The Chatterbox | April 25

File under: "Modern family"

• In its new series Family Matters: The Money Squeeze, NPR presents three compelling profiles of families living in multigenerational households, who share how they've dealt with the financial pressures that come with caring for aging parents while also covering expenses such as college.

• And on April 23's Morning Edition program on NPR, Dr. John Harrington, a researcher at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va,  discussed his study on infant pain management. The research, published in the journal Pediatrics, looked at ways to calm infants when they get shots at the doctors office, namely using the "5 S's," a method developed about a decade ago by Los Angeles pediatrician Harvey Karp.

• We're thinking the method will come in handy for Giuliana and Bill Rancic, who recently announced they are expecting their first child via a gestational carrier who Mrs. Rancic has dubbed "my baby mama."

• Last weekend, the Huffington Post published blogger Julie Ross’s update on how her life has changed since her 9-year-old child who was born male, re-identified as female.

• "Take me out to the ballgame" got a new meaning last week when an overly enthusiastic little fan, mitt-ready, ran out onto the White Sox's home field. Outfielder Dayan Viciedo scooped him up; he and his family were ejected from the park, according to ESPN. CBS has photos of the would-be ballplayer with Viciedo.

File under: "Indigestion"

• "Vegan Is Love", an upcoming book by author Ruby Roth that promotes a vegan diet for children, is causing quiet a stir among parents who feel the book's images of animals behind bars are cheap scare tactics. The recent return of mad cow disease might be a more convincing argument.

• F-to-the-Y-I: Teenagers are drinking hand sanitizer to get a buzz these days. No, really. And after learning of the trend, actor/questionable role model John Cusack thought it would be hilarious to take a shot of the stuff on national television last night. We're not laughing.

File under: "The fun stuff"

• Click here to listen to a caterpillar talk.

• Filmmaker and sustainable-living advocate Kirsten Dirksen recently released her five-year exploration of life in tiny houses.