For better or worse, parents are a child's first and most influential teacher of life. It was a job that professor Randy Pausch took seriously.

Dr. Pausch's participation in the "Last Lecture" series at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007 was more than a life changing event for people all over the world, it was a message to his young children on how (and that they could, most definitely!) achieve their dreams.

The hour-long lecture had a bittersweet poignancy because, unlike other speakers who imparted wisdom based on a hypothetical last lecture, Pausch had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Rather than bemoan the fact or feel sorry for himself, ("We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.") the husband and father of three inspired millions (the Youtube version alone has been viewed nearly 4 million times) to live their lives to the fullest.

Wall Street Journal columnist, Jeffery Zaslow was in attendance for Pausch's lecture and the two worked together to share Pausch's thoughts in written form. Pausch was committed to spending every moment he could with his family, but used his hour alone while biking (exercise was crucial to maintaining his health) to speak to Zaslow via cellphone headset, which is how the bestselling The Last Lecture book came to be.

Through the book, and his numerous lectures and television appearances, Randy Pausch gave everyone a blueprint on how to make the most out of life ("Earnest is better than hip") and how face death with dignity.

Randy Pausch died yesterday at the age of 47. He is survived by his wife Jai,and their children Dylan, 6, Logan, 3, and Chloe, 2.

"I want the kids to know what I've always believed in," Pausch had told Zaslow in May, "and all the ways in which I've come to love them."

I don't think Dr. Pausch could have done a better job of letting them know.

Source

Good news for the manicure deprived mothers of the world! According to the New York Times, chipped nail polish is no longer evidence that you've just given up and let yourself go.

Instead, beat up nail color now says "I don't want to be too perfect" which is a message most mothers are able to convey quite convincingly without assistance, thanks to being forced to function on only 24 total minutes of sleep night after night after night.

Of course, fashion is never easy or everyone would be considered fabulous. The caveat with chipped nails is that they are only considered cutting edge when accenting an expensive handbag, designer outfit, and worn by someone clad in Sex and the City-esque shoes. Bearing beat up nails when wearing a stained t-shirt and yoga pants that haven't been washed in a week with a shrieking baby slung over your shoulder may not have the same artistic wallop noted by the NY Times, but it's a chance I'm willing to take until I have time for a touch up.

Source

It's not uncommon for celebrities to keep track of where and when they've worn their fabulous outfits lest they bore their fans (or the paparazzi) with wardrobe reruns. However, hearing that the infant offspring of a celebrity never wears clothing more than one time is a bit....unusual.

According to the Sun, famous diva/singer/actress Jennifer Lopez never reuses her infant twins clothing, keeping everything new and fresh for..... the household staff, non-nannies, and her husband Marc Anthony.

Whether it's due to extravagance, a pre-emptive measure to keep her kids from becoming too attached to a certain outfit, or a fear of germs, I think that J Lo is shortchanging herself by not allowing memories to form around any piece of clothing. Just seeing the few kid clothing items I've set aside takes me back a time when a my boys had chubby cheeks, were entranced by every ant on the sidewalk and cloud in the sky and wore bib overalls on a daily basis.

On the other hand, can you even imagine how awesome of thrift bonanza it will be when she decides to unload these items?!

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Source

Nothing turns an ordinary gathering into a celebration like cake (with the notable exception of booze, but that's not a good idea for kids) and there's no reason the frosted fun needs to be saved for just birthdays and weddings.

Baking and decorating a cake is a great activity kids of all ages can assist with and can transform an ordinary afternoon spent in the sprinklers with neighborhood kids into a memorable event. A little internet sleuthing turned up several fun possibilities for you to recreate at home.

No doubt about it, attempting a trip that involves children cooped up inside a vehicle is a challenge.

A road trip without tantrums or losing feeling in your arm from handing back treats and toys non-stop is nearly impossible for most moms to imagine, but life on the road sans small fry has been the reality all week for a select group of mommy bloggers.

Four members of the Silicon Valley Mom Groups living across the country from each otherr will be meeting up as they drive coast-to-coast to their final destination, the BlogHer conference in San Francisco. Corporate sponsors have donated the vehicle as well as cutting-edge technology (wireless internet IN THE CAR!) that enables the woman to keep readers of their blog updated on their adventures as well as to organize last minute meet ups with bloggers in the area they are stopping.

In addition to attracting lots of media attention, the women are also using their time in the spotlight to raise money for a worthwhile cause. Flashes of Hope is an organization that travels to hospitals to take lovely, professional portraits of children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses and their families, free of charge.

We're often inundated by stories of the dark side of the internet, but the good that can come from this medium should be noted as well. Safe travels and remember to stop and stretch, ladies!

Source

The drug Heparin is in the headlines because once again, tiny babies were mistakenly given too much of the anticoagulant used to prevent intravenous blood clots and keep IV lines clear.

This time the overdose isn't being blamed on the company's bad labeling, however. The mistake in this case is co completely due to human error. Hospital pharmacists in a Texas hospital mixed up too strong a dose of Heparin which resulted in seventeen babies being given 100x's the recommended dosage for their size. Two premature siblings have died, but it is not yet known if their deaths were Heparin-related or due to other factors.

Just a couple months ago, actor Dennis Quaid testified before a House committee about the agony his family went through when his newborn twins were given a Heparin overdose. The experience spurred Quaid and his wife to start The Quaid Foundation in order to bring attention to the devastation human error can have in a hospital setting. The site contains a link for people to sign an online petition for the Health Care Quality Improvement Act, that would allow Physicians and nurses to whistle blow without being fired or given penalties for reporting potentially dangerous practices within their work environment.

While it's too late to help the babies in this latest incident, it seems pretty clear that the medical community needs more effective safeguards to protect patients, especially the tiniest ones.

Source

Watch out, Brad and Angelina: a Finnish study shows that parents of twins are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, sleeping difficulties, depression, and social dysfunction than parents of single babies.

Other than simply pointing out the obvious (twice as many babies = twice as much work required on half as much sleep), researchers say that both parents and doctors should be aware the emotional toll twins can take on a person's mental health, especially now, as twin births continue to rise due to fertility treatments.

Any new parent feeling overwhelmed shouldn't hesitate to ask for help or seek medical assistance if parenting duties feel beyond overwhelming and that goes double for parents of twins.

Source