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Jon Gosselin Loves His Kids, His Girlfriend And The Jews

Divorce & Custody, Celeb Kids, Celeb Parenting, Behaving Badly, In The News, Media, Extreme Childhood, Twins, Triplets, Multiples



Jon Gosselin

Jon Gosselin with his six of his eight children in happier days for the couple. Credit: Soul Brother, FilmMagic

Jon Gosselin has a lot to say. After ten years of marriage and five seasons laying his family's life out for public view on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, he's feeling, and acting, like man who's suddenly gotten a get-out-of-jail card.

Problem is, it's costing him.

His legal battle with his ex seems to grow exponentially every day, which, of course, sends the media frenzy on Jon-dom into the stratosphere. We called Jon for a quick chat to catch up on how this is impacting his parenting and ended up talking about everything else.

ParentDish: So, what's going on?

Jon Gosselin: I'm just trying to be as cordial as possible. I messed up at the beginning and now I want to be a nice guy, make better decisions and do the right thing.

PD: Why? What did you do that you consider bad moves.
JG: Meeting Kate Major [former reporter for Star magazine] and Stephanie [Santoro], the nanny. Those were two things.

PD: What's with you and family friend Hailey Glassman?
JG: Me and Hailey are still together. It was hard for her in the beginning. We are going to stay together. She talks to people. She's so friendly. She just goes up to people and says, 'I love your shoes.'

PD: Are you two going to get married?

JG: We don't talk about getting married. She's seen how messy my divorce has been and she says it makes her not want to get married. She laughs about it. It's so different than it was with Kate. It's so comfortable with Hailey and her family. They are so nice. They gave Kate a free tummy tuck, worth $20 grand. I mean, hello? It's free surgery.

PD: How is Hailey adjusting?

JG: I apologized to Hailey that I shouldn't have been hanging out with anyone else. I love her to death and she could've walked away.

Black Barbie, But Why The Long Hair?

In The News, Toys & Games, Shopping

Barbie So In Style designer Stacey McBride-Irby with her mini creations. Credit: Mattel/AP

Mattel has launched a new line of Barbies called So In Style, designed to look more like young black girls.

Except for the hair. The hair is straight.

And that has some parents crying foul.

According to a report by The Associated Press, the new dolls have "fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheekbones" and resemble a black person's features rather then Mattel's 1960s attempt at racial inclusiveness, which "was essentially a white doll painted brown."

While parents and pundits are praising many aspects of the new line -- a focus on education and mentoring, for example, and the varied skin tones -- they are also asking about the hair.

At first, this may sound silly. But look at the trailer for Chris Rock's new film, a documentary called "Good Hair," that explores the relationship that black women have with their hair.

Source

Twitter Follow Friday on ParentDish!

Funny Stuff


Love Twitter? So do we! It can be tough to keep tabs on all your favorite "Tweeters" from the "Twitterverse" -- but don't worry, we've got you covered! Here's our favorite parenting Tweets of the week, raw and uncensored, typos and all, just as you see them on Twitter. Follow ParentDish on Twitter to join the discussion (who knows, maybe we'll feature you here!).
thisfullhouse
thisfullhouse Me: Why do you have glitter all over your face. 8yo: 'Cause, it's Friday. [heavy sigh]
blondemomblog
blondemomblog Just stooped to a new slacker mom level. Bought Wonder bread at the gas station.
DadGoneMad
DadGoneMad As of this afternoon, my daughter dots her "i"s with a heart.
Table4Five
Table4Five 13 yr old left to go bowling with a friend. Asked me to help him style his hair with PRODUCT & blow dryer & everything. He's a teen alright
foldinglaundry
foldinglaundry I have stimulated the economy. Related: EVERYONE IS AT WALMART. Do not go.


Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

Ten Percent of American Babies Are Born Too Early

Newborns, Pregnancy & Birth, Development, In The News

Small Hand

More than 10 percent of U.S. births are premature, according to the World Health Organization. Credit: Alex Paleczny, Flickr

The World Health Organization just released its first report on the incidence of preterm birth and found a 36 percent jump in American babies born premature.

Around the globe prematurity is a major issue: Worldwide, nearly 13 million babies are born before the 37th week of gestation, and more than a million of them die each year. Sadly, the numbers appear to be on the rise.

Prematurity is most severe in Africa and Asia, where more than 85 percent of preterm births occur. The second-highest rates are found in the United States and Canada, where more than 10 percent of all births are premature. In this country alone, the rate has skyrocketed in the last 25 years, jumping 36 percent, mainly due to the increase in multiple births, assisted reproductive technology and pregnancy over age 35.

Source

Reviews: What's New This Week

Here is a look at what's new this week in family entertainment as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media. Click on the links to read the reviews in full.

In Theaters Now: Free Style
"High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu gets serious in his new film "Free Style," a coming-of-age drama about a hard-working high school senior hoping to make it big as a professional motocross racer. The movie touches on serious subjects like race and absentee fathers but doesn't go too deep. A few scenes featuring underage drinking and innocent romance make it real while the racing scenes make it fun. Rated PG, OK for Kids 11+

Imagine ThatOn DVD: Imagine That
Eddie Murphy stars as a divorced dad learning to put his daughter before his career in "Imagine That." Aside from a few mild insults and some blatant bad behavior on the part of dad, the film is innocent and family-friendly and good for more than few laughs. Rated PG, OK for Kids 6+

TV: Secret Girlfriend
If the title of "Secret Girlfrield" makes you cringe a bit, you are on the right track. Featuring immature slackers objectifying women, the movie is based on a series that previously aired on the Internet. It's rude, crude and original only in it's use of a gimmick that has the actors speaking directly to the camera as if it were a character in the show. Rated TV-14, Iffy for Kids 15-18

Source

Duggar Grandbaby Born



Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Little Mackynzie Renée Duggar came into the world last night, making reality-TV uber-parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar first-time grandparents.

The newest baby -- who joins the already enormous clan -- weighed in at 8 pounds and measured 19 1/2 inches. Mommy Anna and Daddy Josh, the oldest of Michelle and Jim Bob's 18 children, tossed aside Grandma and Grandpa's self-imposed tradition of using first-letter J names for all the kids.

The supersize family continues its growth spurts, as Grandma Michelle is pregnant with baby #19, who is due in March.

Cross-Dressing Teen Told to Dress 'Manly'

Teens & tweens, In The News, Education, Amazing Kids



Are skinny jeans, makeup and flats disruptive clothing choices for school?

If you're a 16-year-old boy attending Georgia's North Cobb High School, the district seems to think so.

According to a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jonathan Escobar -- a Miami transplant who had only been attending the school for three days -- says an assistant principal at North Cobb told him he needed to dress more "manly" for school, or think about home-schooling.

"I told myself I can't accept this," Escobar told the AJC, after he withdrew from the school.

Source

It's Twins -- For The Third Time -- For Florida Parents

Newborns, In The News, Weird But True, Twins, Triplets, Multiples

Nick and Kathleen Hinrichsen

Nick and Kathleen Hinrichsen are raising three sets of twins in Miami. Credit: NBCMiami.com

Nick and Kathleen Hinrichsen must be master multitaskers. Three months ago, the Miami couple welcomed their third set of twins at Broward General Medical Center, where their other four children were also born. Boy-and-girl twins Dylan and Summer joined 3-year-olds Hunter and Chase and 7-year-olds Austin and Tyler.

All three sets of twins were conceived with the aid of fertility treatments, but it's still a rare occurrence -- as is seeing a family of six kids all younger than age 7. And Nick and Kathleen receive plenty of attention for their big brood.

"People are always saying stuff, always coming up, always, you know, taking that turn back and looking again to see, oh my God, or people are pointing," Nick told Miami's NBC news station.

The Hinrichsen's latest arrivals were taped for an episode of TLC's A Baby Story, and according to Dad, these are the last babies for the fast-growing family.

Source

Montana Upholds Same-Sex Partner's Parental Rights

Adoption, In The News

Lesbian Moms

The Montana Supreme Court ruled same-sex partners who split have parental rights. Credit: KiltBear, Flickr

Same-sex couples in Montana now have the same rights as married couples to pursue child custody in court.

The Montana Supreme Court, in a 6-1 ruling, upheld that right Tuesday. Justices decided a woman who shared responsibility for two adopted children with her former partner was entitled to parental rights.

Montana law does not allow same-sex couples to adopt children, so only one partner can legally be regarded as the adoptive parent. According to court documents, Barbara Maniaci and Michelle Kulstad agreed that Maniaci would be the adoptive parent on all the legal paperwork, but the two of them would raise the children together. As a result, Kulstad was not listed as the legal parent.

Some people hailed Tuesday's ruling as a victory for people -- gay and straight -- who care for children outside the bounds of traditional marriage. Others said it opens the doors to outside parties who want to lay claim to children.

Source

Blind Boy Uses Sonar to See With His Ears

Kids 5-7, Medical Conditions, In The News, Special Needs, Amazing Kids

Lucas Murrary

Lucas Murray is blind, but uses echos to 'see' his surroundings. Credit: Solent / REX / REX USA

A British 7-year-old who was born blind uses a technique similar to that of dolphins and bats to "see" his surroundings.

Lucas Murray uses echos to visualize his environment, and according to The Sun he may be the first person in Britain to use the method, called echolocation. He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth to locate objects based on how the sound bounces back to him.

Lucas's family learned of the technique when they saw Californian Daniel Kish on TV and asked him to visit the family at their home in Poole, Dorset. Kish, 41, founded the World Access for the Blind and taught Lucas to use echolocation over an intense, three-day period, according to The Sun.

"I really like the clicking system, but it was quite hard to learn," Lucas told that newspaper.

Source

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Daily Cutie
Only a week old, but those eyes tell a different story. A true old soul, anuragyagnik.

anuragyagnik, Flickr

Daily Cutie

    Only a week old, but those eyes tell a different story. A true old soul, anuragyagnik.

    anuragyagnik, Flickr

    Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, Toddler Girl. Thanks to Jeehen for this lovely photo.

    Jeehen, Flickr

    Peepers and pacifiers, oh my! We could stare at this precious photo by Marcel Meier all day.

    Marcel Meier, Flickr

    This dapper dude just lights up our day with his smile. Thanks to mikula1014 for this cheerful portrait!

    mikula1014, Flickr

    We suspect this darling girl might be dabbling in a little mischief. Thanks to angknop for this adorable shot!

    angknop, Flickr

    Bright primary colors make this photo pop off the page. Thanks to anuragyagnik for this great capture.

    anuragyagnik, Flickr

    This beauty's not the only doll in the photo. Thanks to nika macro for this super cute shot!

    nika macro, Flickr

    We adore this colorful shot of the "first haircut." Thanks to mightyb for submitting to our ParentDish Flickr pool.

    mightyb, Flickr

    This tot seems to be planning her escape with great enthusiasm! Thanks to ninasparklz for this darling photo.

    ninasparklz, Flickr

    That infectious smile would light up any room. Thanks to Kacey3 for starting our week off with such a lovely portrait.

    Kacey3, Flickr

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If you'd like your children (any age will do!) featured on ParentDish, upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. Be sure to read our main Flickr page for more information.
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