We all know those parents of 2-year-olds who claim they've got the terrible 2s under control and their kid is perfectly disciplined because they have the secret behavioral formula. But for most moms of toddlers, it can be incredibly frustrating trying to keep under control a child who is at an age when he is not exactly a rational human being.

That's why moms like Danielle P. want to know what is reasonable when setting behavior standards for toddlers. She says she's tried and failed at "everything" to try to discipline her "independent, determined, stubborn, and adventurous" 22-month-old daughter. Lisa A. feels similarly frustrated, noting, "Sometimes I feel like I'd get more of a response talking to/disciplining a rock."

So what do you do when you're pushed to the limit and feel like nothing is working with your misbehaving toddler? While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to discipline — some moms maintain a good spanking is the key to disciplining a toddler, while others are adamant about avoiding spanking — many Circle of Moms members agree on the following tried-and-true strategies for helping tots learn good behavior and helping moms not feel so frustrated in the process.

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Jillian M., a mom of two who is in a committed relationship and who has been flirting with a co-worker, is wondering if that makes her a bad person. Most of her friends say that flirting with a co-worker "is a definite no-no," but Jillian feels that her flirtation is harmless. There's "no touching or sexual advances whatsoever," she explains, and it's hard to end it because it satisfies her need for "a pick-me-up."

Jillian's situation is far from unique among moms. Many Circle of Moms members admit to occasional attractions and flirtations with friends, co-workers, or strangers, and many wonder how and where these innocent flirtations — whether their own or their significant other's — veer into dangerous territory for a couple in a committed relationship.

Here, Circle of Moms members offer three warning signs that an innocent flirtation could become a doorway to heartache and humiliation.

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It's important for you, your partner, and your children to each have your own friends, but building friendships as a family is also beneficial.

"Being friends with other families honestly is the easiest group to be with," says Circle of Moms member Maria P., noting that there's never awkwardness about bringing kids along. These kinds of family friendships are what moms like Stephanie M. long to create. "I'm looking for friends where our spouses and kids can all hang out together," she shares.

So how do you go about building and cultivating friendships with other families you can relate to? To help, here are six ideas from Circle of Moms members for connecting with other families.

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Despite tweens' resistance to chores, Circle of Moms members say that there are ways to get them to pitch in around the house. Whether you're hoping to teach yours the value of work or just need some help with the cleaning or laundry, here are some great suggestions on age-appropriate chores for 9- to 12-year-olds. 

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Toddlers aren't the only children who have tantrums! Teenagers often throw their own angry tantrums, resorting to foot-stomping, door-slamming, yelling, and more. If you're looking for ideas on how to respond to your teen's emotional outbursts, here are five key steps Circle of Moms members suggest.

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Wondering what the growing diaper-free trend is all about? Keep reading to find out!

Do you think spanking helps kids or hurts them?

About a week ago, I was standing in line at one of the tween/teen clothing shops at the mall with my daughter. The mom behind me and her young son started squabbling as the little guy became increasingly worked up over the long line and started squirming and whining that he wanted to leave. His mom kept demanding, "Stop it." Suddenly, the palm of her hand exploded against his backside — not once, but in rapid-fire motion, eliciting a burst of tears that turned into all-out wails.

My daughter and I were horrified, as it appeared almost everyone in line appeared to be too. The sadness on the little boy's face and his humiliation were palpable, and as his tears kept flowing, she resumed meting out her punishment.

My daughter and I talked about our disturbing feelings the entire way home. I told her how when I was growing up, these kinds of corporal punishment were standard in many homes. Spanking was just how parents disciplined.

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Is it really possible to take teens on a "fun" vacation? With Summer just around the bend, many Circle of Moms members are starting to worry about finding Summer excursions that their teens won't roll their eyes at. To help you plan a getaway or staycation that both parents and teens will actually enjoy, we've rounded up Circle of Moms members' top tips on how parents and teens can find common ground when it comes to family vacations.

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With warmer Spring weather bringing plants and flowers back to life, you may find your child's allergies waking up too. So, what can you do to alleviate runny noses, itchy eyes, and other cold-like symptoms caused by pollen, grass, and weeds? Here, Circle of Moms members share their tried-and true remedies for Spring allergies.

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I can mark my children's stages in life by their birthday parties. When they were little, there was the themed Thomas the Tank Engine bash, and then came Chuck E. Cheese. That was followed by my daughter's tween spa night.

But the most memorable party was the post-homecoming gathering. My 14-year-old son and an entourage of boys and girl dates for the dance arrived at my house, armed with pillows and toting carry-on luggage.

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Preschoolers love to make messes. Just ask Circle of Moms member Jessica E., who describes a day in the life of her 3-year-old daughter this way: "She pulls my makeup down and smears it. She opens up bottles of shampoo and squirts them empty. She empties toothpaste on the walls, colors everywhere, and throws food everywhere (like a box of crackers or grapes)." Help, she begs. "I have tried everything. I just don't know what to do about all the messes and how to get her to stop."

Whether it's unrolling toilet paper, scattering toys throughout the house, or coloring on the walls, all this mess-making is a sign that your preschooler is doing her job: exploring the world. But even though her habit is developmentally appropriate, it can be hard to live with! Here, to the rescue, are three tips from Circle of Moms members on controlling the chaos, plus advice on how to deal with your little mess-maker's behavior in restaurants.

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Letting your grade-school-age child watch a movie you've never seen yourself can be like walking in a field of land mines. As many Circle of Moms members point out, even movies with G and PG ratings contain violence, crude language, and sexual themes that are scary or age-inappropriate. What's more, a G or PG rating is far from a guarantee that your child will be enchanted.

Circle of Moms member Teresa resignedly states, "It depends on the specific movie, not the rating." So what's a mom in search of a good movie for her grade-school-age child to do?

I surveyed the Circle of Moms communities for movies that not only get the mom seal of approval, but that grade-school-age kids also tend to love. Queue up your DVR!

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There's a lot a pregnant woman can count on following the birth of a long-awaited baby, including sleepless nights and visitors flocking to her home for a viewing. But the zinger is the postbaby bulge.

That round bump that was so cute during the final months of your pregnancy becomes a balloon of bothersome flab that bulges over your waistband. People tell you it will eventually shrink back (you hope). But if you feel like dialing your ob-gyn to ask, "Are you sure I didn't have twins and you left the other little guy in there?" you're not alone.

Of all the common changes to our postpartum bodies, which can include stretch marks, varicose veins, and even new birth marks, the bulging belly is the one that seems to bother us the most, according to a survey of Circle of Mom members.

Forty-three percent of moms say in the survey that pregnancy left them with a fat, flabby belly, while 16 percent say it all settled in their hips, and five percent say their feet have grown and their shoes don’t fit. Around 29 percent share that they feel like their whole body has changed.

"My son is 4.5 months old and my body is definitely not what it was," says Jessica C. "[While I] lost all the weight I gained while pregnant plus 10 more pounds, [I have] the pudge belly. I need my body back."

Is there anything moms can do to slim down, tighten their abs, and reclaim their prebaby bodies? Moms share their tips, here.

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No matter what your marital status, being a mother is hard. But Circle of Moms members like Nico R. maintain that single moms have it the toughest. She's not talking logistics, which some might think. She says it's the intrusive questions and the judgment she receives just because she doesn't have a spouse. Nico is often asked, "Why are you a single mom?" and it infuriates her. "I hate how people assume that since I am a single mom that I somehow managed to drive him away or I didn't even know who her father was." What is a single mom supposed to say to quiet the busybodies? Here, Nico and other single Circle of Moms members offer tips on how to respond with dignity.

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Whether you've spent a long day at the office or a long day on the home front, it's easy to feel overwhelmed in the evening by the endless battery of things vying for your time — time you'd really like to spend bonding with your kids.

The minute Circle of Moms member Jamie C. walks in the door at 5:30 every weeknight, the mom-of-three feels like the clock is ticking and she has to race through her night in order to spend time with the kids. "When I start supper and am tackling the dishes is usually where it all falls apart," she says. "Then there are clothes, and baths and picking up to do. I run around the house like crazy."

Still, she and other Circle of Moms members are determined to connect with their kids in meaningful ways at the end of the day, no matter how narrow the window of time. Here, they share their tried-and-true strategies for kids ranging in age from infant to teen.

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One thing moms learn really fast is that little kids can't keep their clothes on. From the time they are 4 months old or so and start kicking or pulling off their booties, to toddlerhood, when they like to strip down and race around in their birthday suits, young kids prefer to be in the buff.

It's great fun in the summertime, when it's easy to let your kids splash through the sprinklers or play in the pool in the backyard sans bathing suits and cumbersome shorts and T's. But is it OK to let kids be seen naked at the beach or in public? At what age does it become taboo? Those are questions many Circle of Moms members start to wonder as their little ones get bigger.

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Every household is different, and every mom has different standards, but many Circle of Moms members say they can't help but feel stressed out and cranky about how to handle the never-ending obligation of keeping their homes clean.

"My house is falling apart," cries Trice B. "How do I keep the house tidy while working 40 hours a week and taking care of two kids under 2?" Ditto, says Renae K. She feels overwhelmed trying to spend time with her child and husband, have some sort of a social life, and find time to keep a clean house.

The reality is that most moms are racing around carpooling, caring for their children, and trying to get things done with little time to add being a housekeeper to their to-do lists. If you're in the same boat, here are some overarching ideas on dividing and conquering the household responsibilities.

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Charity P.'s daughter is developing a "smart mouth" and the attitude to go with it. As the Circle of Moms member describes it, "She is very disrespectful, especially in public and in front of company." Unchecked, the problem is just getting worse and worse. "What do I do?" she laments.

Moms of yore simply washed their teens' mouths out with a bar of soap. But these days, parents are looking for more relaxed and effective ways to stop this disrespectful behavior. Given these higher expectations, how do you get your teen to stop the snide and rude back talk? Here are six smart suggestions from Circle of Moms members who've wrestled with this issue.

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Single moms and the dating life. "Is there such a thing?" asks Circle of Moms member Rachel D. "I would love to know, how does it work? Because it seems like there is never a spare moment," she adds, voicing the collective lament of many single moms who say that after working all day and caring for the kids alone, they find themselves in a state of exhaustion — not exactly in the mood to go out and find romance.

Let's be real, how do you put your sexy on after a day when "let's snuggle" means cuddling a toddler to nap? Or is it possible to find the energy to date when kids rule the night shift as well because there's no "B team"/partner to offer a break from parenting duties that are 24/7?

But, fret no more single moms. While dating is not easy, "it can be done," assures Stacy D. For single moms who are looking to add more love and romance into their lives, there are some successful strategies for playing the field, having fun, and making sure your child is at ease — if and when a new guy enters your life. Consider these ideas from Circle of Moms members who have put themselves out there in the hopes of finding love again.

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A growing number of Circle of Moms members say they're determined to stop spoiling their teenagers. Michelle M., for example, is the first to admit her own over-indulgence is spiraling out of control, but she’s not sure how to draw the line. "She has a bedroom full of things including a wardrobe of the latest clothes and shoes," she says. "I’ve spoiled her, but she doesn’t have any more than her friends. What should I do?"

"Stop!" That’s the collective cry of many Circle of Moms members, who say a mom's primary job is to prepare their teens for the real world where they won’t always get what they want — or what their peers get. If teens don’t learn that reality, they are destined to become entitled young adults, says Kim M. "If you keep giving in to their demands they will keep pushing," she adds.

In an age of entitlement, it’s not easy to strike a balance between love and over-indulgence. Still, Circle of Moms member have offered several ways to pull in the reins on spoiling. Keep reading for their tips.