Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Don't know why anyone is really thinking about this too hard, but it's out there, so here ya go: Could Mariah Carey be expecting twins?

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Welcome, baby Ben: John Travolta and Kelly Preston welcome new son.

And If They Get Rickets or Scurvy, Blame Their Teachers

Guess which one is not the fussy eater.

Do you have to force your kids to eat everything on their plates because they're so fussy? Perhaps they're fussy because you force them to eat everything on their plates. Oh, and those attempts to keep your kid thin with a strict diet is actually making him fat.

This is according to conclusions published by the American Dietetic Association (but hey, what the hell do they know?), which (surprise!) found "a correlation between mothers' pressure to eat healthy and children's degree of fussiness over food."

My kids are still pretty skinny, and I was also a skinny kid. I definitely wasn't allowed to leave the table until I was consumed everything on my plate, even if it meant sitting at the table long after everyone left the table, and the food turned into a cold, hard, congealed, lousy-tasting slop.

Back then, at least until I was in third grade, my mom was a stay-at-homer, so she was able to cook real meals every day. These days, with Jenn at night school a few times a week, I’m the guy preparing dinner for the kids. Sometimes, with the proper planning, I do a good job, but other days it’s more like pot luck: “Okayyyy...who wants...hot dogs and...little fruit cups of peaches and/or pears and...wagon-wheel pasta?”

I generally try not to sweat whether they've eaten everything, unless they insult my intelligence by claiming a full stomach by 6:00 and raiding the cabinets for snacks at 6:15. Of course, sometimes I'm the one who's raiding the cabinets myself, and it's getting more difficult to hide a fistful of Oreos at the dinner table!

Also in the news....

• Don't leave your kid in your car -- or the guy trying to carjack might lecture you.

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: It's not over: Daughtry adds to family with twins (total count: four kids).

Also in the news....

• Had a crappy childhood? Never fear: It just means you're going to be ultra-successful at some point.

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: But what color will the baby's room be (better hope she's having a girl)? Pink announces she's pregnant.

Also in the news....

John has a somewhat wary look on his face because he knows I'm about to kick him in the nuts -- and he won't be allowed to scream.

• CELEBRITY ALERT: I knew there was another reason I think Scientologists are nutty: Kelly Preston prepares for "silent" birth of son -- no screaming during labor, no talking to newborn for seven days. Ugh.
  


• Want to go on vacation without some kid kicking your airplane seat? Your fairy godmother has arrived.

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Hopefully a kid didn't pop out while she was airborne: Michelle Duggar goes skydiving.


• You got a permit for them baked goods, boy? Kids' cupcake sale shut down for operating without a license.

Also in the news....

• VIRAL VIDEO: Good times: Modern Family's Julie Bowen describes how one of her twin toddlers threw the other one in the dryer.


• Bad timing, random Sacramento middle school: Officials tell boy to take American flag off of bike -- during Veteran's Day week.

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Beauty queen better get her beauty sleep now: Carrie Prejean preggers.

Help me! I've got a crazed look in my eye because I keep breeding for this crazy family.

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Keeping up with the Duggars (or, another day, another Duggar -- can't help myself, these headlines just write themselves): Josh Duggar offers up another Quiverfull sacrifice grandchild to Michelle and Jim Bob.


• Time of birth -- 4:20: New dad lights up joint in hospital smoking section after birth of first baby.

Also in the news....

• The kidz tell you they're going out for cones, but they're really going clubbin': Mister Softee truck busted for being nightlife gypsy cab.


• But I needs me some wheels! Mom tries to sell baby to get car.

Also in the news....

Should've just ordered from Wood Kingdom: Dad fights city that's trying to tear down daughter's elaborate backyard playset.

Also in the news....

• Hard to keep the kids away from the junk with results like this: Nutritionist loses 27 pounds on Twinkie diet.

Also in the news....

• All I need to know is it gets us out of the house: 10 things parents need to know about Megamind.

Also in the news....

• All right, enough already: Twin sisters give birth on same day.


• The San Francisco treat...does not include Happy Meals.


• I wonder if my kids will be pissed if we swap out our trip to Disney World for this place: Orlando theme park built for Jesus.


• Maybe they should be investigating her mom's home instead to find out WTF is going on: 10-year-old mom's home investigated.

Also in the news....

• VIRAL VIDEO: You won't catch this one on MTV: Sesame Street debuts its "There's an App for That" video.

Also in the news....

• CELEBRITY ALERT: Oh yeah, remember this guy? American Idol Chris Sligh welcomes first child.

Also in the news....

• It's not just the late-night porn-surfing you have to look out for now: Electronic media before bed can harm kids' health.