I will eat just about anything fried, but eating crow never tastes good. Have you ever looked at your kids and realized they are doing the exact thing you swore that your children "would never do"? This promise was usually uttered while looking at a frazzled mother trying to keep her brood together in a public place. (Also, usually before you had children of your own.)

My sister has two children who are substantially older than mine. When they were little and I was childless, I swore up and down that my children would never be allowed to talk back, eat sugary junk foods and would be expected to obey me the first time out. After all, any mother who truly cares about her kids would make sure they were well behaved with good habits.

But life happens. Laundy has to be done, floors mopped, beds made and kitchens cleaned. So, we find ourselves in the habits of the video babysitter, goldfish occasionally for lunch and gasp! bribing our kids to do what we ask the first time...or second or third or fourth.

I am not saying give up on having well behaved children who respect their parents and have fabulous habits. Only, give yourselft a little slack and credit. This whole parenting thing is tough--and mine are little. I can only imagine how much harder it will get!