Unable to have a baby of her own, Amy Kehoe became her own general contractor to manufacture one. For Ms. Kehoe and her husband, Scott, the idea seemed like their best hope after years of infertility.
Working mostly over the Internet, Ms. Kehoe handpicked the egg donor, a pre-med student at the University of Michigan. From the Web site of California Cryobank, she chose the anonymous sperm donor, an athletic man with a 4.0 high school grade-point average.
On another Web site, surromomsonline.com, Ms. Kehoe found a gestational carrier who would deliver her baby.
Finally, she hired the fertility clinic, IVF Michigan, which put together her creation last December.
“We paid for the egg, the sperm, the in vitro fertilization,” Ms. Kehoe said as she showed off baby pictures at her home near Grand Rapids, Mich. “They wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for us.”
On July 28, the Kehoes announced the arrival of twins, Ethan and Bridget, at University Hospital in Ann Arbor. Overjoyed, they took the babies home on Aug. 3 and prepared for a welcoming by their large extended family.
A month later, a police officer supervised as the Kehoes relinquished the swaddled infants in the driveway.
Bridget and Ethan are now in the custody of the surrogate who gave birth to them, Laschell Baker of Ypsilanti, Mich. Ms. Baker had obtained a court order to retrieve them after learning that Ms. Kehoe was being treated for mental illness.
Stephanie Saul, New York Times, December 12, 2009
Perfect Parent asks:
How does a scenario such as this advance?
"Well Mom, we think our best hope for giving you grandchildren is purchasing sacred (albeit microscopic) body parts over the internet from other humans and shipping them fed-ex to a laboratory where technicians will create embryos. Scott bought the neatest woman to carry them, god bless her! I have to tell ya Ma, sperm from an athlete and eggs from a pre-med will set you back a few."
"Oh Honey,that's just super. Let's have the gestational carrier shower at The Club, it's so much easier than the beach house."
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
When Your Best is not a Good Look
"For the last few years, ever since I passed out from exhaustion, broke my cheekbone and got five stitches over my eye, I've been working on bringing more balance to my life. To do this, I’ve had to learn to unplug and recharge. To trade multi-tasking for uni-tasking -- and, occasionally -- no-tasking. It’s left me healthier, happier, and more able to try to make a positive difference in the world." Arriana Huffington
Perfect Parent asks:
Ummmmmmmm, Ariana were there any red flags before this moment that might have helped you avoid these injuries? Though all working moms have stories of sleep deprived fender benders Ariana (once again) has bested us all. May I suggest getting to the point of passing out and breaking something only if what you are engaged in is super important. If say, you are on the very brink of curing an infectious disease or carrying a high level message of national security. Halloween costumes, wedding receptions, spelling tests, college applications, blogging!! or engaging in punditry just don't warrant the kind of dedication necessary to pass out cold and break something on your face!
By all means make a positive difference in the world moms but before laying crumpled in your twin-set, eyes rolling and head leaking, get some shut-eye.
Perfect Parent asks:
Ummmmmmmm, Ariana were there any red flags before this moment that might have helped you avoid these injuries? Though all working moms have stories of sleep deprived fender benders Ariana (once again) has bested us all. May I suggest getting to the point of passing out and breaking something only if what you are engaged in is super important. If say, you are on the very brink of curing an infectious disease or carrying a high level message of national security. Halloween costumes, wedding receptions, spelling tests, college applications, blogging!! or engaging in punditry just don't warrant the kind of dedication necessary to pass out cold and break something on your face!
By all means make a positive difference in the world moms but before laying crumpled in your twin-set, eyes rolling and head leaking, get some shut-eye.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
It's Never Too Early To Fail!
Kayla Rosenblum sat upright and poised as she breezed through the shapes and numbers, a leopard-patterned finger puppet resting next to her for moral support.
But then came something she had never seen before: a visual analogy showing a picture of a whole cake next to a slice of cake. What picture went with a loaf of bread in the same way?
Kayla, who will be 4 in December, held her tiny pointer finger still as she inspected the four choices. “Too hard,” she peeped.
Test preparation has long been a big business catering to students taking SATs and admissions exams for law, medical and other graduate schools. But the new clientele is quite a bit younger: 3- and 4-year-olds whose parents hope that a little assistance — costing upward of $1,000 for several sessions — will help them win coveted spots in the city’s gifted and talented public kindergarten classes.
Sharon Otterman, New York Times, November 20, 2009
Perfect Parent asks:
Really, the gifted and talented kindergarten classes? What a fun group of compassionate adults these children will grow up to be. Can you imagine the conversation at the "Gifted and Talented Class Potluck"?
But then came something she had never seen before: a visual analogy showing a picture of a whole cake next to a slice of cake. What picture went with a loaf of bread in the same way?
Kayla, who will be 4 in December, held her tiny pointer finger still as she inspected the four choices. “Too hard,” she peeped.
Test preparation has long been a big business catering to students taking SATs and admissions exams for law, medical and other graduate schools. But the new clientele is quite a bit younger: 3- and 4-year-olds whose parents hope that a little assistance — costing upward of $1,000 for several sessions — will help them win coveted spots in the city’s gifted and talented public kindergarten classes.
Sharon Otterman, New York Times, November 20, 2009
Perfect Parent asks:
Really, the gifted and talented kindergarten classes? What a fun group of compassionate adults these children will grow up to be. Can you imagine the conversation at the "Gifted and Talented Class Potluck"?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Don't Forget To Worry About This!
Toddlers Insensitive to Loud Noises go on to COMMIT CRIMES!
November 2009 by Ewen Callaway
Even at the tender age of 3, children who will go on to be convicted of a crime are less likely to learn to link fear with a certain noise than those who don't. This may mean that an insensitivity to fear could be a driving force behind criminal behaviour.
Adult criminals tend to be fearless, but whether this characteristic emerges before or after they commit a crime wasn't clear, says Adrian Raine, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
To find out, Raine and colleague Yu Gao turned to data from a 1970s study, collected as part of a decades-long project to understand the biological and environmental factors underlying mental illness.
Back then, researchers led by Raine's former research supervisor had measured the sweat response of about 1800 3-year-olds in Mauritius when they were exposed to two different sounds. One sound was always followed by a noisy blare, the other by nothing. The children learned to anticipate which sound preceded the blare, and sweated in response to it – an indicator of fear.
Decades later, Raine's own team looked to see if any of the subjects had criminal records and found 137 that did. The team discovered that, as toddlers, these people had sweated significantly less in anticipation of the blare compared with subjects of similar race, gender and background for whom no criminal record was found.
Perfect Parent asks:
OK what about the ability to ignore loud parental threats??????
November 2009 by Ewen Callaway
Even at the tender age of 3, children who will go on to be convicted of a crime are less likely to learn to link fear with a certain noise than those who don't. This may mean that an insensitivity to fear could be a driving force behind criminal behaviour.
Adult criminals tend to be fearless, but whether this characteristic emerges before or after they commit a crime wasn't clear, says Adrian Raine, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
To find out, Raine and colleague Yu Gao turned to data from a 1970s study, collected as part of a decades-long project to understand the biological and environmental factors underlying mental illness.
Back then, researchers led by Raine's former research supervisor had measured the sweat response of about 1800 3-year-olds in Mauritius when they were exposed to two different sounds. One sound was always followed by a noisy blare, the other by nothing. The children learned to anticipate which sound preceded the blare, and sweated in response to it – an indicator of fear.
Decades later, Raine's own team looked to see if any of the subjects had criminal records and found 137 that did. The team discovered that, as toddlers, these people had sweated significantly less in anticipation of the blare compared with subjects of similar race, gender and background for whom no criminal record was found.
Perfect Parent asks:
OK what about the ability to ignore loud parental threats??????
Don't Overparent
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (AP)-- An Alabama woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police say she let her daughter ride in a cardboard box on top of their van.
Albertville Police spokesman Sgt. Jamie Smith said the 37-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after police received a call about a minivan on a state highway with a child riding on top.
Smith said the woman told police the box was too big to go inside the van, and that her daughter was inside the box to hold it down.
Smith said the mother told officers it was safe because she had the box secured to the van with a clothes hanger.
The 13-year-old daughter wasn't harmed and was turned over to a relative. A jail worker said the mother was out on bond Monday.
Albertville Police spokesman Sgt. Jamie Smith said the 37-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after police received a call about a minivan on a state highway with a child riding on top.
Smith said the woman told police the box was too big to go inside the van, and that her daughter was inside the box to hold it down.
Smith said the mother told officers it was safe because she had the box secured to the van with a clothes hanger.
The 13-year-old daughter wasn't harmed and was turned over to a relative. A jail worker said the mother was out on bond Monday.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Free Range, Breast Fed Turkey
Invariably Perfect Parent's Thanksgiving holiday begins when someone sounds the "gratitude" warning! "This yoga/nia/spin class is all about gratitude." "Next week the children will write about those things they are grateful for."
Why do we do this?
Can we not assume that each of us will benefit or suffer according to our own measure of perspective?
Ironically my grateful group of contemporaries is increasingly foregoing more and more things to be grateful for such as dairy, meat, non kosher, gluten, white sugar, caffeine, caged or restricted animals, mercury, red dye, chocolate and of course,alcohol.It would be gratifying if at some point we stopped talking about our bewildering array of dietary accomplishments and returned to a simpler time when awkward dinner conversation consisted of old grudges and thinly veiled accusations.
Just thinking about feeding my family and friends makes me want to mark the holiday by suggesting a fast!
How about we show our gratitude by sitting together and eating what looks good, ignoring the rest and for god's sake if you can't be entertaining, be quiet!
Why do we do this?
Can we not assume that each of us will benefit or suffer according to our own measure of perspective?
Ironically my grateful group of contemporaries is increasingly foregoing more and more things to be grateful for such as dairy, meat, non kosher, gluten, white sugar, caffeine, caged or restricted animals, mercury, red dye, chocolate and of course,alcohol.It would be gratifying if at some point we stopped talking about our bewildering array of dietary accomplishments and returned to a simpler time when awkward dinner conversation consisted of old grudges and thinly veiled accusations.
Just thinking about feeding my family and friends makes me want to mark the holiday by suggesting a fast!
How about we show our gratitude by sitting together and eating what looks good, ignoring the rest and for god's sake if you can't be entertaining, be quiet!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Working Moms with Commonsense!
The ultimate stunt mom Sarah Palin sails through demanding interviews by SIMPLIFYING!
In answering about a dozen questions, Palin said some combination of "solutions," "conservative" and "commonsense" twenty-five times. Is this an interview or a drinking game? Was Rush rewarding her by tossing her fish?
Her excitement got the better of her when she said, "But those common sense solutions there." This was a shoehorn too far, as the correct form, in Hillbilly, is obviously "Those there commonsense solutions."
Having it all does not mean saying it all,....or anything at all for that matter.
In answering about a dozen questions, Palin said some combination of "solutions," "conservative" and "commonsense" twenty-five times. Is this an interview or a drinking game? Was Rush rewarding her by tossing her fish?
Her excitement got the better of her when she said, "But those common sense solutions there." This was a shoehorn too far, as the correct form, in Hillbilly, is obviously "Those there commonsense solutions."
Having it all does not mean saying it all,....or anything at all for that matter.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Bottle the Water in Arkansas!
Ten-year-old Will Phillips may have just become the new cause célèbre of the gay rights movement.
It all started when he refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance in a West Fork, Arkansas elementary school.
Speaking to CNN's John Roberts on Monday, Will said he remained seated four straight days while his classmates repeated the words, "with liberty and justice for all."
"I was analyzing the meanings of it, because I want to be a lawyer," he said. "... There isn't really liberty and justice for all. There's ... Gays and lesbians can't marry. There's still a lot of racism and sexism in the world. Yeah."
Eventually, the substitute teacher started giving Will "grief" over his refusal to repeat the words. "What did you say to that teacher?" Roberts asked.
"I eventually, very solemnly -- with a little bit of malice in my voice -- said, 'Mam, with all due respect, you can go jump off a bridge," Will explained.
Seated next to the boy, his father covered his face, smiling.
It all started when he refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance in a West Fork, Arkansas elementary school.
Speaking to CNN's John Roberts on Monday, Will said he remained seated four straight days while his classmates repeated the words, "with liberty and justice for all."
"I was analyzing the meanings of it, because I want to be a lawyer," he said. "... There isn't really liberty and justice for all. There's ... Gays and lesbians can't marry. There's still a lot of racism and sexism in the world. Yeah."
Eventually, the substitute teacher started giving Will "grief" over his refusal to repeat the words. "What did you say to that teacher?" Roberts asked.
"I eventually, very solemnly -- with a little bit of malice in my voice -- said, 'Mam, with all due respect, you can go jump off a bridge," Will explained.
Seated next to the boy, his father covered his face, smiling.
Pick Up Your Room!
A 71-year-old Albuquerque, New Mexico man says he fired a gun on his two adult sons after they refused to clean the stove.
On Monday evening, police say the father, Sammy Shannon, pulled a .38 revolver and fired at his sons after an argument about chores.
Shannon doesn't dispute that he fired the gun--he says it's his form of discipline.
The father says all he asked of his 22 and 29-year-old sons, who still live with their parents, was to do their chores.
"They didn't want to, so they got smart," Shannon said.
That's when things got physical.
"Both of them jumped on me, they knocked me down, got my arm all swolled up," he said.
A police report says the sons jumped Shannon after he hit one of them. Then the men pinned their father down until their mother ordered them to let him up.
Shannon says he then decided to use his own brand of discipline.
"I'll even it up--I went and got my gun," he said.
Shannon admits he fired his .38, but says he didn't aim it at his sons and would never actually shoot them.
Shannon's sons told police they didn't see where their father was shooting--they just started running when he started pointing the gun their way.
Shannon says his kids can still live with him, but they have to follow his rules.
"I can't feed you every day, every night, take you where you want to go, send you to college and just come here, lay up and play video games all day," he said.
Shannon is out on bond for now. He's being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On Monday evening, police say the father, Sammy Shannon, pulled a .38 revolver and fired at his sons after an argument about chores.
Shannon doesn't dispute that he fired the gun--he says it's his form of discipline.
The father says all he asked of his 22 and 29-year-old sons, who still live with their parents, was to do their chores.
"They didn't want to, so they got smart," Shannon said.
That's when things got physical.
"Both of them jumped on me, they knocked me down, got my arm all swolled up," he said.
A police report says the sons jumped Shannon after he hit one of them. Then the men pinned their father down until their mother ordered them to let him up.
Shannon says he then decided to use his own brand of discipline.
"I'll even it up--I went and got my gun," he said.
Shannon admits he fired his .38, but says he didn't aim it at his sons and would never actually shoot them.
Shannon's sons told police they didn't see where their father was shooting--they just started running when he started pointing the gun their way.
Shannon says his kids can still live with him, but they have to follow his rules.
"I can't feed you every day, every night, take you where you want to go, send you to college and just come here, lay up and play video games all day," he said.
Shannon is out on bond for now. He's being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
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