I don't think my parenting style has changed too much over the years. But looking back, I have to say, there are some key differences between how I've raised my two kids--who are almost four years apart--that suggest I've loosened up a bit with experience.

Take potty training, for example. It took months to potty train my son, who clearly was not a bit concerned about whether he'd reach that milestone before his sister came along! Years later, when it was her turn, I waited until she was genuinely ready, and she pretty much potty trained herself.

Now that she's starting to read, I'm noticing the same trend. I'm much less concerned about when she learns to read than I was with my first-born. Instead, "teaching" her to read has become more like simply enjoying our time together, reading books like Mary Ann Hoberman's You Read to Me, I'll Read to You.

How about you? Do you notice any subtle--or not-so-subtle--differences in your parenting from one child to the next? And how have you grown as a parent alongside your kids? Take a moment to share your thoughts here on the blog.

Related: Becoming a Mother | Review: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

--Jennifer

In three months, our daughter will turn five. She already loves her piggy bank and periodically wheedles spare change out of us to fill it. I've been wondering if it's time for an allowance.

An allowance would force all of us to get more organized and disciplined. No more emptying our pockets of coins for her. No more giving special treats at the grocery store -- isn't that what her allowance is for?

So I'm reluctant to start, or to even figure out how much she should get. I clearly need to do some more thinking about how and when to begin an allowance.

Moms, how do you manage allowances? What age were your children when they started receiving one?

--Katherine

Before the kids and I tackle the holiday clean-up this week, we're going to do some good old-fashioned organizing. It's time to sort through old clothes and toys so that we can donate them to charity, and make some room for the new stuff they received as gifts this year.

Selfishly, though, my sudden motivation has more to do with taking advantage of the year end tax benefits than with closet space, but that's okay. Having a deadline of December 31 will help us get the job done quickly and minimize waffling back and forth over items I might otherwise save or try and sell on eBay.

How about you? Are there any special projects you'll be tackling this week with your kids?

Related: Where to Donate | 10 Ways to Get Motivated to Clean

--Jennifer

My husband and I, like most parents, adore our children. We receive so many gifts from them -- the excitement of Christmas morning, the wonder of a first snowfall, the feeling that the world is a big playground waiting to be explored.

And, like most parents, our kids wear us out. By the end of two weeks of winter vacation, we're exhausted by the whirl of parties, museum trips, ice skating, snow fights and non-stop calls of "Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Daddy."

So we feel it's important to take some alone time as a couple to date and maintain a strong marriage. I know my friends who are single moms also find it critical to have supportive adult relationships -- both romantic and platonic -- and time away from the kids.

We're lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents living nearby. If they're not available, we have several trusted babysitters. Moms, how do you find time for adult interaction?

--Katherine

Last weekend I had a bit of a scare. My 5-year-old was watching TV in the rec room and got her finger stuck in the hinge of her brother's folding rocker! For a moment there, I thought she might lose a digit, but fortunately, once we got her to stop squirming, a firm tug was all it took to free her finger.

Afterward, though, I thought about all the things I could have or should have done to better handle the situation. First, I utterly panicked, when remaining calm would have been more prudent (and helpful). Second, I could have sent my son out of the room to get the "Boo Boo Bunny" from the freezer.

I also wondered whether the chair had actually been recalled, which it had not. Granted, it was because of a tear in the fabric that she was able to access the hinge at all, but that's the way it is, sometimes, with dangerous toys. Their danger is not always immediately evident until an accident occurs.

To be on the safe side, make sure that you take the time to occasionally peruse the Consumer Product Safety Commission's list of recalled toys, to see if any products you already own could pose a danger.

In addition, teach your kids how to handle an emergency, when--and if--you should ever experience one in your home. Do they know their phone number and address? Is it posted near the phone, in case they become panicked (like me) and forget? Just as we practice fire drills, we ought to take the time to practice general emergency drills, too.

Related: Recognize a Medical Emergency | Return These Dangerous Toys

--Jennifer

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Whether you celebrate the holiday or just enjoy a break from work and school, I hope it's a wonderful day for you and your family. We plan to throw the typical routine out the window and just enjoy being together.

Tomorrow is a different story. My kids function best on a routine, and so do I. Research has even shown that family routines improve health. So I plan to return to some of the normal daily patterns that mark our every day life -- even though we don't have school or work.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to insist that we stick to our usual morning schedule that gets everyone out the door at 8 a.m. But by making sure that everyone eats meals at roughly the usual time, gets some exercise and sleeps on schedule, we will all stay healthy and feel on track.

What about your family? Do you stick to the traditional family routine during holidays or do you let everyone do what they want whenever they please?

--Katherine

Have you thought about making any New Year's Resolutions? Terri, About.com's Guide to Special Needs Children, has created a great set of 31 realistic parenting resolutions for 2009, including: "I Will Be a Little More Patient With My Child," "I Will Take a Day Off," and my favorite, "I Will Worry More Constructively."

In addition to your own parenting resolutions, New Year's Day is a great time to introduce the concept of kid resolutions, too. For example, even young children can set a goal to share, use appropriate manners, and pick up after themselves daily.

What's more, helping your kids set goals when they're young taps into their natural enthusiasm for accepting a challenge, and their success helps them to feel more like the "big kids" they're growing into each and every day.

Take a moment to share your own personal resolutions for the new year, or the goals your kids are working toward, by leaving a comment here on the blog.

--Jennifer

From the time they were babies, my kids loved "helping" with the laundry. It mostly involved messing up the piles of clothes I had carefully sorted, but hey, it kept them busy and happy while I put in a different load or folded clean clothes.

At an older age, they started setting their own places and helping unload the lightweight dishes from the dishwasher. Now I think it's time to assign them specific chores so they'll learn their responsibilities.

To get started, I hope to keep the sense of fun they associate with housework and give a feeling of accomplishment when they do their chores. I also want to let them choose between age appropriate tasks instead of telling them what to do.

I hope to avoid the litany of excuses to get out of chores that I used as a child, but I suppose some of that is unavoidable. Readers, what chore techniques work in your home? What have you found ineffective?

--Katherine

Are you picky about what your kids wear on the holidays? Usually I'm not--except when it comes to Christmas pajamas.

Christmas morning is one of those occasions when I know we'll be using the video camera, and I like for the kids to be wearing something red, green, or festive. It's a silly, quirk, I know. And it's one that's caused me some difficulty in years past, as I get to the point of thinking that I'm done with all my holiday shopping, and then realize that I still need to hunt around for pajamas.

Fortunately, I'm all set for this year: both of my kids still fit into last year's red and green pajamas!

The good news for them is that I don't care what they wear the rest of the day, and some years those PJs stay on for the bulk of Christmas Day.

How about you? Are there certain Christmas or Hanukkah outfits you like your kids to wear? And what is their reaction, typically? Share your stories with us here on the blog by leaving a comment below.

Related: Dressing Your Kids for the Holidays | Before You Dress Your Child Up for the Holidays

--Jennifer

This holiday season is a bit leaner than last year's, so my children's haul of presents is going to be considerably lighter. I'm hoping that doesn't mean a lot of glum faces.

I've always talked to my kids about financial responsibility and budgeting. When they ask to eat out, I remind them that we're saving money for college and family vacations -- not to mention the expenses of everyday life.

But this rotten economy makes the lessons a bit harder. It hits them right where they live: toys and games. I'm hoping they're still young enough to start playing with the first big present and not notice that there isn't a second big gift.

We've certainly lined up some fun cheap kids' presents and have done our best to save money on adult gifts. And our holiday celebrations will be much less expensive this year than last.

How are you explaining a thinner gift budget to your children? Please share in the comments.

--Katherine