You know you’re supposed to check if the house your child is playing at has a gun in it, or the carpool your child is riding in has a texting or drinking driver, or the sleepover your child is going to has responsible adult supervision. But it’s so very awkward to ask. Join About.com parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Susan Adcox (grandparents.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we give some advice for how to do this vetting of other parents, and how to gracefully receive those questions yourself. Find links to stories we mentioned in the podcast, and tell us how you handle your vetting, on our Facebook page.

It’s the time of year again for overpriced costumes, overdoses of sugar, worries about allergens at classroom parties, and other scary Halloween tricks. Join About.com Parenting experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we discuss the highs and lows of the holiday and give some tips on focusing on the fun. Find more Halloween fun, and share your own Halloween strategies, on our Facebook page.   

Traveling for business can do good things for your career but often causes serious chaos on the home front. Join About.com experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Katherine Lewis (workingmoms.about.com), and Amanda Morin (kidsactivities.about.com) as we talk about our experience with work travel and suggestions for making it easier on your kids and yourself.  

Surely they have the best intentions, but sometimes it seems as though your parents and in laws are deliberately undermining your best-laid behavioral and dietary plans. Join About.com experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Susan Adcox (grandparents.about.com), and Kathy Ceceri (homeschooling.about.com) as we talk about these differences in policy from both sides of that generational divide.

We've all had them -- those child get-togethers that turn into disasters. Join About.com experts Terri Mauro (specialchildren.about.com), Catherine Holecko (familyfitness.about.com), Kathy Ceceri (homeschooling.about.com), and Lisa Jo Rudy (autism.about.com) as we tell some of our playdate horror stories and give our suggestions for avoiding the worst.