In Brief

By Alice Park

WHAT PARENTS WANT

It's no secret that being a parent today is a juggling act. According to a National Parenting Association survey of 650 parents, the biggest challenge moms and dads face is balancing work and family. The good news: employers are responding. Sixty-seven percent of parents say they can adjust their work hours to accommodate family needs. Still, parents with lower incomes--who can least afford extra child care to accommodate last-minute schedule changes and emergencies--tend to work for firms that don't have much family-friendly flexibility. More parents cite crime and violence as their biggest worry-40% this year, compared with 30% in 1996. More than half trace recent school shootings to "parents' failure to teach and watch their kids." --By Alice Park