• My tip is for getting good behaviour from kids when they're with a young sitter (older cousin in my case, but is good if you are using a sibling to mind a younger brother or sister). Tell the kids that you'll pay the sitter AND the one being minded, but ONLY if they give each other a good report. For me this meant my son was a little angel for his cousin Taran, and Taran didn't over-exert her authority. Taran would get $10 and Eddie $5 for an afternoon (those were the days - with inflation over the years since then I'd be lucky to get away with less than $20 & $10!).
• I don't know anyone who can keep their kids from fighting! I have been making them hug and sit together for a few minutes after each fight, though - seems to be working - a little
• Like most kids, my daughter (2yrs) has a special blankie. My best advice - get (or make) two if you can. My daughter latched onto a blanket I had as a kid over 30 years ago! I was lucky enough to find two in the stash my mom had given me and am so thankful for that. I keep one upstairs in her bed and let her drag the other one around where ever she wants. I find I'm never scrambling at nap time looking for blankie (plus I know where the one in her bed has been!) and it makes laundry day a whole lot easier too.
• Beach Bag Ready! I keep our pool bag stocked with fresh towels, sunscreen and toys. When we arrive home from the pool, I remove the wet towels and replace them with fresh ones. I keep the sunscreen in a zippered diaper bag pouch so if it leaks, it doesn't get all over everything else in the bag. (I also keep a baggie of spare change for a special treat down at the pool.)
• They each have chores, more in the summer than in the school year and they have to be done before we go anywhere or the tv comes on.

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