Oh my God, I can't believe what you did for me - thank you. I love you so much.

~I use humor instead of getting into that whole yes and no thing all the time. It's about just getting them to laugh rather than getting in power struggles.~

I would ask my dad what he did, and he'd say, 'I listen to people's problems.' In some way what he did for a living is in my genes.

I have always wanted to know what's going on under the surface.

I've been working so hard for the past eight years and I'm tired - but I'm also deliciously tired because what a wonderful life I've lived.

When 'Desperate Housewives' ends, I think my girls will be about the kindergarten age. I will be so happy to be there for them through that huge transition.

I've had the time to go through all the life phases with my parents, from being a bratty teenager, pushing them away, to saying later on, 'Oh my God, I can't believe what you did for me - thank you. I love you so much.'