Crazy person Sean Harris, senior pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in North Carolina, delivered a terrifying sermon on Sunday to his congregation suggesting that parents "crack" their fey sons' limp wrists, rein in daughters who appear butch, "punch" them if they act gay, and a slew of other child-abuse recommendations that are sure to horrify anyone with commonsense and a heart. Harris was speaking in support for North Carolina's Amendment One, the state's looming ban on gay marriage and civil union. Care of Good As You, who first reported the story, the transcript of the infamous sermon reads as follows: more ›

We've discussed before our trepidation about the infringing upon gay space that happened when that new Dolores Park playground got renovated and drastically enlarged. Though most of the gay beach remains intact, there have been complaints that motorcycle cops have been making the scantily clad sunbathers feel uncomfortable lately — if there are too many reports like this, we don't want to see how mad and in-your-face Anna Conda will get. Cops have also handcuffed and cited the cold-beer-cold-water dude, which is just sad, even if he is mean. And now Mission Local and Uptown Almanac report on some complaints from parents that with their ridiculously outsized new toddler terrarium they now think they need a fence to keep out the big scary dogs running around. COME ON. more ›

As City Insider reports, the Board of Supervisors are reconsidering Muni's decades-old policy regarding strollers on the bus in an effort to keep families from fleeing the city at the alarming rate we keep hearing about. Although, we'd like to point out that the Chron article to which everyone keeps referring and that keeps getting recycled every year says that there are actually 3,000 more children under age 5 in San Francisco than 10 years ago. It's the school-aged children that we've actually been losing (more than 8,000 over the age of five). But maybe we're just niggling. more ›

(By D. Hanousek) You may or may not have noticed that two weeks ago, I took the day off from writing Confessions. I wasn't going to talk about it because I'm inclined to keep most details about my personal life private. But this week's topic was inspired by a personal event: I took the day off from writing because my husband was in a very serious accident. During his recovery, I have become even more aware of how little credit dads receive, especially in San Francisco. (There's a reason why this column's title uses the word "Parent" and not "Mom.") Becoming more and more frustrated with gender parenting stereotypes, my confession is: I don't get why SF dads get the shaft. more ›

Maybe it's the nonstop rain or the traffic on 101. Maybe it's the news that one of my SFUSD-champion parent friends is pulling her kids out of public school and putting them in private school. Maybe it's that my very pregnant best friend just announced that her family is moving from Sausalito to San Rafael, farther north. Something's getting me down and making me feel like raising my own kids in San Francisco makes me a crazy person. The truth is, it's getting lonely out here. more ›

New census figures only confirm what we already suspected: There are barely any children left in this town to use that oversize playground they just built for them, which is using up practically a third of well-loved, sometimes hoodlum-filled Dolores Park. The playground is set to open March 31, but will it really get a lot of use and not just devolve into a homeless encampment by November? We shall see. more ›

Maxwell Park Elementary (4730 Fleming) in Oakland is on lockdown, with students being evacuated, after a neighbor reported seeing a man with a shotgun roaming around the area. No reports of any injuries or shootings. more ›

How cool is this? Midtown Terrace Park will hold an Easter egg hunt for children who are blind or visually impaired. Presented by the Blind Babies Foundation, plastic eggs contain beepers that emit high-pitched sounds the children can track. The eggs can then be exchanged for sweet treats. more ›

If my husband walked in the door after work carrying a dozen red roses and a box of chocolate, I would roll my eyes and, sure, maybe even throw up a little in my mouth. This morning, as I culled through dozens of FB friend posts pronouncing their love for their partners on this, St. Valentine's Day of 2012, I realized that I have a confession to make: Valentine’s Day is for School Children, not adults. more ›

(By D. Hanousek) Yesterday, a close friend pregnant with her first child posted a link on Facebook to an article about a mother who was arrested for allowing her 10-year-old to get a tattoo honoring his late brother. Said friend posed the question, "Would you let your 10-year-old son get a tattoo, for any reason? What if the tattoo is to honor the passing of his brother; is that acceptable?" I immediately felt my emotions heighten as I wrote the comment, "Er, circumcision is legal. So is piercing your infant's ears. Don't get me started..." This led me, of course, to the confession that when it comes to hot-topic children's issues, to me, ignorance is bliss. more ›

Police issued an Amber Alert this morning for a missing 11-year-old San Jose girl. Her name is Taylor Vo (Asian, 5'3") and she was taken at around 1:15 a.m. Friday. Police describe the suspect as Tri Le, 42 y/o, Asian male, 5'6". He has black hair and brown eyes and "was last seen wearing a black cap, black jacket and blue jeans. more ›

(By D. Hanousek) After changing park benches three times over the weekend, I realized that I have a confession to make. I don’t want to be your friend. Sure, we both have kids and we both live in the city. And, whaddya know, our kids like to play in playgrounds, too. But, check it out: any communication beyond a nod or a friendly smile "hello" is not necessary. In fact, if I may be candid, it's simply unwelcome. more ›

A 12-year-old boy was injured during a shooting on Saturday in San Francisco's Hunter's Point neighborhood. "A 23-year-old man was shot and a 12-year-old wounded by fragments of shattered glass after gunfire erupted in the unit block of Osceola Lane around 2:12 p.m.," reports SF Examiner. "Two men, aged 18 to 25, approached the victim and fired several shots." more ›

A five-year-old Oakland boy died at Children's Hospital late Friday night after being struck in the neck by shots fired from a car passing by his family's taco truck on International Boulevard. Gabriel Martinez Jr. was the only victim of the drive-by shots that rang out just before 9 p.m. Friday. He was transported to the hospital where he was declared dead about an hour later. more ›

As Mercury News reports, shameful San Jose resident Sandra Lizbeth Contreras-Velazquez was arrested last week for allegedly befriending about half a dozen elementary school-aged girls in order to sneak away with their gold jewelry. more ›

A little after 6 p.m. on Monday night, eight people were shot in West Oakland, including a one-year-old baby. The shooting occurred on the 700 block of Willow Street when a group of men wearing hoodies appeared and shot at a group standing near a catering truck. Here's surveillance video of the shooting: more ›

Earlier this month, Natural Resources, which has been providing quality gear, clothing, classes, and support to San Francisco parents for the past 25 years, reached out to its customers for some help, announcing they were in danger of going out of business. Their campaign to raise $45,000, which ends this Monday, has been quite successful, and they're only $5,418 from reaching their goal. more ›

Miguel and Erik Cerda, two brother who took the law into their own hands on a brutal child molester, decided on a trial rather than a plea deal yesterday. The budding heroes (?) face charges that they tortured convicted San Jose child molester Avelino Rodriguez. "The man was attacked after duct-taping the mouth of an 8-year-girl so she couldn't scream as he sexually molested her last Thanksgiving," reports NY Daily News. "Molester Avelino Rodriguez was whipped, punched and burned with a cigarette in retaliation for the incident." more ›

Like the plot to a John Waters movie, Riverside County supervisors voted to ban sex offenders from decorating their homes with holiday accents and leaving lights on during Halloween night. "They also cannot answer their door to pass out candy to children," reports AP. more ›

A five-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital late yesterday afternoon after being struck by a private shuttle near Third Street and Williams Avenue in the Bayview. The boy had been walking behind his mother and a sibling while crossing Third Street when the shuttle made a right turn and struck him. The shuttle was only carrying one passenger who was not injured. SFPD says the driver is cooperating with the investigation while they try to determine who was at fault. more ›

If dragging your child to a drug-fueled party in the desert is your bag, you're in luck. Parenting newsletter Red Tricycle recently published this jarring Insider’s Guide to Burning Man with Kids (which we spotted on 7x7) and it is nothing short of genius. Burners/parents Harley K. Dubois (Harley) and Cory Mervis (Lady Merv) shed some light on hanging out on the playa with kids. A few recommended tips: more ›

This Friday, 826 Valencia is hosting 8 hours and 26 minutes of non-stop writing as part of their 2nd Ever 8/26 Day Write-a-Thon to benefit the organization's free student programming. We can hear all those knuckles crackin' already! more ›

Members of the Santa Rosa SWAT team were at the South Park Day and Night Festival on Saturday. They were there to demonstrate to attendees what they do and, most notably, to show off their big weaponry. Many participants, it seems, were furious over the fact that they allowed children to hold their guns. Some as young as 5. more ›

Update: Sadly, the bodies believed to be those of the father and daughter were found in the suspect's vehicle last night in a remote area of El Dorado County, near Placerville. more ›

An statewide amber alert was issued Friday morning. A four-year-old white boy was snatched in Atascadero. Officials said was kidnapped from a church. He is described as a white male, 3' 6", 33 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. The suspect, Annette Hale, is described as a 52-year-old Hispanic female, somewhere around 5' 4", 200 lbs. with brown hair and eyes. more ›

Self-righteous parents of the Bay Area, listen up! This week is National Breast Feeding Week (August 1-7), and you're invited to braise in your own holier-than-thou juices regarding infant nutrition this Thursday at Todos Santos Plaza during the farmers market from 5 to 7 p.m. It's all in recognition of World Breastfeeding Week, and it's hosted by the Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program of Contra Costa Health Services' Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. more ›

The nascent taste bud's loss is now the juvenile waistline's gain. So to speak. See, the noted fast food chain announced today that the McDonald's Happy Meal will receive a healthy makeover. Accused of aiding childhood obesity, the new Happy Meals will boast apple slices, reduced portion of french fries (boo!) and a wider selection of small drinks, including... more ›