40 Things They'll Never Tell You About Parenthood... but are oooh so True!**

1. Quarters are like gold.
2. Three meals and two snacks a day is standard.
3. Road trip whenever possible to where ever possible.
4. Going to the mailbox was never an ego booster/breaker before.
5. You will begin to nap again.
6. Your grocery bill will equal your mortage payment.
7. Squirt guns = stress.
8. E-mail and blogging becomes your second language.
9. Parents throw fits too.
10. You never realized so many people were smarter than you.
11. Western Europe could be wiped out by a horrible plague and you'd never know, but you can recite last weeks rerun of Seaseme Street verbatim.
12. You will never rent more movies in your life.
13. No one is too old for video games.
14. The Urgent Care nurses are there because they couldn't make it in a real hospital. Never, ever forget that!
15. Care packages are right up there with birthdays and it's mail!
16. The house is clean only for family weekend and high stake football games.
17. It never sucked so much to get sick (tested and proven!).
18. Nothing you want to eat will be there when you wnat it.
19. Beware of the new-parent 15.
20. Be VERY creative in the dining hall.
21. Breakfast: the later the better.
22. You are prone to take long drives because the kids are straped down in car seats.
23. Disney movies are more than just classics.
24. Asleep by 9:30 pm is a late night.
25. Cereal makes a meal any time of the day.
26. New additions to food groups: PB&J.
27. ATMs are the devils advocate.
28. Duct tape heals all wounds.
29. Pro Wrestling is suddenly cool again.
30. The lock on the bathroom door has never been so important.
31. Showers become less important, sleep becomes more important.
32. You will eat anywhere that is a buffet and kids under 5 are free.
33. You realize parenting is the ideal lifestyle, except for those pesky kids.
34. Procrastination is an art form.
35. Jeans may be worn as many times as the wearer desires. In fact, you wish your kids would wear their jeans more than once to cut down on the laundry.
36. The only time to dress up is when all your jeans are dirty.
37. You'll eat anything if its free.
38. College football is the coolest thing on the planet. Wouldn't it be nice to watch an entire game?
39. Cartoons are for all ages, especially Scooby Doo.
40. No matter how hard you try . . . You are never alone.

**Adapted from Katie's recent blog about college life entitled: "40 Things Admissions Never Tell but are oooh so True!"