BAD MOTHERS ANONYMOUS

     Warning: BAD MOTHERS ANONYMOUS is addictive. These are true confessions, wrung from the hearts and consciences of mothers who have been feeling guilty for months or even years. Some of the stories are funny. Like this one:

     “When my oldest daughter was four we were in the checkout line and she wanted a Skye Bar. I told her no, she pitched a fit. People were looking. I was mortified. I threw the candy bar on the belt and bought it. When we got to the car, I strapped her in, I got in beside her, opened the Skye Bar, and ate it in front of her. She screamed the whole time, I almost gagged on the stupid thing, but she NEVER did that again. I still feel bad.”

     And some items are simply sad. Like this one:

     “I’m so much harder on my first born daughter than my second born daughter. I wish it was easier not to be like my father.”

     If you’re a normal, human mother, you probably have something you regret. Here’s your chance to get it off your chest. Anonymously.

http://badmothersanonymous.com/

MEAN PARENTS

     Why all good parents are mean. At times.

http://suzyred.com/moms.html

DIVINE CAROLINE

     DIVINE CAROLINE is silly, she’s serious, she’s useful, she’s fun. And she lets parents contribute the stories and pictures. Let’s start with “Wedding Photos We’ll All Remember”:

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22072/
37887-wedding-photos-we-ll-remember--part?cmp=DA_HSE_28

     Here’s the page where you browse the Parenting section:

http://www.divinecaroline.com/browse/parenting

     And “Stroller Strength Keeps Me Sane”:

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22124/
37665-stroller-strength-keeps-sane

HOW A TODDLER THINKS

     “If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied. If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.” And that’s just the beginning.

http://www.lovethosekids.com/little/toddler.htm

HOW TO HUG A BABY

     I’ve gone back to look at this several times. You’ll see why when you look at it.

http://www.dnaco.net/~vogelke/pictures/how-to-hug-a-baby/

GETTING MUDDY WITH THE KIDS

     “Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water-bugs, tadpoles, frogs and mud-turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb, brooks to wade in. . . .” You may not be able to supply all of these, but you and the kids can have some great times in the back yard. One of the simplest and best ideas is to get muddy: spray a dug-up but unplanted section of the vegetable garden with the hose, and let the kids have a glorious time playing in the mud. Next stop, bathtub.

     And JENNIFER LANCE has more good suggestions for you about gardening with children:

http://jenniferlance.greenoptions.com/2007/05/23/
green-family-values-10-tips-for-organic-gardening-with-children/