According to a recent survey, Canadians would pay their moms an average salary of $161,287 a year for all their hard work. When asked what qualities a Mom of the Year should possess, the answers were several -- being loving, compassionate, hard working, fun loving, a mentor, sacrificing and charitable.

I've been using the power of Santa Claus for a few weeks now, and things are looking good. For maximum effectiveness, the use of Santa and his omnipresence is good for the window directly following Halloween until December 25. During this time, I enjoy the increased attentiveness, dearth of meltdowns and general calm that precedes Christmas day.

As you and your children settle into the new school year with new schedules and new activities, it can all be quite overwhelming. Your role as family manager has just stepped into high gear -- planning, organizing, directing, monitoring, and motivating are in the forefront as you help your children adjust to everything this school year brings. So how can you get everything done and not lose your marbles?

Surreptitious subterfuge is part and parcel of being a parent. Stealing candies from babies is just one of the many things that we parents do in our quest to equal the playing field and "get ours."

The fact of the matter is, perfection -- particularly in the area of parenting -- is impossible. There is no simple guidebook that will ease the way through the difficult baby years on up to the trials of adolescence. What is that expression about a road paved with good intentions?