"My family and I are considering becoming parents at a boy's ranch and will be taking on the responsibility of eight teenage boys plus our 5- and 3-year-old boys. This site has encouraged us with helpful advice, great ideas for bonding with our new family, and ways to make the transition into adolescence more smooth. We are in our late 20s and know that the challenges we will face can be overcome and that we have support not only through the home, and families but with the great articles advice on this site. Thank you!"

Kathleen Wallace, Harrison, Ariz.

"Thank you so much for the gift you sent to my son. It was car garage with a car wash and gas station. He won it for the seasons picture contest. He loved it. He and his dad put it together right away and they had a great time playing with it. I just thought the prize would be a magnet with your logo or something cheesy. Thank you so much for the great gift."

Mary Alfaro, Orange, Texas

"iParenting helps with parenting tips, life tips, support on topics from others, which helps. This world is so big, but getting to know others out there is so hard, and this Internet site makes it easy."

Sandy Umber, Springdale, Ariz.

"I am the mother to a very gifted little girl. It didn't take long to realize that most 3-year-olds don't read and write, or need to know the name of every bone in their body, or have multiple imaginary friends. I have concerns for her like any mother would, but it can seem like bragging when talking to other parents of preschoolers. At iParenting, I have found a haven of mothers who are dealing with children who are doing the same things as my daughter. It has made me feel a lot less alone."

Jennifer Kourelakos, Sarasota, Fla.

"iParenting changed my life! My goal has always been to be the best parent I can be. iParenting confirms, enhances and enlightens me on how to keep my family happy and healthy. I am grateful to have a source that is readily available and meaningful to my family. The support that iParenting offers makes me a better parent. I believe that parenting classes should be mandatory. iParenting provides me with the information I crave as a parent."

Carrie Stenhjem, Fargo, N.D.

"We read the article and we were both crying. We have shared your Web site with everyone we know. We are so thankful. It really was written beautifully."

Richelle Nassos, me4kidz LLC

Read the Dad of the Month article she is referring to here.

"iParenting gives me helpful advice, views from others and information on children's things such as recalls and personal experience. Also communicating and teaching my kids. Also like celebrity insights."

Judy Chapman, Boone, N.C.

"In a world out of control with extravagant spending, iParenting brings back a jolt of reality. This is not the reality TV reality, but the kind of down-home parenting we all aspire to where love acceptance and understanding emanates."

Rosanne Morrison, Rockford, Ill.

"[iParenting] has some very interesting ideas on doing things. I wouldn't know all of them otherwise."

Susan Varney, Belfast, Maine

"My husband and I are considering becoming parents at a boys ranch where we will be parenting eight preteen and teenage boys, plus our 5- and 3-year-old boys. This site has been a Godsend for us as we read the articles and advice on everything from bonding to health. We are in our late 20s and realize we will be facing some extreme challenges, but we feel so much better knowing that we will not only have the support from the ranch and our families, but from this site! (This site is first on our 'Favorites'!) Thanks!"

Kathleen Wallace, Harrison, Ariz.

"We've been looking at iParenting for a few weeks now. Lots of good links and some good information. The Internet itself and good sites like yours are having a tremendous impact on everything we do."

Patricia Schraier, Venice Calif.

"Wow! Thank you so very much for posting our release (and our photo)! It's people like you who make this event such a pleasure to present. Also, I love your site! It's very helpful to me as a social worker and I will visit often. Thanks again and keep shining!"

Lucy DeLima, www.songtheworldwrote.com

"iParenting keeps me up to date on my parenting skills."

April Grimm, Little Cedar, Iowa

"iParenting has meant to me piece of mind while I've been pregnant."

Joelle Walters, Port Huron, Mich.

"Thank you for the advice you gave to Jim. I was having severe pain in my hip and not understanding why. I appreciate it [and] now I know that there is something I can do for it. Thanks!"

Jami Hanks, Jacksonville, Fla.

"I'm looking to again be on the e-mail list for the weekly iParenting newsletter [for] ToddlersToday.com. I find it very interesting and informative."

Kim Spinelli, Kendall Park, N.J.

"I enjoy your site and feedback for and from parents. It's so important we get back to the business of raising responsible kids today."

Evangeline Barron, Suwanee, Ga.

"I just wanted to say that I have come across your site and found it very informative. Here in the Cyberspace Research Unit at UCLAN we have a team of researchers with a range of expertise in teaching (children) and training (providers) in Internet safety. We are at present the UK node for the home office/EU portal for Internet safety."

Dr. Denise Maia Carter, United Kingdom

"Thank you so much. I just read the stories and they are all beautiful. I really appreciate the Web site for all of the advice, humor, recipes and stories that relate to my everyday life."

Joely Walker, Sacramento, Calif.

"Thank you so much for the article, Where Did All My Hair Go? Postpartum Telogen Effluvium, by Teri Brown. Yesterday during my baby's 6-month checkup, I asked my doctor if there was any connection with my increased, but not alarming, amount of hair loss and breastfeeding (the myth). He sited a mother's health being effected by nutrients going to the baby via breastmilk. [He] said I probably wasn't getting enough gelatin. I was curious and quickly found this article (via a google search), dismissed the myth (although I will pay increased attention to meeting my nutritional needs) and feel informed. Thank you!"

Heidi Repp, Galion, Ohio

Praise for the Chinese Lunar Calendar

"I am a mother of five and have done this with all of my children and it was right all five times. I was hoping to get false hope of a daughter. Since 1997, everyone I knew was saying I would never have a girl because of the male to female ratio in our family. So when I found out I was pregnant the first place to go was the lunar calendar and pray it was going to be a girl. Four sons later I tried the other use of the calendar by knowing what months I could get pregnant in to ensure a girl. Now that I was almost a full believer, the only way to know was to time my period and use your calendar. When you said I would get a daughter, god knows I tried everything else first. I received news that I was indeed pregnant for the fifth and final time (as a promise to my husband) and waited for an ultrasound to reveal the sex. My husband had already talked to my OB to get the name of a good urologist before we knew the outcome. Three ultrasounds later, legs wide open, she was revealed. Finally, two months later on August 4, 2005, Kaylee was born just under 7 pounds and healthy."

Annette, Harrison, Ohio

Learn more by reading Gender Guessing: Myths for Predicting a Baby's Sex.

"I started my son in preschool at 18 months. It did not work out for us. Thank you for the article covering this topic. I wish I had read this article years ago when I was making the decision to put him in preschool. It would have saved me money and lots and lots of aggravation and tears."

Patricia Knight, South Bend, Ind.

Read the article she is talking about, Tiny Scholars: Is Your 2-Year-Old Too Young for School?, here.

"I recently made the Fall to Your Knees Mac and Cheese recipe from the Carnie Wilson cookbook [and] I really liked it. The texture was smooth because of the cream cheese and whipping cream. I also had fun making the recipe because it was easy. The only thing is that it calls for some cheeses that are a little expensive. I'm not sure if it would be as good if you used less expensive cheese but maybe it could be your special occasion mac and cheese! Overall it was really good and I will make it again. Thank you."

Susan Pesina, Corpus Christi, Texas

Try Carnie Wilson's Fall to Your Knees Mac and Cheese here!

Comments on the article, To Spank or Not to Spank? Parents and Experts Weigh In:

"Disagree with your methods of disciplining your children. My husband and I do not have children of our own as of yet, but we do want to raise a family. We will when needed SPANK our children – when needed. Both William and I were spanked growing up."

Mrs. Laurey Allman, Canada

"I just read your article titled Cherish the Sick Days on my ATT.net Web page. I can totally relate! Last week my daughter came down with a fever overnight and was sick all week. My husband and I took turns staying home with her. All she wanted to do was sleep, but with one of us cuddled up close. I was reprimanded by my boss for taking time off to stay home with her, but I informed her my priorities were not going to change. My child comes first. She will be 2 in May, and can't really communicate what's wrong yet when she's sick. You have to be there for your kids. Your article really hit home, and I am printing a copy to keep. Thank you!"

Mary Katharine Burt, Brentwood, Tenn.

"Got some great advice on your Web site about tantrums. Having major problems with one of my 3-year-old twins!"

Deborah Lake, Houston, Texas

"I just love your Web site. BTW, I must thank you for your yummy potato recipe (the one with Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream). We had a ton of potatoes left over from the holidays, so I just made it recently and my kids loved it!"

Mariko Alimento, Gardena, Calif.

Click here for our Baked Potatoes Jack recipe!

"What an absolute pleasure it was to discover your Family Energy magazine and I love the format. Finally a magazine that provides content of a high standard for the family!!" Tony Findlay, creator of the Body Mechanics

"I recently unsubscribed from the Preteenagers Today newsletter and signed up for the Teenagers Today newsletter, as my daughter is now a teen. I enjoyed the Preteenagers Today newsletter because it offered me ideas on how to cope with my preteen. I first discovered the iParenting Web site when I was trying to find information on homework woes. I found articles there on helping kids handle homework and I read about other parents with the same issues. I felt like I was not alone. The newsletter provided me with informative articles and anecdotes from other parents on subjects relevant to my preteen. I look forward to receiving the Teenagers Today newsletter knowing that I'll get the same great information for this new chapter in our lives."

Amy Kayner, Southgate, Mich.

Check out all our weekly e-newsletters here!

Comments on the article, Should Large Women Expect to Deliver by C-section?

"I just happened upon this Web site and it was a topic about large babies and Cesareans. My second child was 11 pounds, 1 ounce. The doctors did tell me that I would be having a large baby. One doctor said 10 [pounds] and another said 9. I did not have a Cesarean and in fact gave birth totally natural. The doctor did not perform an episiotomy. I had three stitches. The doctor was proud that he delivered the baby naturally and I, of course, was proud that I did manage to have the baby. I am a health woman of normal size. And I was tested for diabetes, but it came up negative. My son is now 9 and is perfectly healthy. My son was diagnosed with ADHD and his pediatrician said that his size at birth could be a contributing factor. I just wanted to voice my input on this topic."

Cathie Cameron, Russell, Manitoba, Canada

Comments on the article Too Much TV? Setting Limits on TV Viewing:

"I just saw this sight and topic and I just have to say (I know this comment is a little late), just log onto limitv.com and see all of the damage TV is causing in our children. Get it from the experts and maybe you won't think it's so great after all. Let your children enjoy the ride and their surroundings in a car, sing songs, play CDs, give them books to read in the car to preoccupy them, suggest a game of punch buggy or I see a color, but for god sakes don't rob their developing minds with mindless DVDs and videos that stifle their ability to develop their imaginations and language skills and their desire to engage in activities with people. I see it all of the time with my video watching freak nephew (hours a day) he would rather sit in front of a video on Christmas and Thanksgiving than engage in conversation and play with family members. [Parents] are teaching them to rely on TV for entertainment instead of being imaginative and coming up with games they can play by themselves or that involve others. Bonding and communication with parents is severely affected as well.

Maria Chiodi, Hillsboro, Ohio

Read more on the topic!

Media Affects on Children: Television
Turn Off the TV: Turn on to Physical Activity!
Turn on the Fun without Turning on the TV
The Off Button: How Turning Off the TV Can Help You Tune In
A Balancing Act: TV Doesn't Have to Be the Enemy

"By the way, your new Web site looks very nice!"

Lisa Wuennemann, director of marketing for Patch Products, Inc.