"What's The Matter With Parents These Days?"

Whoever said that marriage is the biggest compromise you'll ever make never had kids.

Just a few moments ago, I was sitting downstairs, working on a freelance project on my computer when I overheard Stacey getting ready to put Connor to bed upstairs.

"Okay, you can touch the nail, but then it's time for bed," she told him, matter of factly.

On one of the walls in his bedroom, is a nail left from a picture that we took down so it wouldn't get broken while we're staying here. Ever since the day we removed the picture in August, thus exposing the nail, Connor has been fascinated with it. He used to demand to touch it after every nap, but he's backed off a bit.

This scenario is a perfect example of how our lives have changed in the past two years. Now, instead of merely rocking a newborn to sleep, we have to touch nails in the wall, read certain books using specific voices, and dance on one foot with a paper pirate hat on our heads. Instead of simply parking our butts on the couch and stuffing a bottle in a baby's mouth, we have to entice the child to the table with crayons, toys and threats of bodily harm.

Marriage? Pfffft. Piece of cake.