Strollerderby : Laura Bennett

Is Junk Food a Custody Issue?

Amy Kuras — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Is feeding your kids white bread, or God forbid high fructose corn syrup, the kind of thing that should lose you custody of your kid in a divorce?

I don't think so -- even though I am a strong believer that most of what is marketed to kids is crap and shoudn't be fed to anyone, ever. But I certainly don't fool myself that the bowl of Pirate's Booty I just handed my daughter to snack on is anything other than fancy Cheetos. If most of what you feed your kids is good, wholesome, real food that bears more resemblance to how it came from the ground or the animal than to a lab-created Frankenfood, a preference for white bread or a daily bowl of Doritos is not that big a deal.

Laura Bennett agrees with me. In this piece from Alternet she recounts running into a mom at her sons' school who was livid with her ex-husband, livid to the point of asking a judge to revisit their custody arrangement, for his wanton disregard for their children's health.

What was the issue, you ask? He had packed them a lunch of sandwiches on white bread, Doritos, and Go-Gurt.

She makes the point, an excellent one, that kids denied sugar or junk food will lose their damn minds when in the presence of it at someone else's house. Which is why we try to make sure no food is labeled bad or off limits, there are just certain things we don't keep in the house. And yes, when we travel there is a frequent stop at McDonald's or M&Ms and Pringles in the car. While I am not alllowing Cool Ranch Doritos within three feet of my front door because ew, they are not actually going to kill anyone. And we all know that forbidden Fruit Rollups taste the sweetest.

World's Oldest Mother: "I Have My Motives."

Alisyn — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:30:00 GMT

Remember Super Woman? She’s the 67-year-old Spanish woman who became the oldest woman in the world to give birth – to twins! – last month in Barcelona. This week, her extended family is speaking out against her choice to secretly undergo I.V.F. treatments in the U.S.

“My mother would roll over in her grave if she knew what my sister had done,” said Super Woman’s brother, Manuel Bousada de Lara, 73. “How are you going to bring up two boys at your age? We’re mystified why she would want to do this.” Indeed, that is the question on everyone’s mind.

How are you going to care for your twin toddler sons when you are 80 years old – and a single mother? And why did you choose to keep your fertility treatments a secret from your family and friends? Aren’t you going to need their help – like, yesterday? And who is the doctor that agreed to impregnate you? He needs to have his medical license revoked. (It totally figures that he’s American.)

On choosing to become a mother at this stage in her life, Super Woman (real name: Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara) simply told the press “I have my motives.”

Um.... YIKES.

67-Year-Old Woman Births Twins. And You Thought You Had It Rough.

Alisyn — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:15:00 GMT

A 67-year-old woman became the oldest person in history to give birth - to twins! - in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday. Laura Bennett, move over. There's a new Super Woman in town.

A hospital spokesperson said that though both babies are in incubators, they are both healthy, as is the mother. No comment from either party about the fact that Super Woman totally stole the "World's Oldest Birth Mother" title from it's previous holder, 67-year-old Adriana Iliescu of Romania. Burn!

Becoming a mother at the ripe old age of 67 is quite a feat, no doubt about it. In fact, I didn't realize that it was humanly possible. Super Woman's got experience, wisdom and knitting abilities on her side, that's for sure. Although... these attributes could be in direct competition with arthritis, cataracts, early-onset dementia, or any number of other special treats that come with advanced age. Mama may not live long enough to see you enter kindergarten, babies, but hot damn!, she got you in the Guiness Book of World Records! So, that's something.

I offer my sincere congratulations to the new family. And I vow here and now, to never, ever live in Europe during my Golden Years. They must've put something in the water over there. //SHUDDER//

Strollerderby : Laura Bennett

Is Junk Food a Custody Issue?

World's Oldest Mother: "I Have My Motives."

67-Year-Old Woman Births Twins. And You Thought *You* Had It Rough.

67-Year-Old Woman Births Twins. And You Thought You Had It Rough.