Maternal overprotection is lethal

I’ve had fathers express concern about their kid’s playing time or treatment from other players… Not so for what coaches call “Helicopter Moms,” who hover above their children in a near-constant state of anxiety; “Momma Bears,” those who are highly protective of their children and don’t care if they disparage others in the process; and “Grizzly Moms,” a highly dangerous breed who seem unwilling to stop at anything in getting their child what they want. – crosswalk

Dad is a lout

Fathers sleep a lot, and they snore loudly. When they’re awake, they like to fish or golf, but they’re comically bad at both. They drink so much beer they’re practically alcoholics, and they’re complete couch potatoes, always watching television and hogging the remote.

At least, that’s the less-than-favourable image of Dad on Father’s Day greeting cards. – CanadianPress

From dog’s mouth to God’s ears

In response to a report in The Times this week that “children run less risk of being sensitive to allergens if there is a dog in the house in the early years of their lives”, a dog writes:

“Well, that’s charming, isn’t it? As if human beings have not spent long enough boring us all rigid with their worries about domestic cleanliness and just how many germs it is safe to expose little Cedric to to ensure that he lives to 103 (721 in dog years), now they want to involve dogs.
It’s upfront, funny and, depending on whom you ask, kind of offensive. – TheTimes

The Midwest Teen Sex Show

Need we say more?

Forget the awkward silences, snickering and the boring videos — 28-year-old Wisconsin mom of three Nikol Hasler has a totally different way of teaching teens about sex.

It’s upfront, funny and, depending on whom you ask, kind of offensive. – ABC

Aristo-brats

At Gucci’s $11 million party at the UN in February, the A-list—including Tom and Katie, Ashton and Demi, Gwyneth, and a very pregnant J. Lo—turned out in force. But it was a sixth grader, albeit one with an unimpeachable pop pedigree, who stole the show. Clad in a modest black Gucci dress with sensible tights, black Mary Janes, and hip black nail polish, Madonna’s 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes Ciccone Leon, strode the red carpet, thrusting her elbow out to give the paps a studied quarter turn. – RADAR

Argument for/against nanny-cams

So what would you do if you arrived home after a nice dinner ‘date’ with your wife, checked in on your cute little bundle in her purply-pink room (your wife’s choice, not yours), found her fast asleep, paid the sitter her 15 bucks per hour, slipped into something comfy, queued up the nanny-cam and saw this… (make note of your baby lying in the lower right-hand corner).

Lost ‘baggage’

A family’s first day in Canada turned into a nightmare when they forgot their toddler at the Vancouver airport and boarded a flight to Winnipeg. – TheGazette

Is this what I have to look forward to?

A 13 year old from Texas who stole his Dad’s credit card and ordered two hookers from an escort agency, has today been convicted of fraud and given a three year community order. – krock

Barbie, Green in the Face

…when Mattel recently issued a news release promoting its new line of Barbie BCause accessories for the doll — hats, handbags and the like — it was too much for the blogger on Eco Child’s Play, Jennifer Lance.

“The eco-conscious young girls I know of steer clear of Barbie,” she wrote. “Truly green families will not be fooled by Mattel’s greenwashing.” – NYT

FANCY PORK CHOP

Pork, that other white meat, has been enjoying makeover on Homo sapien plates lately. Besides this, my great recipe there are several more fancy dishes, with curry to cranberry stuffing that make breading and baking pork chops passé.

Grilled Pork Chop with Merlot Sauce:
INGREDIENTS
2 medium sweet potatoes, peel ‘em and chop ‘em
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup tree sap (also known to fancy cavemans as maple syrup )

3 cups beef broth
1 cup juice of grapes crushed with stinky cave feet – scrape off Mammoth dung before crushing. Or just use Merlot wine from store closest to cave
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup water
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 (4-ounce) pork chops
2 tablespoons olive oil

PREPARATION
Sweet potatoes: Place potatoes in saucepot then cover with water. Bring water to simmer over medium heat. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes, add butter and maple syrup, mash by hand (Fun!). Transfer to bowl.

The sauce: Combine broth and wine in saucepan (see below). Bring to bubbling over medium heat, and make less by one third. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk cornstarch with ¼ cup water until smooth. Whisk the cornstarch mixture into simmering sauce. Continue whisking until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm over small heat.

The pork: Heat up Foreman Grill. Season pork with salt and pepper. Brush the chops with oil then cook until brownish-pink at the center, about 4 minutes per side. Allow pork to rest for 5 minutes. Spoon sauce around the chops and serve with potatoes.

KITCHEN TIPS FOR NEW PARENTS!
Cavemens always searching for a reason to buy latest and greatest of the coolest stuff. Here is a new one: you need bangin’ gear for your new role as kitchen master.

Flat Whisks: A musical instrument posing as a kitchen utensil. Flat whisks are good for eggs, gravies, and dry ingredients. There’s also the ball whisk that resembles those weird head massing things they sell in the thoroughfares of America’s finest malls.

Saucepan: Get the non-stick variety. Boil potatoes, simmer stock, cook rice, steam veggies, engage in the fine art of stovetop baking. Then when you’re done, wash it, dry it and your little one can use it as a helmet.