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Nine-year-old girl kidnapped on her way home from school. Those are words that make every mother sick to her stomach. Luckily, in the case of Calysta Cordova, everything ended well. The girl's father knew something was wrong when she was a mere nine minutes late and an Amber Alert was immediately issued. Not only is her father observant and appropriately cautious, but it seems he also taught his daughter to be a survivor. Calysta's kidnapper was taking her in his truck, when he got a flat tire. The two then hitchhiked to a Circle K store. It was there, that this smart and resourceful girl took action. She asked to use the phone and immediately called 911. When her captor tried to coax her out of the store, she reportedly said, "No. I ain’t going nowhere. I’m waiting right here for my momma." Her kidnapper fled but was caught shortly afterwards. This spunky girl credits her dad for her skills, saying that he taught her to stand up for herself. Clearly, she'd received some good coaching, which helped her in her time of need. How do you teach your kids to stick up for themselves and protect themselves without terrifying them?

Welcome Dragon babies
Obstetricians in Asia are preparing themselves for a very busy year. This week, we usher in the Chinese Lunar New Year, and all signs are pointing to the Year of the Dragonbeing the year of the dragon baby boom. Chinese believe that babies born in the Year of the Dragon are gifted with good luck and strength, and this go-round, everyone's wanting their offspring to get in on some of that good fortune. While many Asian countries typically have low birth rates, right now everyone seems to be caught up in dragon-baby fever. According to polls, up to 70 percent of couples in many Asian countries say they want a baby born under the dragon sign. In related news, we suspect that condom manufacturers in the region are bracing for a dismal sales year.

Please, don't breastfeed while driving
Okay moms, we know you're the masters of multi-tasking. But, there are times when even the most nimble of juggling moms really needs to pare it down a bit. For instance, when you're driving -- that's not a good time to take on other tasks like texting or... breastfeeding. A mom in Sweden is under investigation after she got into a car crash because she was driving while nursing. Luckily, no one was seriously injured (she's also lucky that her baby hadn't started teething yet -- ouch!). Also ladies, while we're at it -- don't pump while driving either. We've seen it and it looked dangerous.

Teaching sportsmanship
Kids' sports today get competitive at an early age. Kids are vying for spots on elite leagues while still in elementary school. With all of that competition, it's unsurprising that we witness some unsportsmanlike behavior. However, there are a number of ways that parents can encourage kids to be good sports and not sore losers. Some say that by adding cooperative games into the mix can help. Parents can also create rituals, like high-fives after every game, regardless of the outcome. And remember, they're always watching you, so you have to set a good example, even when you're watching your favorite team. If your goal is simply for your child to have fun and learn new skills, make sure you seek out leagues and coaches who are also on the same playing field as you, so to speak.

Rock-climbing while pregnant?
Recently, pregnant Victoria's Secret model, Alessandra Ambrosio, raised some eyebrows when she rocked the catwalk in some serious stilettos. For those who thought she was taking a risk by walking in sky-high shoes, we bring you an expectant mom who may not be rocking stilettos, but is actually going sky-high by rock climbing. At 34 weeks into her pregnancy, she says she has no immediate plans to stay closer to the ground. An active climber for 14 years, she says it gives her a chance to forget how big and uncomfortable she is and credits her pregnancy hormones for giving her extra flexibility. While this gal's not the only woman climbing for two, many doubt it's a safe activity for expectant moms. What do you think -- are extreme sports for pregnant women inspiring or irresponsible?

Dana Macario is a TODAY Moms contributor and Seattle mom to two sleep-depriving toddlers. She is currently developing an alarm clock that will start an IV coffee drip 10 minutes prior to wake-up time. Once properly caffeinated, she also blogs at www.18years2life.com.

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