How to be a Lazy YET GOOD parent--rule #1

Anyone who has small children knows how incredibly exhausting it is--so my wife and I have laughed about some of the ways we have learned to be a "Lazy YET good parent." Basically, we have established some "rules" that allow us to make parenting just a little bit easier. The first rule is this--You're kids are playing, doing something safe, all by themselves and you find yourself thinking "What if you did this too?" DON'T SAY IT! : ) Why? because without a doubt, you share you're little suggestion, and now the kids want you to join in. Suddenly, one of those oh so brief moments when you're getting a little break is, yep, over! Now the game, whatever it might be, is not complete without you. So the first rule of "Lazy yet Good parenting" is, if you're kids are actually learning to play by themselves at something, enjoy it. Keep your suggestion to yourself! You and I both know they will be asking you for something before long, so take a breath and a mental break. You'll be a better parent for it in the long run.