Strollerderby : cool kids

Boy Saves Brother's Life With Bone Marrow

Brett Singer — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Sometimes it's good to just read a nice story. Especially around the holidays.

Yes, I'm sappy, but this has to make you smile.

Back in October, Daniel Badmus, a five-year-old boy from Ontario, CA, donated bone marrow to his four-year-old brother John. John suffers from sickle cell anemia, described as, "a genetic condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body."

Daniel, the donor, received an award today from the Canadian Armed Forces. They also held a torch ceremony in his honor. (Not sure what that means but it sounds like a good thing.)

I have to admit that this sort of story (a) always chokes me up a little bit, and (b) makes me think about paying attention to my own health so that I can be there for my kids for as long as possible. There's also (c), where I think about whether or not I would have the courage to do what five-year-old Daniel did. I hope I would. He's a brave guy. Good for him.

Source/Image: citynews.ca

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Yes, Vagina, There Is a Santa: A Gift Guide for Cool Parents

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:08:00 GMT

We went to a great urban craft fair over the weekend, and I was so excited to see all the unique, eclectic, offbeat and ultra hip presents that I couldn't help but assemble them into a wide-ranging family gift guide for alternative presents.

Christmas is going to rock this year.

After all, every kid needs a stuffed ham or a hand-painted pirate onesie. And then there's some pretty sweet ideas for parents, because we all need something fun to keep us sane. And nothing says fun like "I (heart) my vagina" underwear. And really, what dad wouldn't want an Obama shirt emblazoned with "PILF"?

There's a ton of great children's clothes options in the beginning (including some from SD addict Future Rock Stars), and I followed them up with things for mom and dad -- everything from jewelry to home decor. Forget the mall this year. Homemade is so much cooler -- and, a lot of times, cheaper. And on top of all that, there's some great crafty ideas for families.

[photo: Sweet Meats]

5 Ways to Raise A Geek

SunnyChanel — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:01:00 GMT

I’ve had a mantra since my daughter was born. It is “please be geeky, please be geeky, please be geeky”. Over and over I chant this, hoping that it will come true. Which just means she’s totally going to rebel and end up being (as I shudder) a cool hipster chick. Why do I want my daughter to be a geek? Oh, so many reasons. I won’t have to buy overpriced designer duds, she won’t walk around looking like an underaged hooker, I won’t have to deal with her sneaking out her window at night, and she’ll never be invited to that high school kegger.

How do I accomplish this task? Well for a start I think I’ll need to run out and buy Marybeth Hicks book Bringing Up Geeks: How to Protect Your Kid’s Childhood in a Grow-Up-Too-Fast World as Urban Baby wrote, she “says today’s geek isn’t a social misfit. She’s just a good, wholesome kid who’s not so caught up in pop culture that she lets it define who she is. Hicks, a mother of four, advises parents on how to raise a genuine, enthusiastic, empowered kid (GEEK):”

Here are five ways in which you can attempt to breed your own brainiac.

1.   Obedience. Teach them a respect for authority. “So as you move through the years from “don’t throw dirt” to “have the car home by 11pm,” you’ll get compliance.”

2.   Enthusiasm for learning. Get involved in what ever they’re into be it dinosaurs, flower pressing, or fashioning busts of the presidents out of dried pasta. Support their passion with enthusiam and participation.

3.   Control the Media – Make sure the culture (movies, music, TV shows, games) reflect your values. Yeah, they’re going to be bombarded by crap (Bratz, Britney, Barney) but in your own home, you can filter out the junk.

4.   Friendships – You may not approve of the choices of friends, but when said friend is under your roof, let them know it’s your rules (so no, they can smoke out the bathroom window).

5.   Knowing right from wrong and good from bad. “Authentic self-esteem comes from knowing you are truly good and exhibit proper behavior.”

(via Urban Baby) (image via One Horse Shy)

Boy's Potty Pedal Makes Mamas Flip Out

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Once upon a time, there was a boy child who so loved his mommy that he set out to make her life (or at least trips trips to the loo) just a wee bit more comfortable. After being reminded a mere "thousand times over the years" to gently place the toilet seat down to suit the sitters in the house, the boy child finally began to think of ways to focus his Talented & Gifted mind on the matter at (ahem) hand. Rather than memorize the steps - raise lid, go, replace lid, wash, flush, leave -- or even createa clever anagram to remember when and at what point to girlify the seat, the boy set out to inventing.

That's right, the boy inventor I am speaking of, children, is in fact Jacob Wulf, the 9-year old Iowan who has since been glorified on Ellen and in publications across the land. And to think, it is all because he came up with a special pedal to raise and lower the eluding (but eventually auspicious) lid. Jacob spied the foot lever on the trashcan in his doctor's office and the toilet troubles came to mind. Later, with the giudance of his equipment designer dad, he developed the idea into an accessory to raise and lower the lid simply by stepping on a pedal. A school contest entry and state fair display followed, and soon the press also stepped in.

Although the Privy Prop's patent is on pause and mass-marketing is not a possibility at this time ("because Mom said"), the happily ever after comes in the lesson learned: By taking a stand and putting one's best foot foward, a world of potty-goers can be impressed, and a household (not to mention one proud mother) can live contendedly together, one powder room and pedal step at a time.

Top 5 Ways to Ensure Your Kid is Cool

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:26:00 GMT

Okay pal, who are you kidding? You pretend with your "money doesn't matter" this and your "it's important to help poor people" that, but deep down inside you know what you want? You want your child to be cool. Not "nice" or "responsible" or "kind," cool. And popular. We all know cool kids get the most of everything: girls, boys, attention, power, money. So no time like the present, Mommy and Daddy. It is time to set your kid up for future hipness. I mean, this is why you read Babble, right?

Here are the top 5 methods to ensure your kid is cool.

1. Dress him / her in expensive name brand clothing, preferably with large noticeable labels. If you "accidentally" leave the price tags on them, so much the better.

2. Make friends with a celebrity's child. Angelina and Brad are busy building up their family, right? Maybe it's time for you and your wee one to make a trip to Louisiana and say "hello."

3. Enroll your child in educational classes at a young age. Cello for three year olds, Spanish for babies, and Mat class for minors, to name a few.

4. Teach success. A helpful line to remember is from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. "If you're not first, you're last."

5. Finally, "Mommy and Daddy don't love losers." If you make sure your child understands that his / her coolness is directly related to your love, then there won't be any problem making it happen. Everyone wants Mommy and Daddy to love them. Right?