Is it really a big deal when boys use the women's restroom or girls use the men's lavatory? Yesterday, I was waiting in a long bathroom line in Target when a woman turned and glared at the mother and six-year-old child behind her and commented, "He's a BOY isn't he? Why is he in this line?" before turning back around in a huff.

Though the mom simply chose to ignore the woman, the situation was obvious. She was shopping alone with her young son and one or both of them aren't comfortable with him taking solo trips to the men's bathroom yet. In this day and age, parents tend to be protective. To avoid people taking issue with this practice, many malls, restaurants and other public places have created family lounges where moms and dads can change their infant's diapers, accompany their offspring to the facility and tend to their needs.

What's your opinion on children of the opposite sex in public restrooms?
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As the saying goes, children enjoy the box more than the present, so take it a step further with some eco-friendly paint and a box cutter and turn their favorite toy into a fitting costume. This week lilsugar offers Five Costumes Made From a Cardboard Box.

Halloween costumes do not need to be store bought and be thrown out on November 1st. ECOWEEN offers us an opportunity to work next to our kids and teach them a bit more about what we can do to help save our planet.

If you have a lil firefighter on your hands, you can enhance their favorite red hat and fireman's coat with a custom fire truck made out of eco-friendly materials. A visit to your recycle bin, should garner you a strong cardboard box. Natural hemp paint, such as Livos Salis, can be used to decorate your box, and paper plates made from recycled material, such as Seventh Generation make some great wheels.

To see what you need to create your own fire truck, as well as step-by-step directions, read more

One of my dearest friends called me recently with panic and sadness in her voice. Ashamed of her mood, I immediately understood what she was going through — crossing the threshold into motherhood. Most everyone you meet talks about falling immediately in love with their newborn and what bliss it was to become a mother for the first time. Rarely do people talk of the late night feedings, memory loss, night sweats and feelings of incompetence that come with the new title "mother."

In Beth Wilson Saavedra's New Meditations for Mothers ($8), new mothers can read though 300 plus anecdotes and quotes from other mommies. Learning to accept what is offered and giving thanks for what is present are often part of the learning process, as are guilt and exhaustion. Perfect for a baby shower gift or a friend in need, Meditations for New Mothers is a quick read for which any new mom can find time.

No matter how organized I am when we're headed out the door, my husband, or children are usually missing something. Whether it's a misplaced key, wallet, backpack, permission slip, toy, hair tie, or pair of socks — items, small and large, seem to disappear into thin air in our flat. Usually, they are uncovered in a matter of minutes or months. But, I can almost always guess what's been lost. For my daughter, it's her toothbrush and with my son, it's a shoe. If time allots, we turn the place upside down, if it doesn't we table the search party for a more convenient time. Does this happen to you?