For the past couple of years I have noticed the increasing number of vehicles with the cute stick-figure family decals, some with names, some not, some even have pets, too. What I'm wondering is if they are really a good idea. Is it smart to identify how many children ride in the car? Or am I being too cautious?

I'm not here to tell you to vote one way or the other (VOTE OBAMA, Duh!). I'm here to say that since you have the distinct honor to live in this country where your vote does matter, see previous past two elections if you don't believe me, you need to do your duty as an American citizen and a parent, and do some research on the candidates. My husband and I make a point of watching every debate, both Republican and Democratic. Now you don't have to be so fanatical, but at least watch one or two of both and check out the candidates websites. Secondly, there are ways to get your children involved at all ages.

I think I have discovered how children become over-scheduled. Their mothers don't mean to overtax their children, or at least that's not how it starts. Before my child care leave I was a fifth-grade teacher for four years. It was a highly demanding, but also rewarding job. I went out two weeks before I delivered. The first couple of days were fun but then I found myself twiddling my thumbs because all my friends and family were at work. I delivered my daughter in May and in the beginning was consumed with learning to be a mother. But after awhile I started to go stir crazy--you can only stay in your house for so long before it feels like a prison. When my husband and teacher friends went back to work in September I felt a little lost.

I remember perfectly the first moment I realized my husband had a different learning curve with our daughter. He had just finished bathing her and was putting on her diaper and sleep sack in her room. I'm sitting on the couch comatose and I can hear some distress coming from her room. He walks out with the baby crying, her sleep slack half on, trapping her arms, and I kid you not, her diaper on backwards.  He needed help.

"So, when are you going to have another?" This is the phrase I've come to dread. It sneaks in at parties, casual lunches and even at my kitchen table with friends. My baby is only 8 months old and I'm already feeling the pressure to add to our family. At Christmas my husband's aunt pulled me aside and suggested that perhaps I would be expecting another by this time next year, wink, wink. Why do people ask this question when they can clearly see that I have my hands full? Don't they know me well enough to know how I agonize over planning everything out?