In the news this week...

...why teenagers are obnoxious, should you be able to buy your baby's gender, and should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt?

Antisocial adolescents
The ability to read social situations drops when your child reaches puberty - official. According to scientists from Diego State University, intensification of nerve activity in the brain makes it harder to process basic information. So next time your teenager's behaving obnoxiously, you can always claim it's a 'temporary remodelling process'... not 'just a phase'.

Raisingkids' member 'Blewe' lives with a teenage terror - what's your advice?

Advice for parents coping with the 'temporary remodelling process'.

The trouble with parents...
The court has ruled that evidence can be suppressed to protect Princes William and Harry in the trial of royal butler, Paul Burrell.

Raisingkids' member 'never' has difficulties with her family too: 'My mother causes more harm than good... Sometimes I think it would be better for my son if he had no contact at all with them.'

Problematic families - what do you say?

Communication problems? What can you do?

Back to the future
Get out your diaries - adult fans of children's TV programme Rainbow might like to know that Zippy and George - the 1970's answer to the Teletubbies - are celebrating the show's 30th anniversary by playing a DJ set at Sheffield's 'Bed' nightclub. The pair are also recording a new single and album. Unfortunately, most of their original fans won't be there to watch, as babysitters charge double after midnight. Are the acrylic duo re-inventing themselves in the light of news that popstars Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue will star in a big-screen remake of The Magic Roundabout?

Is your child a telly addict? Or is your teenager a party animal?

Traditional fun or commercial run?
Halloween - a valued opportunity for a community get-together or just another excuse to cash in? Is 'trick-or-treat' licensed begging or is it a tradition we should keep alive? See our discussion here.

Just you and me, baby?
Don't think having a baby will necessarily lead to happy families. Researchers from the Institute of Social and Economic Research found that 65% of co-habiting parents would eventually split up but only 45% of childfree co-habitees are likely to split.

Divorce or separation? What do you say?

Relationship problems? See our new support pages.

Fostering resentment
56 yr-old Liza Minelli and her husband, David Gest (a mere 48) are planning to adopt 3 more children as company for their daughter Serena.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords has rejected proposed changes in the UK adoption laws to allow co-habiting and same-sex couples to adopt - only married couples and single people can adopt at the moment. And most UK agencies will only consider applications from people who are no more than about 35 to 40 years older than the child they wish to adopt.

Raisingkids member 'monkay' says: 'If someone will love cherish look after a child does it matter about Race creed or sexuality.'

Raisingkids member 'missymoo' says: 'Surely it's better for a child to be fostered or adopted by caring people whatever their relationship circumstances than stuck in local authority care homes.'

What do you think?

Too late to say sorry?
Estelle Morris has apologised to all those students who have been affected by the recent a-level fiasco, on behalf of the education service. Grade re-assessment has led to 1,945 students being upgraded, and 168 of them may be eligible to transfer to a different university. But once they've committed to their course, should they uproot themselves?

Was your family affected? Join our Discussion!

Coping with 6th form choices - know the facts.

You pays your money...
... you takes your choice? Soon sex selection could be permitted for 'social reasons', rather than just on medical grounds. A leaked document from UK regulators shows the option for gender selection is being reviewed. Critics dismiss the idea of treating babies as 'absolute commodities' as 'abominable'.

Raisingkids' member 'Celia' says: 'We should let things be the way they should be.'

Raisingkids' member 'ukhowell' says: 'OOohhhh at last a way to irradicate the male of our species!!! Let the female revolution begin!!!'

Have your say!

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