Q: My wife and I just went to her 20th high school reunion. It was about the most miserable four hours I have ever spent. She was married to her high school sweetheart. They had three kids and remain friendly. People who saw them chatting figured they were still married and asked about their kids, their parents, their siblings. And there I was, standing around like an idiot. My wife rarely introduced me because, she said, she "didn't want to get into it." I refused to go to the picnic the next day, which started a huge fight. What's good ex-etiquette for class reunions?

Lessons in personal finance often come from unexpected places, Washington, D.C., obviously, not being one of them.

Using a fan to circulate air seemed to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in a study of nearly 500 babies, researchers reported Monday. Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the best advice for preventing SIDS, a still mysterious cause of death.

In my fairly long breastfeeding career, I have been lucky enough that I was never, ever asked to cover up when feeding my children like others have. I don't even recall being looked at askance by anyone outside of my own family (another story, another time).

These days are psychologically challenging for me. I know my reality is a very fortunate one, knock on wood. I have a strong marriage, a healthy son, and - perhaps the rarest in these tough economic times - a job.

Beautiful illustrations and inspiring words are the hallmarks of two new picture books about our nation's Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

Language around our house can be salty. Don't get me wrong. It's not like we're the Osbournes and the f-bomb is dropped every other word, but there is the occasional curse-word muttering or exclamation.

Laundry, cooking, carpooling...your days are filled to the brim with stuff you've got to get done. Doesn't it make sense to find shortcuts so you have time to do the things you want to do? Here are 8 smart ideas from Parents.

Do educators have a right to dictate what can and cannot be put in a child's school lunchbox? This is the issue I'm facing head-on at the moment and the only answer I keep coming up with is a resounding "NO!"

Moms Forum spotlights useful discussion taking place on the parenting forums of newspapers around the country.

It was a spectacular fall Sunday afternoon when I got a call from my daughter, who was sobbing and upset.

"As a girl, I was taught that voting is a gift. When our kids cast their ballots for our election day dinners, they know that their voices count." - Sarah Jebsen

Trying to make your kids' school routines a little more green? Start by ditching the paper sacks and plastic baggies. Instead, invest in an eco-friendly bento box, which features several compartments just right for fruits and veggies, cheese and crackers, salads or whatever noshes your kid likes to tote to school.

There are two kinds of aggressive in life.

Everybody's talking about money these days: House prices are going down; more families are facing foreclosure on their mortgages; gas prices, energy prices, and grocery bills are all going up - and uncertainty over when things will take a turn for the better is making everyone tighten their belts.

Will that turkey sandwich make it until lunchtime? Now that school's in full swing, be sure your kid's lunch stays safe and sound until he hits the cafeteria. Here are some test-kitchen tips from the November issue of ShopSmart magazine:

I am the old-fashioned mom I swore I never would be. I significantly limit the amount of television that our family watches. I believe because of these limits, in part, my girls have developed a strong love of books and fantastically creative imaginations. When at other's homes, however, they watch that square pants man with a love for potty talk as if he is a drug to be consumed passionately and furiously.

A weekly glimpse of what moms are saying on the Web.

Moms are the most fascinating group of multitasking mavens around. So when I met fellow mom/editor, Molly Rosen (a friend of a friend of a friend, and fellow mom), who was compiling a book about women in their 40s, my only question was, "How soon do you need my essay?"

Nan Holloway discovered the inspiration for her business during a moment of exasperation.

- Consolidated Credit Counseling Services (http://www.debtfree.org): This group's mission is to assist families throughout the United States in ending financial crisis and to solve money-management problems through education and professional counseling.

At my 4-year-old's last routine checkup, the nurse asked me if his hearing seemed OK. I replied the way I imagine the parents of most preschoolers do: "Sure, his hearing is fine. His listening could use some work."

The following is an excerpt from "How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years," by Julie A. Ross (McGraw-Hill, $15.95). Reprinted with permission from The McGraw-Hill Companies, www.mhprofessional.com.

Recently, I was driving down a popular street and, as I sat at a red light, I noticed a little scene playing out on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. This tableau included a woman, a man and their son, who looked to be about 4 years old. I could not hear the dialogue, but the body language said it all.