This is heartbreaking: The death toll from a devastating cyclone in Bangladesh continues to rise. As of yesterday, it’s at 3,500 dead, millions are homeless and many rural villagers have gone days without eating, according to an AFP news story. International aid is just starting to trickle in the region, which was declared a “national crisis” by its government.

When You Clash With MIL: I’ve clashed with my mother-in-law over personal issues and cleanliness standards. (I am a slob in her eyes.) After a big showdown in El Salvador three years ago, we made up and have had a civil relationship since then.

But one reason we have a relationship is because we are willing to overlook our differences. No matter how much we have feuded in the past, I won’t keep her from my children because our disagreements have nothing to do with them. Plus, I know she loves them.

While there are character flaws that can’t be overlooked -- especially if they pose a risk to the children -- this Berkeley Parents Network letter resonated with me. It was written to a mom who complained that her mother-in-law would not visit her grandchild over a disagreement they had:

Being a true adult means accepting one's mother and loving her as much as she loved you and as well as you can, despite her apparent shortcomings. To do otherwise is the stuff of teenagers and college students. Wouldn't you want your child/ren to do the same for you? I know that this is your MIL, but when you marry someone, your families become one. Unless this woman is truly evil, and I mean truly, then it's time to accept her. If that means taking the high road, then get on up. Learn to navigate around her issues. You may find in the long run that she brings more to your life than judgement.

-33 year old son, just now growing up

Of course, there were letters that backed the mom, the reasoning being that showing respect to the mother is a part of teaching children respect. What do you think, MotherTalkers? Would you ever cut off your mothers or MILs from your children?

One More BPN Letter: With the holidays coming up, readers wondered if there were decent alternatives to real Christmas trees. (I am sorry, but I love the smell of pine from a real tree!) Read on:

Update: Unfortunately, 1,100 people -- and most likely more -- are dead from the storm in Bangladesh, according to the Associated Press. My thoughts go the people there. -Elisa

A cyclone that slammed Bangladesh’s coast at 140 mph, killed 425 people and left some low-lying areas plunged in four feet of water, according to an Associated Press report.

So far, the cyclone has not been as damaging as expected like the one that hit the country in 1991 and killed 138,000 people. This time, the country was prepared and evacuated up to 3.2 million people in almost no time, interim prime minister Fakhruddin Ahmed told BBC News.

Over the last two decades, Bangladesh has embarked on a comprehensive programme to build cyclone shelters.

In addition thousands of volunteers have been trained to alert people to impending cyclones.

Boats plying rivers in the south of the country have been warned to keep off the water, and fishermen in the Bay of Bengal have received constant radio, newspaper and online warnings about the storm.

Still, the cyclone tore down many flimsy homes and has left at least thousands homeless, according to AP.

More International News: Also, in case you missed it, Chile had a devastating earthquake with a few aftershocks in 13 minutes time, which left at least two dead, and thousands injured and homeless, according to CNN.

U.S. Presidential Debate: Did you catch the presidential debate last night on CNN? It took place in Las Vegas. What did you think? I was surprised that Barack Obama and John Edwards were booed for going after Hillary. It is a debate after all.