While the number of women working outside the home has increased in the last few decades, roughly the same percentage (25 percent) of women is working part-time, reported the New York Times, citing federal data from Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. This led Times’ blogger Catherine Rampell to ask if this is “a good thing or a bad thing for gender equity, or neither?” more

Some have started having official “Parting Ceremonies.” Others invite parents to a reception while the students settle in. more

Parents are always admonished to start saving for their children’s college educations almost at the first confirmation of pregnancy, but a new report from the New York Times’ parenting blogger Lisa Belkin says that parents should first consider saving enough to pay for daycare. more

Girls as young as 7 or 8 are “more likely today than in the past to start developing breasts,” the New York Times reported, citing results from a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics. more

If you’re a Massachusetts mom who works at a company with at least six employees but less than 50 and you take more than eight weeks of maternity leave, you can be legally fired even if your employer had promised you a longer leave, the state’s Supreme Judicial Court has ruled. more

The New York Times’ David Leonhardt noted that while the last three male nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court were married and had several kids, the last three female nominees (including one who withdrew her nomination) were unmarried and had no kids. more

The U.S. Senate recently passed a $4.5 billion bill creating new standards for food in schools, encouraging healthier menu choices and getting fatty, junky food out of school vending machines, the Associated Press reported, noting that the House has a similar bill pending. more

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen caused a firestorm recently when reports of her comments to Harper’s Bazaar were released in which she called for a “worldwide law” mandating that new mothers breastfeed their newborns for six months, the Boston Herald reported. more

New York Times columnist David Leonhardt, quoting a lengthy study which found that the impact of having a good kindergarten teacher lasts well into adulthood, suggested that perhaps “a standout kindergarten teacher is worth about $320,000 a year.” more

Babies whose parents work outside the home “don’t necessarily suffer cognitive setbacks,” the Washington Post reported, citing a Columbia University study on the impact of maternal employment on child development which declared the impact of maternal employment “neutral” on young children. more