My kids have been extra awful at bedtime. I’ve written about it here and here and here and here.

At bedtime, I have repeatedly threatened to call Santa to report their naughty behavior. They just won’t settle down. But it isn’t working. And I am at my wit’s end.

So when Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas, the obvious answer was that I would like my children to go to bed without all the drama. Mommy just wants a good night’s sleep.

Santa threw his head back and gave me one of his classic belly laughs. He said warmly, “Get out the video camera on that fancy phone of yours.”

And he granted my wish, and recorded this special message just for my girls. Proof positive if you believe and your heart is pure, magical things really do happen at Christmas.

Anyone that knows me knows that I am HARDLY in a position to be shelling out financial advice. But a big part of the reason I have this blog, and write as Single Mom Smarts, is to help others learn from my mishaps. So I did a story for OC Moms at the OC Register–all about how to save for your kids’ college as a single parent. It’s not impossible. Read more.

Visit me at The Orange County Register to check out my latest for OC Moms. It’s a weird thing, how little black skirt made such a big impact on my post-divorce state of mind. Read more.

Last month, I wrote my first divorce-related feature for October’s OC Family magazine. It’s a quick “what to expect” for those considering or experiencing a divorce. Statistics show that many of the magazine’s reader are, or have been through, a divorce so it seemed like a good fit. Being a single parent is hard. Adjusting to being newly single sucks, so the article offers a sort of guide through the process and important things to think about.

You can find the online edition here. My “Suddenly Single” article is on page 82. Because I’m responsible for health content and editorial, you also can find me on page 44 of the same issue.

It’s raining babies. Both my brother and sister became first-time parents in the last couple of months. Because my kids are germ-laden and their babies are still so tiny, I found a way to debut them as a group! Lilly stars as Frankenbaby and Molly is the witch the crazy hair. Welcome to the chaos, girls!

photo credit: Christopher Wren Photography

My TMI prenting column for OC Moms at the Orange County Register is dedicated to my own brother and sister. You. Are. Welcome.

Click here to check it out.

You can read more at ocmoms.com/pam.

I wrote an article for OC Moms last month that stirred up some emotions among OC Register readers. You can read that here. But all of the nonsense aside, it just took an observant three-year-old to figure it all out. She’s been making up some pretty cute songs lately. And in her own simple way, she hit the nail right on the head with this one.

This is what happens when you say the same thing to your kids every day. They become obsessed. Now Ellie takes her hairbrush everywhere.

This divorce has taught me a lot, most importantly, how to not be such a wimp. Read my latest for OC Moms.

I’m so excited to share my VERY first weekly parenting column for OC Moms, Single Mom Smarts.  So honored to be asked. Click on the screen grab to read it.