ESPN versus Sports Illustrated:Everybody loses

I like sports.

I enjoy reading Sports Illustrated .

But I do not subscribe to the magazine.

Why?

One simple reason: their Swimsuit Edition. Or rather, their lack of Swimsuits Edition.

I still haven't figured out how women wearing the suggestion of beachwear constitutes a sport of any kind, but that is beside the point.

As a writer and speaker who addresses the problem of pornography, I object to SI's Swimsuit Edition. I often highlight it as a boy's easy opportunity to get tripped up by a glimpse of scantily clad women. Boys don't have to go looking for SI--it's waiting for them in the aisles of Wal-Mart and Target--pick a store, any store!

Looks like ESPN The Magazine is considering competing with SI's Swimsuit Edition. ESPN is thinking about publishing a "Body Issue" that features male and female athletes with no clothes on, according to a report here.

Here's a quote from the magazine's editor-in-chief Gary Belsky:

"We're toying with the idea of making it a no-clothes issue," Belsky says from his office in Manhattan. But first, he says, he and his staff will have to figure out how to "use equipment and pads and bats and goalposts and soccer nets and pucks and helmets to obscure body parts that we still can't quite go to in a magazine that's part of a company owned by (Disney)."

I found out about the possible ESPN no-clothes issue because my friend, Scoti, e-mailed me an open letter posted posted to the magazine. Read it here.
You'll be glad you did.

Hearts at Home blog--a great place for moms!

One of the things I love about blogging is the exchange of ideas that takes place; after all, what mom can't use a new idea every now and then!



If you are interested in a blog that brings a group of mommy bloggers all to one place, stop by and visit the Hearts at Home blog.



Hearts at Home's contributing bloggers write about motherhood, each with a unique perspective, reflecting on the spiritual, emotional and downright funny aspects of motherhood. Their group of bloggers range from professional speakers to authors to stay-at-home moms, all who share a passion for the profession of motherhood.



The Hearts at Home blog covers a variety of topics, such as practical mom tips, recipes, book reviews, and advice for tackling tough mommy issues.



Take a peek at this great resource and connect with real moms sharing real stories today!

To read one of my recent posts on the Hearts at Home blog, go here.

News of Interest for Moms July 20, 2009

News to know:

Exposure to common pollutant in womb might lower IQ
A new study suggests high prenatal exposure to a common airborne pollutant, such as automobile exhuast, may lower children's IQ scores by the time they are 5 years old.

The study concurs with previous findings involving pollutants, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Other research indicated that exposure to PAHs while still in the womb may cause lung damage and boost the risk for developing childhood asthma.

Teens risk health with night texting, talking
Too much technology can actually be detrimental to teens' health, according to a specialist in sleep disorders.

Teenagers have access to their friends 24 hours a day, thanks to cell phones and social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. This can lead to a lack of sleep, which can cause numerous problems for teens, including:
~headaches
~impaired concentration
~weakened immune systems
~crankiness
~increased use of nicotine or caffeine
~hyperactive behavior often misconstrued as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Half of all bathtub injuries involve toddlers
120 kids a day in the U.S. ended up in hospital emergency rooms because of slips or falls in bathtubs, according to a recent study.

Emergency rooms treat an average of more than 43,000 kids annually for these types of injuries, according to the study, which will be published in the August issue of Pediatrics. Children 4 years old and younger accounted for more than half of all bathtub and shower related injuries--and in most cases, parents were watching their kids.

World's Oldest Mom dies, leaving behind twin sons

Maria del Carmen Bousada lived--and died--a woman of controversy.

The Spanish-born Bousada became the world's oldest mom when she gave birth to twin boys, Pau and Christian, when she was 66 years old. She reportedly died last Saturday, after having been diagnosed with a tumor shortly after her sons were born in 2006.

Bousada believed she had a good chance of living long enough to raise her sons because her mother lived to be 101 years old.

Her decision to pursue in vitro fertilization in her late sixties was criticized by people around the world. Criticism increased when it was reported she lied to the fertility clinic providing her treatment, telling her medical providers she was 55 years old.

Controversy rages once again as people discuss what will happen to her almost three-year-old sons. News reports say the boys are staying with a nephew of Bousada and his wife.

Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

I picked Christa up from spending the night at a friend's house.

"So, we watched 'Jonas Brothers Concert Experience,'" she said.

"And there was this funny scene where the guys were changing their clothes backstage," she said. "The cameraman was there and he kept filming, even when Joe took off his shirt."

I keep driving--and listening.

"And then Joe started unbuckling his belt, like he was going to take his pants off."

Now I am really listening.

"But Joe notices the camera and throws a jacket over it."

I let Christa know that I didn't think that behind-the-stage scene was all that funny. I didn't think it was appropriate at all for her to be watching older boys get undressed.

I mulled over that information for a couple of hours before picking up the conversation again with Christa again. How do you talk about suggestive movie scenes to an 8 1/2 year old girl?

I started with the basics.

I reminded Christa that we've talked about modesty and privacy--that her body is her body. That no one is allowed to look at her body or touch her body. The only exception to that would be our family doctor--and I am there with her during the exam.

I also reminded her of our recent talk--The Talk. (That's another blog post.)

I remind her how her body will be changing, making it even more important that she understand the importance of modesty and privacy--both hers and others.

During all this, I got lots of head nods and "hhm-hhms" from Christa.

Then I finished up by saying, "You are 8 years old. Some of the shows you like to watch are starting to get into boy-girl stuff. That's why I don't let you watch them anymore. You don't need to be worrying about that now."

Another head nod.

"Even when you are old enough to be interested in boys, your dad and I are going to encourage you not to park your brain on boys. And we are going to help you be careful how you act around boys and how you act with boys."

Enough said.

I've found with kids of all ages, the less said, the better.

A Whole Other Kind of Summer Vacation

Summer isn't going according to "The Plan."

If it was, I'd be happily doing laundry--yes, happily!--and packing suitcases for a trip to Oregon. But the flight on Saturday will leave without me, my husband and our caboose kiddo.

"The Plan" was foiled when my husband Rob slipped on a wet boulder during a family hike two weeks ago. Up until that moment, we'd enjoyed a picture-perfect Colorado day with our three daughters.

When he fell, Rob landed on his left knee--and broke his knee cap in half. I'm not the medical one in the family, but even I know when your knee has a crater in the middle and two high peaks on either side that something is seriously wrong!

I could tell you about how my daughters ran back down the mountain in record time to get help for their dad--but I won't. I could also tell you how Rob splinted his leg with two tree branches, bandanas and parachute cord and walked back down the mountain--meeting the rescue teams halfway down. But I won't, even though it is quite a story!



I'm mulling over how quickly plans can change. Life is all about helping Rob heal right now. We had to forego a 4th of July camping trip--but that's what you do when a family member is down--literally confined to the couch or bed. And we had to give up a week at a beach house in Oregon with some wonderful friends. Yep, that hurts. But, it's reality right now. It's what needs to be done because it's what is best for my husband.

Christa is watching all this. Not only is she watching all of it, she's right in the midst of it! She was one scared little girl when she realized her daddy was badly hurt. But when her big sisters, Katie Beth and Amy, told her they needed to run back down the mountain to get him help, she ran.

At one point as they ran through the mountain stream, they told Christa, "You are a little mountain goat!"

She looked at them and asked, "Is that good?"

They laughinlgy assured her it was a very good thing.

Christa knows how to help Rob lift his leg up onto a chair or stool--because he can't do that for himself. She brings him the paper or a book or a cup of water when he asks. When we run errands, Rob sits in the backseat, his leg stretched out, his foot resting in Christa's lap.

It's all part of being a family.

Sure, our plans for the summer have been upended. But I'm thinking Christa is learning some valuable lessons like kindness. And compassion. And being a servant.

I hope she remembers those values long after summer fades.

News of Interest to Moms July 6, 2009

News to know:

Autism may be linked to mom's autoimmune disease

Mothers who have autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease increases their children's risk of having autism, according to a new study.

The study is the first to find a link between autism and celiac disease. People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. The report is published in the July 6 online edition of Pediatrics.


Researches said the study reinforces the association between autism and a mother's autoimmune disease. But, they added the increased risk that autoimmune diseases contribute to autism is not huge.


Kids of parents who value exercise are more active

Both boys and girls are more likely to join a sports team or be active if their parents like team sports, according to a study in the July issue of Health Psychology.

Researchers found children of parents who valued high-intensity team sports watched less TV, spent less time on their computers, and were more active than other children.

The study involved 681 parents and 433 fourth- and fifth-grade students at 12 schools in Houston.

Happy Fourth of July!

photo by widgetbrok/StockXchng





May you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend, enjoying the celebration with friends and family! God bless America!