What All the Stay-At-Home-Moms Know

No baby yet, but I've started my maternity leave. Even though I've always had my Fridays off to spend with Jett, there's something about having Monday and Tuesday off that really makes you feel like a stay at home mom. Or maybe it's the lessons I've learned in the last two days:

1. If you leave the house, there will be less mess to clean up at the end of the day.

2. If you go to the park after 4:00, it is going to be chaotic. This is because the park will be over run by eight and nine year olds in after-school programs. These eight and nine year olds will think nothing of running in to your almost two year old.

3. When there are that many unsupervised older kids at the park, parents of the little kids get nervous. Parents will take your child's hand and hurry him across the draw-bridge, even though you are standing right there, next to your child. They will also scold their own two-year-old for not saying "excuse me". It's just better to go to the park during school hours.

4. It it's 80 degrees out and your child wants to wear his winter cap outside, you might as well let him, because it's so darn cute. He'll take it off after 5 minutes anyway.

5. Bringing chalk to the playground is a great way to make friends, as long as you aren't particular about getting all of your chalk back.