THE ROCKWOOD FILES Chocoholics Anonymous Unite

HUSBAND AND WIFE EXPERIENCE POST-HALLOWEEN HAUNTING

Hi. My name is Gwen Rockwood, and it’s been two hours and 43 minutes since the last time I stole a miniature Snickers bar from my kids’ stash of Halloween candy.” If the first step is admitting you have a problem, then fine. I said it.

Something funny is going on, and it’s a good thing

I once saw a TV interview with actor Will Smith (who starred in “Men in Black,” “Independence Day,” etc.), and he mentioned that he cuts his kids some slack about breaking the rules if they happen to be really funny in the process.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Parenting: scarier than ghosts and goblins

This time of year, some people actually like to be scared. They go to novelty shops and buy plastic tombstones, fake severed limbs, and cobwebs to decorate their homes and yards. I like Halloween as much as the next person, but I’ll pass on the scary stuff. I stay scared 365 days a year. Why? Because I’m a mother.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES : What a fly on the wall hears at our house

One of the perks of being a parent is that you’re often part of some interesting conversations. Here are a few excerpts from recent chats at our house. The first took place with 5-year-old Jack while we were loading backpacks to take to school the next morning.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES : Displaced writer learns to appreciate home

Dorothy was so right. Her famous line “There’s no place like home” is not just true in “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s true everywhere and all the time.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES The things that go bump in the night

Iwoke up early this morning to a familiar feeling. It was an elbow in the middle of my back. I scooted out of its way and turned my head to see who it was connected to. It was Adam, our 7-year-old. Next to him was his 5-year-old brother Jack snuggled under my husband's arm.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES : When allergies attack, it means it's the season for sneezin'

Like most teenagers, I spent the better part of my high school career being annoyed with my parents. My mother, in particular, had a very irritating habit. Each year at about this time, she would start sneezing. And she would sneeze long sequences of sneezes - sometimes 10 in a row, barely coming up for air.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES Hanging with the girls is like stepping back in time

A few weeks ago I went home and spent part of the weekend hanging out with my "Stuttgart girls," named after the small town in southeastern Arkansas where the four of us grew up. It was the first time we've all been in a room together in more than four years.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES Dead car battery threatens 'Mommy Nirvana' moment

Today started out great. It's the last day of summer vacation, so the kids and I slept late this morning. I didn't wake up until Jack, my soon-tobe kindergartner, climbed into bed and snuggled up next to me. I put my arm around him, and we talked about how exciting the first day of school would be. We stayed there doing nothing for a while, and I soaked up the feeling of how nice it is to lounge around lazily with your little ones. One last day of "no fuss, no rush." Tomorrow morning would be much different.

THE ROCKWOOD FILES Questions and more questions means he's ready for school

Seven days are all that's left of summer break. The back-to-school countdown has begun, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's bittersweet, really. Part of me is glad for the return of a normal routine, and part of me is sad to see my two boys go off to spend the majority of their day and week away from me.