Wichita Eagle: Family

Which thermometer is best?

HEIDI STEVENS — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:05 CST

Oh, to be born in 2012.

Used to be a fever meant your already unhappy, uncomfortable infant was subjected to a rectal temperature check. Now pharmacy shelves are lined with gadgets that promise an accurate reading with the mere swipe of a wand. A new thermometer from Vicks lets you touch behind your child's ear and get a reading in one second. Babies (and parents) have never had it so easy.

Physicians, however, aren't ditching their tried-and-true methods. We checked in with Esther Krych, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, to get the scoop on thermometer choices.

Single on Valentine’s Day? Time for a pressure-free party

Lauren Cohen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:11 CST

Instead of cursing Saint Valentine this year, singles should celebrate him.

Just because you’re unattached doesn’t mean you have to feel confined to isolation island on Tuesday. In fact, the holiday of love provides the perfect opportunity to connect with other singles.

“I would tell people that Valentine’s Day is actually the best day to go out as a single because you get to know that anyone you’re meeting out on that day is actually legitimately single,” said Amber Soletti, co-founder of OnSpeedDating and Single and the City, two companies that host events for available New Yorkers.

Frantic calls before fatal fire

KIM MURPHY AND RENE LYNCH — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45 CST

From her first words, it was clear something was horribly wrong. "Something really weird has happened," the social worker outside Josh Powell's house in Graham, Wash., told the 911 dispatcher.

"The kids went into the house, and the parent, whose name is Josh Powell, will not let me in the door. What should I do?"

Pierce County sheriff's officials Tuesday night released the tape from the increasingly frantic call a state visitation supervisor made to emergency workers Sunday just before Powell, locked inside the house, attacked his two young sons with a hatchet and set the residence on fire, killing himself and the boys.

Sheriff's department upset with 911 operator in call from Powell caseworker

JENNIFER SULLIVAN — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:30 CST

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is unhappy with the way a 911 operator handled a call from the caseworker who tried to summon deputies to Josh Powell's home just before he killed his children and himself.

The caseworker's call resulted in nearly seven minutes of questioning by the call taker before he said he would have a deputy contact her. A short time later, the Graham house erupted in flames, killing everyone inside.

"We're not happy with the way that (call taker) is bantering (with the caseworker)," sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ed Troyer said Wednesday morning. "We understand that could have been handled better."

Wash. sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call

JENNIFER SULLIVAN — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:46 CST

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is unhappy with the way a 911 dispatcher handled a call from the caseworker who tried to summon deputies to Josh Powell's home just before he killed his children and himself.

The caseworker's call resulted in nearly seven minutes of questioning by the dispatcher before he said he would send a deputy. A short time later, the Graham house erupted in flames, killing everyone inside.

"We're not happy with the way that dispatcher is bantering (with the caseworker)," sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ed Troyer said Wednesday morning. "We understand that could have been handled better."

In 911 call, worker says Josh Powell 'blew up the house and kids'

KIM MURPHY — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:26 CST

SEATTLE - From her first words, it was clear there was something horribly wrong. "Something really weird has happened," the social worker outside Josh Powell's house in Graham, Wash. told the 911 dispatcher.

"The kids went into the house and the parent, whose name is Josh Powell, will not let me in the door. What should I do?"

Pierce County sheriff's officials Tuesday night released the tapes from the increasingly frantic call a state visitation supervisor made to emergency workers just before Powell, locked inside the house, attacked his two young sons with a hatchet and set the house on fire.

Potential psychosexual evaluation may have been factor in Josh Powell's final actions, prosecutor says

JENNIFER SULLIVAN AND CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:56 CST

SEATTLE - The thought of having to submit to an intrusive - and potentially damning - psychosexual evaluation before he could regain custody of his sons might have been more than a control-obsessed man like Josh Powell could bear, said Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist.

Although no one may ever know exactly what drove Powell to set fire to his own home, killing himself and his two young sons, the court-ordered examination may well have been a factor, Lindquist said Tuesday.

"From his perspective, it was lose-lose-lose," he said.

Powell caseworker told dispatcher in 911 call: 'I'm afraid for their lives'

CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE AND LORNET TURNBULL — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:16 CST

After Josh Powell locked himself in his home with his two young sons, the caseworker assigned to supervise the visitation pleaded for several minutes with a 911 dispatcher to send help, at one point saying, "I'm afraid for their lives," newly disclosed 911 tapes reveal.

"I think I need help right away. He's on a very short leash with DSHS ...," the caseworker told the dispatcher, referring to the state Department of Social and Health Services, which had custody of the children.

"And this is the craziest thing. He looked right at me and closed the door."

Prosecutor sees Josh Powell's final actions as confession to wife's disappearance

CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:11 CST

Josh Powell's final, horrific act - killing his sons and himself in a fiery inferno - was tantamount to a confession to his wife's disappearance and presumed death, according to the Pierce County, Wash., prosecuting attorney.

"If there was any doubt about who murdered Susan Powell, it's gone now," Mark Lindquist said.

On Sunday, when Powell attacked his two sons with a hatchet and then set fire to his rental home in Graham, Wash., he had long been considered by Utah police to be a person of interest in his wife's December 2009 disappearance. But charges had never been brought against him despite questions over his claims that his wife went missing after he took his two sons camping in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures.

Parenting: Tiger Mom has a few regrets

LAURIE HERTZEL — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:06 CST

If you have only heard about "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" and decided you hated it, the Tiger Mother has a request: Read it. All of it. And then decide.

The memoir, a global bestseller that has prompted anger, scorn and vitriolic e-mails, is Amy Chua's account of raising her two daughters "the Chinese way."

Chua, a law professor at Yale University, was brought up by strict immigrant parents. This meant high academic standards, no goofing off, no talking back, and hours each day devoted to schoolwork and music lessons.

Sons did not want to see father, grandparents say

CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:56 CST

While Judy and Chuck Cox were readying their grandchildren for a court-ordered visit with their father on Sunday - a visit that both boys were uncharacteristically fighting - authorities say their father was busy laying a death trap.

Chuck Cox isn't sure why, but Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, had been reluctant to see their father the previous week, and on Sunday "they were just adamant they did not want to go."

But the visits were court-ordered after Josh Powell lost custody of the boys in the fall, and the Coxes insisted they go.

Grandparents want answers in wake of boys' deaths in house blast

KIM MURPHY — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:56 CST

Charles and Judith Cox knew what the professional psychologists said - that their grandsons would be safe with their father, that Josh Powell would present no threat during the boys' court-ordered visits.

And yet. Could the professionals not see what the Coxes saw? That their daughter had been missing since 2009, and Powell was the leading person of interest in the case? What about the family stories that Powell as a teenager had smashed his sister's hamster to death, had threatened his mother with a knife?

Charles Cox said he had been on the verge many times of confronting his son-in-law with the blatant conflicts in his stories about what happened when Susan Powell went missing. But he stopped every time with a nagging fear that Powell might react unpredictably - might even take it out on the children.

Sons did not want to see father, grandparents say

CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:41 CST

Charlie and Braden Powell did not want to see their father Sunday during a court-ordered visitation, the boys' grandparents Chuck and Judy Cox said Monday.

The grandparents aren't sure why the boys didn't want to see Josh Powell at his rental house in Graham, Wash. But the Coxes insisted the children go on the visitation because of the court order, which the boys did accompanied by a state-provided escort.

It was during that visitation that police say Josh Powell set the home on fire, killing Charlie, 7, Braden, 5, and himself. Authorities said Monday they believed Josh Powell had planned the deadly fire for some time, dropping toys and books at Goodwill and sending final emails to friends and acquaintances.

Sons did not want to see father, grandparents say

CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:11 CST

Charlie and Braden Powell did not want to see their father Sunday during a court-ordered visitation, the boys' grandparents Chuck and Judy Cox said Monday.

The grandparents aren't sure why the boys didn't want to see Josh Powell at his Graham, Wash., rental house. But the Coxes insisted the children go on the visitation because of the court order, which they did accompanied by a state-provided escort.

It was during that visitation that police say Josh Powell set the home on fire, killing Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, and himself.

Utah police vow to continue probe into Susan Powell's disappearance

KIM MURPHY — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:41 CST

Police in Utah said Monday that the death of Josh Powell - the only person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan, near Salt Lake City in 2009 - will not necessarily hinder their continuing efforts to solve the perplexing case.

"We've been making progress with the investigation from the very beginning, and it still continues to progress," West Valley City Police Sgt. Mike Powell told the Los Angeles Times.

Powell, who died with his two sons Sunday in Washington state after apparently torching his house during a supervised visitation, had not been cooperating anyway,said the sergeant, who is not related to the Powell family.

Read it: 'Big Hugs, Little Hugs' perfect for preschoolers

SARAI BRINKER — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06 CST

"Big Hugs, Little Hugs"

by Felicia Bond

Philomel, $16.99

Child Sense: Helping your child at bedtime

PRISCILLA J. DUNSTAN — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06 CST

Having enough sleep affects your child's entire day. It will affect their mood, their concentration, how well they behave, and their ability to retain information. A good morning routine actually starts the night before with a good night's sleep, but as every parent knows, getting a child to sleep can be tricky. Use your child's dominant sense to make going to sleep a comfortable process.

Tactile children will find it hard to leave the family group and go off to bed. The idea with these kids is simply put: run out the battery. Make sure that they have had enough outdoor activity during the day, as well as doing some exercises before bed. Even a wrestle with dad can help get rid of that excess energy. The solution is almost counterintuitive - calming down is the aim, but the tactile child needs to be worn out before she can turn off. Once in bed, be aware that the house will need to be quiet while they are falling asleep. Even a hint of some fantastic family activity - going on without them - will be too much to bear, and will make it harder for them to fall asleep.

Auditory children will need to have had their talking quota filled before they can sleep, or their inner chatter will continue, keeping them awake. Making sure you have had good conversation time during the day, with a "fill-up" before bed. Chat with them during story time or over dinner, and make sure you listen to their concerns about the day. An auditory child will work through and resolve their feelings through vocalization. Once they are ready to fall asleep, make sure they are happy with their auditory environment. This might include the sounds in their room such as a quiet CD, or the sound of Dad on the phone in the next room, or of the TV.

Two easy Valentine's Day crafts for little ones

STAFF — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06 CST

Mice Guys

This Valentine's Day, open your heart to a cutie-pie mouse puppet - or make a pair to share with a friend.

For each, cut a heart and an oval from felt. Cut an 8-inch length of bulky yarn and knot one end. Apply tacky glue along one edge of the heart. Add a dot of glue for the tail. Place the unknotted end of the yarn on the dot of glue, then fold the heart in half. Cover the heart with waxed paper and a heavy book and let the glue dry.

New Moms: How much help will you need and how much is too much?

KELLY ALFIERI — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06 CST

Sure, you can do it all, but you shouldn't - you need to rest and heal during baby's first weeks. Here's how to get others to lend a hand.

When I was pregnant with twins, my husband and I were trying to figure out what help we'd need when our babies came home. Other moms insisted that we needed a baby nurse, who would take care of the twins in the nighttime. This person would teach me how to care for the babies and let me get more sleep at night since I could stay in bed and pump breast milk while she gave the children a bottle. I had a funny feeling about the idea, but I went with it and hired someone before the babies were even born.

After delivery, I stayed in the hospital nearly a week and my newborns were in the NICU, so I wasn't able to spend much time with them. Finally, I was able to bring my daughter home, but my son had to stay in the hospital for a few more days. I was thrilled to come home and wanted to spend every second with my new baby and my husband.

Nameberry: Patron saints for your little angel

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06 CST

How would you like a little extra special protection added to the other assets of your baby's name? Patron saints are guardians over particular aspects of life - they can defend against an illness, or look out for people practicing a certain occupation or other interest. Sometimes these assignments were set centuries ago, others have been made more recently, as in the cases of ecology, advertising, computer technicians and television. Here are some of the most usable and interesting patron saint names, with their special areas of protection.

Girls

Adelaide - can be invoked against in-law problems; protects parents of large families, stepparents, widows, abuse victims