Here we go again! Another politician joins the scandalous ranks of the unfaithful (along with Spitzer, Paterson , Edwards...). Last week, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to an affair with an Argentine woman. And now Republicans are calling for his resignation.

But will his wife be calling her divorce lawyers? In a statement last Wednesday , Jenny Sanford, the governor's wife of 20 years, explained why she kicked her husband out of the house, after they had sought counseling: "We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong."

Her bold decision and honesty struck a chord with our community, especially the Betrayed Spouses Support message board. "It's refreshing that instead of keeping her mouth shut and reading some b---s---statement that was prepared by her husband's staff she's saying things that we've all felt. For once there's truth in the words of someone whose betrayal has been made public."—thinkingman6008

For the Sake of the Kids
At the moment, the Sanfords are separated, but both have said that they are willing to reconcile, which frustrated some on the Feminism Today message board.

"The Clinton thing was huge, but honestly he's looking like a boy scout to me in comparison with these latest scandals. Am I the only person who can't wait for the day when one of these women decides to tell her husband to go pound sand and that he better have a good divorce attorney?—mookie1973

She may decide to stay with her husband for the sake of their four sons, as member hottllipps points out: "Sometimes, I think women choose to keep their friends close but their enemies closer, when the enemy would have considerable influence over their children. I do not know that is what she is doing, but it is a consideration."

And clearly her kids are her priority. "His career is not a concern of mine," Jenny told reporters. "He's going to have to worry about that. I'm worried about my family and the character of my children."

Vote for Jenny?
If she does decide to ditch the cheating husband and start her own political career, she's got at least one vote. "She has family money, political savvy, and had a very successful career before having children. And she's also drop-dead gorgeous. So maybe she'll be the one who doesn't stay in the marriage. I think that she would be a very viable political candidate herself."—tricia8195

What do you think? Should Jenny and Mark Sanford reconcile? Or are his actions unforgivable?

More on infidelity:

• 32 emotional signs that he's cheating

• Top 12 myths about cheating

• 19 tips to get past your husband's affair

50 may be the new 40, but this fashion plate never seems to move beyond her 20s. Barbie celebrates her 50th birthday today, and whether you love her or hate her, you can't deny her impact on pop culture. Moms on our Ten- to Fourteen-Year-Olds and Minnesota message boards shared their Barbie memories:

"Barbie, her siblings and Ken played a huge part in my growing up years. I think I played with Barbies until the 6th grade. My girlfriends and I loved creating fantasy stories. My grandmother had the original Barbie created 50 years ago -- still in the original box. She created and made us incredible Barbie outfits." -- okiee

"Love, LOVE, Loved my Barbies. Had a bunch of them and a ton of clothes. Sadly, I never got the Barbie dream house:(  But my friend had it, so it was all good ;) " -- crit99

"I know as a kid that my Barbie dolls were fun to play with because of the adventures my friends and I made up for them, and I liked the clothes. I liked making my own outfits for my Barbies.  [My daughter] played with Barbies and I haven't seen any damage to her self image, nor have I noticed that she's more self-confident due to having played with them." -- ikirbysmom

 

iVillager nancymc offers her perspective, which I suspect may be familiar to a lot of moms:

"Well, this topic is one that makes me chuckle a bit, because it is an area in which *I* have evolved as a parent! I was one of those NO BARBIE parents, I resisted, hated, avoided, and otherwise thought they were evil and horrible (well, not evil, but creepy definitely!).  But of course my [daughter] got Barbies. Many, many of them over time. She never played with them in any major way, and she's given them all away long ago. I'm still not in love with them but I don't see them as harmful either."

 

Of course, like many famous female icons, Barbie's life has not been without controversy. Even at 50, she's still making headlines: this time reincarnating as a trendy tattoo gal, "Totally Stylin' Tattoo Barbie". While some may think a tattooed Babs is sending the wrong message to kids, others point out that a tattoo isn't such a taboo as it might have been in years past. The ladies on the Parenting Issues Debate message board weigh in on this tat-tastic doll:

"Wow! they finally came out with a Barbie that my [daughter] (who is now 27) would actually like!" -- foxymom2

Last fall we saw a lot of confusion and concern over the chemical BPA, its inclusion in plastic items like baby bottles and other children's products and the FDA's conflicting advice about its safety. Last week the largest manufacturers of baby bottles in the US announced that they will stop selling bottles that contain bisphenol-A, a chemical that is used to harden plastics. Our Expecting Club and Playgroup moms react to the news:

 

 "I've noticed many bottles stamped BPA free. There also seems to be a LOT of glass bottles out that I don't remember seeing before." -- gapeachpc

"Last year when the scandal came out a lot of companies were super fast to respond to the new demand for the BPA-free bottles. Babies R Us wouldn't even carry bottles that contained it. I think it's great that companies are really taking stuff like this seriously."  -- eeyorezchick 

"I wonder if other brands in other countries will follow as well. I was in Switzerland last July and watching a consumer rights show and there was something about baby bottles, and not a SINGLE one available on the market in Switzerland is Bisphenol free! The only one that passed the test were glass bottles but glass isn't always convenient to carry around." -- cynhaller

"With my daughter there was no mention about BPA, so we have regular Avent bottles. But that was 2 1/2 years ago and I personally feel better with the BPA-free bottles. I just don't want to take any chances." -- laurspt01

Some moms, though, are wondering how we've survived so far using plastics with the now-verboten chemical. Are we being overly-cautious or better safe than sorry? Sound off here and let us know how concerned you are about plastics and chemicals in your home. 

Related content:

Controversial Chemical Lingers in Body
Message board: Bottlefeeding

When I read about Lisa Pagan, the soldier mom who was recalled to active duty and appealed the orders citing that no one would be left to care for her children due to her husband's travel schedule, I was curious to know what our Military Wives would have to say about it. When I read that she made the decision to bring her two small children with her as she reported to duty in Georgia, I knew we'd be in for a *ton* of opinionated responses. How did Pagan's actions fare with other military families? Some feel she's vying for attention and has an obligation to meet her commitment:

"I kind of feel like she's being a bit over the top. I realize that her husband's job probably doesn't allow for him to stay at home with the kids, but when she signed her original contract with the army she knew this was a possibility. There are lots of military families where both parents work and they find suitable care for their children." -- bradsarmybride

"People are doing this every day. Parents are leaving their children behind. Families are having to utilize daycare because both parents work. She knew, when she signed that dotted line, that this was a possibility, so IMO she should not have special privileges just because her DH works. If she's called up, she's called up." -- mom2wakjlar

"She went public knowing it would cause a whole lot of controversy and put a lot of pressure on the military to 'do the right thing'. What irritates me even more is that while there are 30% of the IRR that have been able to get out of duty.  No one is mentioning the 70% that sucked it up and are completing their commitment as agreed when they initially signed on the dotted line." -- izzyandalexsmommy

But others feel that this is one case where the Army should side with the family:

One Ohio mom took the concept of "doing it all" to the extreme last week: breastfeeding her baby while talking on her cell phone as she drove her other kids to school. Local police cited her for violating child restraint laws and child endangerment, but Genine Compton of Dayton says she'd do it again if she felt it was necessary! Of course iVillage moms had a lot to say about this story but mrst_plus_nute from the September 2008 Playgroup offered up my favorite quote:

"I follow the 'Britney Spears' rule as I call it, which basically means if it sounds similar to something she has done then I'm not doing it!"

For more chatter on this outrageous parenting stunt, join us on the Breastmilk vs. Formula Debate message board.

After weeks of speculation, anxiety and a whole lot of rhetoric, it seemed that the huge stimulus package was the jump start needed to get the country's financial health back on track. As President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, some wondered how quickly that relief might be seen. On the Conservative Parents message board, President Obama's speech was met with a bit of skepticism.  

"My thought, when he laid out plan after plan of massive spending projects and then followed up with how he was going to cut the deficit, was 'HOW???' I just don't see how he can say he's going to spend all this money on top of the stimulus plan and still be able to cut the deficit. It just doesn't seem possible." -- gal_lila

Ok, so you might expect a certain amount of resistance from those on the other side of the aisle, but confusion about the stimulus plan and wariness about Obama's address also permeated the comments of those who were still hopeful. Moms from our September 2005 and March 2008 playgroups weighed in with their thoughts -- and concerns -- about the stimulus plan: 

"I was/am a huge Obama supporter ... I think some stimulus to save certain jobs (police, teachers, etc)  is good, but I don't think each family should get $400 per working parent and I don't think that people who bought houses who shouldn't have should be bailed out." --doodlebug_home

"I find it very ironic that part of the current crisis was brought about by people (lenders and home buyers) who rushed to loan/borrow money without a proper understanding of what they were getting themselves into and what it meant, both for the immediate and for the future. But ... the supposed fix is being done the exact same way: rushed through [without] being properly read and examined." -- sacake

It's often said that education is a good investment, but with budget cuts happening at steady pace in light of the economic turmoil, many are wondering when our schools, teachers and students will find relief. Recently the Frugal Families community discussed a proposal in Florida that would allow districts to shorten the school week to four days in an effort to save operating costs. Saving money is one thing, but how does this impact the children and their families? These moms offer their reactions:

"As it is, there are all sorts of other budget cuts, but this possible new schedule is beginning to flash in neon lights. The kids are in school about 6 hours a day ,if the 4 day schedule goes through they would be in school an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes."  -- jennebryan

"I could see how this could cause huge problems for families that don't have the flexibility that we have. It could be a drain on finances and add stress to those that need to arrange child care. I don't have a problem with it, but I also think if changes like that are to be implemented, more after-school care needs to be provided or employers need to pick up the slack. We need to improve that sector of American society." -- kw135705

"Parents are going to need to find child care. The kids who are older have more time to get into trouble. There are kids hanging [out] with nothing to do. My kids would probably just veg but some kids would be home alone. It can only be a bad thing. -- lisa19712003

"As a teacher, I am not in favor of it. My day is already long enough, and I don't know how I would get through the additional hour or two everyday. I give my students my all for 5 hours a day (plus I have 2 hours of planning/duty), and it would be very difficult to provide meaningful instruction for an additional 1-2 hours a day. I also believe my students (low level) would have trouble focusing and learning.  I believe it's the students who will suffer in the end.  Anyone who lives in this state knows that we need to ADD money, resources, and programs - not take away." -- lovingmytwoboys

"Moving to a 4 day week bothers me a lot. The day would be way too long for elementary kids. Plus, that is a huge burden on parents who work. Where are they supposed to find all day care for their kids just on Fridays? How is a working class parent supposed to pay for that?" -- addieandclairesmom

 

While some iVillagers are mystified about how the stimulus package recently signed by President Obama will work, the US auto industry is looking for more assistance as the economic outlook continues to be bleak. But GM and Chrysler will have a little competition in the bailout department because there's someone else who's also seeking a little help to get by: none other than Nadya "Octomom" Suleman. The now-infamous mom of 14 (including the octuplets born January 26) is ready to accept donations from the public on her website. It's no surprise that the story of the octuplets, the circumstances of their conception, Suleman's existing number of children, her uncanny resemblance to Angelina Jolie and a multitude of other angles to this story have caused an uproar across our community, but the question of who is paying for all of this has tipped some over the edge into disbelief and outrage. iVillagers from the Debt Support Group (where we may see Suleman posting someday soon...) weigh in on whether or not they would donate to the Octomom fund:

"Never in a million years! I feel awful for those children of hers because there is no way that a single parent can provide the love, support, psychological/physiological needs that those children need. I'm sorry to say, the taxpayers of California where she lives will have to pick up the bill like they probably have started to already, seeing the cost of having those kids is in the millions."  -- lulu1231

(Note: Today's buzz is brought to you by CMAngela, who offers an alternative look at gratitude as we lead up to Valentine's Day. Sometimes, you've just gotta be grateful for *not* being in a relationship. Read on...)

One of the best things about getting together with your girlfriends is that they can almost always help you find the bright spot, the silver lining, and the humor of any situation. The iVillage community works the same way, as is evident by the conversations on the Surviving Divorce & Separation message board week in and week out. I loved the discussion they had recently about the three best things about being divorced or separated. Topping almost everyone's list is -- divorcing the in-laws along with the ex-husband! Here are some of my other favorites:

 

butterfli_beauty is glad to be rid of her ex-and his fantasy football craziness!

musiclover12 Is happy to scratch his errands off her to-do list!

tbzmom2008 has reconnected with the people who really care for her, and love her

camult has one of my favorites -- she's regained the ability to laugh out loud -- and who doesn't need more of that in our lives?

hopeful_mom_of_4 loves not having to pick up his empty beer bottles -- yes, empty beer bottles -- from the counter in the morning.

Even if you're not dealing with divorce or separation, sometimes we all need to stop and list our top three things, so what are yours? What three things are you happy about in your life right now?

Last month we saw our community react to the news story of the unfortunately named 3-year-old Adolf Hitler who was denied a personalized birthday cake. Many felt that naming a child "Adolf Hitler" was essentially child abuse, with some going so far as to say the children should be removed from this home. The tyke, along with his two younger sisters, were removed by New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services, but it was unknown what, if any, charges prompted the action.

Our Playgroup moms are sharing their thoughts on the latest news in this saga:

"If they only took the kid because of his unfortunate name... that's ridiculous! If there was actual abuse in the home, then it is good for the children. While the parents seem unconventional, and a little strange, that doesn't make them bad parents." -- hoover07

"In my opinion, naming your child after one of the worst, most inhumane people in history, and naming another child 'Arayan Nation' is a form of child abuse.  And that makes them bad parents... Family services doesn't remove children for having bad names, if that were the case, half of Hollywood would have lost custody already.  There has to be something going on in that home." -- jenthebrat

"I personally view the names as a form of abuse. Before seeing this I have often scratched my head in wonder and think... 'where did people come up with that name?' It's very clear where they came up with those names and purely inspired by hate." -- valerie_1010

What do you think? Are extreme and vulgar names a form a child abuse and should parents be held accountable? Sound off here!