“The Rap Song” by Alice Shi Kembel

We are driving home from dinner at a friend’s house one evening when our four-year-old, Sawyer*, who loves music, spontaneously breaks into song. “I gotta big butt, I gotta big butt . . .”

“Love Given, Love Received” by Lisa Cole

So there I was being selfishly glum after learning that tonight’s tenth anniversary dinner reservations had to be cancelled . . .

“Parenting Math” by Molly Pascal

I thought taking care of one baby was hard, until I had two . . .

“This Is What Happens When a Writer Listens to Too Many Children’s Songs” by Katherine N. Friedman

Some of her patients had parenting problems more than they had medical problems, but Dr. Simian didn’t say that out loud as she took Mrs. Monkey’s call . . .

“Survey Says? Your Parenting Stinks” by Molly DeFrank

We pulled into our parking space at 9:38am. Yes, we were technically eight minutes late. But I’d managed to dress and feed four hungry tiny people, wrestle them into car seats, and drive here. Eight minutes late was a win.

“Walk Away?” by Carol Robbins

If Rudolf Dreikurs had not died in 1972, I might be in prison today . . .

“M” by Iva Ticic

She ran up to me kind of sideways, half willing herself to approach me and half strangely drawn to me. Even from across the room, she yelled out for all to hear:

“Why did you come?!” . . .

“I Have No Toys” by Samuel Murphy

I have no toys.

I was hoping that at this stage of my life, as both husband and father, I would have some pretty cool toys. But I don’t. Instead I have four daughters, and this is why I have no toys . . .