When you became a parent, did you turn into your mother? Or do you use your own parenting techniques? -- LilSugar

Genius! A dad of a diabetic child invented a blood glucose monitor that connects to Nintendo DS. Kids earn points for maintaining their blood sugar. -- Boing Boing

Feel like you're telling your toddler "no" all the time? Here are some alternatives that still get the message across, but won't make you feel like a broken record. -- CafeMom

New parents might not believe it, but there will come a time when you can pick up a book again. And when you do, the moms at Momversation have some recommended reading.

Grab your Kleenex and get ready to meet Eliot, miracle baby. Born with a congenital disorder, he lived an amazing 99 days (98 more than he was expected to live). And his loving parents cherished every single moment. -- Urlesque

Searching for a good babysitter? Find out what other parents look for in a babysitter. -- Babble

Fit parents aren't just happier and healthier, they teach their kids lifelong healthy habits. Get fit tips from That's Fit.

Missing your favorite martini during your pregnancy? Here's a great solution for those long nine months (and after, if you're breastfeeding): Preggatinis. As close to the real thing as you're going to get. -- Celebrity Baby Blog

Do you love your kids more than your husband? And even if you do, would you ever admit it? One mom explains why she has no problem saying so. -- MomLogic

Firefighters don't just fight fires. In Louisiana, they battle childhood obesity too. In Slidell, a local "Fit as a Firefighter" camp for children -- overweight or obese -- ages 7 to 12 has become so popular that there's a waiting list. "They are so comfortable in an environment of their peers," says camp Program Director Taffy Morrison.

Kids in the camp learn lifelong healthy living tips: Nutrition, portion control and the consequences of a diet rich in sugar and fat. But they also have classes in rock climbing, karate, square dancing, CPR and first aid. Unlike most summer camps, these kids learn from a unique group of adults -- local firefighters, state police and Louisiana National Guard's Blackhawk Helicopter and Boot Camp.

Weight loss summer camps aren't a new idea, but Slidell's "Fit as a Firefighter" program is definitely innovative. The firefighters focus on diet and exercise, but they tackle a third area that's often forgotten in traditional summer camp programs: Self-esteem. The camp knows that overweight kids often suffer -- or even overeat -- because of stress, poor self-image or teasing. "We try to teach on all the issues that they're dealing with right now," says Morrison. "They are very sensitive children."

It's a formula that seems to be working. Camp leaders say that kids often come back to camp the following year trimmer and more fit.

Diets don't work -- especially for kids -- which is probably why the "Fit as a Firefighter" camp is so successful. Instead of breaking kids down or taking away their favorite foods, Slidell firefighters appear to be focusing more on showing kids how to enjoy exercise in a safe environment and teaching them good nutrition.

If your child is or was overweight, would you consider sending them to a weight loss camp?

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Since the 1980's, the use of ultrasound technology has become commonplace in the obstetrician's office. Using sound waves to create an image, the information doesn't just help doctors monitor fetal development, it also gives parents a sneak peek at their unborn child. For most parents, that fuzzy black and white image is something of a miracle itself and often stored away as a treasured keepsake.

As intimate as that look into the womb may be, there is now a way to make it even more so. Thanks to a student at Royal College of Art in the UK, parents-to-be can now touch and hold a life-sized replica of their unborn baby.

Using technology invented by PhD student Jorge Lopes, plastic models are created using ultrasound data to "print" 3-dimensional images. "It's amazing to see the faces of the mothers. They can see the full scale of their baby, really understand the size of it," says Dr. Lopes.

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After much debate, my husband and I finally found a female name we agree on: Azariah (or Azaria). I like that it is a Hebrew name like my daughter Ariella's and about the same popularity ranking. Most of our friends' children have biblical names as well, so I think she'll fit in fine with them.

However, I put a poll online and got a lot of comments that I shouldn't name my baby that because the baby who was killed by a dingo was named Azaria. Do you think it matters? Will people always mention the connection to her/us or will they just accept her name once they know her?

- Would-be Azaria mom

You found the one and only name of your dreams, then polled the global, anonymous internet for opinions on it? That takes a thick skin. But I presume that you did it for a reason...and I presume that the reason was to see how the name plays to people whose perspectives are different from your own. So now that you have those perspectives, what do you do with them?

Kids bored after the fireworks and fun? If so, here is a rundown of what's new in entertainment as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media. Click on the links to read the reviews in full.

Movies
This third installment in the popular franchise, "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" features all the same characters audiences already love and a few, extra-large new ones. The new guys are dinosaurs and the herd is lost in their world, trying to rescue a wayward friend. It is silly, action-packed and has awesome dinosaurs -- what's not to love? Rated PG, OK for Kids 6+

On DVD
If you missed "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" in the theater, now is your chance to swoon over the brothers three in the privacy of your own home. Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas perform at Madison Square Garden and take fans behind the scenes as they live their squeaky clean pop star lives. Rated G, OK for Kids 7+

TV
The educational docu-series "Monsters Inside Me" is an up-close look at parasites and what they can do inside the human body. Sound gross? With all the close-ups of bugs and descriptive narration, it is clearly meant to be. The squeamish may want to skip this one. Rated TV-PG, OK for Kids 11+

Books
The sweetly titled "Peace, Love and Baby Ducks" by Lauren Myracle is the story of two sisters struggling to remain close as they grow older. Dealing with jealousy, burgeoning sexuality and less-than-perfect family relationships, the girls learn that sisterly love is not always easy but worth the effort. OK for Kids 13+

Music
With a punk rock sound and clever lyrics, "The Time Machine" by The Sippy Cups explores the milestones of childhood. From losing a tooth to learning to swim, the San Francisco Bay Area band covers it all with a fresh and original sound that totally rocks. OK for Kids 5+

Web
An offshoot of Coolmath.com, "Science Monster" is an instructional site featuring science concepts with a focus on space. It is text-heavy and not exactly cutting-edge, but for those looking for specific scientific answers, it delivers. OK for Kids 13+

Games
"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" is a multi-platform game that lets players explore the Hogwarts castle and grounds. As Harry, players accomplish tasks and are rewarded with video cut scenes that move the story forward. It is fairly easy to play but might be hard to follow if you haven't read the book. Rated E10+, OK for Kids 10+

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Extracurricular activities are a child's way of trying out new things and figuring out what fits. Dance, at our house, is one activity that never changes -- the kids look forward to it every week. But we've tried soccer, t-ball, karate and art classes, all with varying degrees of success.

Lisa Belkin over at Motherlode has asked readers when do you let a child quit an activity? Like Belkin, we have a few rules in our house about this, and we've had to enforce the "if you commit to it, you see it through" rule once or twice. But that was for short term activities -- six weeks or less -- that only met once a week. Had the activity in question been a more involved commitment, I think I would have been more flexible. After all, I don't force myself to continue a hobby I don't enjoy, so I don't think it's fair to make my kids do it either.

But at the same time, it is a parent's responsibility to teach and to guide. And jumping in to solve the problem every time a child gets bored or feels discomfort is the hallmark of helicopter parenting. Exactly where is the balance?

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Love Twitter? So do we! It can be tough to keep tabs on all your favorite "Tweeters" from the "Twitterverse" -- but don't worry, we've got you covered! Here's our favorite parenting Tweets of the week. Follow ParentDish on Twitter to join the discussion (who knows, maybe we'll feature you here!).

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Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. We'll highlight an image every day. Remember: We're on the lookout for shots with interesting backgrounds, cool angles, or original composition. Be sure to read the intro on our main Flickr page for more information and limit your uploading to 5 photos per day.

She's been nominated for an Oscar, made her way on to "Forbes" list of Young Hollywood's top earning stars and pulls in $2 million a movie. But child star Abigail Breslin still has to feed the cat (among other chores) for spending money.

At the premiere of her latest movie, "My Sister's Keeper," she told reporters that she recently got a $1 raise. "I get $13 [a week] now, because I'm 13," says Breslin.

Breslin, who lives with her parents and two brothers, might be a millionaire movie star, but her parents are still teaching her to be financially responsible -- chores and a weekly allowance are status quo for most kids, famous or not.

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