by Bonnie Harris

Thanks to Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen’s comment about Ann Romney (stay-at-home-mom and wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney) for never working a day in her life, the subject of mothering has come to the fore once again—just in time for Mother’s Day. On Mother’s Day we give moms a pat on the back, fulfilling our obligation. And then we’re done with it.
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May is International Doula month and isn’t it extraordinary! Thank you DONA International for being a partner not only to PTVN, but to mothers and families around the world.

The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
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By The American Association of Pediatrics

Caring for children with complex medical needs can be a daunting task, but with proper thought and planning, it can be a very rewarding experience. In a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) “Home Care of Children and Youth With Complex Health Care Needs and Technology Dependencies,” in the May 2012 issue of Pediatrics (published online April 30), the AAP describes how to care for children with chronic conditions who are transitioning from hospital to home care.
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By Parenting Press

Can you imagine anything worse than the death of a child? It’s especially devastating for those who have other children, because those children must be cared for, emotionally and physically: the parents have no time to grieve their loss by themselves.
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Ever wonder how to harness the allure of video games to teach your classroom about health, science, technology, engineering and math? Check out the Green Ribbon Schools video contest and create a video game while educating your students today! Everything you need to know for the contest [submission deadline May 15th] is on their website and more. Contact PTVN to share your experiences or send photos of your participation to: info@ptvn.org or via twitter @ParenTvNetwork or on our new facebook page. Get your game on!