Strollerderby : Malawi

Morning News - Government Issues New Fuel Standards

Brett Singer — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

In an effort to reduce automobile emissions, the Obama administration is planning to issue "a new national standard for cars and light trucks that incorporates California’s tough auto-emission rules." The President will likely announce these new rules today (Tuesday). The New York Times says that "As a result, cars and light trucks sold in the United States will be roughly 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016." No one will have any money to buy them, of course. Well, maybe by 2016 we will.

Mel Gibson's girlfriend (not to be confused with his wife) has posed in lingerie. The New York Post has photos. Oh, and get this -- she's pregnant! (A commenter at the Daily News' web site says "mazel tov!" which is, frankly, hilarious.) Ah, Mel. How's it going, you anti-semitic hypocrite? Oops, did I say that out loud?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to get peace talks with the Palestinians back on track. BUT he won't endorse a Palestinian state. Bibi (that's Netanyahu's nickname, I didn't make it up) was at the White House to chat with President Obama.

You know what's great about religious people? They're so tolerant. Like Charlotte Allen, who wrote the following in the Los Angeles Times: "I can't stand atheists -- but it's not because they don't believe in God. It's because they're crashing bores." Why do I think that Charlotte would be the first to shout "discrimination" if anyone said something against Christians? Feh.

Apparently Angelina Jolie is all angry at Madonna for trying to adopt another Malawian child. Assuming this is true, I have a question for Ms. Jolie -- when did you become the queen of the world? “Angie sees what she and Brad Pitt do as being about saving a child, but she thinks Madonna does it for publicity," an "insider" told Us Weekly. I really do wonder if these "insiders" and "sources close to the star" actually exist. Can gossip magazines just make stuff up like that? Even if they can, isn't it unbelieveably tacky? I know, dumb question.

File this one under "for what it's worth": Next time bloggers get accused of sensationalist journalism, let us remember how the news of Mitchell Weiner's death was reported here on Babble. Allow me to quote myself: CNN reports that a "New York middle school assistant principal who was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus died Sunday. BUT he might not have died of swine flu. Compare that to the New York Post: yesterday's front page headline was "SWINE DEATH." But if you bothered to read the story, the second paragraph said "Complications besides the virus likely played a part in Mitchell Wiener's death." Even the usually sober Bloomberg News went with "New York Has First Swine Flu Death." They quoted a hospital spokesperson as saying that "Wiener had swine flu and no other pre-existing medical conditions that the hospital knows of." BUT then CNN reported the following: "An assistant principal who died after being hospitalized with the H1N1 virus did have an underlying condition, the New York City's health commissioner said Monday." So who is the more responsible reporter? That would be ME. The blogger with no resources other than my rapier wit and hands that are either typing or changing a stinky diaper. HA! Take that mainstream media!

Finally, Woody Allen won $5 million from American Apparel. The Woodster sued the clothier with the creepy ads because they used his image without first getting permission. I'm no fan of Allen's personal life, but in this case he was right and I'm glad he won. I still wish he hadn't, you know, married his own daughter. But we're none of us perfect, I suppose.

Image: Amazon

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Possible Father of Malawian Orphan Opposes Madonna Adoption

Brett Singer — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

James Kambewa might be the father of Chifundo "Mercy" James, the girl that Madonna wants to adopt. And he's decided that he can take care of her. He feels that his little girl should be "raised as a Malawian", according to BBC News. So Madonna should step off.

I say "might" because it's not clear that the man is, in fact, Mercy's dad. In an interview with 'The Early Show' on CBS, he said that "he wore a necklace bearing his daughter's name around his neck, even though he had never seen her in person." He said that he wants "to take care of her, and I'm capable to take care of my baby." A big question, of course, is why Mercy was in an orphanage if she had a parent "capable" of raising her.

The whole thing is getting somewhat silly. Personally, I think Madonna should be able to adopt Mercy James, because that would mean a much better life for the girl. A court ruled that the adoption wasn't legal (Madonna's appeal will be heard on Monday), but if that's true, how was she able to adopt David Banda?

I'm not going to get into a debate about Malawian legal matters. I just think that it would be too bad if this little girl is forced to live in an orphanage when she could have moved into the lap of luxury. Especially if the only reason her dad came forward is because there were TV cameras around.

Source: BBC

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Is Madonna a Bad Parent?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Note to self – always get your personal chef to sign a confidentiality agreement. Madonna is learning this lesson the hard way. Eric Ienco, Madonna’s former chef and house manager, has publically spoken out and questioned the quality of the material girls’ maternal instincts.

The timing on this? Not so good. Madonna is currently attempting to adopt Mercy James from Malawi to join her adopted son David and son Rocco and daughter Lourdes.

In the revelations to the National Enquirer, Ienco claims that Madonna spends only about thirty minutes per day with the children. He stated, “that's why it's a puzzle she wants to adopt again. She's hardly ever with her children. She's got two full-time nannies and one part-time nanny. So why adopt a kid if somebody else is raising them?"

What is Madonna doing instead of hanging out with her three kids? Ienco tell the Enquirer that:

"She gets up and has a coffee, then she does two hours of yoga. Then there's two hours of Pilates and exercise. That's six days a week. After that, she deals with her e-mail, her calls and the rest of her business. And after that, she spends maybe half an hour with the kids. If Lourdes comes in and says, 'I want to see Mom,' she is told, 'She's doing yoga' - and Lourdes knows she can't disturb Mom. Madonna puts herself before her kids. When she adopted little David, he arrived at her home from Africa - and three hours later, she left to do Pilates. Wouldn't you think she'd want to spend the entire day with her new son?"

Along with her equestrian pursuits, beautification regimes, spiritual quest and being one of the most famous pop stars on the planet, it’s a wonder she’s even able to fit in just that 30 minutes of kid time a day.

What is the minimum amount of time do you think is acceptable to spend with the kids per day? And is Madonna a bad parent for not spending more time with her kids, even though she is providing for them in many other ways?

Madonna/Angelina Dichotomy: Why is Adoption Okay for One Star but not the Other?

Source

Does Madonna Spank Her Kids?

Brett Singer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Somewhat buried in the news about Madonna's adopted son David Banda meeting up with his biological father in Malawi was this little tidbit (this is David's dad Yohane talking about his chat with David):

He told me his mum likes riding horses and that he too rides horses. Then he told me a story when one day he and his brother, Rocco, rode horses and fell. He told me his mum spanked him because they are not supposed to ride horses on their own. (Emphasis added)

Whoa, Nellie! Hang on a minute. Madonna spanked him?

Well, maybe. When I first saw this, Shannon pointed out that sometimes little kids exaggerate. I've never hit either of my children but my oldest once informed someone that I had. Somewhat out of the blue, I might add. Luckily it was a person who was inclined to take my word for it (a relative). But if it had been a teacher, I don't know how that would have gone over.

Still, it's interesting to think about. Do you think Madonna spanks her kids? Or maybe she has the nanny do it? Or is David just a little kid exaggerating?

Source: PerezHilton

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Madonna Adoption Denied, Appeal Filed

Brett Singer — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

A Malawi court ruled on Friday that Madonna could not adopt 4-year-old Mercy James because she had not been a resident of the country for 18 months.

As my son sometimes says, "I didn't see that coming."

Why do I say that? Well, here's the thing. She already adopted a kid from Malawi. David Banda. Remember him? Cute kid, rides horses, visited his hometown with Madge so he could hang with his biological dad?

According to the Telegraph, the rule about adoptive parents being residents of Malawai for 18-24 months was waived back in 2006 to allow Madge to adopt David. Now a local judge is concerned about setting a "dangerous precedent" if she is allowed to adopt again.

Except that the precedent was already set! You let her do it before! When you train puppies, or discipline children, you try to be consistent. I know that's an oversimplification, but isn't it silly to talk about "dangerous precedents" when you already did the thing that you now say you are worried about?

That could be why Madonna has decided to appeal the ruling. I don't know much about the law, and I know even less about Malawian legal issues (to be fair, I probably know more about brain surgery than I do about Malawian legal issues), but it seems to me that she's got a pretty good case. Because they let her adopt David Banda in 2006. Did I mention that?

It's possible that the adoption was denied because of Madonna's recent divorce from Guy Ritchie. The Telegraph quotes a government official as saying that, "Our official policy is that we do not encourage our children to be sent into broken homes." Because being raised by a single parent is clearly much worse than living in an orphanage. Never mind the fact that this particular single parent is wealthier than most of the people on the planet. And while I agree in general with human rights groups who have been saying that "whisking a single child off to a fairytale lifestyle in Hollywood" is not the answer to the world's problems, it's also not the worst thing that could happen to a kid from an impoverished country. (It's also worth noting that Madonna lives in England, not Hollywood. But whatever.)

I should point out that this is not, in my opinion, a major issue in our world today. But everything Madonna does is news, and while I don't care much about her music (or her movies, which, except for "Desperately Seeking Susan" are considerable unwatchable), I have to give her credit for commanding attention with every move she makes. I'll also give her props for starting a charity, Raising Malawi, to help other orphans in Malawi. According to the Telegraph, "She has already built a multi-purpose community centre at Mphandula village, 30 miles from Lilongwe, which looks after more than 8,000 orphans from scores of villages in the area." That's a lot of kids. So, in the language of her adopted British homeland, good on ya, mate. (Or something like that.) Of course, as Shannon pointed out, it's fine for Angelina Jolie to adopt a kid every other week, but Madonna we have a problem with. That's another topic, but one worth mentioning.

What do you think? Should Madonna be allowed to adopt Mercy James?

Source: Telegraph

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What Do Madonna and Peanut Butter Have in Common?

JeanneSager — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:32:00 GMT

With the plight of children in Malawi back in the news (thanks Madge!), a little part of me hopes some extra attention will go the way of the groups working to help fight malnutrition in the poverty-stricken African country.

It's never boasted a pointy cone bra, but Project Peanut Butter is a trendsetter in its own right. Created by Mark Manary, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital and a professor of pediatric medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, the non-profit has revolutionized feeding protocols for malnourished kids in Malawi.

The miracle drug? Peanut butter, a paste that's easy to swallow, rich in nutrients, high in protein and lipid dense. Dubbed "ready-to-use therapeutic food," peanut butter can be stored for months with no refrigeration without spoiling. It doesn't need to be cooked (so homes without gas or electric can use it). And it can be easily transported by truck to the rural villages of Malawi, where seventy percent of the children go hungry every day.

Until recently, twenty-three percent of children in the country died before their fifth birthdays (unless, of course, a mega-celebrity swooped in to rescue them). Thanks to Project Peanut Butter, that number is dropping.

Since most of us can't pull a Madonna, Project Peanut Butter accepts donations to help the kids.

Image: Project Peanut Butter

Morning News: Hormonal Women the Answer to Economic Recovery

Madeline Holler — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Perhaps President Obama and his economic advisors have been thinking about this economic recovery all wrong. Instead of giving money and loans to banks and businesses, they should give it to the people who could really inject some cash into this economy: women. Specifically, hormonal women.

A new British study claims to show that women way overspend when they ovulate and that they do the real damage a week before their periods start. So one minute the gals are cranky and crampy, the next they're all "oh, look at those pretty shoes." We hate studies like this.

This will piss a (very) few premenstrual women off: "Guiding Light" is getting axed. The longest running soap opera (70 years if you count its run on the radio) just isn't attracting viewers like it once did. (Who knew it was even still on the air?)

Know what show isn't getting axed and has far more viewers than we'd even like to imagine? Glenn Beck's on FOX News. This guy is such a screaming, ranting, dangerous racist, it's unbelievable that he gets to have a TV show -- and suddenly, lots and lots of coverage (which, we realize, we're adding to here ...).

He probably even drives a Hummer, the vehicle that represents this most recent economic, carbon and car-size exuberance. The Hummer bubble has burst as well. The GM brand is searching for a buyer. Maybe the auto giant's now former CEO (fired by Obama ... yikes!) would be interested.

Other perks of the well-to-do, but this one isn't going away: buying one's way into college. In fact, it's now easier than ever for the college-bound with parents of means to get into fancy schools, even if they're crappy students, even if there's a waiting list a mile long for better students of lesser means. Ahhhh. Now that's some economic news we can wrap our minds around!

Here's what else money can buy: four-year-old Mercy Grace! She's the Malawian girl Madonna is trying to adopt. Folks in Malawi are being critical of this generous and entitled and well-meaning super star, so it looks like little Mercy will join the family later rather than sooner as a judge has delayed his decision.

Hundreds of school campuses in California are at-risk for outbreaks of childhood illnesses such as measles and mumps, according to the LA Times. Most of these schools are in more affluent areas, so yours truly is enjoying the breeze up here on the moral highground.

We would also like to share the best and worst shampoos, according to NBC's Today Show. Not surprisingly, what appeared to be a bar of soap made the worst list.

Oh, and fat babies are at risk for becoming fat toddlers. So get those chubberkins on a diet!

Photo: sheknows.com

Madonna/Angelina Dichotomy: Why is Adoption Okay for One Star but not the Other?

Shannon LC Cate — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

This is something I just don't get. Why is it that Angelina Jolie is supposed to be a saint for adopting children from poor countries while Madonna is criticized for same?

All the pros and cons of international adoption aside (it has well justified groups of both supporters and detractors), it seems that when Jolie swoops into a country and adopts a child, she is considered to be, well, some kind of Madonna, whereas when, er, Madonna goes to Malawi and adopts, leaving an NGO to support the entire country's children in her wake, she gets all kinds of push-back from the press who bother to ask international adoption critics what they think. For example, a UK charity, Save the Children spokesperson commenting on Madonna's plan to adopt a Malawian sister for David said "You cannot literally take every poor child who may only have one parent living, or no parent living, across the world and transport them all into Kensington in London. It's not a solution." Well, duh, hence Madonna's NGO.

I am awfully sympathetic to the view that that children should, whenever possible, stay in the countries and/or communities of their birth and be cared for by their own relatives or at least community members who share their cultural origins. I chose domestic open adoption to make sure my own kids would not lose contact with their biological and cultural origins. But I'm also sympathetic to the fact that Madonna, having adopted one child from Malawi, sees the need for him to have another member of his family share his background. I'm a transracially adoptive mother of two, (rather than one) for similar reasons.

There is some pretty good evidence that the orphanage where Jolie adopted son, Maddox, is corrupt in its practices, perhaps manufacturing "orphans" for lucrative international adoption placements. Madonna's adoption of son, David (who retains his original surname, Banda), was a case in which no one pretended the child didn't have living relatives--indeed he has a father who apparently visited David in the orphanage regularly and agreed to his adoption. Madonna has taken David to visit his biological father on several occasions since his adoption. In fact, she seems to be doing international adoption as well as it can be done.

Now mind you, I pity any child raised by a celebrity, regardless of how she ended up in the family. I can't imagine a much worse environment for a kid, except perhaps an orphanage--but even that would depend on the orphanage. I'm neither advocating, nor poo-pooing Jolie or Madonna's adopting ways. And I'm not a big fan of either of them. I simply don't understand why the media treats them so differently when it comes to their children.

Is it age? Madonna is fifty while Angelina is 30-something. Is it public image? I didn't think Jolie's celebrity identity was all that squeaky clean before she started having kids, am I wrong? Maybe people just don't like Madonna. Maybe they just like Jolie.

Then again, maybe the strong light cast on Madonna's first adoption, in which questions were raised about the biological father's consent and the laws of Malawi has allowed people to see the complexity of international adoption in a way that Jolie's less publicized adoption details do not. But the fact is that all adoption is fraught with controversial details and questions about what is truly in a child's best interest. All adoptions raise the spectral question of how to help all the children who are left in need, and not adopted; of how to help parents and communities keep their own children and raise them to healthy adulthood. No adoption is pure and uncomplicated. Not the purest, least complicated one. Madonna deserves no more criticism than I do, or than any adoptive parent does. But all members of wealthy societies--adoptive parents or otherwise--need to take a look at their own culpability in perpetuating systems and governments that render some parents and children so desperate that adoption becomes their best option.

Biological Father of Madonna's Adopted Son Very Concerned

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Yohana Banda, the biological father of Madonna’s adopted son David, is very worried about the boy's happiness. Although Banda and his second wife live simply in a thatched hut in Malawi, he thinks that three-year-old David may be happier living with him than with the most famous woman in the world.

Banda put David up for adoption after his first wife, David’s biological mother, died from complications in childbirth. He hoped that David would have a better life in the U.S., but, he says, “Now I see him in a big bewildering crowd in the street with people pushing and shoving, and many cameras around, and without a mother and father to hold his hand. I’m feeling bad for him.”

Madonna’s divorce from Guy Ritchie has strengthened Banda’s concerns about David’s welfare. “This is a new and terrible thing to happen to him. I am too upset to think clearly,” Banda said.

Although this is clearly a unique case, Banda's concern raises interesting questions about the rights of biological parents to be involved in their children’s lives after adoption. Naturally, Banda cannot know what David’s private family life is really like without personal contact from Madonna. Do you think Madonna has an obligation to reassure Banda of David’s happiness, or are her family’s decisions none of his business?

Photo: Celebpick's Weblog

Madonna's Malawi/UNICEF Fundraiser Gets Criticized

Madeline Holler — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:57:00 GMT

Critics say Madonna's recent fundraiser at the U.N. was actually a Gucci store opening attention-getter in disguise and also an indirect promotion of Hollywood's favorite mystic religious center. These same critics think the U.N. should never have allowed the event, which raised more than $3.7 million for relief efforts in Malawi, the country of origin for Madonna's adopted son, and UNICEF.

Yes, but she brought Lourdes. We never see Lourdes! Doesn't that count for something?

From UPI:

The Guardian said Internet bloggers and some mainstream media outlets have blasted the United Nations, claiming the event -- which was presided over by pop star Madonna -- was used to drum up publicity for the Kabbalah Centre and a new Gucci shop in New York.

They say it was inappropriate because half of the funds would go to Raising Malawi, an organization run by the Kabbalah Centre. The rest of the money was donated to UNICEF (weren't they critical of Madonna's adoption, by the way?)

Still, where's the critics' sense of fun? The turnout was all star and loaded with celeb moms and dads. Jezebel's got pics of the best and worst dressed and pics of Gwen Stefani and a very preg. Jennifer Lopez.

Photo: via Jezebel

Madonna's Orphan Ambition

Alisyn — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:01:00 GMT

While visiting her adopted son David Banda's birth country of Malawi this week, Madonna announced that she may take over the orphanage that cared for him until he was adopted.

The aging, increasingly irrelevant pop star told reporters: "I might take over the orphanage because the pastor here is getting old and is about to retire... If Malawians will work hand in hand with me I will still help Malawi." Madonna and family are also looking to purchase a home in Malawi, to use as their base of operations while overseeing charity projects they have embarked upon there.

While I am all for helping Malawians, of course... something about this just doesn't ring true. She just sounds so flip. "I might take over the orphanage" ... or I might try to get on American Idol... or I might launch my own fragrance... whatever! Also, what's with the threat? "If Malawians will work hand in hand with me I will still help Malawi." And if they don't work hand in hand with you? What then, Madonna? You either want to help - or you don't. You either have burning desire to work with African orphans - or you don't. Get off the fence if you're going to be sharing your inner monologue with the international press.

A few years ago, my Madonna-obsessed friend and I were discussing the fact that Madonna just needed to go away for a while - retire from music (it's just getting embarassing), get out of the spotlight, lay low for a while, then stage a fabulous comeback as a philanthropic do-gooder à la Angelina Jolie or Bono. Which is sort of what I think she's trying to do (minus the going away and retiring parts, unfortunately)... but she's going about it in such a weird, seemingly insincere way.

Is it just the way she's portrayed in the media? Is it just me? Or is this whole thing just... off somehow?

Madonna and Adopted Son Visit His Father. Finally.

Karen Murphy — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:25:00 GMT

Today, Madonna and her newly-adopted son David Banda flew to the impoverished African country of Malawi and ostensibly will negotiate some visitation between 14-month old David and his father, who has had no contact with the boy since Madonna took him away to London six months ago. Just as of last week, biological dad Yohande Banda repeated his January plea and asked to hear some word about little David from his new mum, but he doesn't appear to be on the A-list when it comes to Madonna's personal phone number. Or even on the recipient list for a form letter: "Dear ___, My new son is fab! He is studying kabbalah already and looks great in his new red bracelet! Smooches, M."

Malawi child-welfare officials are set to report on Madonna's and husband Guy Ritchie's suitability as adoptive parents of little David after two visits to their London home. Is it any coincidence then that Madonna's Malawi visit will also include charitable work surrounding the building of orphanages? ("Dear David Banda, You were totally worth all the money I had to spend to ~~buy~~ get you, even though I had to build several buildings to do so. It's only money anyway! Love, Your Fabulous Mum")

[photo credit: AP]

Madonna Undeterred: Adopting Second African Baby

Karen Murphy — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:54:00 GMT

Nope, one's not enough! At least, not when you're Madonna. After donating tons of money for an obviously much-needed Kabbalah center in the African country of Malawi where she and husband Guy Ritchie ~~stole~~ ~~bought~~ adopted son David Banda, the happy parents have decided that they need another Malawian child to complete the set.

While it's wonderful for little David that he'll have the best little sister or brother money can buy, and wonderful too for all the Malawian Kabbalists who've been waiting for years for their own multi-million-dollar center, I still have to wonder whether all this money could not be better spent somehow. On frivolous things like, I don't know, food (more than five million residents are experiencing an ongoing severe "food security crisis". Which means: they're starving). Or maybe medicine (the life expectancy in Malawi is now as low as 36.5 years since the onslaught there of AIDS).

How about it, Madonna? Aren't you old enough yet to get your priorities straight?

The Mommy Wars: Angelina, Madonna and Me

Alisyn — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:30:00 GMT

You know what I hate? The Mommy Wars. Stay-at-Home vs. Working moms. Attachment vs. Waldorf vs. "I got spanked and I turned out fine!" moms. Homeschooling vs. Unschooling vs. Charter schooling moms. Oh, do you not feel welcome among any of the aforementioned warring mom factions? Okay - how 'bout if we add to the fray a new and completely media driven battleground: Adoptive Celebrity moms vs... uh, other adoptive celebrity moms.

Sunday's Daily Mail, a British tabloid, reports that the world's most famous adoptive mom, Angelina Jolie, is unhappy with new adoptive mom Madonna's decision to quasi-adopt a semi-orphan from Malawi, a country in which there is no legal adoption process. The paper quotes Jolie as saying "Personally, I prefer to stay on the right side of the law. I would never take a child away from a place where adoption is illegal." (Human rights groups are still investigating whether Madonna used her 1 million pound "donation" to the orphanage where 1 year-old David lived, to bypass laws prohibiting foreigners from adopting Malawians).

Yeah, the Madonna thing is totally fishy. My guess is that Angelina probably felt some sort of obligation to stand up and stay "there's a right way and a wrong way to this this, people," because, let's face it - she is the global face of adoption. But the bottom line is that, because of Madonna, conceited and misguided though she may be, there is one less African child living in an overburdened, underfunded orphanage. Because of Madonna, there is one more young African man in the world with unlimited opportunities and a loving home and family. And everyone knows it.

Now, I do not defend Madonna's shady dealings - but, seriously? What is more important,here? Even young David's biological father, Yohane Banda, who relinquished his son since he could not afford to care for him says "As David's father, I have no problem with (the adoption). What I want is a good life, a good ecducation for my child." The very same article that claims that Angelina is "attacking" Madonna quotes her saying "I have been horrified by the attacks (Madonna) has been subjected to. All that should count is the happiness of little David."

Ouch! Quite the scathing commentary, eh? What a bitchfest. CATFIGHT!! Come on. Give me a fucking break. The Mommy Wars are raging - we know. Vegetarian Moms hate/resent/insert-angry-verb-here Hamburger Moms - we know. Adoptive Actress Moms totally kick the asses of Adoptive Musician Moms - we know. We know because bullshit mainstream media publications tell us all the time.

But the war stops today if we stop it. The Soccer Moms and the Baseball Moms become friends today, if we want it. The M.I.L.F.s and the Mom Jeans coexist peacefully - happily! - if we make it happen. And we can. Because we're moms. Because whether you are a birth mother or an adoptive mother, a celebrity or struggling single mom, you're a mom. We are caring for the children of the world, and we are amazing. And though that simple fact is not enough to sell magazines or self-help books, it's enough to change the way the world looks at us, if we believe in it, and in each other. Cheesy but true.

Father of Madonna's Adopted Child Just Wants News

Karen Murphy — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:20:00 GMT

Yo, Madonna! I know Britney's got you way beat these days in terms of sheer numbers of gossip-worthy headlines, but did you have to bring home a kid from a poor country hardly anyone's heard of just to grab attention? So now his father just wants to know how he's doing, without having to go through Malawi's High Court to do so. Is that too much to ask?

You know Madonna, that's great that you're into the kabalah and all that yoga and all that, I mean, for what, 49? You're hot! But does that make you a good mum to this boy who I might add already has a parent? Weren't the 900,000 actual orphans (that's kids with no mum OR dad) in Malawi enticing enough?

Can I ask a question, Madonna? You don't mind that, do you? Why this kid? Why Malawi? Why you? I hope this isn't a Bubbles the chimp thing for you. That would certainly cause bad press eventually, and I'm sure you don't want that. So do the kid a favor. If you're still insisting at this point that you're the best parent for this boy (who did I point out already has a parent? Who'd simply like to know how he's doing?), let his dad know that he's okay. Don't make him have to go through his court just to get a little note from your secretary. Let the boy know where and who he comes from, when he's old enough. Tell him his story. Because if you don't there'll be no one left in his life who will.