Picket Fence Post

Item #1: Bo the “Crazy” White House Pup

Reading the quotes from Michelle Obama saying that her family’s new dog Bo is “kind of crazy,” likes to chew on people’s feet and is up late at night loudly playing with his doggie toys (and interrupting people’s sleep) hasn’t exactly sent me hurrying to go and purchase a dog for my own Picket Fence Post family as we’ve been contemplating since our 18-year-old cat died in December.

While I watched the Obamas be taken for a walk by Bo on the White House lawn on the day they officially introduced him to the press corps, I (the person who’d most likely wind up doing most of the canine care) made a mental note: No big dogs.

Item #2: Mother’s Day Polls on Parent Dish

The folks at AOL’s Parent Dish are trying to muster up some Mother’s Day buzz by asking readers to participate in a series of polls, including which female celeb would you be comfortable leaving your kids with, reality TV moms’ show do you want to be canceled and what you’re doing for Mother’s Day?

Speaking of which, if you were making a wish that could actually be fulfilled, for what would you wish for Mother’s Day? Be honest now. Would love to hear your heartfelt desires. I know if it were up to one of my good friends — who shall remain nameless in this space — it would be for Mother’s Day to be abolished.

Item #3: “Knock it off or I’ll leave you two on the side of the road!”

Okay, so I have no idea what the New York mother actually said to her 10- and 12-year-old daughters when, after they wouldn’t stop bickering, she ordered them out the car, three miles away from home in a shopping plaza area, and drove away. Reminded me of a scene from Desperate Housewiveswith Lynette Scavo.

According to news reports, the 12-year-old chased the car and was allowed back inside while the 10-year-old was helped by a stranger who called the police. The mom, a partner in a law firm, was arrested and charged with child endangerment, the New York Times reported. Clearly this woman was having an extremely difficult time and took an unwise, ill-advised measure, but I feel like I need more information about this before pointing a judgmental finger, like whether she was planning on returning after a certain period of time, etc.

But at least the next time my three kids start fighting in the car (as they did today during a long car ride) I can tell them that a mom really DID leave her arguing children roadside.

Image credit: Associated Press/Ron Edmonds via the Huffington Post.