Top 10 Concerns of Parents.

As I celebrate the end of my first week as a "Passionate Parent", enough of the sunny, rosy, it's a wonderful world talk. It's time to go negative. For all the wonders of being a parent, there's an enormous list of parental worries. In order to make the weekend just a bit gloomier, I ask exactly what keeps parents awake at night?

In August, WebMD ran a post about the Top 10 Concerns of Parents. The overall breakdown according to the WebMD survey is as follows:

1. Childhood obesity, 33%
2. Drug abuse, 33%
3. Smoking and tobacco use, 23%
4. Teen pregnancy, 24%
5. Bullying, 24%
6. Internet safety, 23%
7. Stress, 22%
8. Alcohol abuse, 20%
9. Driving accidents, 20%
10. Sexting, 20% 

The article goes further, breaking down concerns and respondents by ethnicity. Total number of respondents was less than 2000.

I don't know WedMd's methodology. I think the poll items in total certainly represent a month's worth of parental nightmares. I disagree with the order. No disrespect to childhood obesity or tobacco use, but those are long term killers.  I would put driving accidents, alcohol abuse, internet safety and sexting all before obesity and smoking. My reasoning is simple. Accidents, booze and improper use of technology can get a kid killed right now instead of later.

What do you think? How do you feel about the poll rankings? Take a moment and leave a comment or respond to the poll in the left sidebar.

On a final note, though you can never protect your children completely active and involved parents can and do minimize the risk of growing up. As you finish this post do comment or take the poll and then please ignore my tongue in cheek treatment of the issue. Do everything possible to have a great weekend. Every moment is dear, enjoy your kids.

Pictures, Twitter and Anthony Weiner.

In case you've been under a rock, Rep. Anthony Weiner finds himself in the middle of a kerfuffle of his own doing. Had he just remembered to DM the photo instead of tweeting (Non-Twitterers, this is the only Twitter lingo reference in the whole post)  no one would be any the wiser. You'd think a Congressman could keep that straight, right?

Soure: Buzzfeed

I think Rep. Weiner should resign, but not for these reasons:

• The picture. Lewd photo? A Calvin Klein add shows more business.
• He sent the picture. Two consenting adults. Period. If she (or any other recipient) is non-consenting, that's potential sexual harassment and grounds for possible criminal charges.
• He's married. Still between two consenting adults and stay's between the two consenting adults.

Why do I think Rep. Weiner should resign? Simple.

• As one of my favorite liberal firebrands, he has chosen to walk the moral high ground. The fact that David Vitter, Tom Coburn and others are raging hypocrites has no bearing. If a politician uses righteous indignation as a tool, he must remain righteous. Was Weiner unrighteous?
• Sending a half dressed picture via a public forum is stupid. Email or texting (sex+texting=sexting) are marginally better, until the recipient goes public. Is this immoral? No, but a Representative in a representative democracy needs to use better discretion.
• The primary reason Rep. Anthony Weiner must resign is he lied. When asked about the picture, he said he didn't send the picture of a tightly wrapped (you say it, I can't) hoping it will wind up between a bun (OK, I did worse). He didn't lie for national security or to protect someone's life. He lied to avoid being embarrassed. He lied to protect his reputation (oops). He didn't say what he said yesterday. When faced with an extremely uncomfortable personal humiliation his first instinct was to LIE. I expect more from an elected representative. I will miss his passion but he must resign.

Sometimes telling the truth really sucks but lying will bite in the butt every single time.

What do you think? Can you make a case for Anthony Weiner to stay in public office? Please take a moment and share your opinion.