Do you have a favorite story, poem or story about children? Or do you have an anecdote or parenting tip you'd like to share? Please let us know by dropping us an e-mail. Just click on our puppy postal carrier:

Kay Willis, 71, who died April 5, 2001, was a remarkable mother of 10 children whose infectious humor and simple wisdom inspired thousands of parents over the years.

In 1975, Kay founded Mothers Matter, a national parents support group, and for the next 25 years she shared her treasures of parenting advice through lectures and seminars. Her book, "Are We Having Fun Yet? The 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting'' was published in 1998 by Warner Books. It has been translated into six languages and remains in print in the United States. It was co-authored by Maryann B. Brinley.
Some of Kay's pearls of wisdom include:

"Check the emotional atmosphere in your home. If you aren't glad to be there, no one else is either.''

"Too many chores? Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate, so you can play. Skip the laundry. Let the pots soak. Do the dishes later.''

"Save time to have fun: Can you remember when you had two hours to call your own? Trade time with a friend. Hire a sitter. Make it happen.''

Kay's book can be ordered through amazon.com by clicking here:

- A baby usually wakes up in the wee-wee hours of the morning.

- A child will not spill on a dirty floor.

- A young child is a noise with dirt on it.

- A youth becomes a man when the marks he wants to leave on the world
have nothing to do with tires.

- An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.

- Be nice to your kids, for it is they who will choose your nursing
home.

- Celibacy is not hereditary.

- Familiarity breeds children.

- For adult education, nothing beats children.

- Having children is like having a bowling alley installed in your
brain.

- Having children will turn you into your parents.

- If you have trouble getting your children's attention, just sit down
and look comfortable.

- Ill-bred children always display their pest manners.

- It now costs more to amuse a child than it once did to educate his
father.

- It rarely occurs to teenagers that the day will come when they'll know
as little as their parents.

- Money isn't everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch.

- Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.

- You can learn many things from children ... like how much patience you
have.

- Summer vacation is a time when parents realize that teachers are
grossly underpaid.

- The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also
turns to the left.

- There are three ways to get things done: 1) do it yourself 2) hire
someone to do it 3) forbid your kids to do it
- Those who say they "sleep like a baby" haven't got one.

- There would be fewer problems with children if they had to chop wood
to keep the television set going.

- The best thing to spend on your children is time.
--Anonymous

---

We are doing research about the challenges parents face raising children ages 6-12 in the 21st century, and we need your input. At some point we plan to share the information we gathered to help other parents. We welcome your parenting anecdotes or advice, and your trials and triumphs. Please include the ages of your kids. Your name will remain confidential, unless you indicate that it's OK to use it. Some topics we are interested in include:

1) Back talk;

2) Sibling rivalry;

3) Defiance;

4) Making friends;

5) Chores and cleaning up;

6) Allowances;

7) Dealing with death;

8) Self-esteem;

9) Peer pressure;

10)Stealing.