From fidget spinners to Mother’s Day, here is the biggest news for moms and dads from the last week. For more parenting news and first-person stories, visit HuffPost Parents or sign up for our newsletter.
Much of the criticism levied against the GOP health bill that narrowly passed the House last week is that it will strip away protections for people with pre-existing conditions, putting affordable health insurance out of their reach. One of those conditions is pregnancy, which would be up to 425 percent more expensive under the new plan, according to estimates from liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress. Premiums for women with uncomplicated pregnancies could jump by more than $17,000, CAP estimates.
Fidget spinners, the gadgets that are supposed to help kids focus, are becoming more of a distraction in the classroom than a relief. Some schools, like Washington Elementary School in Evanston, IL, are even beginning to ban fidget spinners from classrooms, saying kids are spinning them instead of doing their work. The toys have become a widespread craze among young and old.
At her mom’s suggestion, high school senior Ally Johnson made a fashionable and nostalgic statement by wearing her mother’s prom dress to her own prom, 22 years later. Ally’s mom, Lori Johnson, wore a black dress embellished with silver glitter to her senior prom in 1995. On April 22, Ally wore the same dress to her senior prom as well. “I feel like I started a tradition,” she told HuffPost. “I’m going to hold onto this dress and hopefully my daughter will be willing to wear it to her senior prom.”
A U.K. mom’s Instagram post is shedding light on the reality of mastitis. On May 1, Remi Peers shared a photo of herself in the hospital, along with a powerful caption about her breastfeeding struggles. When Rudy was 2 months old, Peers developed mastitis, and when she went to the hospital, she was diagnosed with sepsis. The mom told HuffPost she decided to share her story to help other breastfeeding mothers.
Mother’s Day is drawing near, which means it’s time for brunch, sweet but useless kid crafts, and, if you’re lucky, some much-needed alone time. In honor of the holiday, here are 10 comics that sum up the reality of Mother’s Day.