No carer in the world

Accommodation is still being sought for at least four adolescents who are under care orders but living with their families nonetheless. And the repercussions of leaving them in their homes could be drastic.

It is already a major challenge to decide whether to issue children with a care order and remove them from their natural families, but what happens when alternative accommodation cannot be found?

In tomorrow's issue of Pink magazine, distributed with The Times, Family Minister Dolores Cristina talks about the emotional nightmare, dilemma and responsibility she faces every time she has to decide whether the State should become the parent of that child.

Herself a mother, Ms Cristina tells Pink her experience dealing with abusive families has practically made her lose faith in the concept of maternal instinct.

But in the wake of Mother's Day, that justified doubt is balanced out by the stories of mums and martyrs - those who are sacrificing their lives for their children's suffering, or are prisoners of their incorrigible crimes.

In more light-hearted mother-child subjects, Pink looks into childhood obesity by peering into kids' lunchboxes to pull out what their mothers are feeding them for school; and delves into the fascinating detail, expense and research some mums go through to organise and constantly improve on their children's birthday parties.

Travelling with a baby on board is no laughing matter but Pink's humorous tips for every mode of transport could turn it into a walk in the park. And other advice on wide-ranging parent-child issues can be sourced in the list of books compiled this month.

Fashion spreads like wildfire across tomorrow's issue, with an extended bikini photo shoot and a focus on accessories, trends and new outlets, while health, history, humour, horoscopes, home décor, beauty, fitness, food, cars and the most happening party pictures take their rightful page in the women's magazine.

Published by Allied Newspapers Ltd and printed by Progress Press, Pink's executive editor is Fiona Galea Debono. It is produced by Mediamaker and designed by Helen Cassar Torreggiani and Joseph Schembri.