Ruth Institute Blog

by Carolyn Moynihan

If you asked a normal father why he stayed around after his child was born he might be a bit offended, and then he might say that it was because he loved his child and its mother (his wife) and because, anyway, he is responsible, along with his wife, for the children they bring into the world. He might also point out that he committed himself to the family when he married his wife. In other words, he would give a moral explanation.

Much is being made this week, however, of a study that shows testosterone declines markedly in men who become fathers, giving them a push in the direction of committed parenthood. It’s, like, suddenly we can know that fathers are meant to be with their children because biology proves it. Oh well, anything that reinforces the message is welcome. Read more…

Thanks, bman, for finding this.

by Patrick B. Craine

ScienceDaily (Aug. 31, 2011) — Fathers who actively engage in raising their children can help make their offspring smarter and better behaved, according to new research from Concordia University.

Published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, the long-term study examined how fathers can positively influence the development of their kids through hands-on parenting. Read more…

Once a week I’m going to be including a story from the “Parenting is Funny” blog. We’ll feature one here, but feel free to read more at the blog itself until you have your funny fix! (You can also subscribe to the blog and be emailed every time a new post goes up. That way you won’t have to wait a full week to get the latest funny parenting story.)

Here’s your first sample: Read more…

Back in July, the California legislature passed SB 48.  It mandates that all public schools must include positive discussions of the sexual orientations of transgender, bisexual, and gay Americans when teaching their contributions to history.  This includes rewriting text books and using supplemental discussion materials. Read more…

The State should support families and better enable them to survive and thrive.  California, however, is once again making it difficult-to-impossible for families to care for their own members in their own homes.  AB 889 is expected to soon be on Governor Brown‘s desk.

If you hire someone to care for your children in your home while you work, or care for an elderly parent, or care for someone who is sick or handicapped, AB 889 (Domestic Work Employees) would require you to provide rest breaks every two hours, carry Workers’ Comp insurance, issue paychecks with itemized pay stubs, etc.  It also allows for lawsuits and penalties if “employers” (aka Mom and Dad) fail to know and follow all of the labyrinthine requirements:

AB 889: “Adventures in Babysitting” Bill Is Making Its Way to the Governor’s Desk

 

How will parents react when they find out they will be expected to provide workers’ compensation benefits, rest and meal breaks and paid vacation time for…babysitters? Dinner and a movie night may soon become much more complicated.

 

Assembly Bill 889 (authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano of San Francisco) will require these protections for all “domestic employees,” including nannies, housekeepers and caregivers. The bill has already passed the Assembly and is quickly moving through the Senate with blanket support from the Democrat members that control both houses of the Legislature – and without the support of a single Republican member. Assuming the bill will easily clear its last couple of legislative hurdles, AB 889 will soon be on its way to the Governor’s desk. Read more…

by Rachel Jankovic

A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!” Read more…

Commenters: Please, for the love of God, let’s not make this about gay parents, okay? (Where was this blog before SSM became a national issue?)

by Francis Phillips

An odd mix of common sense and gullibility from an American economist projects a positive message about large families.

Living in a society where children are often seen as a burden rather than a blessing, I was drawn to Bryan Caplan’s title. After all, the received wisdom is that selfish people have fewer rather than more children. The book’s dedication seemed to promise further proof of the author’s wisdom:  “To my parents who gave me life – and to my children who give me joy”. Read more…

By Ryan Murphy

A trend occurred in the early 20th century when many Americans moved away from rural areas and into urban centers. For the first time ever, their children ceased to become economic assets capable of contributing to the family’s prosperity and started to become a financial burden.  Read more…

by William Jeynes

A couple of months ago, Ari had posted about a San Francisco ballot initiative that would have banned male circumcision in that city.

Now, a Superior Court judge has ruled that the measure be removed from the ballot, saying that the state, not cities, has the right to regulate medical procedures.  She also found that ban would violate the free exercise of religion: Read more…

by Sal Gaglio, Jr.

In an era of expanding globalization and international governance, many Americans have espoused serious concerns about various treaties which could be ratified in the near future.  A prime example is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).    Read more…

The Declaration on the Authority of Parents and Guardians in the Education of their Children is a statement drafted by the Catholic Civil Rights League (Canada) and offered to all people of good will who accept the principles it affirms. It does not depend upon particular religious beliefs. Read more…

Note: This post was researched and written by Mr. Austin Muck, second year law student  at SMU, and legal intern for the summer at the Ruth Institute.  Dr J  

Recently the Supreme Court of Ohio appropriately decided a case that protected the constitutional right of parents to determine what is in the best interest of their children.  Subsequently, the Columbus Dispatch published an article putting the decision in negative light.  The article left out key facts of the case in order to portray it as an infringement on parental rights of same-sex partners.  In the case, Mullen decided to have baby, a decision supported by her girlfriend Hobbs.  However, the women split two years after Mullen had the baby.  Immediately after the split, Hobbs, with no biological relation, sought partial custody of the child.   Hobbs claimed Mullen relinquished her sole custody, because several documents— that were later revoked—listed Hobbs as the “co-parent in every way” and because Mullen held her out as a parent.  However, Mullen consistently refused to enter into or sign any formal shared-custody agreement when presented with the opportunity to do so.  This is a fact the article fails to mention.  Read more…

by Bill May

AB 499, the bill which permits 12 year old children to give consent, without their parents’ knowledge, for vaccines or other medication to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, was surprisingly pulled from the Senate floor July 7 and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. A new hearing has been scheduled for August 15. Read more…

Delivered June 3, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Faculty and Students of Providence Academy; Class of 2011; parents, friends and benefactors: this is a wonderful and memorable day. For many of you, graduating from high school was always a foregone conclusion. So maybe you feel this day is no big deal. For some of you, graduating from high school is the result of a significant effort. For all of you, this day is an important milestone, the first step away from the world of your childhood and into adulthood. Read more…

by Carolyn Moynihan

Sue Schellenbarger at the Wall Street Journal has put together a great article on the importance of dad-style parenting.

As an estimated 70.1 million fathers prepare to celebrate Father’s Day in the U.S., recent research shows that their distinct style of parenting is particularly worth recognition: The way dads tend to interact has long-term benefits for kids, independent of those linked to good mothering. Read more…

There will be a hearing next Wednesday, June 22, on SB 48–the bill that would require California schools to teach, not merely the accomplishments of historical figures, but their sexual preferences as well.  It would apply to students in kindergarten on up.

If you can’t attend the hearing, call your legislator.

From Bill May: Read more…

British Prime Minister David Cameron has taken a lead in the battle against the pornification of culture and the sexualisation of children. A review he commissioned has come up with recommendations that would give more weight to parents’ concerns and encourage retailers and television and music executives to protect children from sexual images. Read more…

I’m sure you’ve already heard about this, but let’s talk about it anyway. Is anybody for this idea of a gender-secret child?

by Margaret Somerville

A Canadian couple is keeping their baby’s sex secret as an experiment in gender creativity.

Watch the video clip.

With same-sex marriage, we saw the advent of arguments for “genderless parenting” – the idea that all a child needs is love and it’s irrelevant whether the loving persons are male or female. Now we have “genderless kids”. Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, the parents of Jazz (5), Kio (2) and three-month-old Baby Storm want to rear and love each of their children, not as their daughter or son, not as a girl or a boy, but as just their child. Read more…