i try really really hard to be a good mom, but sometimes i'm just not sure. when my kids are fighting (all the time) and whining and totally ignoring everything i say to them...i wonder where i went wrong. should i be harder on them? am i giving them too much? not enough? should i spank them? should i send them off somewhere? should i send myself off somewhere...say, a luxury day spa? :)

mostly, i think about ma and pa ingalls. seriously. those kids would have NEVER sassed pa back. and if they did, he would just give them that look and they would say "sorry pa." and they would mean it. i've got to find out how ma got respect out of her kids when she never once threatened to burn down chuck e. cheese or throw their leapsters in the trash.

obviously, my boys are being naughty. naughtier than usual. and it's driving me crazy. but tomorrow, i'm getting to the bottom of it. i'm putting my foot down. i'm pulling out the big guns. tomorrow little house on the prairie is on at 4:oo EST, and i am going to make kids watch it. i don't care how many times they try to turn the channel to spongebob, they are going to watch laura and mary and even little carrie and learn how to be good, sweet kids.

if that doesn't work, i'm packing for the day spa.