Momastery

One of the myriad problems with this parenting gig is that they save the hardest part for last. BEDTIME. Bedtime should be in the morning -- when we're fresh and kind and sweet -- and decent parenting still seems like a very real possibility.

We can do no big things, just little things with great love. Each of our offerings will be little but together, they will become great.

Craig and I have a steadfast rule -- no bragging to anyone except each other or the grandparents. Basically, our rule means that we keep our mouths shut in public and then we talk in bed about how our kids are better than anyone else's kids in the whole entire world.

As Heather Armstrong noted on the Today Show this morning, the parenting blogosphere is a powerful source of shared wisdom and experience for thousand...

In short, I get to be somebody else for a while, a dental nerd in a cardigan with perfectly groomed children and I really enjoy playing that role for an hour or two. On dental mornings I become my own character foil.

I am walking down the street with my young son. I am approached by three black boys in hoodies. Am I more afraid than I'd be if I were approached by three white boys with Abercrombie rugbies?

And then this brilliant smile broke out on Chase's face that was the smile of a heart recognizing the truth. It was a smile of a promise kept. It was the best smile I have ever seen, on any of my children.

We have to love ourselves if we want our kids to love themselves. We don't necessarily have to love them more, we have to love ourselves more. We have to be gentle with ourselves.

Every time I'm out with my kids -- this seems to happen: An older woman stops us, puts her hand over her heart and says something like, "Oh, Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so fast."