Stoopid moms! Two moms, grown women, got into a brawl at a Chuck E Cheeses restaurant. Why? One mom was upset that the other woman’s child was “hogging a game”. Numerous 911 calls to the police were made, and both women are being charged with simple assault and battery. The children were 9 years old, old enough to be totally mortified at their mom’s behavior. Way to go, moms! ..not!

Mommy fatigue causes memory loss. Mommy is sometimes a scatterbrain. At least I am. I am especially horrible with people’s last name - especially at work where I am constantly scanning the phone list to prompt my memory. But, amazingly enough I can usually remember where every single miscellaneous item is in my house for whenever my kids (and husband) whine “moooommm… where is the (fill in the blank)?”

Sleep deprivation, hormone changes and stress can reduce memory. Did you know that a mom loses between 450-700 hours of sleep in baby’s first year alone? I was a walking zombie as well. And I feel for my friends who have older “non-sleepers” that can go on even for a few years. On the positive side, a mother tends to have increased awareness for the health and safety of their child. Some serious nurturing kicks in. So don’t fret if you put that gallon of ice cream in the fridge instead of the freezer… you will still be a great parent to your precious children!

Dying to know if hubby will go bald? Well, a new DNA test is available and for $150, a guy can swab his cheek and send it away for analysis. In return, it will give you decent odds to consider. The big question is, what to do if it does happen? Personally, I prefer a nice sexy shave like Chris Daughtry. What I don’t get is all the guys who are seriously losing it and grow what is left into a looong ponytail hanging down their back. I guess that is our generations answer to the comb-over.

TTC? Get off the phone! Studies at the Cleveland Clinic’s infertility area have shown that men who spend a lot of time talking on cell phones are killing their swimmers. The more time on the phone, the lower the sperm count. Men who speak in the phone for more than four hours per day had the lowest counts of all. In case you are wondering, there is no correlation to the theory that cell phone usage kills brain cells. Although, us gals know that a lot of mens brain cells do tend to be *ahem* down near their swimmers, so maybe there in fact is… if you know what I mean!

disclaimer for those who don’t know me… even thought I posted some pics of my kiddos earlier this week, I chose this random pic of a hawt guy over my hubby today. Sorry, dear.

Kids will risk it all? Children these days are more frequently using steroids to increase their athletic performance. And of children surveyed, 60% said that seeing pro athletes encouraged them to start using. Eighty-five precent of users of users thought they would help them “reach their athletic dreams”. And, most disturbingly, they are willing to risk their current and future health to optimise their physical performance now. As the mom of an eleven year old athletic boy, I find all of this very disturbing and you can bet I am going to keep a close eye on my children. No steroids in this family!

I resiliency gene? Scientists, in trying to find out why some children recover well from childhood abuse while others have depression and other issues later in life, are linking this to a resiliency gene. Is the cause for depression nature or nurture - or a combination of both? Doctors now are able to pinpoint these things even better and have come up with this:

The new study focuses on the brain’s CRH1 receptor, which responds to corticotropin-releasing hormone, a chemical that controls the fight-or-flight response. “There are all kinds of reasons to think the CRH receptor could be important for the biology of depression,” says Insel. The amygdala, the brain region associated with fear and other intense emotions, is loaded with CRH receptors. Levels of the hormone seem to get set, like a thermostat, in infancy and childhood. “Early activation of the receptors could change the way they work and how sensitive they are,” says Insel. “They have these imprinting effects where you often see very long-term consequences.”

Of course, if children weren’t abused in the first place they would not need to use this… sometimes I really do not understand the evil in mankind.

Baby shampoo caution. Studies show that those baby shampoos, lotions and powders contain phthalates. This is found in many products, including cosmetics, toys, vinyl floors - they stabilize fragrances and make plastic flexible. But, they also can cause reproductive problems (and early puberty for girls).

Concerned parents can look to purchase products that are specifically labeled “phthalate free”, however, beware - this is one chemical that is not required to be mentioned on the label. So even if you don’t see it on the ingredients list, it could still be there.

Be careful with those sippy cups! Especially in the summertime. Heat can cause the plastic to release a dangerous chemical, bisphenol A. Bisphenol A is also known as “environmental estrogen” and is like sex hormones. It is relatively safe when the liquid is cold or room temperature, but when heated over 50 times more of this chemical is released. So mom can find herself facing the dilemma of sippy cups v. breakable glasses.

And you know, today I am beginning to wonder if anything is safe anymore…

The impacts of famine on unborn children. Studies show that pregnant women who lived in famine their first trimester give birth to children with an increased chance of addiction as they grow up. Addiction is related to the brain’s “reward system” and this new conclusion shows that the brain’s reward system is formed very early on.

Children born from malnourished mothers also have increased risk of having other psychiatric disorders, like schizophrenia, as well as obesity, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. You probably shouldn’t worry as doctors caution that these results will probably not be the same as those in developed countries (you and me). My main reason for posting this is to increase awareness of what people in most of the rest of the world are facing. Quite “Angelina Jolie” of me, eh?

The smaller the baby the sadder the adult? Researchers in Britain and Canada have released studies that show that lower weight infants have a higher risk of depression as adults. It was found that “…even people who had just mild or moderate symptoms of depression or anxiety over their life course were smaller babies than those who had better mental health.”

“Being born small isn’t necessarily a problem. It is a problem if you were born small because of adverse conditions in the womb — and low birth weight is what we looked at in this study because it is considered a marker of stress in the womb.”

Low birth weight has also been linked to diabetes and heart disease later in life.

Could anorexia be genetic? Studies on twins appear to show that male twins with a female sibling are twice more likely to become anorexic, possibly because of the exposure to female hormones in the womb. Researchers are hopeful to understand more about this so that they can work towards preventing this in the future.

“The one thing we are certain of is that there is a genetic disposition to anorexia, but at the same time this is not enough,” said Procopio, pointing out that if the eating disorder was due to genes alone, an identical twin of an anorexia patient would also have the disease, but this isn’t the case.

A magical fertility chair? Childless couples from all over are travelling to Naples, Italy where there is a church that is claiming to have a “magical chair” that will help fertility. It is the shrine of Saint Anna Maria Rosa Nicoletta Gallo, the first woman saint born in Naples over 200 years ago.

No one can explain why she helps fertility. Writings indicate that she carried the “stigmata” or wounds of Jesus. Whips on display are grim reminders of her “voluntary penance.” Buy hey, there are surely those who are trying to conceive who think “what can it hurt to give it a try…”

Smoking and postpartum depression: The urge to push followed by the urge to light up? You might be depressed, researchers say. Smoking and depression often go hand-in-hand for new mothers. Studies found a major postpartum depressive episode was 46% higher among smokers, and the prevalence of smoking was 33% higher in those who had depression.

Retro toys are better: Temple University researchers say that old-fashioned simple toys such as building blocks and rubber balls are better than their new-fangled electronic counterparts. Unlike electronic toys which direct play, these toys allow children to use their imagination and problem solve.

A day of doubles: A LaCrosse, Wisconsin OBGYN delivered four sets of twins during a 24-hour call shift over the Thanksgiving weekend. Dr. Kenneth Merkitch said he doesn’t believe he’d even delivered two sets of twins on a single call shift prior to this event. Merkitch also delivered one singleton that day, making for a total of 9 deliveries in 24 hours.

Time to buy the kiddos holiday gifts: Cyber Monday is upon us! Shop.org said that 72% of online retailers are planning a special promotion today. Participating retailers include Target, Apple Store, and eToys.

Or not: University of Minnesota researchers have found an inverse relationship between materialism and self-esteem. “When self-esteem drops as children enter adolescence, materialism peaks. Then by late adolescence, when self-esteem rebounds, their materialism drops.” Researchers suggest that encouraging a sense of self-worth among young people can reduce an emphasis on material goods.

Need to catch a villain? Find a baby: six-month-old babies were found to be able to determine who’s naughty and nice. Researchers demonstrated play where some shapes were assigned either helpful or harmful characteristics; babies later preferred to play with those shapes appearing to be friendly.

Yet another reason not to light up: A biological explanation has been found to demonstrate why a mother smoking before and after pregnancy might reduce her daughter’s fertility by as much as two-thirds.