I recently learned

1.  Neutral ground for playdates is a really really good idea (and kids personal bedrooms are a bad space for learning how to share.)

2.  You can find lots of clothes for 3 year old girls at thrift/consignment stores easily, but 5 year old boy clothing in good condition is a rare treasure.

3.  L and I have very similar taste in clothing.  She went through the shopping bag when we arrived home and picked out the two items I liked best and then demanded to try them on.

4.  Even if it is the first day of sun and temps over fifty in months I will still get badly sunburnt in two hours (but my kids won't.)

5.  Navigating the muddy waters of independence, cooperation and grace when things aren't the way you'd like is hard at 4 and still almost as hard at 30.

6.  Computer game play is the only thing that will motivate G enough to actually poop on the toilet.  Candy, toys, stickers, charts, praise, pleading and stories are not it.

7.  It bothers me to hear someone use the word mainstream as a verb and specifically when it is their biggest goal for my child's educational future.

8.  Food, games and activities are all much more appealing to 2 and 4 year olds when offered by peers and siblings than pesky adults.

9.  The dog will actually eat a cigarette butt if we try to make him spit it out.  Ugh!

10.  G has developed an interest in the notion of a secret formula.  (Where does he get this stuff?!)  He named one of his animal creations Secret Formula and made sure his dad typed it out right for him.