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I went to my second Parent Teacher Conference for our 4 year old today. Her teachers are wonderfully warm, bright, highly qualified, knowledgeable, kind, helpful, funny, friendly and creative ladies. I can’t say enough good things about them. We feel blessed that Lily is fortunate enough to be in their Pre-K Inclusion Class.

The meeting started off on a good note when we were just socially chatting but when the discussion moved to how Lily is actually doing that’s when the mood went suddenly very serious. I could almost hear the music and the bass drum, ‘dum dum dum.’

That’s when, without blinking an eye, her teacher said, “Lily could benefit from Occupational Therapy.”

“Occupational Therapy??…What does she have trouble in staff meetings or something? Is she sending inappropriate emails to her co-workers?” I replied.

They both laughed. I did one of my nervous laughs. My stomach went in a knot. Suddenly, I felt like I was the student. Occupational Therapy? She’s only 4! Have I fucked this kid up that much already?…was my first thought. Jesus, I didn’t need any sort of outside intervention until I was 14 and my parents are waaaaay more screwed up than I am. Was it that second glass of wine I had at my baby shower? My mother told me not to but I had to anyway. Asshole. But I quickly gathered myself and brought the focus back on Lily.

“Tell me why you think she’d benefit from Occupational Therapy?”

“Lily has trouble paying attention, focusing, interacting with others, recalling details, socializing…..” The list went on and on but this was the point at which I went numb. We’ve had talks with her teachers before and they’ve made me aware of the ‘areas’ in which Lily needs improvement. Lately, she’s made vast improvements in those areas and we were really heartened by them. But obviously, those improvements just aren’t enough.

I’m just so glad they didn’t give her any of those labels that educational professionals love to toss out like free condoms at a gay bar : ADD; ADHD; ASAP; DUI; FUBAR.

They explained that she could benefit from early intervention in Pre-K because when she’s in Kindergarten next year the curriculum is very fast paced and requires skills that she just doesn’t possess. Holy shit! What pressure! I had no idea Kindergarten was that demanding! And here I was all worried about what college she’s going to get into. So so in Pre-K, below average in Kindergarten, unsatisfactory in elementary, flunking in high school, forget Occupational Therapy more like Occupational Training…it’s a very slippery slope people.

Her teacher, bless her heart, said encouragingly, “She just needs a little boost to help her skills. Just think of it like the primer classes they give for the LSATs. It’s nothing.” LSATs?? Stop teasing me lady! I haven’t felt this desperate since I was single and on Weight Watchers.

We can no longer blame her social immaturity and difficulty in the classroom on her age. The professionals in her school have been monitoring her on a daily basis and they believe she requires early intervention. And so be it, she’s going to get it. 4 seems an early age for OT but you know what? Extra help is always a good thing.

I don’t want to be one of those parents who’s always comparing their child to others but I must say I’ve watched how Lily interacts with other children at play dates and there’s definitely something amiss. I’ve even been embarrassed when we meet friends for lunch and she reacts to the parents like they’re complete strangers when she’s been having weekly play dates with their kids for almost two years! I find myself comparing her a lot to my niece and nephew who despite losing a father and the psycho-social problems associated with his death, seem to be better socially adjusted and more adept at communicating than Lily.

It’s not fair, I need to stop comparing her to others. Technically I know it’s not right to do this. So why am I still doing it?? Am I reacting to societal pressures or am I merely projecting my own insecurities onto my child? Help me with this one people. Am I alone in this?

Original post by Sherry Davey

A report was recently released in the Jennifer Aniston should be beautiful enough.

It’s always been known that people in sales, or public relations might be more effective if they were good looking, but is there any reason at all we should be paying hot accountants more than we pay less hot accountants?

Because apparently that’s what we’re doing.

According to the report by researchers Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle, “Attractive people earn about 5 percent more in hourly pay than their average-looking colleagues, who in turn earn 9 percent more per hour than the plainest-looking workers. This means if an average-looking person earned $40,000, their prettiest co-workers would make $42,000 while their least attractive colleagues brought home just $36,400.”

We all know that in normal useful jobs (let’s leave the weirdo world of show biz and media out of it) having a polished, professional look is an asset when interviewing.

So here’s the dilemma: If these statistics are really true, shouldn’t everyone, men and women, invest in plastic surgery as practical method of increasing their income over the course of a lifetime?

If we just take the figures given here, and accept the fact the prettiest people make 9% more than the least pretty people, and the average worker generally gets a 5% salary increase per year over a thirty-six year career, that would mean that the prettiest person would have made $575,017.94 more than the least pretty person in their entire working life.

Well over half a million bucks is a pretty big plastic surgery and personal care fund. It would be even more if you invested that extra money in a savings account as you earned it.

I once had liposuction that no one noticed, but it made me happy. Maybe it’s making me rich and I don’t even know it!

Are we fools if we’re not spending that potential extra money on being the best looking workers we can be? Is a chin implant or a nose job or breast implants or hair extensions going to earn you an extra half million bucks? Plus wouldn’t you be happier because you were better looking?

Or is that simply buying into a system of false, shallow values?

Or, isn’t ALL commerce about false shallow values, and should we simply grow up and accept the realities of the marketplace?

Thankfully (from my personal value system, which in my opinion is only partially false and shallow) education is still a better investment than plastic surgery, because college grads earn 75% more than high school grads over the course of a lifetime.

But if you could add another 9% to that 75% figure (for example, with a better figure) wouldn’t that be smart? Is it simply accepting the realities of the workplace to be as good looking as you can be?

Most people agree that it’s important to have a professional work wardrobe when looking for a job, so my question is this: Is it equally important to have a nip/tucked body and face under those threads?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Original post by cmichon

Thanks to GourmetGrrl, a.k.a Laura Holmes Haddad, we can eat well on Super Bowl Sunday. Enjoy her recipes and tips!

The Menu
Let’s face it, when you’re cooking for a crowd, sandwiches are the easiest – and tastiest – way to go. For game day, serving food that can be eaten with one hand is even better, so watching and eating is that much easier (and clean-up is next to nothing). With both hot and cold sandwiches, everyone’s satisfied, and finishing up the day with ice cream sandwiches keeps the party going until the last touchdown. Tell your friends to bring the snacks and you’re ready to hit the couch for an afternoon of football.

Drink-wise, be sure to stock the ‘frig with your favorite beer. And why not serve something unexpected, like bubbles? Sparkling wine is a great, affordable choice. Try the new Foster’s Yellow or Pink bubbly from Australia or Cristallino cava from Spain, and toast your team in style. And for the drivers in the crowd, serve fun, non-alcoholic drinks like Izze Sparkling Juice and Jones Soda; they’re super tasty and come in sassy flavors.

Turkey Pesto Wraps

Serves 6

Ingredients:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup basil pesto
6 flour sandwich wraps
18 slices turkey breast (about 12 ounces turkey)
6 slices Provolone cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
Make the pesto mayonnaise: add the pesto to the mayonnaise and mix well. Slather pesto mayonnaise on each wrap. Add three slices turkey and one slice cheese for each wrap, grind some fresh pepper on top, and roll up each sandwich.

Wrap the bottom half of the sandwiches in white deli paper (available at most grocery stores and warehouse stores like Smart and Final). Arrange them in a basket so guests can grab and go (back to the game, that is).

Note: Substitute chipotle mayonnaise for the pesto if you want a sandwich with a kick. Puree 2 or 3 canned chipotles in adobo (found in the international section of most grocery stores) and mix them into 1/3 cup mayonnaise.

Sausage Sandwiches with Onions and Peppers

Serves 6

Ingredients:
6 Italian sausages (pork, chicken, or turkey)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 red or yellow bell peppers, sliced thinly
2 medium yellow onions, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
6 French bread rolls

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, cook the sausages on medium heat for 8 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add the olive oil the saucepan and add the peppers and onions. Add the salt and saute on medium heat for about 5 minutes, until peppers and onions have softened. Add the sausage to the peppers and onions, turn the heat to low, and cook until sausage is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Cut the sandwich rolls in half and place one sausage in each roll. Add peppers and onions to each and wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil. You can make the sandwiches up to 3 hours ahead; reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.

Ice Cream Sandwiches
The beauty of these tasty desserts is that you can make them up to three days ahead. And if you’re short on time, just buy the cookies instead of making your own; no one will notice. Try and find soft cookies — they make the sandwiches easier to eat!

Serves 8

Ingredients:
16 chocolate chip cookies (about 4 inches wide)
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 cup toasted, chopped peanuts or toasted, sliced almonds
1 cup chocolate sprinkles

Directions:
Pour the toasted nuts and the sprinkles into two separate wide, shallow bowls.

Lay 8 cookies out on a cookie sheet. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of ice cream on each of eight cookies and smooth down using a spatula. Place a second cookie on top and gently but firmly push down to secure the sandwich. Use a spatula or spoon to spread the ice cream evenly around the edges.

Roll each sandwich in the nuts and then the sprinkles.

Wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.

Note: Play around with your favorite flavors. Try ginger cookies and lemon ice cream or frozen yogurt; chocolate cookies with mint chocolate chip ice cream; or sugar cookies with coffee ice cream. And switch up the nuts: toasted, chopped hazelnuts and toasted, chopped walnuts add a definite crunch and flavor.

Original post by Betsy Berns

I would rather talk to you than anyone else I know.

You and I are not on speaking terms, despite what you may think. I do not think of you often, and when I do, it is not to wish you well.

I’m sorry I was so horrible to you when we were kids. I didn’t understand.

I can’t fix everything, but for you, I will always try. Even when it makes me crazy.

I love you for your brain. I mean, really love you.

Just freaking cut your hair, damn it. You look like a degenerate.

Stop. Smoking. The idea of going to your funeral one day makes me feel queasy.

You have always been easy to love. It was liking you that sometimes took effort.

I hate that you’re the cute one. There. I said it.

Sometimes, you smother me.

It bothers me that I always have to ask other people how you are. Just call, already.

I feel unintelligent around you; you think I’m shy, but I’m afraid of being judged.

You’re a total douchebag and I call bullshit! on that story about your dead grandfather’s hat.

I’m still just the tiniest bit mad that you let me think I lost that ring.

Seriously? Best. Ever.

More to come. Once I feel satisfied with this list, I’m buying a ticket to Prague. May sounds like a nice month.

Original post by hhunter

So you’ve probably seen this story all over the news by now, but according to this article, “The Democratic-controlled Congress on Tuesday stepped up its pressure on President Bush’s global warming strategy, hearing allegations of new political pressure on government scientists to downplay the threat of global warming. Lawmakers received survey results of federal scientists that showed 46 percent felt pressure to eliminate the words ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or similar terms from communications about their work.”

Scary, right?

A little while ago, we asked iVillagers whether or not you were worried about global warming. Over 1,000 people weighed in, and the results were split exactly 70/30 – 70% were worried, and 30% weren’t.

Some of the responses: “Yes, the weather around here has been weird! We usually have more snow than none around this time. But I’m not really worried about global warming.”

“Living in the north, I see the effects of Global Warming on a daily basis. Usually, I’d be shivering through a blistering -30 below but that is not the case in these past few years. It is the middle of December and we are having -0 Weather, which I can say is nice but extremely alarming in the long run.”

“I am so angry that at this point 29% people that have taken this poll aren’t thinking of the ill effects of global warming! THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US. Rich, poor, blue, red, or green party. Please everyone take the time to understand that this won’t ever go away, EVER. We have one world, please help to make it a healthy place to live. An Inconvenient Truth is one of the most honest movies about global warming. Rent it PLEASE.”

“I understand that people don’t want to believe- it’s a scary thought. But the hurricanes, floods, tsunamis and higher temps we’ve had have HUGE effects and bad ones at that! I can’t imagine how much worse it will get.”

I think this issue is dangerously easy to ignore. On days when it’s been unseasonably warm here in NYC, it seems like everyone you encounter makes some joke about global warming… but then we hit a cold snap, and it’s not a topic of conversation as much anymore. Maybe the whole issue just feels too big and out of our control. What do you think?

I’m also curious to know if there are any measures you personally take to minimize your environmental “footprint,” whether you drive a hybrid car or try to conserve resources like electricity or water in your everyday life.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my bathtub, soaking in a lot of nice, hot water, while eating some baby-caribou jerky. (Oh, I’m kidding.)

Original post by Amy Shearn