I have a theory that all sibling rivalry problems moms encounter boil down to two fundamental issues:  1. What’s fair, and 2. Who’s first.

Let’s start with “What’s fair.” Every mom has heard the familiar whine of “But that’s not fair!” In my house, my kids jockey for the best seat in the car, the bigger helping of dessert, and whatever else they can imagine to squabble about. I chalk up this attitude to being an essential part of survival instinct and is human nature.

Several years ago,  my daughters were separated in the car by more feet than they were tall but still managed to reach an all time low in boundary crossing.  One daughter tattled on the other saying, “She touched my air!”

Establishing fairness and equity in a family is nearly impossible. Many factors exist that go into decision making such as age, level of responsibility, and safety of a situation. However, generally in most situations you’re really just flipping a coin and saying to yourself, “I don’t care who started the fight. Just get over it so I can go back to what I was doing before you interrupted me  with a petty cat fight.” Of course, if serious harm is being caused – the kind that requires therapy later in adult life – then you’ll gladly referee, but I bet 99 percent of all arguments in my house are over minor infractions such as petty theft of the last vanilla pudding and trespassing onto one’s personal space.

In my best efforts to alleviate heartache (mostly my own) I developed an ingenious plan which has mostly answered the age-old questions of what is fair and who really does get to be first. Beginning on Sunday morning when their collective 6 feet of my three daughters hit the floor as they roll out of bed to the time they lay their heads down on the following Saturday night, one of my daughters wears the crown of “Star of the Week.” The Star of the Week enjoys the privilege of picking first. This title defines who sits where in the car, who shares a bed with our pug, who showers first, who picks the after-school TV show, and who play first on Webkinz. The possibilities are endless when you answer your children’s whining with a simple question: “Who’s the Star?”

Question: What do you do to settle petty disputes in your home?

This is my pug, Aggie.

I don’t have much time for leisure reading these days. With three girls and an overzealous, aging pug to look after, my leisure time seems to evaporate. I used to catch up on my reading in the summer when I’d plop my girls down on the sandy beach just blocks from our house. Those were the days when they were afraid of the water and would stay within 25 feet of my beach chair and build sandcastles and mud pies all afternoon. Now, beach days require me to be their personal lifeguard. Every few minutes I’m counting and re-counting my children, all while trying to teach my oldest daughter how to boogie board and keeping my youngest from being swallowed up by a wave when she wanders out too far. Needless to say, it’s not exactly the time to grab a book and put my toes in the sand.

Instead, I’ve taken to reading blogs. As a freelance writer (SAHM/WAHM) I am on the computer all day anyway, so I use these blog-stalking opportunities to keep up with old friends and work connections, and to take a break from answering emails. I’ve always wanted to be a blogger, but I could never find the right method to match my professional aspirations with my need to socialize, so I put it on the backburner until I felt inspired.

Then inspiration hit and I had the idea for “3 Girls and a Pug.”  I wanted it to be something that my friends who are spread out across the country (and their friends, and their friends’ friends) would find helpful and fun. I wanted it to feel like a good magazine – but more personal. I want it to reflect the life of a mother as well as provide solutions to the things that women gripe about to their girlfriends from Seattle to Sarasota. When you’re done with your daily dose of my blog I want it to feel like you’ve just hung up the phone with one of your favorite girlfriends. Most days, my motto is: If I don’t laugh I’ll cry.

As women, sometimes we need to vent and sometimes we provide a listening ear. I’ve learned the most from some of my friends who’ve already blazed the path that I’m struggling to navigate. I’m making it a priority to make my blog really interactive. I will post questions at the end of many of my posts to help get conversations flowing. So, please share how you’ve found joy in the journey by commenting frequently on the blog. Also, look for guest bloggers in upcoming weeks who will be sharing their expert opinions and perspectives.

As a freelance writer, sometimes I feel like my picture could represent the phrase, “Jack of all trades but a master of none.” As a result, you’ll find a wide variety of topics covered on the blog, in addition to my weekly posts. Here’s an outline of what you can expect every week.

Mommy Mondays. Getting back to the daily grind after a fun weekend is easier with a pep-talk from a girlfriend, so check out my posts on Mondays for the latest chatter on the Mommy Scene.

Tidy Up Tuesdays. I hate housework but I love a clean house. I’m also a wannabe professional organizer. I like picking out paint color and organizing a big mess.  (Other people have normal hobbies but painting really is relaxing for me.)

Wild Card Wednesdays. You never know what you’ll find when you hop on my blog on Wednesdays. I’ll offer everything from discussion questions and random musings to tips for finding joy in the journey and hot topics in the life of mothers.

Tried and True Thursdays. I’ve come across a lot of products, websites, and other helpful information in my work as a freelancer and as a mother that I share with my girlfriends. Now I can share it on the blog. Isn’t it great when we can share our favorite things that help give us more time for joy and less time doing stuff like cleaning oven?

Foodie Fridays. I love food. I think I’d weigh 20 pounds less if chocolate and bread didn’t exist. I love cooking and eating healthy meals for my family, and indulging every once in a while. I love trying new restaurants and sharing my favorite foods, recipes, and tips with others.

Additional topics coming soon!