Stephanie McMaster
[
Aftermath of Oklahoma Tornado in Photos
A massive tornado touched down just south of Oklahoma City on Monday, killing dozens.
At least seven of those killed were students at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. The twister, which measured 2 miles at one point, has been given a preliminary classification of an EF-4 tornado (winds of 166 to 200 mph), according to weather officials.
[
Dad Turns Kids’ Sandwich Bags Into Artistic Masterpieces
A Massachusetts father gives his children a reason, beyond the possibility of string cheese, to look forward to lunch. David Laferriere of Attleboro has been drawing on his kids' sandwich bags for the past five years, posting pics of each doodle to his flickr account.
[
Should The U.S. Adopt Finland’s ‘Baby Box’ For New Parents?
When it comes to maternity leave, The United States earns a pretty dismal ranking when compared to other countries, being the only first-world country, and one of only three countries (the others being Lesotho, Swaziland and Papua New Guinea) that does not offer paid maternity leaves. Not only do other countries have better systems in place for maternity leave, but they have some pretty great welcoming gifts for their newest citizens. In Finland, for example, new parents can choose between receiving the above maternity package filled with essentials for baby's first few months or a tax-free lump sum of 140 euros as a maternity grant.
[
Talking to Children About Tragedy in Wake of Connecticut School Shooting
How do you explain the unexplainable to children? Today, parents across the country, including myself, were faced with this -- fumbling over words while explaining the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown - located only 20 miles away from my own daughter's elementary school.
[
Anonymous Donor Puts $1,100 in Salvation Army Kettle
It's the selfless stories that really fill the heart with holiday spirit - and such is the case in St. Cloud, Minn., where an anonymous donor dropped 11 hundred-dollar bills into a Salvation Army kettle.
[
5 Adorably Candid Children’s Letters to Santa [PHOTOS]
Writing letters to Santa is a Christmas tradition, and while the requests have changed through the years from Red Ryder BB guns to iPads and Taylor Swift concert tickets, the sentiment behind them remains. Check out five adorably candid letters sent off to the North Pole this year that are sure to make you say "awww."
[
Photos of Hurricane Sandy Flood Social Media Sites
Photos of Hurricane Sandy flooded social media sites throughout the day Monday, with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter users in the storm's path posting dramatic photos of waves, flooding and downed trees. (Some are fake, by the way.)