Hot Topics

Why are More Teens Abusing ADHD Drugs?

ModernMom Staff — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:18:46 +0000

According to the New York Times, pressure over grades and college admission has escalated to the point that many students are using prescription stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin to help them study.

Around 40 students, school officials and parents agreed to be interviewed for an article about the abuse of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications to help them concentrate and fare better on tests and gain entrance to top colleges.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day!

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:29:06 +0000

Cookies, pancakes, muffins, brownies, crepes, waffles, cakes, pies, cupcakes - pretty much ANYTHING tastes better when chocolate chips are involved.

And lucky for us, today is National Chocolate Chip Day!

These sweet little morsels were invented by accident in the 1930s by Ruth Graves Wakefield at her Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts.

DWTS Season 16, Week 9: Who Was Sent Home?

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:44:37 +0000

There are only five couples left in the competition and things are REALLY heating up on Dancing with the Stars!

In a fun twist, this week each pair performed two routines - one dance style that they have not yet performed, and the dance style that was selected via Twitter voting.

Aly Raisman and Jacoby Jones scored the highest marks from the judges with 59s out of a possible 60. Ingo Rademacher was at the bottom of the score board with a combined score of 51.

Breast Cancer Gene: Should You be Tested?

ModernMom Staff — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:45:56 +0000

In the fight against breast cancer, there's a new tool that can help with early detection: genetic testing.

Along with annual mammograms and monthly breast self-exams, women who are at high risk for breast cancer may be advised by their physician to consider genetic testing for the two breast cancer genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2.

Here are some red flags that could indicate you should consider getting tested:

Jury Convicts Philadelphia Abortion Doctor of Murder

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:38:20 +0000

The controversial case against a Philadelphia abortion doctor came to a verdict today, when jurors found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell was accused of performing late-term abortions on babies and then killing them by using scissors to cut their spinal cords. Authorities alleged that some of the infants were born alive and viable during the sixth, seventh and eighth months of pregnancy.

Are Kids Getting Enough Sleep?

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:21:48 +0000

Is your little one getting enough shut-eye? According the sleep experts, the answer is probably no.

After reviewing 100+ years of studies about children and sleep -- more than 300 of them -- University of South Australian researchers determined that sleep experts have consistently found that children got less sleep than recommended, Time Magazine reported.

Happy Mother's Day!

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:20:28 +0000

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." - Tenneva Jordan

"A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary." - Dorothy C. Fisher

Mother's Day is a time for celebrating the women in our lives who guide with strength and listen with love.

We hope you take some time today to celebrate all the love, laughter and light you bring to your family.

Cuteness Overload: Puppy Love! [VIDEO]

ModernMom Staff — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:27:10 +0000

It's Friday, and you know what that means....

Videos of adorable furry creatures!

This week, we bring you "Mango loves Milkshake." It's a super cute clip of a puppy and a kitten snuggling in a laundry basket - it is quite literally puppy love.

You're welcome.

Sugary Drinks Linked to 180,000 Deaths Worldwide

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:15:20 +0000

Forget fries... would you like a side of death with that soda?

A new study suggests that the consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages may contribute to hundreds of thousands of obesity-related deaths around the world.

DWTS Season 16, Week 8: Who Was Sent Home?

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:17:03 +0000

It was Three's Company on Dancing with the Stars this week, as the remaining couples performed trio dances with an eliminated pro or troupe member. And these threesomes sure were fun to watch!

With only six teams left in the competition, tension is running high in the ballroom as contestants battle for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

Study Explores Why New Moms Aren't "In the Mood"

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:23:39 +0000

Did you lose your mojo in a big way after becoming a new mom?

While doctors say it's okay to start having sex again around six weeks after having a child, many women report experiencing a decreased sex drive after pregnancy. In fact, some moms don't feel ready for up to a year.

Sound disconcerting? Relax. It's quite common, and there is a whole host of reasons why this happens.

Cuteness Overload: Kangaroo Plays Tag [VIDEO]

ModernMom Staff — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:36:41 +0000

It's Friday and that means it's time for another edition of Cuteness Overload - where we find the most adorable animals on the Internet to share with you!

In the video below, Bug the kangaroo and Lolli the lemur play in the yard at The Exotic Experience in Orlando, Florida, where they live.

Two cute animals, being extra cute. And really, who doesn't love a good game of tag?

Yahoo Doubles Maternity Leave for Employees

ModernMom Staff — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:26:17 +0000

She might have banned Yahoo employees from working from home, but CEO Marissa Mayer is giving new parents more time to stay at home with their babies.

Yahoo has doubled the amount of paid maternity leave offered from eight weeks to 16 weeks, and letting new fathers take eight weeks of paid leave.

"We've been very focused on making Yahoo! the absolute best place to work," said a representative in a statement.

Chris Kelly of Rap Duo Kris Kross Dies at 34

ModernMom Staff — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:25:48 +0000

Chris Kelly, one half of the popular '90s rap duo Kris Kross, died Wednesday after being found unresponsive at his home. He was 34 years old.

Authorities are investigating his death as a possible drug overdose, although the official cause will remain pending until an autopsy is performed.

How Much Do Moms Love Their Smartphones?

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:19:44 +0000

Did you know that one in every three moms in the U.S. owns a smartphone?

Maybe this shouldn't come as a surprise. We live in an era of tech savvy mamas - ladies who make up a large portion of digital consumption across all channels, including e-commerce and mobile use.

After all, women account for 85% of all consumer purchases and if you want to buy something, it’s a lot easier to read the reviews of other customers and make purchases online.

DWTS Season 16, Week 7: Who Was Sent Home?

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:17:24 +0000

It's hot, hot, hot on Dancing with the Stars!

Things got spicy in the ballroom Monday night, as contestants showed off their moves with Latin-style performances.

(You can watch the highlights here)

So who will be asked to hang up their dance shoes? One team is safe for sure - in a new twist, country singer Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough were granted immunity this week because they have the highest total scores of the season.

Mother Forces 14-Year-Old Daughter to Get Pregnant With Donor Sperm

ModernMom Staff — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:50:54 +0000

In a desperate attempt to have another child, an American woman living in the UK forced her adopted teenage daughter to conceive a baby using sperm purchased over the Internet.

The girl, who is a virgin, first became pregnant at the age of 14 and miscarried before giving birth to a child at the age of 16.

Details of the shocking case appeared in court documents that were released this week by a British court. The woman in question is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for child cruelty.

NBA's Jason Collins Becomes First Openly Gay Active Player

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:19:49 +0000

NBA center Jason Collins made history today when he announced that he is gay in a first-person essay for Sports Illustrated.

The 34-year-old free agent (who has played with the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics this past season) is the first male athlete in a major professional sport to come out about his sexual orientation.

Why We Need to Address the Tarpon Springs Rape Culture

Megan Sayers — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:42:08 +0000

By now you've probably heard about the Tarpon Springs rape case, but just in case you haven't, here are the basic facts:

Jared Alissandratos, a 17-year-old Tarpon Springs High School student, was charged last week with sexual battery of a physically incapacitated (intoxicated) girl.

5 New Mom Facebook Fails

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:41:24 +0000

So you're a new mom, and of course you want to share every adorable baby photo and every precious anecdote about your little bundle of joy with all of your friends.

But wait! Before you hit Facebook, there are a few simple rules that every parent should follow. Seriously, it will make the virtual world a much better place for the rest of us.

Here are five common new mom Facebook fails:

1. Creating an account for your baby

DWTS Season 16, Week 6: Who Was Sent Home?

ModernMom Staff — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:56:17 +0000

Last night, Dancing with the Stars paid tribute to Stevie Wonder. Contestants danced to some of his greatest hits and the Motown legend even gave a performance of his own!

You can watch the highlights from the evening here.

Zendaya and Kellie Pickler continue to wow the judges and Aly Raisman is certainly holding her own as well. At the bottom of the scoreboard was comedian Andy Dick, who has struggled throughout the season, and Victor Ortiz. Will one of them be leaving the ballroom tonight?

Regulators Find Dangerous Toxins Linked to Birth Defects in Nail Polish

ModernMom Staff — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:18:35 +0000

Could your nail polish be making you sick? The answer might surprise you!

Some of the products commonly used in California salons were found to contain a "toxic trio" of chemicals linked to birth defects, asthma and other serious health concerns - despite the fact that the polishes were labeled as being free of these chemicals!

Regulators tested 25 randomly chosen nail polish products chosen, and found that many contained one or more of a chemical that it was advertised to be free of, including toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde.

Happy Earth Day!

ModernMom Staff — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:58:28 +0000

April 22 is Earth Day - an annual reminder to protect the environment and live “green.”

We all know the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and today is the perfect opportunity to talk to your little ones about the importance of eco-friendly behavior.

By engaging your kids in environmentally-friendly activities early on, they can reap good habits of sustainable living as adults.

Here are some great ways to celebrate Earth Day:

Why Aren't More Dads Taking Paternity Leave?

ModernMom Staff — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:59:35 +0000

Are dads just providing lip service to splitting childcare duties?

A University of Virginia study of 181 married, heterosexual professors with toddlers, found that only three male faculty took paternity leave while 70 female faculty took maternity leave.

WHAT? Is Condom Snorting the Latest Teen Craze??

Megan Sayers — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:22:19 +0000

Are you ready to be traumatized? If so, buckle up.

The latest incredibly disturbing teen craze has hit YouTube, and it's called the "condom challenge."

Basically, the participant snorts a condom up his or her nose and then pulls it out of their mouth.

This can't be a good idea.