I was a much better mother before I had children. My plan for my kids: They would eat only healthy food, learn respect for other people, instantly obey my every request, watch TV no more than 30 minutes a day (and only after they were 3 or 4 years old), sleep in rooms free of licensed characters, and play dress-up and old-fashioned card games all the live-long day. There were no crayon marks on the walls of my fantasy family home. (more…)