It's so hard to believe that 15 years ago, your father and I were introduced to someone who would change our lives in the most amazing way possible. Anyhow, what I'm doing here is putting together some things to keep in mind as you go through the next year -- and decade.

While it's undoubtedly true that one of the best gifts we can give our children is a happy and loving marriage, it's difficult to wrap one's head around the notion of placing children second. Especially young ones. One would hope that parents could be mature enough to realize that once they have a child, that child should be the first priority.

I've adopted a lot of the attachment parenting principles, but co-sleeping isn't one of them. Unless they're sick or scared -- which of course happens from time to time and they're welcome in our bed -- I just can't do it. And I'm OK with that. So, attack me all you want but here are the top five reasons I don't co-sleep.

What caught my attention this week? Marissa Mayer's declaration that Yahoo! employees must come to work, some nutrition month stats, OTT parenting products, Facebook and a new app that measures your stress level.

That moment when you look at your hands, at your feet; and they look...old. When you look at your body and it seems flabby. When you look at your eyes, and they seem tired. That, my dear Mama, is the moment you realize. That being a mother is the hardest gig you've ever had to do. Harder than anything. Keep on keeping on, soldiers.

We're almost through the first few months of 2013, so we can officially stop looking back at last year. That being said, there's going to be some big names on the docket for 2013, so here are our picks for the trendiest baby names of this year. Spoiler alert: they're getting classy.

I take full accountability for the fact that my kids are hardly ever...nay...are NEVER able to take accountability for their failures. When my son came out of the dressing room, his first words were, "We lost because the refs weren't calling any penalties on the other team." My husband stopped in his tracks, turned to face our little forlorn, sore loser, and said, "No. You lost because you guys stopped skating in the second period."

In general, people don't really want to know the real answer to tough questions about life.

Oh, Kathie Lee Gifford, how I feel so bad for the way I treated you and for all the things I said. I really do wish I could take it all back and rewind time and cherish every picture you showed and every mundane and not mundane story you ever told about your Cody and Cassidy on Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee. Because I am now you. I am that mom.

One parent who knows how to shake it is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. You want to watch her dance on YouTube. The clip shows her performing The Evolution of the Mom Dance with Jimmy Fallon on his late night show in honour of her 'Let's Move' campaign.

Sometimes a body just needs to know. To feel a mother's love. To know that she is there. That she's within arm's length, when story lines grow dark. Becoming ominous, sinister. That she is only a whisper away. When the plot thickens to a portentous climax. When the theatrics prove a bit too much to take.

I grew up in the era of Tough Love. There was no pretending in my home. My mother called it as she saw it, and what she saw wasn't always pretty. I've spent years meticulously choosing politically correct ways of disciplining my children. Now I know exactly where I went wrong.

I began putting together the pieces of the puzzle: new toys broken -- no, decimated -- in under 60 seconds; clothing cut up with scissors; unfinished food smashed with a toy "hammer"-- my children had been displaying destructive behaviour. Here are some steps I put in place to get my house back, which I call SCABS for short: Supervision, Consequences, Activities, Boredom and Segregation.

Watching The View this morning the controversy whirred around reproductive parts, and what we, as parents, should be teaching our children to call them. The consensus: It just doesn't seem right to hear a little girl referring to her breasts. Boobies is much cuter. Because we're concerned about the cuteness of these body parts on a seven-year-old?

Doesn't every woman love to receive a box wrapped with a pretty ribbon from time to time? Imagine that box was delivered to your door, filled with something new to surprise and delight you once a month? Just sign up for a monthly subscription service that delivers boxes full of goodies to suit your needs.

American Idol is a great example of what can happen if you aren't honest with your children, and you send them out onto the stage, to fail. My kids are terrible singers. I am a terrible singer. They won't be one of those show contestants who are so painfully awful but are convinced they are the next Kelly Clarkson because their mom said so.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a list of all the "dos and don'ts" required for effectively achieving the status of perfect parent. As I swapped my hopes for a career in nursing, and instead chose countless hours of time bonding with my children, in those early days of motherhood when I was stumbling over the educational toys strewn about my home, nobody could have convinced me then that I would become what I am today.

Three months ago we welcomed a baby boy into this world. Our second child. I feel that as a blogger I'm obligated to tap into these days of infancy, that I should be mommy-blogging to the extreme, documenting the experience for all to share. Where is this pressure coming from?