But new statistics from the National Association of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies indicate parents might be wiser to open that bank account long before conception – not to pay for college, but for child care.

According to the Association, full-time, year-round child care for young children now costs more than public university tuitions in 44 states.

There’s sort of good news for Missourians. The state is one of the six nationwide where the average tuition of its four-year state colleges — $6,845 – is slightly above its average $6,539 tuition for full time infant child care at a center.

In Missouri child care tuition amounts to about 10 percent of the $66,580 median household income for a married, two-parent household with children under 18.

The stats aren’t so rosy for Illinois where 13 percent of married parents’ income goes toward an average $10,550 in child care tuition, versus $9,008 for public college tuition. That means Illinois parents are paying almost 15 percent more for their kids’ child care than they would for state college credits.

Parents. Did you find yourself going through sticker shock when it came time to find child care? Did you know what you were in for financially?

Gardner says its natural for people to be sensitive to news stories regarding tragedies and crimes that happen to strangers and then vividly imagine the same things happening to themselves or their loved ones, even though, statistically, the risk - particularly for stranger child abduction - is miniscule. This instinct kicks into high gear for parents.

“We have this entire mental apparatus at work below the level of consciousness and it processes that information in a completely different way from logic. It’s more about intuitions hunches and feelings,” he explains. This, he says, causes people to make rash decisions about how they live based on poor intution, rather than actual risk based on statistics.

Which brings us to cameras and subdivisions. Gardner argues the security cameras are a brilliant marketing strategy that fans the flames of our powerful subconscious fears, compelling us to buy something we must have but probably don’t need. The developer, on the other hand, argues the cameras offer peace of mind and a powerful deterrent to criminals, be they pedophiles or teenage mailbox vandals.

Give us your thoughts. Would you feel safer with the cameras? Or would you feel more paranoid, fearing every movement being broadcast on the computer screen in your kitchen? Do you think the cameras would bring a neighborhood together…or pull it apart?

Sherri was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Zreanna’s death, a felony with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine. But St. Charles County prosecuter Jack Banas offered her a second chance: Plead guilty and complete a 120-day treatment program in prison, after which she would be released and remain on probation for five years.

Jack Banas showed incredible wisdom in this situation. He knew Sherri needed treatment, otherwise there was nothing to stop her from drinking throughout another pregnancy. Sherri’s story of recovery is a testament to people’s ability to turn their lives around.

Shouldn’t an option for drug and alcohol treatment be standard in such cases? Science has demonstrated that there are genetic links to this disease. Shouldn’t our focus be on trying to help treat the individual — along with holding them accountable in their recovery — to prevent more tragedies like Zreanna?

Kudos to Banas for giving a woman and her children a second chance. And, to Sherri, who has managed to turn her life around — thank you for sharing your story.

On July 4th of 2005 we were at my husbands family’s house. Our girls, ages 5 and 3 at the time were swimming in a pool, along with their other cousins. Both girls had their “water wings” on. We made all the kids get out for lunch. My 3 yr old was sitting right next to me, enjoying her pizza, when after a few moments I noticed that she wasnt there. I stood up and immediately went to the swimming pool, I just knew that she went back to get in. On my path to the swimming pool, I saw her water wings on the ground, and I felt sick to my stomach. By this time I was screaming for her, and the whole family was up and running towards the pool. When we reached the deck, there she was, face down and was floating on top of the water. My husbands cousin, Bob was closest to the edge, and he dove in, clothes and all, cell phone in his pocket. By the time he got her to the deck, her lips were blue, she was just about unconscious. He put her down on the deck with a thud, and it must have knocked some of the water out of her lungs, because she began to vomit. She was crying hysterically and so was me and my husband. Had it not been for Bob’s quick reaction, I honestly believe that she would have died. She was within seconds of death. I had nightmares about this for months, feeling like a terrible parent. I had often heard on the news about kids drowning with a crowd of people near by, and often thought, “how could that happen”, the parents must not have been paying attention. I now know how it happens. My daughter, who is 6, just started kindergarten last week, I owe all her childhood milestones to Bob. Without Bob, she would have been gone. Thank you Bob, for jumping in that pool that day.

Here’s to the bravery and quick-thinking wits of heroes. Rhonda, if you email me your mailing address (asultan@post-dispatch.com), we will send you a certificate to send to Bob. And, from every parent who has ever had a close call with their child, we say “Thank you” to Bob and all the unknown Bobs in our lives. You’ll never know how much we reflect on that moment. And, we are gratefully forever in your debt.

My five-year-old declared her support for Barack Obama earlier this summer and informed us that Hillary Clinton had been “voted off.” She went with me to vote in the primary.  She has stayed up every night this past week to watch the big speeches at Democratic national convention and has been asking about who John McCain is picking for VP. 

I called her over a few minutes ago, and showed her Sarah Palin’s picture.

I started to tell her, this is who McCain picked, but I got choked up.  My daughter will either see the first African American elected as president or a woman elected as vice president.  I had tears in my eyes when I told her he picked the governor of Alaska.

My five-year-old studied her picture for a second and responded: “She’s pretty, but I don’t like her team.”

Putting aside all the political rhetoric, this week has been incredible for our country. It will forever change how our children will view politics. It will forever change the notion of who can grow up to be president. 

• Know your school’s rules: Such as who is allowed to administer medication, and especially who fills in if the person is absent.

• Give clear instructions: Give the school administrator a list of all medications, including warnings and instructions. Keep a copy and make sure your child has one as well. Make sure the storage instructions are clear and both your child and the administrator are aware of them.

• Know who holds the medication: Check to see if the child is allowed to carry the medicine, take it without supervision, and who needs to administer it. Find out if the rules change based on age or type of medication your child takes. If an adult has keep the medication in his/her possession, make sure it stays in its original container and label and make sure that all the information is clear and easy to read.

• Know how your child will receive the medication: Will he be expected to report to a certain place at a certain time, or will he be called to do so? Will he get reminders and be monitored? Make sure this is clear, and ask if he will be checked in on during the school day. Be clear on the policy for field trips, and make sure your child is aware as well.

• In case of an emergency: Provide the school staff with an action plan that they can refer to in an emergency and prepare your child for side effects or possible complications that could arise. Ask under what circumstances you will be notified if something goes wrong, or if your child misses a dose.

• Keep your child informed: Your child should be aware of the basics of his condition, and to spot warning signs if he has an allergic reaction, a flare-up, or other side effects of the medication or his condition. Additionally, your child should know proper dosages, be able to recognize the medication and is aware of when and how often he is supposed to take it. Tell your child never to share or sell his medications to other students, and not to tamper with the medication in any way.

A mom, who had been keeping a closer eye on the kids, jumped in to rescue him — despite the fact that she was fully dressed and seven months pregnant! When I realized what had just happened, I felt nauseous. Of course, I blamed myself for getting distracted. We’ve been swimming so much this summer, and I’m always hyper-aware in the pool.  I didn’t even know how to thank the mom who saved us from a parent’s worst nightmare.

So, I’m dedicating this week’s contest to Melodie Donatelli, my pregnant hero. Whoever shares the best story of saving a child — whether it someone else who saved yours or you that saved someone else’s — will win this week’s prize (yet to be announced). Deadline is next Monday morning, and the winner will be announced Monday by noon.

My son(12yo) has got to be the world’s pickiest eater. His entire “will eats” are peanut butter, bologna, french fries, cereal, and chips. No pizza, hamburgers, chicken strips NOTHING. We were on vacation in NYC and there is a restaurant in Greenwich village called the Peanut Butter shop, which serves nothing but peanut butter sandwiches. We made a special trip there for dinner, but then the manager tells us that he did not get his shipment of smooth and he only has crunchy. Well my son WOULD NOT EAT any of it. My wife almost killed him right then and there!! Because we were tired of cooking special things for him, he is required to make his own breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Mindy, I’m not sure the book I’ll send you will be very useful since your child only eats five foods, but I’m hoping it may expand your 12-year-old’s  taste horizons. Email me your mailing address at asultan@post-dispatch.com, and I’ll send you “Eat This, Not That

And, good luck!

I remember taking my youngest brother to his first day of school when I was about 20 years old. I was very close to him, and I remember the way he held my hand when I walked him to his classroom. I cried as I walked out his elementary school.

This past weekend, my parents took their youngest child, that same little brother, and dropped him off at college. I gave them trouble for being so anxious and upset when they returned. This was their sixth (and last) kid going to college, I was surprised at how hard they were taking it.

But when I dropped off both of my little ones at their cozy, safe Montessori school, got in the car and bravely drove off, I understood. It felt so strange that I didn’t have a baby or toddler with me.  I felt a little lonely and a little anxious. It’s only been an hour, and my youngest will be back with me in another two hours. I’ll pick up my kindergartener later this afternoon. It’s her first full day at school. I can’t wait to hear about it.