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Contemporary parents are dazed and confused, and their children are suffering, writes Miranda Devine. It is clear from the extraordinary success of Channel Nine's Monday-night program Supernanny that Australian parents are suffering a crisis of confidence in their child-rearing skills. And judging by a study released this week by the Australian Childhood Foundation, insecure mums and dads are crying out for guidance on how to control the brats who rule their lives. The study revealed that 38 per cent of parents surveyed say parenting does not come naturally and 63 per cent are "concerned about their level of confidence as...

A 13-year-old student in Orange County, Fla., was suspended for 10 days and could be banned from school over an alleged assault with a rubber band, according to a Local 6 News report. Robert Gomez, a seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School, said he picked up a rubber band at school and slipped it on his wrist. Gomez said when his science teacher demanded the rubber band, the student said he tossed it on her desk. After the incident, Gomez received a 10-day suspension for threatening his teacher with what administrators say was a weapon, Local 6 News reported.

MARIETTA, Ga. — Two 13-year-old middle school girls were held on assault charges Wednesday after being accused of serving poisoned cake to about a dozen students who became ill and went to a hospital. Lawyers for the two seventh graders said the cake was a prank, and that they had no intention to harm anyone. Lab tests showed the icing on the cornbread cake contained an expired prescription drug, bleach, clay and tabasco sauce. "They took it into the cafeteria at lunch time and began passing it out to students, just whoever would take a piece," said Jay Dillon, spokesman...

<p>Carrie is 2 years old, with curly brown hair and Windex-blue eyes. In a still-life portrait, she would be adorable. In three dimensions, she's a cross between a Gerber baby and the Tasmanian devil. Bang. Bang, bang, bang, and bang and bang.</p>

Parents of very young children affected by military deployments may find help by listening to a special radio interview Feb. 4. Host Bobbi Conner of the weekly national radio program "The Parent's Home Journal," is scheduled to interview Lynette Kimes, a mother and military spouse, about coping strategies for children affected by deployment. The program is heard on 165 stations around the United States, and also is carried by the American Forces Radio and Television Service. Air times vary; check local listings. Kimes is a senior program associate for "Zero to Three," www.zerotothree.org, a national nonprofit organization that promotes healthy...

In an effort to be inclusive, this thread is for nonmetrosexual males (and likeminded women) to advise queer guys on their outfits, decor, vehicles, hairstyles, homes and hobbies. I've outfitted the thread with keywords toward this end.Enjoy.

Whatever It Is, They’re Against It David C. Stolinsky, M.D. Wednesday, May 14, 2003 I don't know what they have to say, It makes no difference anyway. Whatever it is, I'm against it. – Groucho Marx in “Horse Feathers” Total negativism is an appropriate attitude for Groucho’s zany version of a college president. His ridiculous dance in an academic robe still makes us laugh. But negativism is not an appropriate attitude for citizens of a republic. It is still less appropriate for leaders of a great nation. And it’s not at all amusing. When a small child learns he can...

In the pool halls and cyber cafes of Kuwait a new breed of terrorist is emerging, from among the country's young, wealthy and disaffected.Spoiled brats, in other words. - Ivan "I always imagine I'm fighting against the Americans," said Jagub, as he played a popular war game that pitches a team of snipers against an invading army. "I think about what the Americans and Israelis are doing to the Palestinians, and that they are planning a war against Iraq, and it fills me with anger." No doubt he also uses his indignation to score with the ladies - Ivan Jagub...

I recently had a funny exchange with a person in the sales division of the company that manufactured my once-trustworthy laptop. I have to share it with the class. I called the company in question to order a replacement part and in the course of confirming that I am the proper owner, the saleswoman asked, "What is the Center for Affirmative Parenting?" "I write books and give seminars on raising children," I answered. That made her happy, because, she told me, she's having problems with her sons, ages 4 and 3. Specifically, they talk back to her. They tell her,...