Read This at Your Leisure
“Women have at least 30 hours of leisure time every week.” HA!Did you get that? Now, don’t kill the messenger. I didn’t say it, and I bet you don’t believe it. Robin sure did not. But that’s what a researcher by the name of John Robinson, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, says was revealed in the research he did. His findings state (admittedly simplified, but you can read more below): Women today have an extra 30 hours to spare each week, even though more of them are working outside the home than in the 1960s.
Did you get that? You have 30 hours to spare. That’s four or five hours per day!! (more…)
Mental Illness and Motherhood
Today’s show is one of the most controversial issues I think I’ve ever dealt with, and emotions ran high onstage and in the audience. A guest named Shelly agreed to be the surrogate for Amy and Scott Kehoe, carrying donor eggs and sperm. Although Shelly gave birth to twins, a few weeks later, she demanded that the babies be returned to her care. According to her, Amy withheld important information about her past, including a criminal record and having been diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Everyone who watches the show knows that I’m a child advocate, and I believe we should do everything in our power to protect our kids. But what would you have done in Shelly’s situation? Did she have a right to demand that the twins be returned? Should a mental illness prevent a woman from being a mother? I really want to hear from you about this one.
The Tragedy in Haiti
AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo
I still cannot get over the devastating images of Haiti that I have been watching on television since a 7.3 earthquake ripped through the capital of Port-au-Prince. Right now, critical life-saving and search-and-rescue operations are underway, and I ask that we all pray that as many lives as possible are spared.
But make no mistake: this is going to be a huge tragedy. Haiti is one of the most underdeveloped countries of the western hemisphere, and there are very few ambulances or even hospitals to take care of the victims. A major death toll is feared. And at least three million other Haitian citizens may be affected, going days without food and water, facing disease and the loss of loved ones. (more…)
Married Women Who Stray
We’ve aired a couple of shows this season about married men who get involved in affairs, and they’ve received a lot of attention. On Tuesday’s show, we talked about it again. I had a very emotional conversation with a young wife who’s trying to decide whether to salvage her marriage after learning her husband has been unfaithful to her. I also talked to the husband, and I think you’ll be fascinated by what he has to say about his own behavior.
But it occurred to me that we haven’t talked as much about married women who stray. Although 2009 definitely seemed to be a banner year for high-profile men to get caught catting around on their wives, the facts are clear that some wives are also crossing the line. Maybe more than ever before. One fairly reliable national survey recently found that 18 percent of married women have cheated, compared to 28 percent of married men. I even read a couple of studies that claimed women might be genetically predisposed, just like men, to cheating on their partners. (more…)
Start Shooting for the Arts
Not long ago, at the encouragement of my son, Jordan, The Dr Phil Foundation launched Little Kids Rock Across America, and I cannot tell you how passionate I am about what we’re doing. At a time when budget cuts have forced so many schools to eliminate their music and arts programs, our goal is to provide middle school kids the opportunity to play instruments, learn music and form bands — in other words, to get a chance to embrace their own artistic talents and watch them flourish.
And now, I am honored to be the spokesman for another unique program that will promote the arts throughout our communities. It’s called YouTube Video Volunteers, and interestingly, it requires your participation. What we want you to do is use your own artistic talents to create a video to help your favorite local non-profit arts organization. You can write and perform a song in favor of your city’s modern art museum, make a short film in honor of a theatre group, or choreograph and perform a dance promoting another arts organization close to your heart. The list of things you could do — a rap act, a dramatic soliloquy, a comedy skit — are endless. (more…)
Shaping Your Kids
After posting a blog item about how Robin and I raised our sons believing that they should be able to make their own choices, I got a call from a friend who said, “Yeah, Phil, but what if you can clearly see things that worry you? After all, you have often said their brains aren’t even finished growing until years later. What do you do then?” He went on to tell me about his 13-year-old daughter who, a few nights earlier, had drained a glass of milk at dinner and said with a proud grin, “Hey, Dad, I’m learning to chug.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve gotten the feeling that she wants to try alcohol or at least has it in her mind,” he told me. “So what do I do, right now, to keep her from gaining momentum toward a bad life choice?”
Good question! So, as a parent, what should you do when you see early warning signs that your child might be headed down the wrong path?
Facebook Strikes Again
Just when I think I’ve heard it all, here comes the story of one Miss Nathalie Blanchard.
Miss Blanchard is a young Canadian woman who, for the past year, has been on sick leave from her job at an IBM office after being diagnosed with major depression. According to reports, Miss Blanchard posted cheerful, smiling images of herself on Facebook, photos of her beach vacation and nights out with friends. She says her insurance benefits were cut off because the insurance company said her Facebook pictures indicated she was no longer depressed and was ready to return to work. (more…)
Wedding Twitters
I’ve heard of people Tweeting during the movies, while driving and even in the delivery room after giving birth. But how’s this for a new high (or low) in social networking: updating your Twitter page at the altar, right before kissing your bride?
That’s what a Maryland groom did, and the video of his unconventional “vows” went viral. Not only did Dana Hanna interrupt the ceremony to type: “Standing at the altar with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride,” but he also updated his Facebook status while his bride-to-be and the minister stood patiently by. Guess he didn’t have cold Tweet!
So what do you think about the antics of this fast-fingered fiancé? Was it just a cute way of symbolizing his new life as a married man, or have we gone too far as a society by broadcasting the intimate details of our lives in 140 characters or less? Let me hear from you.
