond of...

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Mass. girl’s OD death could be 1st degree murder

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Appeals Court has reinstated first-degree murder charges against parents accused of killing their 4-year-old daughter with an overdose of prescription drugs.

The decision Monday overturns a lower court judge who had reduced the charges against Carolyn and Michael Riley in the death of their daughter, Rebecca.

The lower court judge had said there was no evidence of premeditation.

Prosecutors have said the Rileys gave their daughter large amounts of drugs to keep her girl quiet and out of their way.

The Rileys say they were following the order of Rebecca’s psychiatrist. Officials have said Rebecca and two older siblings were being treated for...

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Missouri man pleads guilty to day care molestations

FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) — A man pleaded guilty to seven sex-related charges for molesting children as young as an infant at a small day care business his wife operated out of their home.

William Huck, 62, entered the plea Friday to seven charges, softly detailing his crimes in court. He had been scheduled for trial next month but agreed to plead guilty instead.

The victims included five boys and two girls, ranging in age from an infant to a 5-year-old between 1998 and 2007, but authorities have said Huck admitted to molesting up to 40 children over the past three decades.

Huck could be sentenced to life in prison as a sexual predator. His sentencing is set for April 17.

Moms Forum: A troubled friend?

Moms Forum spotlights useful discussion taking place on the parenting forums of newspapers around the country.

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QUESTION: DD has a friend that I am very concerned about, let’s call her F for friend. F e-mails DD. DD is new to e-mail (I set her up a Yahoo account) so I have been monitoring. I don’t know how many times F has asked DD, “Do you hate me?” DD has said no as many times. The e-mail that I saw today makes me really concerned for F. I told DD she is no longer allowed to e-mail F back until I talk to F’s mom. Am I doing the right thing? The e-mail is all bold and in caps and says, ‘You hate me, don’t you?” and “I have a problem.” I’m scared for this girl.

— Posted by...

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Elementary, my dear son

As I’m reading this post from Shellie at the NEW JERSEY MOMS BLOG, I’m thinking: Boy does this sound familiar.

This is exactly what my significant other and I went through with our daughter. It’s what we are still going through.

Our daughter also had two years of preschool, and when her joy about attending school turned to nightly tears, we too were told that school was getting hard for her and that she was falling behind. Apparently, that isn’t the case anymore — she got a great report card, she’s learning to read and she’s a whiz at math. But it still isn’t fun or exciting for her — school terrifies her.

Raising a social butterfly

I didn’t realize that the popularity contests started so young, as early as preschool — maybe even earlier. My first child has autism and social situations are challenging for him, to put it mildly. Friends are few and far between and he rarely gets invited to birthday parties or playdates. But who has time for that anyway?

Instead of birthday parties and playdates it was always therapy, school and doctor’s appointments for him.

My daughter, on the other hand, at the tender age of 4 is quite popular. The mailbox overflows with birthday party invites and I’m constantly trying to sandwich in playdates around her daily pre-k and weekly dance class schedule. I love the fact that she has lots of friends and a social...

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Don’t quit your day job, Tooth Fairy

Seven years ago when I found out I was having twins — at my second sonogram appointment, not my first one, mind you — my initial thought was absolute terror. I couldn’t imagine one baby growing inside me, let alone two.

Suddenly what was once doable seemed overwhelming — would a double stroller fit in our building’s small elevator? Where would we put two cribs? Sixteen bottles a day? Twenty diapers a day? We had so many questions and there were plenty of well-meaning people and books doling out the advice about how to handle the realities of two babies invading at once. And, we got through it. We handled all of that stuff, weeded out what was seemingly “necessary” for one, but ridiculous for two. Along the way we somehow managed the...

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