I have a memory from when the twins were about 2-years-old--I was past the intense worry of any relapse that would send us back to the NICU, and I'd finished reading everything I could find about Down syndrome. I began to poke my head up and look about and wonder, What are other families with kids with Down syndrome like? It was this curiosity that brought me to my first special needs play date at our local Child Development Center.

I remember rushing out the door, after spending too much time looking for an inexplicably missing shoe. I remember feeling nervous at the thought of meeting new people, especially other moms. Several times, I nearly turned the car around and headed home. Even in the parking lot, when I could see that a small circle of women had already gathered, I was overcome with doubt, thinking, Why did I agree to do this? and then telling myself, "It's for the kids; it's for Avery." But of course, it didn't turn out that way.

All these thoughts were familiar, and reminded me of my very first play group with my oldest son Carter. Both times, there was a wicker laundry basket in the middle of the room, filled with board books and stuffed animals and a Little People Yellow School Bus and bright Duplo blocks and a Lights and Sounds Shape Sorter. Nearby, there was an assortment of cookies and juice boxes. A mountain of shoes and jackets were piled in a corner, next to a stack of empty baby carriers and a line of parked strollers.

Other things were familiar: introductions, including the names of the children. The questions: "How many kids do you have? and "How old is your baby?" and "Where did you deliver?" Later, mostly told quietly, birth stories.

But these birth stories included a part about getting a diagnosis. Sometimes they were sad; other times they told of great relief in having an answer. The stories often referenced medical terms, and things like monitors and IV lines and extended hospital stays, even surgeries on tiny newborns.

The conversations covered practical matters, like PT, OT, ST. SSI, SSA, Early Intervention. Low tone versus high tone. Ear tubes, vitamin therapy. Dry skin, thyroid tests. And theoretical matters, too, like how prenatal diagnosis impacts the rights of the unborn, or how sibling relationships are affected by disability, or how various cultures view children and adults with visible differences.

The same, in both groups: mother guilt ("Am I doing enough?"); striving for balance ("Sometimes I feel overwhelmed."); and love ("I can't imagine my life without my child.") Both times, the hours passed too quickly, resulting in a mad dash to match shoes to feet, coats to kids until everyone was headed out the door, back to real life.

What I've come to realize is no less true for its obviousness: the play groups are as much for the moms as they are for the kids. It's a place where women can meet, if only briefly, with other moms who might share similar experiences--who might come to their mothering with common reference points.

Increasingly, I've been finding those shared experiences by connecting with other mothers online. Our words are what defines us; I'm drawn to the woman whose son might have a different diagnosis than mine, but her outlook on parenting feels like my own. Or a family halfway across the world, living in Australia--but they, too, have one older sibling and a set of twins, one with Down syndrome, one without. Sharing our stories--across the miles, across time--enables me to see our connectedness, our common bonds as families.

In the spirit of sharing, here are two sites that I love: Can I Sit With You? is an ongoing book and blog project that explores "The Stormy Social Seas of the Schoolyard." It's a collaborative effort fueled by donations of time and talent, and all proceeds are used to fund a local Special Needs PTA.

And identical twin sisters Janice and Susan, founders of 5 Minutes for Mom, recently launched 5 Minutes for Special Needs, edited by Tammy, who writes about her experiences mothering a medically fragile boy with Down syndrome at Praying for Parker. It's a group blog where parents of kids with special needs can find "support, insight, and inspiration."

What I've found, in all these instances--online and in person--is the value in telling our stories, to each other and because of each other. There we find strength, we find solace, we find commonalities. But mostly, we find ourselves.

On the surface, 42-year-old Deborah Angilley probably looks like your typical soccer mom. Attending games and even coaching at one point, you could say she is very involved with her kid's athletic life. Maybe a little too involved.

The Edgewood, Washington mom is accused of embezzling $72,000 from the Fife-Milton-Edgewood Soccer Club. And she wasn't just feeding her Starbucks habit and gassing up her SUV with all that cash. It seems she had a little gambling problem. Police accuse her of spending a big chunk of the stolen money at the Emerald Queen Casino. In fact, she spent enough to become one of the casino's "preferred players." You don't earn that status playing quarter slots.

She is also accused of writing checks to her teen son as well as her landlord, who could also be in trouble if they had any inkling where the cash came from.

Her thieving ways nearly ruined the soccer league. "The club almost folded due to this theft, but has stayed in existence only through the generosity of those that have loaned us about $40,000," League president Jeff Flesner said.

While I am shocked and saddened that anyone would steal money from kids this way, I am also blown away by how much money she managed to pilfer. $72,000! It won't happen again, though. Flesner says the league has now taken steps to prevent future treasurers from having unchecked access to the league's money.

Sometimes, a little vice makes all the difference. No, I'm not talking about drugs or sex or anything like that. I'm talking about things like playing escape-the-room games or surfing real estate websites to find the perfect (or at least affordable) vacation home. Or, in Stefanie Ilgenfritz's case, watching soap operas.

She writes, in the Wall Street Journal, about her secret love of soaps and how she looks forward during the week to watching her taped episodes on the weekends. For me, it's the occasional game (usually one posted on Lazy Laces) or reading some of my favorite webcomics (like xkcd or Questionable Content) or looking at houses for sale in the Russian River area and fantasizing about taking the kids up to the river on the weekends.

I'm sure there are just as many such guilty pleasures as there are parents, but these sorts of harmless fun -- while not exactly getting the chores done -- help us all keep our sanity. And, as I learned a long time ago in another life, you have to care for the caregiver.

Fall is coming, but with the price of gas as high as it is, you're probably not shopping for a whole new wardrobe. You're also most likely not looking for pieces that can only work for a few weeks out of the year; instead, you want to add one key piece that will work now and work later and work next year, too. You also want something that you can dress down for playgroup and dress up for date night.

Seems impossible, doesn't it?

Fortunately, cropped jackets are the answer. Wear over a sleek camisole or simple tank for warmer days; layer over a long sleeved tee or turtleneck when the weather gets cooler. Pair with your capris or long shorts or jeans (skinny or boot cut but NOT Mom Jeans).

Where do you find a cool cropped jacket? We've found five, in varying styles and price points -- one of them will work for you.

Why we love it: Great cheery color, simple shape, and those buttons! Who wouldn't love those buttons? This jacket is a little warmer, just perfect for climates that don't ever really have the deep freeze winter -- this is an ideal coat for running errands or going to church or just driving around the block to get away from the kids.

Wear it with: Jeans or corduroys or even your yoga pants -- this jacket spiffs up your most casual mom wear.

Ann Taylor Loft half sleeve contrast button topper, $139.00. But keep your eye on this one; it might go on sale before the cold weather kicks in.

Why we love it: This is a fabulous piece for long fall days -- heavy enough to actually keep you warm but not exactly a winter coat. Traditional peacoat shape in a short sleeved alternative; made of machine-washable cotton for ease. Available in black and charcoal gray.

Wear it with: Layer over a tank or tee or a flowing feminine blouse or camisole. When the weather turns, wear over a simple long sleeved tee or a button down blouse. Pair with an A-line skirt for the office or jeans for the weekend.

Gap short sleeved pea coat jacket, $78.00.

Why we love this: The details! Big buttons, great sleeves, fabulous color. We also love the balanced shape -- slim through the shoulders but pleated across the bust, to make room for even nursing breasts. Uncertain about the orange? Jacket is also available in ebony.

Wear it with: Khakis or jeans or wool trousers. Be sure to balance the jacket with something slim and sleek, though -- this is not a piece you want to pair with a full skirt. Let the ruffles on the sleeves be the focus.

GO International double-breasted jacket, available at Target for $44.99.

Why we love this: The minimal shape plus the bold pattern makes this a conversation piece, but the sleek black and white color scheme keeps it from going overboard. This is also a jacket that is cut for a real mom body, with proper shaping and sizing for breasts and tummy. Made of cotton and spandex for a perfect fit; machine washable for simple care.

Wear it with: Your black pants, your jeans, your favorite white trousers. This is a jacket that can go to work or work for the weekend.

Lane Bryant short sleeved textured jacket, $54.50.

Why we love this: The collar is dainty without being frilly; the shape is flattering for a post-baby tummy; the sleeves are the perfect length for summer AND fall. We also love that this jacket is made of 100% cotton and is machine washable.

Wear it with: Walking shorts, a slim skirt, straight-leg jeans (either a boot cut or a skinny jean, if you dare).

Three quarter cropped jacket, Forever 21, $24.80.

Many of us will face the multitude of pregnancy ups and downs. During our first trimester we may be nauseous day and night, leading us to wonder why they call it morning sickness. We may swell in places we never dreamed could get any bigger. Our boobs--well, let's not even get into those. As for diet, there may be some things we can't be near and some things we can't live without. And then there's the heartburn.

My mother had heartburn the entire time she was pregnant with me. I got it--bad--in the third trimester of my first pregnancy. This go around, I've had it nearly the entire time. What causes it? Well, there's a baby in there vying for space with everything else. That could be it. It could also be hormones. Progesterone, a hormone that pumps up during pregnancy, relaxes the muscles in the uterus and allows gastric acid to seep up. According to one pal--who turned out to be right, at least in one instance with the birth of my son--heartburn means the unborn baby has a full head of hair.

How to treat heartburn while pregnant? That, luckily, is not so tough. Some of us had better be prepared to buy stock in Tums, which are recommended by OBGYNs. The modern version comes in a variety of fruit flavors and tastes less chalky than its predecessor and even offers a bit of calcium, which is extremely important for pregnant women to get. Another pal suggested apple cider vinegar as perhaps a healthier alternative to the Tums. While this method could work fine for non-preggies, pregnant women are advised against consuming cider. It has also been recommended to drink plenty of water and to imbibe milk when heartburn strikes. The other remedy? Have the baby!

Pic by pixthree.

Katie Holmes may very well have the most-watched hairline in America. And recently, she cut her precision bob into something a little shorter. And maybe a little less chic. And, according to some, more Mom-like. But not in a good way.

The NY Daily News points out that since she began dating Tom Cruise, Katie's hair has gotten shorter and shorter. Of course, in that time, she has also had a baby, and there might be some correlation -- what mom has time for long flowing tresses, especially long flowing Hollywood tresses? But they don't seem happy with Holmes' newest short 'do complaining that "While the new look is fitting for a young mom, if Katie goes any shorter she'll be headed into 'G.I. Jane' territory."

So is short hair always Mom Hair? And is Mom Hair always frumpy? What do you think -- what's the easiest Mom style?

In some small way, I wish we'd never started with the whole Santa Claus things. My kids are so deeply invested in it that I'm afraid finding out the truth is going to break their little hearts. My hope is that they'll learn gradually, like I did, and not all at once. Christmas is still magical to me, and I know that all those years experiencing the mystery and magic of Christmas is part of that feeling.

Cole Gamble, over at StrollerDerby, disagrees with me. He calls Santa Claus, along with the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, one of the 14 lies we should stop telling our children. Others include:

• Just tell me the truth and you won't get in trouble.
• Do this or you won't get [something big you possibly can't take away anyway].
• Big kids eat their vegetables; aren't you a big kid?
• You'll make more friends if you play nice.
• Mommy and Daddy are "taking a nap."

Cole says it's also statistically impossible that your child is the prettiest/most handsome in the world, because in fact, his children already hold that title. Since we've been talking a lot about lying this week, I think Cole's timing with this hilarious list couldn't have been better.

For someone who had little to say about her pregnancy, Minnie Driver is certainly opening up these days. She won't reveal the name of the baby's father and she has no plans on finding out the baby's sex before the big day, but she has a lot to say about the rest of parenting.

The actress recently revealed she has no real plans to stay with the baby's father and is seriously considering single motherhood. Now she admits she is prepared to be a "chubby" mother as well. As opposed to other Hollywood starlets who look like they were never pregnant to begin with (Keri Russell, I'm talking to YOU) or those who hit the gym moments after they shed the placenta and worked out frantically to reduce their size, Minnie has no plans to do anything other than be a mommy! Take that, Kate Hudson! (Hudson gained seventy pounds with son Ryder.)

Driver says to plan on seeing her around Malibu, and to plan on seeing her fat. As most of us realistic gals know, it takes a year to put it on, and heaven knows it can take at least a year to take it back off--if we ever do. Nice to hear someone from tinsel town taking a breath of reality! I doubt Minnie will stay 'chubby' as she likes to call it, given that she gained a ton of weight for her breakout role in Circle of Friends and lost all of it, but only time will tell. I just wish someone would advise Minnie she doesn't look fat now that she's pregnant--she looks fantastic!

We've all seen it -- a child says something wildly inappropriate and shocks the adults around her. Her parents shake their heads, "We don't know where she gets this stuff." It's happened to me, and because my kids spend nearly all day, every day with me alone, I can't look much farther than my own behavior.

I think that most, if not all, parents slip now and then -- a curse word slips out, voices get raised, carefully honed parenting techniques fly out the window in the face of fatigue and stress. Kids are resilient, they learn that grown ups make mistakes just like kids do. And we try harder not to make those mistakes the next time.

An Australian organization called ChildFriendly.org recently put out a children's rights video titled "Children See." It depicts parents at their worst -- abusive, violent, careless, angry -- as well as their children following their lead. It's disconcerting, disturbing, startling, but it's also an excellent reminder for even the most thoughtful parent that our children are watching us, every minute of every day.

Watch the video below, then share your thoughts with us in comments.

Do you like baseball? Any kind of sport? What about traveling or other activities? If you said yes to any of the above, do you enjoy doing so with your spouse? A new report from a set of studies, some of which have been going on for more than a decade, seems to think that if you do, your marriage has more of a chance at surviving. You know the old saying "those that play together stay together?" Well, turns out there may be something to that after all. Howard Markman, co-director of the University of Denver's Center for Marital and Family Studies, believes that having fun with your spouse is essential to your marriage.

Seems like a no brainer, sure, but when was the last time you went on a date with your spouse? That's one of the questions asked of couples by Markman and Scott Stanley, the other co-director of the study. The results were interesting, especially when they found out that women and men have very different views on what constitutes a date. The last time you spent time with your spouse could seem forever ago due to the economy, raising kids, demanding careers and commutes, among other things. Still, I think any married couple will tell you it's critical to have fun in your shared lives if you want to get something meaningful out of your time together.

According to another study, marital interaction is actually on the decline. Paul Amato, a sociologist at the Pennsylvania State University, surveyed over 2000 couples in 1980 and another set of roughly the same amount in the year 2000 and found that the number of couples who consistently participated in leisure activities together declined. The good news? Markman, in a separate study, noted that cities with major league baseball teams had a divorce rate 28% less than cities who wanted one but didn't have one. Why? Well, it certainly gives married couples something to do! No comment on whether or not the couples were happier if their teams won the pennant.