Here at nwamotherlode.com you can exercise your mind, body and soul through a variety of topics and how-tos from experts, fellow mamas and people who just plain know their stuff. But you can also see how some Motherlode mamas deal with obstacles, triumphs, defeats and daily life by reading the Mama Blogs.

Current Mama Blogs:

All Akimbo — a mother’s struggle with endometriosis and secondary infertility

Life With Ladybug — daily life with a precocious 6-year-old

The Rockwood Files — observations from life as a mama, wife and woman

By Gwen Rockwood, newspaper columnist and mama of 3

When you’re a mother of three with a little experience under your belt, you should really know better. But last night I made a classic rookie mistake. I didn’t get around to shopping for the kids’ school supplies until the night before said supplies were due at school orientation. Dumb. Very dumb.

There I was in an aisle swamped with desperate shoppers, just like me scrambling for a few packs of No. 2 pencils and Elmer’s glue. The scene looked much like a crowded toy store on Christmas Eve, minus the “peace on Earth and goodwill to men�.

When you wait until the night before to shop for school supplies, you not only have to wade through throngs of people, you also have to deal with shortages. Last night I needed a certain type of red folder specified by the kids’ school. It was supposed to have pockets and metal prongs to hold the paper inside. But all the smart parents who’d planned ahead had already bought all the red folders with metal prongs, leaving me with boxes and boxes of no-prong folders to sift through in shame. I and my fellow procrastinators searched through the leftovers hoping perhaps one or two pronged folders would magically surface.

All around me there were irritable fathers on cell phones talking to mothers who were dictating the school supply list. “No, they don’t have any red folders with prongs left,� I heard one say.  “I’ll just get the kind without prongs. What? Why can’t I get the kind without prongs? It’s still a folder! Well, they don’t have any. What? Red pens? No, they’re all out of red pens. I’ll just get red crayons. Well, why not? They’re still red!�

By the time I left the store, the school supply aisle was a shambles. A bin of folders without prongs spilled out on the floor and hurried shoppers dodged the mess as they continued their futile quest. I left the store two supplies short of a completed list which meant I had to make a last-ditch attempt to find them at another store first thing this morning. I berated myself all the way home and swore I’d never wait until the night before ever, ever again.

There’s a saying that goes “When you know better, you do better.� And experienced parents learn, often the hard way, that there are a few mistakes you just don’t want to make more than once. Along with shopping for school supplies the day before school, here are a few other rookie mistakes that make my list:

• Leaving the house with a baby and no backup baby outfit: When you make this mistake, cruel fate will step in and give your baby a terrible poopy diaper “blow-outâ€� which will inevitably travel all the way up the baby’s back and between his small shoulder blades, soaking through his clothes and onto yours.

• Forgetting to buy batteries on Christmas morning: There’s nothing quite like kids thrilled by new presents which they have no chance of trying out until the stores open the next day. Fun times.

• Thinking you can potty train your kid when you are ready: There’s absolutely no such thing as parents who potty train kids. The truth is that the kid is going to do it when the kid is darn good and ready, and the parent will simply provide the potty, the Scooby Doo underwear and heaps of praise whenever that time comes. You know that old phrase about how you can “lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drinkâ€�? Same applies to toddlers and their bowels. Parents are just along for the ride, bumps and all.

The good news is that I did find those blasted red folders with the all-important prongs. I spotted one this morning in a pack of 10 other folders (which I absolutely did not need), so I snatched them up before another desperate parent could get them first. Sure, I had to pay for the unnecessary nine extra folders, but I finished the list and learned my lesson – even parents who should know better still have a few things left to learn.

Got any more “rookie mistakes” to add to my list? Click the word “comment” below and post your additions.

Gwen Rockwood is a mom to three great kids, wife to one cool guy, a newspaper columnist and co-owner of nwaMotherlode.com. To read previously published installments of The Rockwood Files, click here.  

By Sarah Martin Hood

What the heck is a groupon? Only the fastest growing company in the history of the internet! Groupon is a new twist on coupons. It all started in Chicago, but Groupon is now available in about 100 cities across the US. The well-organized, sleekly-designed website offers irresistible deals in the spirit of “group discounts”.

How it Works:

1. Each day Groupon features something cool to do in your designated city at an unbeatable price.

2. If enough people are interested, the Groupon is activated… so invite your friends! (If not enough people express interest in a particular offer, no one gets it and no one is charged.)

3. Get your Groupon via email, print it out, and enjoy!

4. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

WHY it Works:

• Businesses get traffic. And SMALL businesses can really benefit from the exposure.
• YOU get deals. By ensuring a certain volume of “buyers”, Groupon gets a deep group discount and passes the deals on to YOU.
• Only buy the ones you want. You pay nothing until something catches your eye!

Unfortunately, Groupon isn’t available specifically in NWA — but Tulsa is on the list! And with enough retailers located in both places - and up to 90% discounts! - a FREE registration with Groupon.com might just be “worth” it! For example, in the last week Groupon offered a $50 Groupon for GAP for only $25! The site went wild! 

Groupon.com offers an email list that will keep you updated with the deal of the day — so you don’t miss the fun! And like everybody who’s anybody these days — you can find them on Twitter and Facebook.

Sarah would love to hear from you with questions or feedback regarding gadgets, technology, or blogging. You can also stop by Sarah’s personal blog, Musings of Mother Hood to say hello. To read previous installments of Techno Mama, click here!

By Shannon Magsam

My husband and I have some of the best conversations while we’re driving. There’s just something about being trapped in a car together to get you to Talksville.

On one long trip to Texas while we were dating, I made up scenarios about our future life together (God forbid on pretty much all of them) and asked him to share his reaction. For example:

“We have just caught our daughter climbing out her bedroom window at age 13. What do you say to her?�

“Our 16-year-old daughter is caught shoplifting. What’s her punishment at home?�

“Our 10-year-old son gets into a fist-fight at school. How would you handle that as the dad?�

The truth is, I love asking “deep� questions and finding out what people really think about things. I once thought I’d like to be a counselor, but never followed that path. Instead, I just torture friends and family with my endless questions.

The other day my husband and I were driving home from dinner and I started asking him to name songs for certain categories that I was making up as we drove along. I named mine as well. Here were my answers. I’d love to hear yours! (This isn’t TOO deep, now).

Song you play when you’re sad and want to wallow: Two out of three ain’t bad, Meatloaf

Song that always take you straight back to your youth within the first three notes: The time of my life, Dirty Dancing

Song that always makes you want to dance: What I like about you, The Romantics

Saddest.Song.Ever: Wildfire (from my tween horse phase). When I was pretty young my older cousin played Ode to Billie Joe over and over and I thought that was terribly sad, too.

Song that never fails to lift you out of a funk: Walking on Sunshine, Katrina & the Waves

Song that makes you LOL: The most beautiful girl [in the room ], Flight of the Chonchords

Song that fills you with romance: Faithfully, Journey (Also Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton)

Song that represents convertibles and freedom: Sister Christian, Night Ranger

Best break-up song: Could Have Been So Beautiful, Tiffany

Song you hate to admit you like: Wild Thing, The Troggs

Song that makes you think of being a mom: In My Daughter’s Eyes, Martina McBride

Shannon Magsam is mom to 8-year-old Ladybug, married to Ladybug’s dad, John, and co-creator of nwaMotherlode.com. To read previously published installments of Life With Ladybug, click here. Leave a comment if you’re so inclined. I’d love to hear your deep thoughts!