Blog Posts by The_Stir

Our 8-month-old daughter was recently conked in the head with a plastic toy. The conkER was an 18-month-old girl visiting our home with her parents.

More from The Stir: Manners Course for Toddlers Is Perfect for Insecure & Aspirational Parents (VIDEO)

As soon as it happened, both little girls started crying. The mother of the older girl immediately took her child aside for a time-out. She spoke softly to daughter about playing nicely, not hitting and being gentle, especially with younger children. Soon thereafter, the older girl approached our daughter and apologetically held out the toy as a peace offering. Both of us moms praised the older girl for being sweet. Tears were wiped and the incident was soon forgotten.

But it got me thinking.

What do we do when our children are bullied? Or if our children start to bully others?

Now, I recognize that this was not a true "bullying" incident. These little girls are babies, just now starting to learn how to interact

vaccination blockMaybe some people will think I'm living on the wild side, but my selectively vaccinated kids hang out with kids who have never been vaccinated. I'm not worried about any of us catching the plague. I happily invite the no vax kids into my home and I'm more than pleased when I get an invite to their house. I'm not the type to drop my jaw if my kid takes a sip of another kid's sippy unless of course that kid is foaming at the mouth and has eyes that look like rabies. And if someone we know comes down with some forsaken disease, we're not going to go roll around in their blankets. We'll simply wait the time for whatever they have to go away so we can resume our playdates. I'm not the Chicken Pox-lollipop sharing kind, but I'm also not going to judge you if you're into that. If you want our sick-laced candies, I'll share.

More from The Stir: Delayed Vaccination Schedules Are Just Asking for Trouble

Still, that 'wild side' I'm living on -- the one who mingles with the no vax --

labor and deliveryIn honor of Labor Day, we thought we're bringing you crazy labor stories. Labor stories that just might make you rethink having that baby.

Kidding.

Kind of.

More from The Stir: What Does a Contraction Feel Like?

Here are 7 crazy labor stories from our staff writers. Seriously, some of these ladies deserve a medal for what they've been through!

My Husband Almost Passed Out! -- Jeanne

lady gagaEver heard of a face-kini? Neither had I ... 'til a few days ago. It's basically a bikini, but for your face, and this mask is all the rage in coastal parts of China. Yup, definitely not making this up, folks. Though it seems a little silly, the 'kini cover-up is the Shandong province's answer to sunburn. Women wear it to keep away those hot rays. Clever.

More from The Stir: 6 Pairs of Shorts You Shouldn't Be Caught Dead In at Work

Buuutttt it's also pretty creepy. Ok, like really freakin' creepy. Don't get me wrong -- I'm all for proper sun protection -- but this? Too far. How would you recognize friends? Your child? And doesn't it get super HOT up under there?

My fellow Americans, we're victim to the weird accessory craze too. It's, like, home of the free, land of the silliest head gear. Our reigning leader? Lady Gaga.

The pop diva has taught us that we should always pair our fashion with some edge. Some serious over-the-top edge. Lady G has practically paved the

black blazerDon't you absolutely hate those days when you're rushing to try and get out the door on time, and you find yourself standing in your closet in full-blown panic mode because nothing seems to fit? (And if you haven't ever had one of those days, you might as well go out and celebrate, because you're in the minority.)

More from The Stir: 86-Year-Old Duchess Shocks by Rocking a Bikini at the Beach (PHOTO)

Let's face it, we all overindulge from time to time, and it's never fun when that extra serving of nachos or pitcher of margaritas shows up when we're in the middle of getting dressed. But carrying around a few extra pounds doesn't have to ruin your entire day, because most moms already have a few figure fixes right in our own closets that can instantly slim us down and disguise those pesky problem areas.

Whenever my jeans are looking way too tight in the butt, I often thrown on a fitted black blazer, similar to the one pictured from Old Navy, that covers at least half of

tentLabor Day weekend pretty much signals the official end of summer, and that's why it's so important to enjoy this upcoming three-day break savoring the warm temperatures and precious time having fun with our families.

More from The Stir: 10 Funny Mom Confessions About Vacationing With Kids

And while some of us are lucky enough to be taking a road trip (even though it's bumper-to-bumper hell) or jetting off for one last weekend getaway before fall arrives, you don't necessarily have to leave town in order to have a memorable weekend with your family.

Sometimes having a "staycation" is even more enjoyable than going away -- you know, because you don't have to deal with packing, keeping the kids entertained en route to wherever you're headed, and unpacking and doing laundry when you return home.

Here are five great ways to have the perfect Labor Day staycation.

1. Family scavenger hunt -- Create an adventure for your kids in your own backyard by setting up a fun

flowerWhen most of us think of a woman suffering from poor body image, we usually don't think of our vaginas being the target of those negative emotions. But a scary new trend shows a growing number of women feel like plastic surgery is the best way to feel better about their vajayjays that have been stretched by either aging and/or childbirth, and gynecologists, as you can imagine, are none too pleased by the fact that 2,140 women in the U.S. underwent "vaginal rejuvenation" last year.

More from The Stir: 5 Stars Who Need to Lay Off the Lip Injections (PHOTOS)

The docs are positive the procedure has been precipitated by women getting a good media brainwashing about how our ladyparts are supposed to look like a porn star's no matter what! Not to mention that unless we go under the knife, we likely won't be having "good enough" sex. Ugh. And one of the scariest parts is that these procedures can cause serious complications.

Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, who published an editorial in

hotel roomAre you one of those people who gets a little bit creeped out every time you check into a hotel room because you're paranoid about whether or not it's been cleaned properly? (I am. And my husband always laughs at me for it.) Because if you're not -- you probably should be. (Just think for a second about what people do behind closed doors!)

More from The Stir: 10 Great Big City Hotels Worth the Trip

According to a discussion on Reddit with former hotel staffers, the rooms are possibly way more disgusting than we initially thought. And some of the germiest and most gag-worthy spots in hotel rooms may not be exactly where you'd expect.

Warning -- if you are squeamish, you may not want to read any farther. (Or at least wait until you've fully digested your food before perusing this list.)

1. The remote control -- According to the Reddit hotel worker, the remote almost never gets cleaned. (Did you hear that? The remote NEVER gets cleaned. And considering what kinds of