Daughters Are Great, But ...

(NEWSER) - Many Asian American parents' strong bias for sons is beginning to emerge in US birth statistics, reports the New York Times. Chinese, Korean and Indian immigrant families are more likely to abort female embryos and use in-vitro fertilization to have a treasured boy, particularly after the first or second daughter, say experts. No similar basis was detected among Japanese American families in census figures. More»

Toronto couple hopes to avoid society's stereotypes

(NEWSER) - A Toronto couple is taking their beliefs about parenting and gender stereotypes to new heights: They refuse to tell people the gender of 4-month-old Storm, reports the Toronto Star . Even the kid's grandparents are in the dark. “In fact, in not telling the gender of my precious baby, I am saying to the world, ‘Please can you just let Storm discover for him/herself what s(he) wants to be?!” writes mom Kathy Witterick. The decision has generated a storm of criticism, especially after the Star story appeared, most of which can be boiled down to the assertion that Witterick and husband David Stocker are going to seriously mess up their kid because of misguided beliefs. More»

(NEWSER) - It's too late for the decision to limit the size of her family, but the octuplets mom has sworn off sex for 18 years, she tells the Sun. "I cannot maintain a social life and be a mother," said single mom Nadya Suleman, 33. "To even take one percent of every night and devote it to someone else would be wrong. I have to wait for that until my youngest has left school." The once-married mom says she hasn't had sex for eight years. More»

She may be ridiculous, but her life will be tough enough without ridicule

(NEWSER) - When the McCaughey septuplets were born in 1997, the president called to congratulate the parents, who scored a free car, a free house, and free Pampers for life. When Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets, she scored national revulsion, ridicule, and death threats. Nancy Gibbs tries to understand why in Time. Suleman’s case reveals how “personally judgmental we are about decisions that are, under any normal circumstances, none of our business,” she writes. More»

Firms go ga-ga over not losing mom for months

(NEWSER) - Every day can be bring-your-child-to-work day, the New York Times reports, as more companies are allowing parents to bring their babies into the office. The move helps moms and dads dodge the financial hit of parental leave while simultaneously spending time with their kids. “I have not heard anyone react other than enthusiastically,” says one mom and CEO, who puts in 12-hour days with her two kids next-door. More»