It’s week two of three on a business trip and I’m ogling small children on the street in a way that scares their parents. I have this nearly uncontrollable urge to race over and cuddle them. Fortunately, I’m not a total nut. But I am going a little crazy from being apart from my young daughter.

When I took the three-week consulting job in another country, I thought I could handle it. Actually, I thought it would be great. Uninterrupted sleep (my daughter still wakes two, three times a night), quiet mornings reading in bed before work, the freedom to go out at night without…

It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon and I find my husband in bed with a towel on his forehead and a key stuck in his mouth. I start to laugh, but am shushed by my daughter who solemnly informs me:

“Daddy is not well. I’m taking his temature. I’m the doctor.”

Ordinarily I would take the opportunity – rare as they are — to slip out of the room and go reply to email or read a book. But this time it’s different. My daughter is barely three and she’s playing doctor!

“Isn’t she a little young for this?” I ask my husband, with obvious pride.

He takes the key out of his mouth…

Toys “R” Us is under fire for selling a doll that allegedly curses. One of the “You & Me Interactive Play & Giggle Triplet Dolls”, which sell for $39.00, supposedly says “crazy b&%$#!”. It’s the baby in pink. Whether she’s referring to one of her sisters or her pint-sized mommy is unclear.

The blogosphere is abuzz with people taking sides: irate parents, a lawyer ready to sue, a mom who couldn’t care less. Check out Toys “R” Us customer reviews. They’re funny.

One woman writes: “I bought these babies for my granddaughter’s birthday, but I won’t be giving…