parenting

The role birth order plays in shaping children's personalities and IQs has been debated and researched for years. But do the stereotypes hold water?

"They say that children's behavior and development depends . . . a big percent on what role they play in families," Brenda says, asking other Circle of Moms members, "Where is your child at?" Another member named Charlie P. has a similar question. "Birth order and personality: Where do you fit in? Do you think this is an accurate description of you or your children?"

As you parent, Circle of Moms members say it's worth considering your children's birth order, and subsequently how you work through some of the less desirable traits. Read on.

Would you let your child poop in the potty in a restaurant?

That's just what one Manhattan woman did at an outdoor restaurant, allowing the boy to do "No. 2" right next to the table while others were dining nearby, Today reports.

Even if you needed to keep your child on a strict schedule, Today show hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb suggest moms choose less offensive options, like taking the potty to the bathroom and having the child use it there.

After all, Gifford says, "Children on a potty are adorable, but . . . "

"Not what happens after, which is the wiping portion," Kotb concludes.

We know the dangers of huffing and smoking, but who knew that our kids' safety could be in danger from a simple spice in the cupboard? Kids are actually dying from taking the "Cinnamon Challenge." What is it, why is it so dangerous, and what are moms doing to address it? Keep reading.

Having a baby is the most emotionally charged time of our lives. Within hours, minutes sometimes, we can swing from elation to despair and back again. The first days, weeks, and months after having a baby, our body (not to mention our life) goes through so many changes, it is no wonder we may experience massive highs and lows. 

So how can we tell what are normal, natural responses to an incredibly emotional time? And what are in fact warning signs of something more sinister? Postnatal depression is discussed a little more than it used to be, but the subject of postnatal anxiety is hardly ever spoken about.

Having suffered with anxiety myself, and running a 40,000-strong online community for mental health, I have come into contact with literally thousands of anxiety sufferers. So here I have put together a checklist of what are regular emotions for new parents, and what are likely warning signs you should contemplate seeking help.

Keep reading.

Raising a tween isn't easy. They aren't yet as independent as teenagers (though they want to be) and they're more independent than younger kids. Many preteens deal with this uncertain time with what one Circle of Mom member calls "the Door Slamming-Foot Stamping stage."

Having made it through raising one tween and in the midst of raising another, I had to laugh at the accuracy of this description. The tween attitude is definitely accompanied by door slamming, foot stomping, and — even more infuriating — eye rolling.

It's an attitude that invites battle seemingly out of nowhere. As Michelle V. says of her daughter, "All the simple responsibilities/tasks that she used to help out with or do are now a battle." She wants to know how to deal with this ever-increasing attitude.

Circle of Moms members have great advice on how to empathize with your tween's struggle to be independent of you, and how to let them know what's unacceptable behavior.

Keep reading.

Some kids collect rocks or marbles. Ten-year-old Archer and his 6-year-old brother, Ansel, collect napkins . . . their mom's, that is.

Every day since Archer was in nursery school, Nina Levy has created colorful napkin illustrations and packed them with her sons' lunches to remind them that she loves them and is mindful of what they're doing each day, reports the Huffington Post.

"The act of drawing something for them every evening reminds me to pay attention to what they are thinking about, even if it is the 15th rendition of Batman," she says.

The creative napkins became such a hit that Archer and Ansel slowly began bringing more and more of them home at the end of the day. And after garnering even the New York Times' attention, Levy has begun collating the art into a series, "24 hours of dysfunctional parenting," that tells the story of a day in the life of her family.

With such works of art, the boys might give up a tuna sandwich or even a cookie from their school lunches, but it's unlikely that they'll trade away their napkins.

A 7-year-old's suggestion for gun control recently received a surprising response after it was brought to the attention of Vice President Joe Biden. 

Wisconsin second-grader Myles wrote a letter to the vice president a few months ago suggesting that guns shoot chocolate bullets to help make the nation safer, according to the Associated Press, via the Huffington Post. If his idea could be implemented, no one would get hurt, he explained. 

To the boy's surprise, Biden agreed. He recently sent a handwritten note, agreeing that, "If we had guns that shot chocolate, not only would our country be safer, it would be happier." 

Perhaps a chocoholic himself, Biden added: "People love chocolate."

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post about being a mom.

There are certain things only mothers can understand. From the feeling of holding your child for the first time to screaming with joy at a peepee in the potty, some moments are only experienced through motherhood.

In our BabyCenter Community, members have long listed their ending to the sentence, "You know you're a mom when."

Related: Early formula feeding may help with breastfeeding

In honor of all the moms out there in the trenches of motherhood, those wiping heinys, changing diapers, folding clothes, wiping tears, holding babies, and sending little ones to time out, this is for you.

You know you're a mom when . . .

• . . . your perfume is Eau de Baby Food.
• . . . you know closing a door silently is an art form.
• . . . you realize you're talking about poop in public. Again.
• . . . you realize the kids have been in bed for an hour and you're still watching cartoons.
• . . . shopping alone feels like a vacation.
• . . . you reheat your coffee three times and still don't get to drink it.
• . . . you've experienced stroller envy.
• . . . you've found something you lost in the toilet.
• . . . silence makes you nervous.
• . . . nothing feels better than a long shower. Alone.
• . . . you fold laundry during your "free time."
• . . . you believe doorbell ringing at nap time is unforgivable.
• . . . you wish every store had a drive-through.
• . . . you have 100 Cheerios and 50 raisins at the bottom of your purse.
• . . . the gift doesn't matter, only the little person behind it.

What would you add to our list? You know you're a mom when . . .

More great reads from BabyCenter:
Which pregnancy symptoms would you pass on to Dad if you could?
7 fabulous toys for outdoor fun!
9 simple shortcuts for healthier eating
How to tame your family's tech habits