At restaurants, I carry paper and markers and tell everyone to draw a picture with a unicorn, an octopus and an explosion. That keeps kids still for a minute.

As a matter of fact, I get a little concerned about some of my anti-social habits.

I live alone with my one dog and they say it like it's a sad, it's a terrible thing. This woman lives alone with her two cats.

I frequently do drive carpool in the clothes I slept in, because it's impossible to get three children out the door with lunches packed and all that stuff and have a do.

I count myself lucky to be fairly anonymous but occasionally have people tell me nice things.

We've had four or five casts in three years. There was a point when I thought the Department of Children and Family Services was going to show up at my door!

I tell my kids, "Look, your life is a video game, and I have to get you from level zero to 18 as an independent person with all your skills and limbs intact. Every time you hit your brother or throw food, you're taking us all back."