Do educators have a right to dictate what can and cannot be put in a child's school lunchbox? This is the issue I'm facing head-on at the moment and the only answer I keep coming up with is a resounding "NO!"

Laundry, cooking, carpooling...your days are filled to the brim with stuff you've got to get done. Doesn't it make sense to find shortcuts so you have time to do the things you want to do? Here are 8 smart ideas from Parents.

Language around our house can be salty. Don't get me wrong. It's not like we're the Osbournes and the f-bomb is dropped every other word, but there is the occasional curse-word muttering or exclamation.

Beautiful illustrations and inspiring words are the hallmarks of two new picture books about our nation's Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

These days are psychologically challenging for me. I know my reality is a very fortunate one, knock on wood. I have a strong marriage, a healthy son, and - perhaps the rarest in these tough economic times - a job.

In my fairly long breastfeeding career, I have been lucky enough that I was never, ever asked to cover up when feeding my children like others have. I don't even recall being looked at askance by anyone outside of my own family (another story, another time).

The buffet offers a variety of pizzas, with whole wheat crust, organic toppings and hormone-free cheese. The salad bar includes some greens and vegetables grown without pesticides in a nearby garden.

Recently, I was driving down a popular street and, as I sat at a red light, I noticed a little scene playing out on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. This tableau included a woman, a man and their son, who looked to be about 4 years old. I could not hear the dialogue, but the body language said it all.

Everybody's talking about money these days: House prices are going down; more families are facing foreclosure on their mortgages; gas prices, energy prices, and grocery bills are all going up - and uncertainty over when things will take a turn for the better is making everyone tighten their belts.

There are two kinds of aggressive in life.

Trying to make your kids' school routines a little more green? Start by ditching the paper sacks and plastic baggies. Instead, invest in an eco-friendly bento box, which features several compartments just right for fruits and veggies, cheese and crackers, salads or whatever noshes your kid likes to tote to school.

"As a girl, I was taught that voting is a gift. When our kids cast their ballots for our election day dinners, they know that their voices count." - Sarah Jebsen

It was a spectacular fall Sunday afternoon when I got a call from my daughter, who was sobbing and upset.

Moms Forum spotlights useful discussion taking place on the parenting forums of newspapers around the country.

Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets - or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter - because of risks for disease.