Topic: Family

Federal judge blocks Arkansas law banning abortions after 12 weeks

On Friday, a federal judge granted an injunction against a law that would have banned most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The judge said the law was likely unconstitutional.

Reader recommendation: Fatherhood

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.

'Someone Could Get Hurt': 5 stories from the front lines of parenting

In 'Someone Could Get Hurt,' Drew Magary shares stories from his time as a dad.

Muddah, faddah! Not everyone loved summer sleepaway camp

For some, summer camp played out much like Allan Sherman's 1963 hit, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh." It was awful. With nearly 9 million kids set to take off for their own summer sleepaway camp, what do those who loathed every minute have to say? 

Feds to boost child care center monitoring and employee background checks

The federal government will propose today an overhaul of federally funded child care centers in the United States. Their to-do list includes strengthening safety standards and getting states to inspect facilities unannounced.

A throne fit for the prince(ss) in your life: Potty training in style

It's not enough to sit your child on any plastic potty trainer these days. A whole industry has sprouted up with the belief, reinforced by consumers, that your child's bum deserves more, something that sings, simulates flushing, or is made of rich wood. 

What kind of an eater are you?

From locavores to femivores, to fast food junkies and punk domestics, here are 11 labels for every kind of person at the dinner table.

Five ways to improve Obama's pre-k plan

President Obama’s Preschool for All plan is well intentioned but includes features that are not justified by research and won’t help it pass in Congress. The plan must make the following five adjustments.

Saving Money It's family vacation time. Best deals to Florida, California, and more.

Modern Parenthood Moms are getting schooled: Record amount of mothers college educated, Pew says

A Pew Research Center study, out today, says a record amount of moms are college educated. The more educated the mother, the better off their child is going to be. 

'Peeples' is clunky, but star Craig Robinson is entertaining

'Peeples' is predictable, but Robinson keeps many of the movie's gags from collapsing.

Africa Monitor Why is Africa's healthcare so far behind the rest of the world?

As a continent, Africa won't achieve most of its health-related Millennium Development Goals. Cash and access continue to be major impediments to healthcare in the region.

Jacob, Sophia top last year's baby names; King and Messiah make biggest jump

Last year's most popular baby names, according to the Social Security Administration, were Jacob and Sophia. Arya, first name of a 'Game of Thrones' character, showed the largest increase for girl's names. 

To mothers everywhere

A Christian Science perspective: A Mother's Day message of love and comfort.

USA Update Death penalty for Ariel Castro? Official cites captives' miscarriages, 'torture'

Police reports say Ariel Castro forced miscarriages of one of three women he allegedly locked in a Cleveland house for about a decade. That may be grounds to seek death penalty, says an Ohio county prosecutor.

Wearable computers: Marty McFly, meet your jacket

Clothing will not just be embedded with devices, but actually will be devices, from belly band fetal monitors to shirts that charge your cell phone to dresses that release insecticide on command.

In Gear The six biggest driving distractions for parents behind the wheel

Child-care ranks high on a list of top driving distractions for parents behind the wheel, Read writes, but it wasn't number one.

Telecommuting: Why one worker prefers the office

Telecommuting and one worker's case against it: Preferring the office fizz.

Saving Money Prepaid cards: an alternative to a traditional bank account

Prepaid cards have improved over the past five years. Some now come with no fees and can replace a checking account or be used as an alternative to credit cards.

15 hidden meanings of popular food phrases

Discover the hidden meanings of some of your favorite food phrases. 

What My Mother Gave Me

Thirty women writers tell of the special gifts – everything from a scarf to a horse to a tourist cruise – that deepened appreciation for their mothers.

Mother's Day 2013: 10 best books

Mother's Day 2013: 10 best new books for all kinds of moms

Teen mom banned? Kaitlin Tiller's photo not allowed in yearbook (+video)

Kaitlin Tiller, the teen mom whose photo was banned from her school's yearbook, just wanted to have a photo of her in the yearbook with what she cherished most – her son. The teen mom banned from the yearbook told her local news station, "I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for him."

Modern Parenthood Surge in unwed mothers: Deep in the stats, it's not what you think

A surge in unwed mothers reported this week by the US Census causes a surge in snap judgements. But deep in the stats, the connection between marriage and parenting, it turns out, is a lot more complicated than the shocked pundits might have you believe.

'Midnight's Children' tells Salman Rushdie's story of a pair of Indian boys switched at birth

'Midnight's Children' sustains the magical tone of Rushdie's novel at first, but the plot eventually gets bogged down.