Sometimes when it comes to making parenting decisions, I think to myself: "Would my mom have let me do that?" and if the answer is "No," then I definitely let my kid have a go. Today's example: I let Lucy make "soup" in a bowl on the kitchen floor this morning as I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies for her preschool Halloween party. It was the only way at the time to keep her from destroying the apartment without resorting to streaming Netflix (which we do enough already).

It's good practice for when I train her to make dinner in a couple years. She added spices and pumpkin puree, some chopped up carrots, celery and lentils and quinoa to her bowl. Plus a couple ice cubes to cool it down of course. Would my mom have ever let me waste good food and threaten to spill soup on her kitchen floor? Probably not. This logic of mine is also the reason why I let her jump off the couch onto the ottoman, and other semi-dangerous stunts. (I don't want her to grow up a scaredy-cat like me).

I should also take a moment to yet again shamelessly request you vote for the costume I made Lucy for Halloween. I entered it into Burdastyle.com's costume contest. I'm doing pretty well, with the help of dozens of helpful friends, but I am lagging well behind a She-Ra costume. Vote for me, please. I could really use a win after the losing fall my family has had: Go here: http://www.burdastyle.com/gallery/275?page=181

And if you could be so generous, share this link or post it on your Facebook, Twitter or blog. I'd be mighty grateful.