There are a lot of things they don’t tell you in the parenting manuals.  For example, without being able to help it, you will hear these phrases come out of your mouth:

• Because I said so.
• Because.
• Because.
• Because.
• Go ask your father.
• Oh and get the goldfish out of your sister's toothpaste mug...

  You will also nag, repeatedly, often with the following comments:

• Brush your hair.
• with a brush.
• Clean your teeth.
• with a brush.
• Floss.
• Did you floss?
• Did you really floss?
• Even the back ones?
• Wipe your nose so your fingers meet in the middle, not so it smears across your cheek.

If you have daughters, there will come a time when you'll need to remind them that they cannot sit spread eagle in a dress. I blame Monkey Bar Buddies for the false sense of modesty. Ok, and I also resent them not coming in adult sizes, but I digress... As we plunge along on this crazy roller coaster known as parenting, the best advice I was ever given was to hold tight to humour. And maybe to keep some chardonnay on tap...