How to relax

Just when you start to get complacent...

Need a little peace and quiet in your life? I did, so when Lily needed to be fed, I let the kids watch Little Bear on the TiVo and settled down in my room to feed her. The kids love Little Bear, even Andrew and Jaden, although they'd rather eat a mouse than admit it to their friends! And since Lily usually nurses for 20-30 minutes, it gave me just enough of a break.

So if you want to relax a little bit, here are some additional pointers besides turning on the television:

Don't assume that because your children watched Little Bear without moving from the couch last week, it will also work again this week. Be sure to not leave the cinnamon-sugar shaker within reach of your 3-year-old. If you do, you will find half of it poured out on the recliner. Thankfully, though, you'll only half to clean up that half, because the other half has been consumed.

Don't lose the Dustbuster. If you forget where you've put it, you'll have to spend several minutes looking for it. While you're wasting this valuable time, don't forget to not leave the Windex sitting on your bathroom counter. Despite the fact that you've turned the nozzle off, your oh-so-helpful 3-year-old will turn it back on so that your almost-2-year-old can Windex your mirror for you. While he's at it, he will also spray everything on your counter. If you happened to leave your makeup bag out, or your hairbrush, they will be so clean and smell just like a shiny mirror!

And as you head for the kitchen to get paper towels, don't leave your 3-year-old unsupervised again. And don't leave your Swiffer sitting next to the washing machine. This will result in an unusable Swiffer, because while you are headed to the garage to lood again for the Dustbuster she will be busy tearing the rubber padding at the end into several pieces.

Whatever you do, don't give in to the urge to scream. DO call your husband at work and tell him you need a break .

And don't cry when he brings you two dozen roses when he comes home.