Parenting for Dummies: What Not to Do

Michael Chabon's essays on fatherhood, manhood paint him as quite a catch

(NEWSER) - Michael Chabon throws his voice into the widening pool of “daddy diaries” with Manhood for Amateurs, which offers “poignant meditations on manhood, fatherhood, and aspects of his own childhood.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning author emerges from the essays “as a prince among men,” writes Heller McAlpin for NPR. “Not only does he produce dazzling novels, he also cooks, cleans, markets, and gets his children to their appointments—and counts himself fortunate to be in a position to do so.” More»

(NEWSER) - Modern mothers spend more time with their children than those in the June Cleaver era, a new study concludes. Diaries compiled for the study show that, despite working more, today's moms spend less time on things like housework, leisure, and sleep to devote four more hours per week to interacting with their kids than moms did in 1965. More»

That makes men better parents, researchers believe

(NEWSER) - Who knew newborns could have such a significant physical impact on their dads' bodies? Scientists have discovered that fathers experience a significant reduction in their body's testosterone with the birth of a son or daughter. They believe it's Mother Nature's way of making men less interested in things like fighting and flirting, and more likely to be a nurturing parent and loyal spouse. Men with babies less than a month old showed the most significant reduction of testosterone, the study found. More»

...Norway, says index that considers maternity leave, mortality rates

(NEWSER) - Moms who want the good life should consider heading north. That's because Norway is the best place in the world to be a mother, according to new survey. Why? Norway has great health benefits, an average year-long maternity leave from work, and low child mortality rates, along with a high life expectancy for women (an average 83 years). Iceland and Australia also top the annual "Mother Index" compiled by the Save the Children organization. The US ranks 31st out of 164 countries because it has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among the richest nations, reports AP . More»

Amy Chua shocked by response to thoughts on parenting

(NEWSER) - Amy Chua is shocked by the furious response to excerpts from her book, Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother , recently printed in the Wall Street Journal. The author—who hails the hardline method of Chinese parenting in the excerpts—has received thousands of angry emails and even death threats, reports ABC News. The book, she stresses, "is a memoir, not a parenting book! I think there are many ways to raise great kids." More»