I want a smartphone so bad I crave it. 

I’ll admit it. When I need a fix, I’ll head to the cell phone kiosk at the mall so I can caress the keyboards and touch screens until the salesperson says, “Ma’am, I’ve told you repeatedly to stop making out with the BlackBerry,” and gently rips my lover from my clutch. 

Then I sadly walk out the door with my five-year-old, beat-up flip phone that has treated me well but is as technologically advanced as a Zack Morris phone. 

Getting my first bra in fifth grade was a little on the humiliating side because 1) I had developed earlier than my more petite friends who teased me about my growing chest (which unfortunately did not keep on pace with the rest of my body as I got older), and 2) My mom picked out a stark white bra wrapped up in plastic from JCPenney which today reminds me of the Seinfeld “bro” (or “manziere” if you lean toward Frank Costanza) or an Ace bandage.

Today’s bras are nothing like ours from the 1980s. Department and specialty stores are packed with an abundance of padded, push-up and lace bras that tweens can choose from, but at the same time, leave their parents sobbing in the aisles over their little girls’ quickly diminishing childhoods. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the British retailer Primark pulled its padded bras off its shelves after media and customer outrage accused the store of sexualizing young teens.

Is anyone else feeling sleepy right about now?

The deadline for entering our Cover Kids Contest 2010 is closing in! Enter your child by Monday, May 10 if you'd like your child, or yourself, to be a part of the contest. Cover Kids 2010 is a search for real kids of all ages, sizes, ethnic backgrounds and abilities that will culminate in the winners being featured in our magazine and our Back-to-School Fashion Show in July.

When my son was just over a year old, I finally gave in to my husband's worrying and made an appointment to have the baby's eyes checked.  Not because I was noticing any Continue reading »