A 5-Step Survival Guide to Meltdown-Free Holiday ShoppingYou know the drill. It's already December. There are gifts to buy. One more important than the rest. I'm speaking, of course, about the one for your wife. But there's a catch. Not only do you have to buy a gift for her. You also have to buy your children's gifts for her, too.

Which, of course, brings you to another catch. How to execute this mission - which could take hours - without your children melting down. And my partners in crime for such expeditions are five-year-old triplets. Which, you know, presents challenges. Exactly why, though, I've come up with a fool-proof, five-step plan. If you, too, will be shopping with your kids, you might wanna take a peek.

1. Come up with a game plan
You know what the best game plan is? To knock this stuff out online. But then, of course, your children wouldn't feel as if they were part of the process. At least mine wouldn't. Which means that visiting an actual store (gasp) or mall (double gasp) is a must. This, of course, means that you have

Modest, but cute nonetheless.Jim Bob and I have always talked openly with the kids about modesty and about my missteps as a young lady. It's important to teach them so they can learn from our experiences. When I was a teenager, I had no clue as to what men thought. My focus was just on drawing attention. I always wanted my girlfriends to think I had the cute outfit and the pretty hair. It was all about impressing my friends and not really realizing that there is a responsibility involved with that. Jim Bob is very open about how men see things and what goes on in their minds. He explains the challenges from a male perspective so the kids understand both sides of things.

Read More: Michelle Duggar on Modesty and Bathing Suits

Because our family is so open and honest in our discussions, I find that my daughters are even more careful with their appearances. Their modesty is their own. They own it themselves. I'm not the one telling them what to wear. As my 12-year-old girls are growing and maturing,

Leaving the hospital earlier this week.
The horrible news broke Friday morning that the receptionist who fell for the prank call from two Australian radio DJs impersonating the Queen of England and Prince Charles, which resulted in private details being released about Duchess Kate's pregnancy, was found dead in a suspected suicide. The UK newspaper The Daily Mail reports that the receptionist, Jacintha Saldanha, was a married mother of two and that her unconscious body was found near the private hospital where she worked. EMTs were unable to revive her. Her family has been notified.

If the reports are accurate, the global celebrity machine has claimed another victim, as it did William's mother, Princess Diana, who died in a high-speed chase with paparazzi in France in 1997. This would be an extraordinarily sad thing to have happen at the outset of life for Diana's grandchild, and must be a terribly sad moment for William and Kate, who, though they would not be responsible, could not help but be shaken by these events.

We

December 7th is National Letter Writing Day.While navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood, we all had our ups and downs. That's life. But what if you could hop in a DeLorean time machine and deliver a letter full of advice to your kid self and make life just a little bit easier? What would you tell that little girl about those mean kids teasing you for being a nerd, or about coping when your mom died much too soon? How many of you wish you hadn't put that baby oil on your face to speed up sun tanning? In honor of National Letter Writing Day on December 7th, below are excerpts from women who wrote a letter of advice to themselves as little girls. Maybe the post office should figure out how to utilize time travel to deliver these words of wisdom.

A Letter to Myself at Age 10

"Don't cry now, just because kids can be so mean and ugly. Someday, you'll have kids of your own. They'll be sweet, beautiful children, and you'll love them so much you won't know how your heart can take it. And though the bullying in

I'm going to be honest, I'm kind of happy my son, Beck, can't crawl yet so we don't have to baby proof the tree. I know next year is going to be a whole lot different though and I'm already thinking of some fun alternatives we could come up with so he feels like he gets his own tree without having to tear the family tree down. Or will he want to do both? Here are 5 kid friendly Christmas trees that they'll have a blast decorating over and over again. - By Melanie Blodgett

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If I had to choose just one article of baby clothing as my "can't live without," it would be the bodysuit, no contest. This is one of the easiest tops to dress baby and change them in (the snaps on the bottom are ideal for quick diaper changes). Another great thing about these outfits is how you can pair them with pants, skirts or leggings. My son has worn one of his classic bodysuits with fleece pants, dress pants and jeans. You can use them to create many different looks for your little one without having to worry about matching as most of them go with just about everything. - By Nadia Carriere

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What's funnier than watching a rookie change a diaper? Reading the blogs of these women. Each woman on this list proves that just because parenting is hard doesn't mean it's not full of joyful (and sometimes downright hilarious) moments. Their wit and their grit will make you feel a little less alone - and less guilty - along the journey of parenthood. Here's what makes them the funniest moms on Earth. - By Christina Couch

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Indigestion, Yo Gabba Gabba! ... and 14 more things I've forgiven my children for