So a few weeks ago I was trying to decide whether or not I should volunteer for the steering team of my MOPS group (that’s Mothers of Preschoolers – and if you are a mama of little ones you should DEFINITELY join!).  Vann and I were talking about it and he said, “Well, you ARE an experienced Mom now.  You really do have something to contribute!” Huh.  Experienced, you say??  Sometimes – no wait – MOST of the time I feel like I’m barely hanging on.  So to say that I’m an “experienced” Mom now seems very foreign.  And so, in honor of Mother’s Day, I give you: Amanda’s Do’s and Don’ts of Expert Motherhood 1.  Do let your 3 year old make her own breakfast.  Then you can sleep a little longer. 2.  Don’t EVER, whatever you do, be on time for ANYTHING.  Always leave your house with only 5 minutes to spare.  Really.  It makes the day go so much smoother. 3.  Do throw Nemo fruit snacks and M & M’s at your child.  All day long.  Just to get them to STOP bothering you. 4.  Do forget about ever having the time to read a book.  Give up that dream, sista. 5.  Or, just get your magazine reading fix in while your children pummel each other.  Every so often you can look up and yell, “Stop that!” or “Seriously??” just to get your point across. 6.  Do beware the witching hour(s) between 3 pm and 5:30 pm.  These will seem like the longest hours of your life, but I promise, if you have another Mom to drink with, the time will pass by much quicker. 7.  Do invest in cute baseball caps. 8.  Do leave your Mom “trappings” all over your house.  Really.  Your husband will LOVE it.  That includes but is not limited to: Hoodies, Flip Flops, your Blackberry, and your iPod which you are constantly uploading with new Disney music. 9.  Don’t let your stash of emergency junk food get low.  Sometimes all it takes to feel more in control is to stand in your pantry and binge on chocolate-covered Peeps. 10.  And finally, Do take a deep breath and take it all in – because the days are long but the years are short, as “they” say.  Someday you will actually be able to go to the potty in peace – but where’s the fun in that?? Happy Mother’s Day.