My guest poster today is Lauren Hale, a mother of three who sleeps in until 630a every day, Lauren survives her days on nothing more than Starbucks and sheer grit. She’s sassy, outspoken, and hardly ever takes no for an answer. Unfortunately, her kiddos are just like her and choose to exercise these qualities as she blogs about Postpartum Mood Disorders. She’s found a cure though – headphones and Pandora. Oh, and right now, she’s probably being forced to play with a Zhu-Zhu pet.

Chirp.

Aaawwwww.

Buddddudowwwwww.

Ow. Vroom Vroom. Buh-tack.

Beep honk SQUAWK.

MAKE.IT.STOP.

I haven’t even downed my entire first cup of coffee yet.

And I’ve been invaded by the Zhu Zhu Pet. Worse, invaded by a Zhu Zhu pet under the control of a two year old who insists on driving it into my arm repeatedly as I type.

Earlier this week, I hid this thing in my purse.

You see, my four year old daughter got it for her birthday on Sunday. She left it in the car. I slid it into my purse to see how long it would take her to ask for the thing.

It wasn’t until her father arrived home on Monday evening and brilliantly asked her if she had played with it today that she freaked out.

Full on freak out too – yelling, jumping, I think I left it in the car, DEAR GOD PLEASE LET ME HAVE LEFT IT IN THE CAR. LET’S GO GET IT NOW!!!

Crap.

Our other daughter got one last week while she was in the hospital for pneumonia. It was cute. For about five minutes.

I don’t think the toy manufacturers sit around brainstorming what will make kids happy.

No, no, that’s not it at all.

They sit around those tables in dark, dank rooms plotting what will most annoy parents.

And then they multiply it by a million.

Yep, that’s I think what they do and I’m sticking to it.