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Articles by Rachel BertscheWriter
'Psychopath' or 'Best Parent in the World'? Dad's Unusual Punishment for Son Stirs Debate
A YouTube video that shows a father forcing his son to smash his Xbox after he came home with bad grades has some observers hailing the punishment as “great parenting” — while others call it “horrible.” The video, which was posted on Wednesday and has received more than 42,000 page views, shows a student named Jason taking a sledgehammer to his Xbox console.
Mom’s Empowering Message Strikes a Chord
One mother’s call for an end to “mommy shaming” is picking up steam, with more than 82,000 views on Facebook and nearly 1,500 shares. Jaime Primak Sullivan – star of the Bravo series Jersey Belle, producer and star of the video series CawfeeTawk, and Yahoo Parenting contributor – sounds off against those who shame mothers for decisions ranging from breast or bottle feeding, working or staying at home, feeding kids organic food or not, and more in a video she shared on Facebook.
Why some schools are suspending kids for joining gun control walkouts
Students across the country participated in school walkouts this week to demand action on gun violence, and two more widespread walkouts are planned for the next two months — on March 14, to mark one month since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, and on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting.
Dad Raises More than $330K for Quadruplets After Wife's Death
A father whose wife died just hours after giving birth to their quadruplets has received an outpouring of support from strangers all over the world. A GoFundMe page set up for the family has already received more than $332,000 in less than two months. On January 16, Carlos and Erica Morales welcomed three girls and one boy — Carlos Jr., Tracey, Paisley and Erica.
Why kids are so good at keeping their abuse a secret
Last week, more than 160 women publicly shared victim impact statements, detailing the horrors they endured at the hands of Larry Nassar, a former team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. It’s nearly impossible to read these statements — even fragments of them — without feeling some sense of horror, disgust, and sadness at what so many young girls faced over the last 20 years. But it’s also hard not to wonder: How? How did Nassar get away with this for so long?
Viral support for bullying victims like Keaton Jones won't fix the bigger problem
When a video of Keaton Jones, a bullied boy crying to his mother about the torment he faced at his Tennessee middle school, went viral late last week, celebrities rallied in support. Actor Chris Evans, Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker, and singer Katy Perry were just a few of the famous names who sent messages of support to Keaton in the days after his mother posted the video to social media.
Here's why only 30 percent of women report sexual harassment to HR
When news of Matt Lauer’s firing broke Wednesday morning, NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack told employees the complaint that precipitated Lauer’s ousting was “the first complaint about his behavior in the over twenty years he’s been at NBC News.” And yet within the next 24 hours, two separate reports were published – one in Variety, the other in the New York Times — with quotes from four women accusing Lauer of harassment and, in at least one instance, assault.
Spider-Woman is Pregnant! What it Means for Superheroes (and the World)
In this preview of the upcoming Spider-Woman series, Jessica Drew is noticeably pregnant, setting up a historic storyline for Marvel Comics. (Photo: Marvel) With the upcoming October re-launch of Marvel Comics, dubbed the “All-New All-Different” Marvel, the most noticeable difference in the company’s superhero universe might be in Spider-Woman, who, according to a preview of the upcoming series, will be pregnant in her first issue.
3-Year-Old's Illness Caused by a Penny Baffles Doctors for Days
A 3-year-old girl with cerebral palsy is finally recovering at home after an illness, caused by a swallowed penny, stumped her doctors for weeks. Crystal Claspell told KFVS-12 that her 2-year-old son tried to feed her daughter, Aliya, pennies last month, and that the young girl swallowed one. Over the next few days, Aliya suffered from a number of bouts of vomiting, ultimately being admitted to the emergency room at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., for dehydration.
Novak Djokovic’s Inspiring Dad Comments: How Being a Parent Heightens Happy Moments
Novak Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer to claim the U.S. Open title on Sunday, says parenthood has made him a better player. (Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) For Novak Djokovic, Sunday night’s U.S. Open win — his 10th major title — was extra special. “I’m enjoying this year even more than any of those before because I’m a husband and a father and it makes everything sweeter,” he said after the match. Djokovic and his wife welcomed their son, Stefan, in October.
Little League Team’s Heartwarming Last Act for Dad and His Son
Gary Parrish, center, died on Thursday of liver cancer. On Tuesday evening, the ailing father was able to watch for the last time his son Ryan, left, play a game of baseball. (Photo: Facebook/Pray for Gary) One Little League team’s kind gesture for a player and his father didn’t come a moment too soon. On Tuesday, the Alabama team gathered for its first game, a week before the season was set to begin, so that their starting pitcher’s ailing dad could see him play one last time.
Teen Lifts Truck Off Trapped Dad: ‘I Just Did What I Had to Do’
A 19-year-old was given a “Citizen Lifesaving Award” Thursday night after pulling her father out from under a burning truck and saving her family from the fire. Charlotte Heffelmire was home in Vienna, Va., for Thanksgiving break from the Air Force Academy when she saw that her father had gotten stuck under the pickup truck he’d been working on.
Dad Wants Answers After TSA Searches 10-Year-Old Daughter ‘Over and Over’
A father whose 10-year-old daughter recently received almost a two-minute airport pat-down is speaking out, calling the episode “invasive” and “inappropriate.” Vendela Payne was traveling with her father, Kevin Payne, from Raleigh, N.C., back home to San Diego last week when she was flagged by the TSA because she’d left a Capri Sun juice pouch in her purse, according the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Teacher’s Amazing Dance Moves With Students at Harry Potter School
A teacher’s video of his impressive dance moves is going viral this week, calling attention to the award-winning educator’s unusual teaching methods and his Harry Potter-inspired middle school.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Inspiring Response to Grandma Who Called Him a ‘Nerd’ on Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg recently shared his personal challenge for 2016 — to build an assistant powered by artificial intelligence—on Facebook, and while it’s an ambitious goal, it’s the CEO’s response to one commenter that is generating the most attention. On Sunday, the Facebook founder and CEO wrote that “every year, I take on a personal challenge to learn new things and grow outside my work at Facebook. … My personal challenge for 2016 is to build a simple AI to run my home and help me with my work.
Garbage Men Make 4-Year-Old’s Wishes Come True
A young boy got his Christmas wish granted when the only items on his list were delivered straight to his home … by the local garbage collectors. Four-year-old Jobiah Wells is fascinated with garbage. He loves waving to his local Folsom, Calif., garbage-truck workers as they pass on their route, and he even rolls the trashcans up the driveway for all 17 of his neighbors on collection day every week.
Hero Pizza Shop Staffer Saves Kidnapped 7-Year-Old During Smoke Break
An employee at a Texas pizza shop is responsible for the rescue of a kidnapped boy after she identified the abductor’s car from an Amber Alert that appeared on her cellphone. On Thursday, Courtney Best decided to take her daily smoke break in front of Papa Murphy’s pizza shop in Corpus Christi, instead of in back, as she usually does. The change of routine was a good thing, because as she was looking at her phone in front of the shop, Best noticed a white Dodge Avenger pull into the parking lot.
Barbie’s New Ad Stirs Controversy
A new Barbie ad — which shows young girls aspiring to careers like professor, veterinarian, businesswoman, and soccer coach — kicks off Mattel’s latest campaign for the iconic dolls, but critics say that while the “Imagine the Possibilities” spot may be adorable, it’s still wishful thinking. In the ad, which was posted on the official Barbie Facebook page last week, young girls take on their dream careers in front of unsuspecting audiences.
Couple’s Viral #DivorceSelfie Shows Us How to Co-Parent Right
Sharon and Chris Neuman pose for a selfie after filing for divorce. Their photo has since gone viral. (Photo: CricketHD/YouTube) The photo of a couple smiling just after filing for divorce has gone viral this week, setting a positive example for exes and co-parents everywhere. The selfie, which Sharon Neuman posted to Facebook on Thursday, shows her posing in front of Calgary Courts Centre with her ex-husband, Chris Neuman. The reason for the happy faces?
Parents and Video Prankster Lure Teens on Facebook for Scary Lesson
A new video that has gotten more than 1.8 million views since it was posted to YouTube on Monday is intended to show just how willing teenage girls are to meet a stranger with whom they’ve only communicated online. Online prankster Coby Persin decided to conduct a social experiment, seeing how easy it would be to lure teens he didn’t know into meeting him in person, after he saw a news segment featuring a similar incident.
Trump to Breastfeeding Mom: 'You're Disgusting'
Presidential candidate Donald Trump called a lawyer and breastfeeding mother “disgusting” after she requested a break from a deposition in order to pump, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday. According to the paper, lawyer Elizabeth Beck was questioning Trump in 2011 about a failed Florida real estate project. Beck, with her husband, represented clients who claimed to lose thousands of dollars in the deal.
Teens and Marijuana: The Surprising Truth
A new study finds that marijuana use has decreased among teenagers, while disapproval of the drug is up. (Photo: Stocksy) A study released on Monday found that despite an increased acceptance of marijuana at city and state levels, adolescent use of the drug — as well as approval of it — is down across the country.
Police Shut Down Girls' Lemonade Stand for Ridiculous Reason
Andria Green, left, and her sister, Zoey, by the lemonade stand that was shut down by police on Monday for not having a permit. (Photo: Sandi Evans/Facebook) Sisters who set up a lemonade stand to fund a Father’s Day gift on Monday were shut down by the police due to a lack of permit. Andria Green, 8, and her sister, Zoey, 7, set up the lemonade stand to raise the $105 they needed for tickets to the Texas waterpark Splash Kingdom.
Mom’s Facebook Photo of 'Hero' Cop Strikes a Chord
State Trooper Matt Okes helped 20-year-old Joseph Owusu when he got a flat tire in the middle of the night. Owusu’s mother’s thank you note has gone viral. (Photo: Nada Owusu/Facebook) A mother’s photo and thank you note to a State Trooper who helped out her son after he got a flat tire is spreading like wildfire online. Joseph Owusu, 20, was driving home from Virginia Tech, where he is a student, last week when one of his back tires blew out.
‘What Kind of Mother Is 8 Months Pregnant and Wants an Abortion?’
Kate, already mom to one daughter, terminated her second pregnancy at 36 weeks. She named the daughter she lost Rose. (Photo: Rosanna U/Getty Images) On the issue of late-term abortion during Wednesday night’s debate, Donald Trump notably said the following: “If you go with what Hillary is saying, in the ninth month, you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby. Now, you can say that that’s OK and Hillary can say that that’s OK.
Little Girl Writes Note to Black Friend About Parents' Racism
A little girl wrote this letter to say that she wasn’t allowed to attend her friend’s birthday party because she is black. Photo: Cox Media Group There was one guest missing from a 10-year-old’s birthday party Friday after her friend said she couldn’t attend because the birthday girl was black. Harmony Jones celebrated her tenth birthday with a slumber party last week, but one of her friends, a white classmate, sent a handwritten note declining the invitation.
Dad Calls Out Daughter's Bullies on Viral YouTube Video
Knowing your child is being bullied is heartbreaking for any parent, but when Brad Knudsen, a father of five, saw firsthand the nasty videos that a pair of twins sent his youngest daughter, he felt helpless. Until he decided to make a video of his own.
Boy Who Claimed He Went to Heaven Recants, Publisher Pulls Book
The best-selling book that documents a 6-year-old’s journey to heaven and back during the two months he spent in a coma is being pulled from shelves after the boy, who is now 17, recanted his story. Alex Malarkey, the co-author of The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven with his father, Kevin Malarkey, was in a car crash in 2004 that left him paralyzed.
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