Blog Posts by Mira Jacob, Shine staff

Getty ImagesAccording to the New York Post, at least three city high school educators have been fired in the last three months for having inappropriate Facebook interactions with their students.

What's inappropriate? A Bronx high school teacher who wrote "this is sexy" under the pictures of teenage girls he had "friended," and also posted the gag-worthy tagline, "I'm not a gynecologist but I'll take a look inside" on his own profile. Then there's 30-year-old paraprofessional in Queens who posted a picture of herself kissing a former 18-year-old student who she started dating after he had graduated. Add to that a substitute teacher who sent messages complimenting certain girls on their looks and telling them their boyfriends did not deserve them and well, we've got some new-fangled boundary issues that school officials are struggling to keep up with.

The issue of teachers becoming Facebook friends with their students is a recurring hot topic on Shine, where the consensus from parents

Read More »from Facebook outs creepy teachers, and that's a good thing

Will somebody get this mama a Stache Guard?My son was up all night. Why is still a mystery to me, as usually that kid sleeps a solid eleven hours without switching positions, but last night, perhaps sensing that I needed to be extra alert to celebrate his birthday, he decided to howl every half an hour until 5 a.m. As a result, I had some not-that-smart thoughts as I was walking home from dropping him off at day care. For example: I wish I could walk and sleep at the same time.

No, really. I mean, I walk a lot. I don't sleep nearly enough. What if I could just take the nap on my way home? Why hasn't anyone invented something for that?

Queue full on sleep-deprivation brainstorm, and the 6 things that would make my experience of motherhood a whole lot easier:

1. The Naperciser-Robot that moves my limbs AND knows how to cross the street safely, making it possible for me to jog home while I snooze.
2. The English Speaker-Tiny button behind my left ear that, when squeezed, says totally nice, coherent, and

Read More »from 6 mom-friendly inventions we'd like to see

A few things that come to mind after viewing this video of a Happy Meal left out in the open for 6 months by New Yorker Sally Davies:

1) Day 5: What?
2) I mean, you know, I've heard that story about a Twinkie lasting forever. I've heard tale of what happens when you put a penny in a can of Coke. I'm no urban myth virgin.
3) Day 17: WHAT?
4) Okay, seriously, is there a picture of a Happy Meal rotting away in Ronald McDonald's attic?
5) Day 180: WHAT!!!
6) I'm never getting near one of these things again. Unless, of course, someone comes out with a Happy Meal face cream. In which case, sign me up yesterday.

Xiao Hao is too big and a danger to others, authorities say. While it's unclear whether or not his enormous size is due to a medical condition or indulgent parents, a Chinese toddler has been banned from several nursery schools because his size makes him a danger to other kids. The Sun reports that at 10-stone/ 140 pounds, Xiao Hao is nearly five times the weight of most of his classmates, making him a liability.

"He means no harm he is just big and likes to play," his mother, Xiao Lin, tells The Sun, a quote which, along with the accompanying picture of what looks like a sweet natured kid who is literally too large to move, breaks our hearts.

While the Daily Mail reports that the toddler has now found at least one nursery to accept him in Guangzhou, southern China, the larger issue (no horrible pun intended) still remains: How did Xiao Hao get to this size, and what can be done about it now? Apparently his mother is begging doctors in China to help, and for good reason.

"He cannot remain like this or his heart will never stand

Read More »from 140-pound three-year-old is a “health hazard” to classmates

I think I explained before how totally blown away we were by the responses to our Shine Parenting Gurus program. In case you missed it, we were humbled, and honored, and yes, occasionally even teary. Truthfully, these little snippets of your lives were so intimate and lovely that choosing a handful for the program was nearly impossible. Nevertheless, we prevailed, and we are thrilled beyond belief to announce our new Shine Parenting Gurus!

With traditions ranging from making a special meal for a large family, to walking a stepdaughter through a corn maze, to helping foster kids understand a loving family dynamic, the 20+ winning posts told us something essential and beautiful about family life and about how we, as parents, grow and change with our kids.

Winners have been notified through a note from me at the bottom of their original blog post, as well as personal emails (whatever you created your Yahoo profile with) so be sure to check yours! If for some reason you've been

Read More »from The Winning Shine Parenting Gurus!

Tiny tween costume, reporting for duty! You know when the grown up you suddenly reckons with the teenage you, and has to wonder about the line between good parenting and total hypocrisy? Well, queue up this morning's telephone call.

As we discussing all things Halloween, and the horror of seeing so many sexy outfits targeting young girls, one Shine editor had a distinct memory of dressing up as a sexy devil during the puberty years. While she wondered aloud what her mother was thinking, she also owned up to the honest thrill of that getup, of having a moment where she could be a fantasy instead of a gawky girl in braces.

I don't think she was alone in wearing a semi-sexy costume back then, and I know she's not alone now, when costumes for girl's range from slightly racy to holy-moly-someone-get-my-kid-out-of-that-stripper-gear. I also remember getting that exact same thrill out of a costume when I was 13. Given, I was Sid Vicious and not a sexy devil, but something got lost in the translation of that particular

Read More »from Have you ever let your daughter wear a “sexy” costume on Halloween?

You know when you can't stop snorting over something? That's the way it's been with me and this video, which manages hit on almost every point of contention between modern moms in just three minutes. From breastfeeding, to co-sleeping, to raising kids that are CHAMPIONS OF EVERYTHING, it shows just how competitive "mompetitors" can be. The good news? It shows me exactly what I don't want to become, ever. Then again, it also makes me want say "I think a baby seal just died" in robot voice as many times as possible.

*Warning--video contains a curse word. If you are easily offended by that sort of thing, don't watch it.

For more info, go to: http://mompetition.blogspot.com

Read More »from Why can't I make any mom friends? Because I'm too busy laughing at this video

Image courtesy of the New York TimesFans of Nickelodeon's hit show "iCarly" are requesting spaghetti tacos for dinner, and parents everywhere are making them, as evidenced by countless internet recipes and even a dedicated Facebook page, the New York Times reports.

"It was just a little joke I came up with for one episode. Then it turned into a running joke. And now it's this thing people actually do," Dan Schneider, the creator of "iCarly" who unwittingly launched the phenomenon when he featured the dish on several episodes, told the Times.

While he's not the only grown-up surprised about what defines "haute cuisine" for the under-12 set, it seems parents are excited about the trend for another reason: It's making mealtime go down easier.

"It's a great thing to make, especially when you're having the food battles at home. It's a fun way to get them excited about eating," Houston mom Cammie Ward Moise told the Times.

While puzzling to those of us who were raised to eat whatever was on our plate, regardless

Read More »from Spaghetti taco night, anyone?