A crying baby is an endurance test. But silencing that baby with a bottle only makes it worse. The bottle is comforting, then over doing fluids creates rashes and more pain. Stopping that cycle is hard, but try it without the bottle and let 20 minutes go by the first night. By the 2nd or 3rd night, your troubles will be over.

Potty training can be fun if you're creative, instead of shaming. Have your child bring a few toys with, maybe a doll, some character that "talks", too, and maybe slips while sitting on the towel rack, or trips unexpectedly. Once the giggles start, you're almost there. One good laugh, and no more diapers are needed.

Being creative with game ideas for the kids is easy, including yard baseball or football games, or a one-on-one pitching contest with you being catcher and umpire, a great way to create drama and install a strong sense of self for the child.

Treats should be the reward for finishing all their food during the other meals. Treats before that make balanced diets impossible. Stick to that boundary, and they'll soon clean their plates at every meal.

No child wants to go to bed when they're told to. The later they're up, the more "grown-up" they feel. To overcome this, try reading. If they can't read yet, begin reading to them every night before bed, and begin teaching them to read as soon as you can. If bedtime is set for 8 or 9pm, set it firmly for 8pm. Then if they ask to stay up late, say yes to 9pm if they read. Dry eyes barely make it that extra hour. Soon, you'll need to make runs to the library every week, which is also fun. A great way for parents to really get to know their children. Each book they seek is a window to their passions.

Divorce rates are nearing 70%, and single parent homes are at an all time high. As rates of obesity and violence increase in our children, SAT scores continue to decrease. As this trend continues with no end in sight, now is the time to prepare your mind should that happen to your family. The worst part of it is that the child somehow always thinks it's their fault, and it never is. They need daily assurances. And badmouthing another parent for any reason is pure child abuse. Many parents in divorce do let the feelings slip out, and if that happens, apologize to the kids, and stop immediately. In most states, any suggestion that the other parent does not pay support, or is an alcoholic, does not love his or her children, is a criminal violation in the eyes of the courts. Letting things like that slip out once or twice is human. Beyond that is criminal. Children will become adults hating 1/2 of who they are.

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