I surveyed the teen boys in my husband's fencing academy with the question, "How can your parents get you out of your room?" The saddest answer: my parents are never home so it doesn't matter. The funniest answer: donuts. Sadly, not one of the kids had a viable solution. Where did that fun-loving, squeezable-cheeked child go? Now you perhaps hear drawers slam, loud music playing or muffled sounds from their room. It may seem like you have a phantom child living in your house.

We Micro manage. We wake them up, we make sure the brush their hair, brush their teeth, get a good breakfast, dressed appropriately, pack their lunch, make sure homework is ready to turn in, settle at least one sibling dispute, put out a minimum of one fire, frequently make sure they are in a good mood and get out the door on time. All of this usually BEFORE 8:30 in the morning! Whew! I am exhausted just writing about it. Self-sacrifice is the name of the game. Moms often do