Here's a pic of a cake I made. It's SIMPLE, more assembly than baking. Easy Hamburger Cake Ingredients 1 package yellow or golden cake mix 1 package brownie mix (any size) Container of non-dairy whipped topping (thawed) Strawberries Kiwi Sesame seeds Yellow food coloring Directions Bake cake according to package directions in 2, 8" or 9" round pans. Sprinkle one pan with sesame seeds during last few minutes of baking. Bake Brownies according to package directions in same size pans. Let cool few minutes then invert onto racks to cool completely. Peel kiwi and slice (for 'pickles') Slice Strawberries (for 'tomatoes') Tint non-dairy topping with yellow food coloring (for mustard) Before serving assemble with yellow cake for bottom bun, brownie for meat, top with fruit, then whipped topping, and the other yellow cake (with the seeds). I assembled my cake about 5 hours before serving and refrigerated it.

Kids today (I have 3) are unbelievably spoiled and disrespetful. That's not to say that mine are this way (well, maybe a tad), but many of their friends are and it's a struggle to instill good values, respect and a work ethic when their friends and class mates have none. Much of your SD's behavior sounds pretty normal and there are very good strategies for coping with her. However, let me first say, I feel you are being a little overbearing in not letting her spend her money. She has to learn how to manage the money and that when it's gone--it's gone. I hope that money in her wallet is money she earned. By the age of 10 she should be earning her spending money. There should be guidelines established AND WRITTEN down and posted, maybe on fridge, that state something like the following: SD must make her bed, feed the cat twice daily and help set the table every day WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE and in return she will be paid 7$ each Sunday. The $7 is her money to spend at will. That is how kids learn the value of money. Of course, include SD in the discussion of her chores and allowance amount before the final decisions and stay flexible in case changes need to be made as time goes on. Have her check off her chores each day as they are done and on Sunday, if she has done her jobs well, she gets paid. If she hasn't done them well or has complained, then her salary is reduced somewhat. This teaches consequences and responsibility, which is your goal. Also, seems to me your wife is letting you take a lot of the heat and hassle and she comes out smelling like a flower. You two need to talk, big time. At the very least, she sound say "I agree with him." And never be afraid to use the phrases "Because I said so" and "Because I'm the adult." My oldest daughter was very articulate and argumentative from an early age and I found myself in the same arguments you're in. It's exasperating to try and reason with a child, especially a child with snotty motives. You won't win by arguing! Explain the "why" of it ONE time and when she starts in for round two, calmly say "Because I said so and that's the end of this discussion" and walk off or just remain quiet and refuse to engage in further discussion of the subject. Whatever you do, don't lose your cool because then you are losing your position and any respect she may have for you. Read John Roseman's newspaper columns and books. He's also on the radio--he is great. He says it's perfectly fine to have double standards when it comes to our kids, and he's right. For example, Roseman tells how he had a motorcycle but refused to let his teenage son buy one. His son complained that it was unfair and Roseman said that didn't matter. Period. End of discussion. Too many parents today worry that they aren't "FAIR" or that they're being "Hypocritical" so they let their kids do all sorts of dangerous things rather than run the risk of being unfair. Being a good parents very often means being unpopular. But I'd rather be a good parent than a bad one. James Dobson also has some wonderful parenting books. You can find them at any library or bookstore. One good point I'll never forget Dobson making was when he son kept whining and asking to stay up later because he wasn't sleepy and couldn't fall asleep. Dobson told him it was o.k. if he couldn't fall asleep, he had his full permission to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling all night long. I've used that one MANY times!!! Another point Dobson makes is that if you're doing your job correctly, your kids are going to be mad with you on a frequent basis. That's because you'll be saying "no" and they want to hear "yes, yes, yes". Or you'll be enforcing the rules and they want to be left alone or let off the hook. You're doing the right thing in seeking advice and again I strongly urge that you read John Roseman and James Dobson. Through the 17 years of parenting, so far, I've used their advice innumerable times and I've never regretted it. I've never regretted educating myself on child rearing, figuring out exactly how I stand on an issue and then holding the line. Oh, I think both of these men have websites so try a google search and see what you find. Good luck. Tigerlilysc PS--just wait until she starts dating....that's when the real fun begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She makes me smile. She has 34 videos on U-Tube. There is also a website devoted to her videos. Here is a link that might be useful: Zoeitoh Videos

We love to give and get books in our house. The toddler board books are fun for little ones, and almost indestructible. DD always like the rhyming ones and the ones that were fun to read because they had different textures or pull tabs. I would recommend Dr. Seuss and Sarah Bornton (Pajama Time and Snuggle Puppy were favorites). Leapfrog reading books were also a big hit with DD. Melissa and Doug wooden play food, blocks, large threading/lacing wood pieces, and puzzles are fun too, and were great for DD who had some balance and hand eye coordination issues and was going through physical therapy to develop her motor skills. DD learned her colors, letters, numbers, shapes, and US states at an early age just from playing with her puzzles! I'll never forget when she was no more than 2 years old and corrected her older sister by telling her one of the pieces was not a moon shape - it was a "crescent" :) I don't think DD realized that pretty much all of her fun toys prior to age 4 or so were educational! She's now a straight A honors student in middle school, and I like to think all of our early learning play together gave her a good start :)