Dance, Billy, Dance!!!!
 

to your credit.

appropriateness?
 

I think my five-year-old liked being asked to sign something - it seemed important. Though I must say the kindergartners were asked only to sign code of conduct type things, which were easily enough explained. I still think it's a bit much.

Newsflash
 

Indeed. It's only a matter of time before the suit for emancipation gets filed.

Madonna Adoption
 

Is anyone familiar with the legal aspects of the Ritchie/ adoption effort? I know there are tons of arguments going on but I haven't seen much about the legal aspects. I assume the couple weren't going to go through British law via Ritchie to adopt the child (UK law is tough for international adoptions) and that Madonna is going to do it in the U.S. (She recently said she was going to California to "complete" the process).

It would be great if there is an immigration lawyer on this board. Because I just don't see how the adoption could be processed under U.S. law. Usually the adoptive parents get a homestudy and file for permission with the U.S. government to adopt internationally before they do it. But even if they wait until after..... to complete the adoption for U.S. purposes, they have to get a visa for the child. To do that, they must petition the US government for a determination that the child fits the definition of "orphan". That's a complicated definition and although it recognizes "relinquishment" by a birth parent, it seems there is a decent chance the U.S. government could deny the visa. Tons of reasons - the father didn't relinquish parental rights when he placed the child in the orphanage temporarily, he only relinquished when he was solicited to do so for an adoption (highly unusual), the father's recent statements that he didn't know the papers he signed meant he was severing his parental rights completely, the level of information he was told about the adoptive parents and his inability to read and write. At best, the US would be conducting long investigations. This happens sometimes with Viet Nam adoptions to make sure the relinquishment was proper (China mostly has abandoned infants that can't be investigated).

If the child is denied a visa because he doesn't fit the definition of orphan, I don't think the Ritchies could live in the U.S. with him (I don't know if they can bring him into the U.S. periodically under other grounds. ? ) Yet, I don't think they can live indefinitely in the UK with him (apparently, the child isn't even allowed to be there now). I think if they find some place to live for 2 years with the child, they can get a US visa for the child on grounds other than the "orphan" definition. But that would not work if the child's biological father revokes his prior relinquishment. And also, I think the 2 year time frame would begin to run only after the "final" adoption happened in Malawi (right now, it is "interim" for 18 months).

What a big mess. Didn't Madonna have lawyers? I would love to hear input on the US immigration aspects. (On a more personal note, I cannot believe that, of all the children Madonna could have chosen to adopt, she picked one whose parent hadn't already relinquished parental rights and was still visiting the child at the child center, hoping to parent him! And the father's desparate position is just heartbreaking.)

Madonna Adoption
 

Madonna is adopting Nicole Ritchie? Can Paris Hilton contest?

Madonna Adoption
 

Oops. Sorry for the typo. I meant to say Ritchie Valens. See now why the process will be really tough?

Book on Child Development
 

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book on stages of child mental development, particularly for learning?

In other words, at what age children are able to understand various concepts, such as when parents travel what it means to go to another country part way around the world.

Inquisitive daughter, whom I'm happy to teach. But I don't want to waste time with explanations she won't understand.

Book on Child Development
 

You will know better than any book could tell you. Understanding is a funny think - you think a kid has no idea what you really meant, and then, two months later, hear a completely cogent discussion that shows a thorough understanding. One kid can have a good sense of geography and the globe at age 2, another might think the earth is flat and small through kindergartern.

Book on Child Development
 

How old is the kid?

Book on Child Development
 

~3

Book on Child Development
 

Confidential to Triple G, Hank still thinks the earth is flat, fwiw, no offence.

appropriateness?
 

Appropriate, maybe, but dumb. Of the two, which do you think is most likely to backwash?

appropriateness?
 

Appropriate how? Like a priest challenging his altar boys to a naked greco-roman wrestle off in the spirit of the original olympiad?

eta: ps: WELCOME BACK BILLMOURE!!!! We missed your wit and wisdom [sniff]

appropriateness?
 

And which is more likely to encounter a flock of germs.

appropriateness?
 

Did i mention the inappropriate parent looks sort of like cooter from Dukes of Hazard, except more unkempt?

Book on Child Development
 

I don't have a book per se but my spouse travels quite frequently and i think my son 'got it' around 3, that daddy was going away but that he'd be back etc and that he was going to BE in a different place etc.... at 4 he really enjoyed telling other people where daddy was and showing them on the globe or map at school {caveat - he is a montessori kid so they do that stuff at that age} the globe was quite helpful as it gave him a tangible place for dad to be...

From the Boston Sports Guy
 

Sweet baby names website

appropriateness?
 

We edit them together and make margin notes and then the kids sign them only agreeing to the stuff they want to. Haven't had it contested yet.

Yes, I am a complete douchebag.

appropriateness?
 

In a good way or a bad way?

Book on Child Development
 

Mine seems to get it. Not the globe yet, but the airplane/travel/hotel/other location. It helped that we had a weekend away this summer and he knows what a hotel is now. He'll be 3 next month......*GASP*....how did that happen?

Halloween
 

Little mr. dL as a Skeleton

http://static.flickr.com/114/2849290...355229.jpg?v=0

myspace
 

So my lover's babysitter used her home computer to do the myspace thing while babysitting over the weekend and didn't erase the histoury.

Apparently, according to herspace, she is a "freak between the sheets".

Would it be inappropriate to "friend" her?

Halloween
 

He's a cutie. Is he allowed to have any candy tonight?

myspace
 

why create the papertrail. just hire her for some babysitting.

and, remember, everything on myspace is accurate.

myspace
 

No but it would be appropriate to put in a a nanny cam and put up pictures here.

myspace
 

In process..,.,stay tuned....

Halloween
 

Unfortunately he's a bit young (9 months). Next year, for certain.

Halloween
 

I dunno about anyone else, but I would have given him candy if he'd ended up on my doorstep last night. He probably would have even scored a Reeces.

Halloween
 

I learned that babies love playing with wrapped candy even if they're not permitted to eat it. Some neighborhood kids got Snickers with drool. Don't worry -- I swiped them with a baby wipe before handing them out; and I did not distribute any candy with teeth marks.

Halloween
 

My son did the same thing.

Halloween
 

Watching two babies play with the candy in the baskets was the highlight of my Halloween. They just loved the sound of the cellophane. And 1 year olds like to hand things to people, so it was also very cute watching them try to give the mushed up 100
Grands to the trick-or-treaters.

more kids in costumes
 

I've posted them on my myspace page.

tm

more kids in costumes
 

Coincidentally, my current lover's kids' babysitter has pictures of herself in a suggestive domintrax costume from a party she was at (apparently) last night.

I made it my screensaver this afternoon, is that wrong?

more kids in costumes
 

Only because you haven't shared it with the rest of us.

more kids in costumes
 

she put a new one up, this is still sort of suggestive.....

[etd: sorry! :blush: ]

Our little Farmer and his Cow:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...t2006132-1.jpg

The feed sack costume I made for Kid2 (that he wore to a party on Sat.) was hilarious, but there were too many mosquitos out - they were swarming, so we had a last minute change.

I'll move the picture in a few days so the link won't work anymore, but here you go.

myspace
 

Did it mention how she feels about corn on the cob?

myspace
 

Implicitly.....


"Most erotic......Always give them what they want."

Travelling
 

We will be driving from Houston to Chicago (and back) next month with a barely 3yo and a 1.5yo. Other than flying and/or self-medicating, any suggestions?

Travelling
 

portable dvd player? although I'm entirely opposed to the concept myself, it seems to transfix most kids that age I've seen watching one.