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The best grandparents on Facebook might just suck IRL

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One of the biggest factors in my husband’s and my decision to have a child was the proximity of my in-laws and their enthusiastic promise to help us with childcare. They lamented how little they’d seen of their other grandchild because he lived in another state, and they were effusively outspoken about how they looked forward to being able to share these milestones with us and our expected baby.

As luck would have it, my husband worked for his father’s business, and we were relieved beyond measure when his mother said she’d watch the baby while my husband worked so that I could work, too. As terrified, financially insecure parents-to-be, their affirmative support was the balm we needed to soothe our multiple anxieties.

More: My grandparents thought they were done raising kids... then I showed up

Throughout the pregnancy and up to birth, my in-laws were attentive and helpful. I grew more close to my mother-in-law than my own mother. Slowly, though, things began to change. My mother-in-law only appeared to be interested in the baby for photo ops that she instantly posted to Facebook. Anytime she was responsible for the baby at all, she made sure to detail all the cries and inconveniences newborns bring — immediately followed with how much she loved every minute of it. When he was there working, she’d call my husband into the house whenever a feeding, changing or the like needed done... to the point where he couldn’t keep up with his work. It slowly devolved into him visiting his parents to "babysit" his own child.

Confused and hurt, he began staying home. His father ultimately gave his job away to one of my husband’s childless acquaintances who lived in a bachelor pad with several other guys. The burden of supporting the family fell solely into my lap.

I was sincerely understanding when Grandma didn’t come to my baby’s first birthday party, something my friends found unconscionable. By the time she didn’t come to the second one, I wasn’t surprised. By then, I’d realized her grandparenting is limited to blips on social media that, ironically enough, reinforce her reputation as a devoted grandmother.

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When I disclosed how absent my husband’s family is to a friend who doesn’t know them personally, she was shocked. What?? she shrieked, as if my divulgence involved celebrity paternity or something equally unbelievable. They look like they’re so involved on Facebook! They’re always posting pictures of their grandchildren! My friend couldn’t believe they had never called to chat with my son or ask how he (or we) were doing. She couldn’t believe they’d been to our house just once in more than two years, while my parents called daily and drove the equivalent of a day’s work round-trip to visit every few months, even bringing us groceries when the company I worked for folded.

Once, during a particularly dry spell when we’d neither seen nor heard from our in-laws in nearly six months, his mother texted him to ask him for a picture of the baby. He sent it, and minutes later, the picture appeared on Facebook, making it appear as though they were together.

Thoroughly mind-fucked, we nosed around with some of our other relatives and discovered that their behavior wasn’t limited to us. One grandchild they initially mentioned being sad about missing actually lived in the same town with them for a time, an even shorter distance away than my husband and I do. And it was the same then: assistance offered, but only begrudgingly given, to the point that this relative, like us, ultimately stopped asking for help or assuming it is even a viable option.

The incongruence between my in-laws’ words and actions stings me, but it’s caused my husband real grief. The very people who raised him, who espoused eternal support and the importance of family, have left him feeling heartbroken, rejected and abandoned. And we both feel they’ve rejected their grandchild.

More: Whether you're putting the husband or the kids first, you're doing it wrong

Neither of us thinks it’s on purpose. They aren’t purposely trying to hurt us or purposely ignoring their grandchild(ren). Still, it’s impossibly hard to reconcile the people who celebrated your pregnancy and promised support with the people you don’t feel you could call on, even in an emergency. The realization that we’re truly alone in all of this has been heartbreaking, but it’s also brought us closer as a family. As painful as it is, my in-laws’ total lack of involvement has helped us focus on what we have, as opposed to what we don’t. Hopefully, as more time passes, it will become easier to see it that way instead of as a profoundly painful loss of family.


Meryl Streep's Donald Trump impersonation is better than any we've seen on SNL

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More: Oscar-winner Meryl Streep wants rules changed!

On Monday, Meryl Streep proved yet again that her acting talent knows no boundaries. At Shakespeare in the Park in New York City, the actress went full Donald Trump: padded suit, face makeup, wig and all. She performed alongside Christine Baranski, who portrayed Hillary Clinton, and the two sang a song which included lyrics such as "Why is it all the women say no?" Folks in the audience immediately took to social media to document the event.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep 2

Meryl Streep 2

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

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Former Saturday Night Live cast member Darrell Hammond has been praised for his impersonation of Trump, who looks like he's going to be the Republican presidential nominee. While Hammond was called the best of the Trump impersonators (Taran Killam is now SNL's resident Trump), it looks like he might be usurped by Streep, whose performance is being dubbed a hit.

Streep has never been skittish about taking on controversy in her roles or voicing it in her life off-camera. Earlier this year, her "We are all Africans" comment earned her some serious backlash on Twitter, and in 2015, when she portrayed British suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, she went on a crusade urging Congress to revisit the Equal Rights Amendment.

As of now, neither Trump nor his campaign staff has issued a statement about Streep's impression, but let's be honest: He's probably not going to let this one go, especially given his previous comments about famous women who dare to take on him and his political views. The gazillionaire might want to think twice about what he says about Streep, though. She is unquestionably one of the most beloved and revered actresses in Hollywood. Meryl Streep does what she wants and she's not afraid of you, Donald Trump.

More: Meryl Streep's star-studded Kennedy Center honor

What do you think of Streep's Trump impersonation? What will Trump himself have to say about it? Tell us in the comments!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below!

Meryl Streep slideshow

Feed the Beast is at risk for cancellation already but could easily be saved

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The summer season has always been a traditionally weird time for TV, usually leaving viewers to resort to reruns or stuff that wasn't deemed awesome enough to make the fall lineup. But with the advent of summer smashes like Netflix's Orange Is the New Black and True Detective, it seems like summer TV in 2016 is shaping up for big things.

That's why I was disheartened to read initial reviews about Feed the Beast, AMC's newest drama starring David Schwimmer and Jim Sturgess. Schwimmer especially is a warm welcome back to our TV screens, having led a much lower-key existence in the years after Friends than many of his, well, friends. But when he returned to TV in 2016 to portray the late Robert Kardashian in The People vs. O.J. Simpson and earned stunning reviews, it wasn't only Ross Geller fans that were excited to see Schwimmer back on screen.

More: Robert Kardashian was the real hero, according to The People v. O.J. Simpson

Feed the Beast tells the story of Tommy, a recent widow who had dreams of opening a restaurant with his wife, Rie, before she was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident. He's reeling from her death and trying to raise their 10-year-old son, TJ, who has not spoken since his mom's death. He's also since shifted focus to work as a sommelier, and finds himself drinking a bit too much wine in the process.

If this were where the show's storyline stayed focused, I think it'd be off to a great start. After all, a show about a man grieving the loss of his wife and trying to raise their son is a delicate and harrowing story to tell. But this is actually a subplot, and in the show's pilot, almost like an afterthought.

More: I'd still totally date Ross Geller, TBH

The main focus is on Tommy's pal Dion (played by Sturgess), who is released from prison after burning down the restaurant where he worked with Tommy and Rie. Turns out, Dion roped Tommy into opening the restaurant to pay back the $600,000 in debt he owes a mafia boss nicknamed the Tooth Fairy since he, uh, loves to take his enemies' teeth out with a pair of pliers. Lovely.

The mob bosses actually arranged for Dion's early release from prison, and when he attempts to flee to Paris the following day, he's caught, and the drama ensues.

Naturally, this is where the meat of the show lies (no food pun intended), but it's actually a grave mistake, I think, that the show's introduction has already made. Sure, it's exciting and gives off the same kind of adrenaline rush that TV viewers love to cling to, but the heart of the story lies in Tommy and TJ.

More: Check out a sneak peek of the Friends reunion

Friends fans were naturally eager to connect Schwimmer's gritty role on Beast to his most beloved role to date, but so far, all we've gotten is Schwimmer at his Ross Geller worst. There's opportunity here for his character to really grieve the loss of his wife and connect with his son, who seems to be lost in the shuffle in the wake of his mom's death.

One particularly poignant moment in the pilot came when Rie's phone — pink phone case and screen cracks from the accident still intact — rang and Tommy realized it was TJ calling, just to hear his mom's voicemail greeting. What should have been a devastatingly powerful moment for the audience was pretty quickly glossed over for the next cat-and-mouse game between Dion and the mob bosses.

I'm hoping that the show will explore Rie as a character more and give us intel into who she was and what she meant to Tommy and TJ. I also hope that Tommy's character will go through the stages of grief in the way he deserves to. I get that Dion's drug-addled misadventures with the mafia make for cool TV, but the spark is really with Tommy's inability to cope with his wife's death. That's what will give Feed the Beast substance beyond mob bosses and an unfortunate pair of pliers.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

2016 canceled shows slideshow

Image: Byron Cohen/ABC

What did you think of the Feed the Beast premiere?

Leaving your pet outside during the summer should be considered abuse

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I didn't really grow up with pets. I had a dog, Spike, for a short stint. I bought him from a kid for 50 cents and my mom let us keep him for a while. I don't remember where he slept, and I only knew two other people with dogs who lived in the house. But since I've had my own pets, I've started leaning decidedly on the side of "pets belong in the house, not outside" camp.

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And if there was a teeny amount of doubt left, this guy who left his puppy on his balcony during record temperatures in Phoenix, Ariz., has put me completely over the edge. Neighbors say they called police after hearing the puppy whine and seeing it jumping around to avoid burning its paws. And though firefighters pulled up a ladder to rescue the pup, by the time they arrived it had died. The high temp that day registered at 113 degrees.

When we sign up for a pet, we sign up for a family member. And before we move a new family member into our space, we should make sure we have all the bases covered. Do we have enough room for him? Where will she sleep? Can we afford it? With babies, it's easy to have a surprise — to plan for one thing and have a completely different thing happen. But with pets, we choose them. They don't call us up one day asking for a place to live. We go out of our way — to a breeder, a rescue group, the pound, a pet shop (a reputable one that doesn't use puppy mills, please!) — to choose them, to find the perfect fit for our families. They don't choose us.

More: I didn't give up on my heartworm-positive dog because he's family, too

Which is to say that they don't choose to stay home alone all day, chained, in the backyard. They don't choose to stand on a balcony in 113-degree heat, their paws burning. They don't choose to wait in a non-ventilated hot car on days so hot that many of us hesitate to leave the house, and even more of us refuse to use our ovens.

We can hardly let our children play outside just a few feet away without having someone call the police. So why is it still OK to have dogs who live solely outside? I'm not talking about working dogs who stay out all night hunting or working the farm (be honest, how many of us are actually using our Border collies to herd sheep?) 

In most states, it's only a crime to leave your pet outdoors in extreme temperatures, since it may be considered animal cruelty or neglect. That could mean that temperatures would have to be freezing or extremely hot or the pet would be outside without food, water or shelter. There's a huge difference between it being hot — let's say 86 degrees — and the temperatures that poor Phoenix dog was in before it died. But he shouldn't have been out there on that balcony in the first place; because that's not how you treat family. And I wish more people thought that way.

More: I'm spending thousands to keep my dog alive, and I wouldn't change a thing

Your marriage is at risk of #TrumpStress even if you're not voting for him

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My husband and I both agree that the current presidential election is a travesty, but for some reason that hasn’t stopped us from countless heated discussions on the subject. This is not our normal. While I am undoubtedly the type of person who loves to sink my teeth into a lively debate on most any topic, my husband is not. When we first got together, he was shocked at the rousing conversations around my family’s dinner table on any given night. Ever the polite WASP, he was silent about just how horrified he really was.

But there is something different happening in our home right now. Maybe it’s the fact that our kids are a bit older so they are also aware of presidents and political parties. Maybe it’s how we have evolved over the years from a more conservative take toward a more middle or even liberal one, or maybe it’s just that the most media-exposed candidate is an orange-tinted reality star. Whatever the reason, we are stressed. And we’re not quiet about it, either.

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My husband and I really don’t fight — I could not possibly recall the last time we had an actual disagreement beyond a sentence or two. That sounds boring to some people, but the truth is, we just get along really well. We went through some growing pains when our first child was a baby, but in spite of some touch-and-go moments as we sorted out our new parenting roles, we came out the other side of that brilliantly. My husband is the kind of guy who makes the lunches in the morning, lets me sleep in a bit and brings me a cup of coffee, even though he got up with the baby too. He’s that awesome. And that easy-going. Nothing gets him worked up enough for arguing.

Nothing apparently, except for the host of The Apprentice.

Last week as the two of us were headed to Target, my poor 5-year-old, squeaking from her car seat behind the passenger seat, implored, "Guys! Stop fighting!" as we were in the middle of an exasperated venting session about all of the foolishness. Somewhere in-between my high-pitched strains about Mexico and walls and Ohio, and my husband interjecting his thoughts regarding steelworkers and the disenfranchised, my tiny poppet decided she couldn’t stand it any longer and felt the need to step in.

"We're not fighting, sweetie, promise!" I assured her. "We're just having a discussion!" The words made me snicker, because while we really weren't fighting, that's precisely what my parents said when they were fighting with one another.

"Errrr, it sure sounds like fighting to me!" she replied, skeptically, her tiny hands twisting back and forth to further signify her disappointment and distrust.

My husband told her that we were just talking about the president, and who would be the next president, and why we wanted to talk about boring grown up stuff like this, so she needn't be alarmed. For the moment, we set the whole conversation aside, put on the 5-year-old's favorite record, Sia's "1000 Forms of Fear," and had a dance party instead of a "discussion" for the rest of our errand.

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When I think about how stressed my husband and I are about this whole election, I can only be grateful that we are on the same side of the issues and candidates. Given my penchant for loud debate, no good in our marriage could come from disagreeing this election cycle. In the past, while we’ve voted for opposing candidates for the presidency, we both respected each other’s choices even if we ultimately disagreed. This time, there's something ultimately unifying about a common enemy; yet, it feels more stressful than when we actually disagreed.

For anyone who might be married to someone that is an avid supporter of the presumptive Republican nominee, may the odds be ever in your favor.

5 tips to help you figure out exactly what you're good at

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One of the most difficult challenges women face in achieving personal growth is to adequately identify and acknowledge their strengths. If you find that you're having trouble identifying your strengths in your personal or professional life, it could be holding you back from amazing opportunities to grow in your career and in your relationships. Not to mention lacking the ability to acknowledge your strengths has the potential to hinder your confidence and self-actualization.

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Fortunately, there are simple ways you can start identifying your strengths. Here are the top five ways I've worked to discover and build upon my best traits!

1. Take a career strengths test

Just because these tests are typically used to determine your professional strengths doesn't mean they can't be useful in your personal life. Chances are, the strengths you've found in your career will overlap a bit as positive traits in your personal life as well.

For example, if a career strength test tells you that you are meant to lead, this might help you leverage your leadership strengths in casual settings to help plan get-togethers and vacations with friends. If this sounds like something you'd like to try out, The Muse has provided a resource with the 11 best career quizzes.

2. Understand your zodiac sign

For those of you who are skeptical of zodiac logic, this might seem like a silly step. However, understanding the meaning behind your zodiac sign can help you get started on understanding your innate strengths. For example, I've always been complimented as someone with a vast imagination and a creative personality. Looking at my horoscope helped me understand more about this strength as a Cancer as I got older. Knowing that creativity is an innate strength of mine has definitely helped guide my career as a writer.

To use your sign's strengths to guide your personal growth, check out zodiac sign meanings to understand where your strengths lie. Then compare your strengths to other signs to see why and how yours differ.

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3. Analyze why you like the activities you do

Not every activity you love will necessarily become one of your greatest strengths; however, analyzing why you favor certain activities over others might help you understand where your strengths lie. If you find that you enjoy interacting with clients or chatting with coworkers at the office, this probably means that you're an outgoing person in your personal life who can use this trait to help introduce new friends to one another and meet new people yourself. If you're a bit more closed off but enjoy working on your own to achieve a goal, this independence could prove handy when you decide to take on new projects around the house.

4. Pay attention to compliments

Although focusing too much on what others think about you can be a detriment, simply noticing the personality traits you tend to be complimented on most can be a good thing. While you're in the process of determining your strengths, try to take careful notice of the compliments you receive on a regular basis. Is there a pattern? How could you translate that pattern to determine your strengths?

5. Find out what you like about yourself

The tools and tips above will help you get started, but the most critical step is looking internally to determine your best qualities. Ask yourself what qualities of yours shine in tough situations and why you think that is. Complimenting yourself can be tricky, but the first four steps should help you prepare yourself to start noticing and acknowledging your best qualities in this step. If you find that you're still having trouble determining your own strengths, take a look at this list and narrow down the traits that apply to you most.

I hope these tips will help you as you start the process of identifying your personal strengths to further develop yourself in your professional and personal life. If you have any tips you'd like to share with other readers, I'd love to hear them! Let me know in the comments below.

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Did RHOD's LeeAnne Locken really say her violent threats are just 'slang'?

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No one is denying the fact that The Real Housewives of Dallas' LeeAnne Locken has had a hard life. But does that mean she can treat her RHOD coworkers however she wants? On last week's episode, she grew increasingly angry after what started out as joke — a story about her pooping in a car. (Yes, it was that silly. Or, at least, it should have been.) It escalated into the fellow Housewives saying that they were in true fear of Locken as she grew angrier and finally threatened Marie Reyes, "I'm going to kill you."

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Now that the episode has aired, Locken turned to People to share her side of the story. "People for over a year up to that point had been coming to me and telling me things that Marie was saying about me, and these were all negative things that were lies about me," she said. "And I kept defending her for a year. But once you realize, you're like, 'Damn this hurts.' It hurt to a level of bringing up all of that other hurt — and to hurt me that deeply is how deeply I was hurt as a child."

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Locken is a survivor of abuse and she says that the insults from Reyes bring back that time in her life. "It brought it all back up and what happens is I become so angry — because that's how I express hurt — that basically my mouth takes over, my brain shuts down," she continued. "There's no other way to describe it.

"When I say things like, 'I'm going to kill you' — how many times have you heard a parent, even characters on sitcoms say that? It's slang to me," she says. There's no excuse for what Locken has been through — but we also don't love seeing her threaten her friends with murder. Is RHOD the best place for her to work out her unresolved issues?

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A parrot may be a key witness in a murder mystery — but how reliable is a bird?

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Ever heard of a family pet getting up behind the witness stand in a murder trial? Neither have I. But this idea might not seem so crazy for those who have heard about the African gray parrot Bud, a key witness to the fatal shooting of his owner, Martin Duram.

More: 15 things all bird owners know to be true

The notoriously filthy-mouthed bird was recorded several weeks after the shooting, repeating a chilling phrase: "Don’t f---ing shoot!" The victim’s parents are convinced that the bird watched the murder of their son and is now replaying Duram’s final words out loud.

bird murder witness

bird murder witness

In the video footage, the pet parrot seems to be mimicking an intense argument between the victim and his wife, suggesting that Mrs. Duram herself may be a suspect in the murder. The question is whether or not this chatty bird's "testimony" can be used as evidence to start pointing fingers. We know that these mimicking feathered friends are pretty smart, but can they really be reliable murder witnesses?

African grays have the reputation for being one of the most intelligent bird species out there. Not only can they perfectly mimic everything that comes out of their owner’s mouths, but they also have incredibly well-developed memories and the ability to distinguish between different voices. The most famous African gray parrot, Alex, was the first of these clever creatures to have its cognitive abilities thoroughly studied. The research done by Alex's owner, Dr. Irene Pepperberg, revealed the parrot's ability to describe shapes, objects and colors, do basic math problems and even understand concepts like size and sameness.

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Even though these awesome winged pets have proved their smarts to us, can we really start relying on their speech capabilities to solve murders? Sure, they can accurately mimic speech, but since they are only repeating phrases, it's impossible to tell if they are mimicking something they heard on TV rather than in real life.

Doreen Plotkowski, the owner of a Michigan parrot store, claims that Bud's repeated phrase is something the bird has "definitely heard before." But an attorney in the case, Michael Walsh, doubts the reliability of the parrot's words because he says there is no way to prove exactly what he is mimicking. Walsh claims that "you can't rule out that the bird witnessed a homicide or that the bird witnessed something on TV."

While these crazy-smart birds definitely seem to be reliable mimics, the fact of the matter is that without being able to communicate with them directly, there's no way for us to know exactly who and what they are mimicking. Unless we can get these gabby birds to start talking to us mimic-free, it doesn’t look like they'll be our most reliable legal witnesses any time soon.

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Taxing diapers is a crappy thing to do to moms

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No matter where you shop for them, diapers are an expense that can set families back nearly $1,000 a year. While most parents would do anything to keep their children healthy, the reality is that there are still far too many people in this country forced to make tough choices between keeping their babies in clean diapers or paying bills and buying food. So why are we taxing this basic need for parents?

On average, babies go through 50 diapers each week, or 200 diapers a month, and many mothers are reporting that they often fall 11 to 12 diapers short each week, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. And yet a tax on diapers is in effect in most places around the nation, costing our nation's most vulnerable populations.

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Just as efforts to get rid of the tampon tax gains traction and reminds us that feminine care should not be thought of as a luxury, the fight to eliminate a diaper tax in all states should not be shifted off to the sidelines. It's one small but effective measure that can help bring relief to thousands of families who are working full-time jobs for minimum wage and spend 6 percent of their gross income on diapers alone.

A few states have already helped parents by eliminating the diaper tax altogether — hats off to Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont (Alaska, Oregon, New Hampshire and Montana have no sales tax, period). Connecticut, where adult diapers are tax-free, is considering scrapping the diaper tax, and legislators in Illinois have proposed reducing the sales tax on diapers and wipes from 6.25 percent to 1 percent.

But there's still a way to go.

After researchers from Yale University surveyed 877 pregnant women or moms in New Haven, Connecticut, they found that an astonishing 30 percent, or 1 in 12, revealed that they either stretch out the time their babies spend in soiled diapers or reuse dirty diapers after cleaning them to the best of their ability. Children who are kept in soiled diapers for long periods of time are more likely to contract urinary tract infections and develop rashes — and let's not forget these health conditions require expensive trips to the doctor and/or pharmacy.

There's another aspect to this story that lead author Megan Smith reminds us of: When children kept in dirty diapers cry or act out because they are experiencing irritation, a parent's stress level increases, which doesn't help her parent as effectively as she could.

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You may be wondering why these parents don't simply switch to reusable cloth diapers. Many of them are from low-income backgrounds and don't own washing machines and dryers. A number of laundromats won't allow you to wash soiled cloth diapers in their machines because they feel it's unsanitary or their washing machines aren't equipped to handle the high temperatures needed to properly wash reusable diapers.

And there's another big catch here: Parents who work full-time jobs and rely on day care are expected to drop off their children with a supply of diapers. Those families that receive food stamps from federal aid programs like WIC and SNAP know the grim reality — these programs don't cover the cost of diapers.

More: What happens when you put a placenta in your baby photo? Magic

Even without sales tax, working disposable diapers into a family budget is a challenge. But every cent saved on diapers helps families in need. It helps keep children in those families healthy and happy. It even helps working parents whose livelihoods rely, in part, on sending their babies to day care with diapers.

Diapers are not a luxury — they're a medical necessity. And sales tax exemptions should be made for baby products that keep our children (and their parents) healthy and happy.

diaper tax
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Here's a thought: Talk about Maisie Williams’ charity work, not her boobs

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Maisie Williams is a lot of things: She's an amazing actress on Game of Thrones, a dancer, she's active in charity and, according to her IMDb page, has even dabbled in publicity work. But somehow, the Daily Mail was just able to reduce her to an objectifying headline about her boobs.

"Unveiled: Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams goes braless in sheer lace dress and quirky headpiece at charity masquerade ball," the headline of a recent Daily Mail story reads, before going on to vividly describe every aspect of her appearance from head to toe. There wasn't much mention of her breasts or bralessness in the body of the article, probably because the publication doesn't have any hard proof of whether or not Williams is, in fact, wearing a bra.

The worst part? From the headline, the writer obviously knew that Williams was at the event to raise money for charity, yet still chose to go the sex sells route and throw in the word "braless" for clickbait.

More: 15 things we learned about Maisie Williams on her new YouTube channel (VIDEO)

Williams, of course, had the perfect response to the headline.

Maisie Williams tweet

Maisie Williams tweet

Besides helping to raise money for the NSPCC — an organization which fights to protect kids from child abuse — Williams is also an ambassador for the Dolphin Project and is a supporter of Greenpeace and the Small Steps Project. But we don't see any of that mentioned in the Daily Mail article. Instead there's just a detailed account of her fingernail polish and what color lipstick she was wearing.

More: Maisie Williams doesn't agree with Emma Watson or her views on feminism

Can we just give pause for a moment here and recognize the fact that there was nothing overtly sexual about what Williams wore to the NSPCC charity ball that night? Not that it would justify the headline, but her rather demure lace gown that obviously has a nude liner underneath makes it impossible to tell what kind of undergarments Williams is — or isn't — wearing.

Maisie Williams charity ball dress

Maisie Williams charity ball dress

The objectification of Williams in this instance comes from the simple fact that, sadly, sex does still sell in our society. As long as we all keep clicking on salacious headlines, they're going to keep on coming.

More: Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams teases Jon Snow's living dead return

Ozzy Osbourne's ex-manager calls BS on Ozzy's 'split' from Sharon

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Remember when we shared some intel that some people in Ozzy Osbourne's camp believe his cheating scandal and subsequent marriage implosion was all a publicity stunt set up by Sharon? Another insider is lending credence to the claim.

Ozzy's former manager, Steven Machat, went on record to say he believes the whole story is simply a ploy to get Ozzy back in the public eye before his band Black Sabbath tours this summer — and thus, drive ticket sales.

More: Ozzy Osbourne's cheating scandal is turning into one strange love triangle

"I would put money on [the fact that] it's a publicity stunt," Machat told Radar Online. "They're going on a Black Sabbath tour. She would do this in a minute — it's propaganda!

"Sharon is clever enough to make a story that the press would read, so all of a sudden he becomes relevant again," Machat said. "He's not all there. I would doubt that he had an affair."

Machat also believes there's not a snowball's chance in hell that this couple would ever see the inside of a divorce court.

More: Sharon Osbourne's subtle dig at Ozzy on The View basically means he cheated

"She's not divorcing him — that's her beast of burden," he said. "She was in love with the fact that… she could milk him for money. That's how I saw it. Sharon is someone that would manipulate the media to say that her and Ozzy have broken up, and now she would go back with him.

"She was perfect for him — she was made to order," he said. "She's his mother and nurse and manager."

It's not as if Sharon needs Ozzy's profile raised to raise her own. At this point, she probably brings in more money than he does. But hey, you do you, girl.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Ozzy & Sharon marriage slideshow
Image: WENN

Rumors about Richard Simmons transitioning are disgraceful whether they're true or not

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Richard Simmons checked in to the hospital. But thanks to how the story was reported, the trip to the ER may not be the most painful part of his week. His visit was due to that PR-safe buzzword, "dehydration," but many outlets are citing an article in the National Enquirer that claims Simmons is transitioning to become a woman. When did it become OK to start rumors like this?

More: We hope Richard Simmons is OK after reports of paramedics at his house

As People reports, Simmons was hospitalized on Friday and released on Saturday. A seemingly run-of-the-mill incident, but rumors of various levels of believability have been swirling about Simmons since his disappearance from the public eye last year. As People points out, he barely appeared in public in 2014 and was last seen in January.

Simmons' rep has commented on claims of a gender transition, saying, "He is not transitioning into a woman. He has decided to live quietly the last few years. He had knee surgery a few years ago and has a bum knee. He is still on Twitter and Facebook and works behind the scenes, continuing to inspire and motivate people to lose weight. When he decides to come back, he will come back."

More: 8 fab photos of Richard Simmons that prove we need him back in our lives

Simmons (or someone with his social media passwords) did indeed post on his Facebook page, writing, "Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and concern after hearing I was in the hospital. I was dehydrated and needed some fluids and now I am feeling great! Summer is here - drink plenty of liquids. Big hugs and kisses for caring."

More: Richard Simmons is not ill, he's in the best shape of his life, says rep

I didn't know if I was raped so I kept silent – Brock Turner convinced me to speak up

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Eighteen or 19 years ago, I woke up naked, legs hanging off the side of my bed and totally confused. Just a few minutes before, I thought, my boyfriend and I were drinking and playing cards with that couple we were friends with and hung out with all the time. I was laughing and having a great time.

More: I've lived with my rape for 23 years – Brock Turner can pay for '20 minutes of action'

But it wasn't nighttime anymore. The couple was gone. The sun was shining. My head hurt. I'd never blacked out in my life. Had I really been that drunk? What happened?

I briefly wondered if I left my drink somewhere, but quickly stopped that line of thought. I didn't want to think about the who and the why of one minute playing cards and the next minute waking up confused and unclothed. It was easier not to.

I found my boyfriend asleep, curled into the fetal position around the toilet in the bathroom, on the cold floor. He looked just as confused as I felt — or maybe I was imagining that. I didn't ask. It was easier not to.

We never saw the other couple again. We just never talked to them again, which was weird because my boyfriend had been friends with them before I came into the picture. After that night, they weren't brought up — ever — and they also stopped calling.

And we pretended it was normal. Even though it wasn't. And it was easier that way.

More: Life lessons from my badass feminist grandmother

Years later, I wish I'd been strong enough to do what wasn't easier — to get answers to the questions from that night. Were we drugged? Was I raped? My own story makes me applaud the bravery of the other women who wake up unclothed and confused and question everything, even when the result is bullshit.

Brock Turner raped an unconscious woman. His friends and family are crying about injustice, claiming political correctness led to his three felony convictions.

This is not political correctness. This is privilege. This is victimizing the rapist and criminalizing the victim. This is the rapist's father, Dan Turner, blithely referring to the rape his son committed as "20 minutes of action." This is Judge Aaron Persky minimizing the crime to a mere six months for the sake of Brock Turner's "future."

This is rape culture. Nobody drink that Kool-Aid. It's contaminated.

It's so easy to remain silent because justice isn't always served, even with eyewitnesses and airtight cases. It's so much harder to speak out in spite of a culture which glorifies an Olympic hopeful-turned-convicted felon while blaming rape victims for their choice of clothing or for how much they drank.

I had a choice to remain silent way back then, but the victim in this case did not. Witnesses stopped the attack. She woke up in the presence of police who explained what had happened to her while she was unconscious. Her circumstances forced her to speak; she did not have the luxury of pretending it didn't happen. But justice would be served, she thought. And then it wasn't.

It's so easy to remain silent. For the Stanford rape victim, I now choose to speak.

More: Why the feminist movement still has a long way to go

RHOBH cast update: Eileen Davidson’s out, but Brandi Glanville might return

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Brandi Glanville certainly makes for interesting TV watching, and it looks like her Real Housewives of Beverly Hills days aren't over for good, as long as she gets a new man.

More: Thank you, Brandi Glanville, for embracing the one-night stand

Speaking during an interview with Bustle, Glanville revealed that she would consider returning to Bravo's hit franchise if one condition is met.

"I think that the only way I would want to come back is if I had a partner, you know if I was in love and I had somebody by my side to have my back," she told the publication.

"I don't think the women would come for me so hard," she continued. "I feel like they respect people who are married on that show and they don't respect other... I don't know. I just want someone to have my back and to be there because they love me."

More: Brandi Glanville has the most unexpected work partner: LeAnn Rimes' ex

And she certainly needs all the support she can get, because Glanville had more than her fair share of dramatic moments while on the show. Although, she does still have the support of Yolanda Foster and Kim Richards.

"Yes, Yolanda has my back. Kim has my back, but they have their own problems. [Yolanda is] sick [and] Kim [has her] struggles." And Glanville is tired of facing the drama alone. "It's not fun and a lot of the other friendships I don't believe are friendships, they're alliances, " she said. "I really wouldn't want to go back, unless my life is a different place."

Glanville has been pretty unlucky in love (we're talking to you, LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian), but she may meet her match now that she's starring on Famously Single — and we kinda hope that she does, because boy, would we love to see Glanville return.

But one person we might not see on the show is Eileen Davidson. According to the Inquisitr, there has been a casting update for Season 7 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Davidson was allegedly not asked to return, except for a role as ”friend of a Housewife" — which would be a major demotion.

Celeb Dirty Laundry also notes that the reason for the demotion could be because Bravo was unable to pay Davidson the money she wants, or that she had very little storyline other than fighting with Lisa Vanderpump.

More: Don't ask Bella Hadid about RHOBH — she isn't interested in watching it

Are you excited that there's a possibility Brandi Glanville will be returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Or are you sad to see Eileen Davidson go? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Brandi Glanville through the years

J.K. Simmons is now super ripped (and we'll save you a step: he's 61)

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Don't ever let anyone tell you it's too late to get in shape. J.K. Simmons is 61 — almost old enough for the senior citizen discount — and he's still pumping iron.

More: Tamra Judge may as well audition for Thor now, by the looks of these pics

Simmons is getting in shape for his upcoming role as Commissioner Gordon in Justice League, and his trainer Aaron Williamson isn't shy about claiming bragging rights for how buff Simmons has gotten.

jk simmons fit

jk simmons fit

Instagram commenters are freaking out over Simmons' transformation, writing, "Now I got some motivation as I just turned 59 this year! Got some serious work ahead of me! I think I need to change gyms!"

Fans are using Simmons and his age as fitspiration, motivating their friends and themselves to get to the gym. They're calling out their friends to look as good as he does at the gym. One wrote, "when someone that age looks older than you. You have to step your game up!" Another agreed, saying, "now that's motivation and he's double my age!"

simmons fit 2

simmons fit 2

More: Being a muscular woman (unfortunately) puts a target on your back

In a world of actors getting buff for films, Distractify has the final conclusion on Simmons' makeover. They write, "Simmons has evolved into his highest and final form. He has gone from actor (with the emphasis on the last, pretentious syllable) to immortal, genetically-mutated movie star."

More: Adele's gym picture sums up how we all feel about fitness right now


Your handy guide to converting any recipe to gluten free

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For some, going gluten free is the latest diet craze, and for others, it's a way of life. Whether you fall to the left or to the right or somewhere in between, we've got all your bases covered. With five simple recipe hacks, gluten-free cooking doesn't have to be flavorless or all that complicated.

If you have celiac disease, a wheat allergy or just want to clean up your diet, you'll be happy to know that most recipes can be easily altered to avoid the big G.

1. Swap the flour

Substitute all-purpose gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose regular flour at a ratio of 1:1. Try Bob's Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour. If you are baking items such as cakes and/or breads, add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum.

More: Coconut-veggie fried brown rice is a healthier spin on takeout

2. Eliminate the flour

Try omitting the flour altogether. If you are craving peanut butter cookies, for example, try this simple recipe without the flour.

peanut butter cookies
Image: SheKnows

Simple gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe

Yields 6 – 8

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 – 2 eggs (depending on how moist you want them to be)

Directions:

  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Blend the ingredients, and place the dough on a cookie sheet.
  3. Bake for about 10 minutes.

3. Create a gluten-free flour mixture

In place of flour in a recipe, try this combination.

  • 3 parts white or brown rice flour
  • 2 parts potato starch
  • 1 part tapioca flour/starch
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum for every 1-1/2 cups flour mixture

More: No-bake chocolate-almond butter cups are ridiculously easy to make

4. Consider arrowroot powder

Arrowroot powder can be used in place of xanthan gum if you are having a hard time finding the latter. As a general rule, use 1/2 teaspoon of arrowroot powder for each cup of wheat flour called for in any recipe. Note: Round up if the recipe calls for a partial cup.

More: Baked ziti gets a gluten-free makeover thanks to quinoa pasta

5. Experiment with ingredients

Other ingredients in the recipe may need to be adjusted when trying new flours and flour combinations. For example, use 2-1/2 teaspoons of baking powder for every cup of flour used in a recipe. Some flours may be a bit drier, so you may have to add additional liquid ingredients, such as water or oil, depending on what the recipe calls for.

Updated by Bethany Ramos on 5/13/16

What Pati Jinich eats when she's too tired to cook

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Pati Jinich is a cookbook author (most recently Mexican Today) and host of PBS show Pati's Mexican Table. She's also mom to three boys, ages 10, 14, and 16. Which means she's outnumbered at home.

More: What Giada De Laurentiis eats when she's too tired to cook

We asked Jinich what she eats when she's on the go and she answered with one emphatic word.

"Sandwiches!"

Gotcha. There's quite a few sandwich recipes in the new cookbook, but one in particular satisfies her boys.

One that I really like making for my kids, which is very simple, is the chipotle-rubbed salmon sandwich. The marinade is like four ingredients and you put it in the oven and then on whole wheat bread, toasted. I mash the salmon a little, put it on there, add some slices of avocado, bacon, some greens, and it's a whole meal. And they love it.

There's also a chopped egg and avocado sandwich with chipotle and Oaxaca cheese in the cookbook that will make you rethink your avocado toast.

More: What Padma Lakshmi eats when she's too tired to cook

Now in Jinich's case, those three big boys (and probably her husband, too) are getting old enough to cook for themselves. One of them loves baking. But you can't eat brownies for dinner. (Or can you?) So build-your-own tacos helps the guys learn to feed themselves. "The kids love putting together their own tacos. It's very empowering for kids to say this yes, this no."

More: This is what a Mexican hot dog tastes like, and it's a real dreamboat

Superhero mom takes on daughter's kidnapper — and wins

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Incur the wrath of a protective mom and you won't know what hit you. Craig Bonello can vouch for this. The 30-year-old allegedly tried to kidnap a 13-year-old girl in a Florida convenience store Tuesday — but he wasn't prepared for getting his butt kicked by her mother.

More: Psst: Even spanking parents know it doesn't make kids behave

The incident was captured on the store's surveillance video, which shows the suspect grabbing the teenager by her arms and dragging her to the front door. The mom wasted no time in taking hold of her teen's arm, while simultaneously fighting off Bonello.

Just watch her. She doesn't give up until he lets go and runs out the front door.

Mom takes on kidnapper

Mom takes on kidnapper

More: Her breastfeeding photo went viral, then came the death threats

Luckily, an off-duty deputy was getting out of his patrol car to enter the store, was alerted to the attempted abduction by the store manager and acted quickly to stop Bonello from driving out of the parking lot.

But the real hero of this story has to be that mom, who turned into a total badass superhero to save her daughter's life.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Controversial celebrity photos
Image: SheKnows



Paula Abdul getting barfed on by a little girl is the highlight of our day

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Paula Abdul might be used to being showered with attention, but certainly not showered with vomit. That all changed at this little girl's audition for So You Think You Can Dance.

Little Chi Tahani totally rocked her Chicago tryout with a performance to Beyoncé's hit song "Countdown," and she got three thumbs up from the judges. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there.

More: Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler joins So You Think You Can Dance as a judge

When Abdul gave Tahani a hug to congratulate her for a job well done, the little girl thanked her with a lap full of vomit!

Girl pukes on Paula Abdul

Girl pukes on Paula Abdul

More: Celeb 101: 10 things you didn't know about So You Think You Can Dance's tWitch

While we think the excitement and all those flips may have had something to do with Tahani's sensitive tummy, she gave a really cute reason for barfing all over Abdul.

"Well, I hugged Nigel," she explained, "and then I hugged Paula, and she just squeezed me too tight, and all the happiness came on her jacket."

So really, it's all Abdul's fault.

"I've never had anyone vomit on me like that," Abdul said, rather unconvincingly. But maybe the pukers on American Idol saved it for Simon backstage?

Tahani will join J.T., Emma, Tia, Leana, Alex, Diana and Daniela, all from the Chicago auditions, at the Academy.

More: Paula Abdul really wants you to touch your boobs

2 contestants 70 years apart in age steal America's Got Talent spotlight

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This season of America's Got Talent may have the strangest rivalry the show has ever seen. Proving age is really nothing but a number, the show's two strongest performances were from an 82-year-old and a 12-year-old. They may have disproportionate life experience, but they definitely both have talent.

More: Blake & Gwen's relationship reportedly creating rift with The Voice costar

First, we had 82-year-old John Hetlinger singing Drowning Pool's "Bodies." Hetlinger, a retired aerospace engineer, called his appearance on the show "high point of my life and many careers."

John Hetlinger America's Got Talent

John Hetlinger America's Got Talent

More: Miley Cyrus will coach Season 11 of The Voice

Next up, 12-year-old Grace VanderWaal performed an original composition on her ukulele. Judge Howie Mandel agrees that it doesn't get much cuter than a girl with a guitar. She earned a golden buzzer and, even more impressively, a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.

Grace VanderWaal AGT

Grace VanderWaal AGT

Cowell had the highest of all compliments for VanderWaal, who we bet we'll be seeing on the pop charts very soon if he has anything to do with it. Cowell said, "Grace, you know what I predict for you? I think you are the next Taylor Swift." That's a mouthful for a 12-year-old girl to hear. Hetlinger, watch out, your rival may be young, but she knows exactly whose (very big) shoes she's going to fill.

More: Not sure if Blake Shelton has a gambling problem? Well, here's your answer

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