No mama worth her salt likes or enjoys seeing her baby cry, no matter if that baby is still cutting teeth or old enough to borrow $20 (and “forget” to give it back). It’s why, in a playground crowded with dozens of kids, we’re able to pick out that one distinct wail and run to the rescue of our child in distress. Maternal instinct propels us to fix whatever’s upsetting them, to soothe them, console them, make everything alright, even at the sacrifice of our own safety and comfort. That’s what we sign up for when those nine months turn into delivery room showtime, and we commit to raising the little people we produce. But that doesn’t mean it’s not OK to let a child cry it out. 

If you've ever pondered the difference between parents who maintain friendships with the child-free and the parents from whom everyone without kids (and sometimes those with) run, it's simple. The parents who still have friends are the ones who recognize that sometimes their kids can be complete and total pains in the ass. Take the couple who recently decided to bribe an entire airplane's worth of passengers with bags of candy so they'd put up with their twin sons' crying.

The parents' genius move has gone viral since a photo of the goodie bags was uploaded to Reddit. But what's really remarkable isn't that the parents filled the snack baggies with Jolly Ranchers and Werthers or even their note that lists their seat numbers and offers earplugs to anyone who needs them. It's who uploaded the picture in the first place.

As a co-sleeping, baby-wearing, breastfeeding kind of mama, I love discussing everything involving natural parenting topics. And you know what else is natural? Sex with your husband. After having a baby and getting the all-clear from the doctor that your body is ready to resume the nookie, many of us cannot wait to get frisky.

On Coffee Shop Confessions, one mom admitted that she and her husband had sex with their 8-week-old baby right there in the bed with them, making the panel cringe. But it seems that the mom confessing was also cringing at what she had done. Let's roll the videotape ....

I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I knew new moms lie. And now there's a survey to prove it.

In this case, at least a third of the more than 11,000 moms who talked to Netmums admitted they will lie about how well their babies are sleeping. It seems they feel so much pressure to put on the face of being a good mom with a wonderful baby, so they fake it.

Now, I'm going to be completely truthful here: I'm glad to hear moms admit they make stuff up. No one wants to feel like they're the only one who isn't having a perfect time being a mom. It's easier knowing moms like about how great it is.

And just in case you aren't sure what I'm talking about, let's look at some of the other lies moms tell (that I don't believe for a second):

Last week, there was a small earthquake here in L.A., just a mile or so from our house. Because it was so close, the house definitely rattled-and-rolled pretty intensely. My husband had never been in a quake, so he threw his arms around me, instinctively, protectively. Me? I pushed his arm off and ran to get my babies. Thankfully, it was a short quake and when I got to their room, the boys were still sleeping soundly. My heart was racing, but my mind was clear and I was calm -- my first priority, my gut-place instinct was to make sure my babies were safe and keep them safe.

As I walked back to our bedroom, I was struck by, "Whoa, I really am a Mom." I know, I sound a little stupid. I mean, duh, yes, I'm a Mom who loves and nurtures and panics and swells with pride over my little ones. But this was a pure heart, all love, Mama Bear reaction. It got me thinking about the other moments that really make me feel like a Mom. And here's what I've come up with...

Tina Seitzinger never pictured herself being a mom who'd be trying to survive in a "testosterone-filled" world, but she is! And she writes for all the moms who know what it's like to be the only one with estrogen in their household at her blog Life Without Pink.

We love the way she makes being a mom in an all-male world work, and here, in honor of Mother's Day, we present Tina's memory of the moment when she realized she would be parenting two boys ... and no girl:

As far back as I can remember, I always envisioned myself having a daughter one day. I guess I never thought that it was possible that I might never have one.

When I was pregnant the first time, my hubby and I knew it was a boy from day one. Even though we never found out the sex ahead of time, we always referred to the baby growing inside of me as “him”. I loved the fact of having a boy first, to protect the daughter I would have one day.

When I found out that my last child was a girl, I cried. I might have TOLD you it was allergies or dust or something, but that'd have been a lie. I cried because I was so grateful that I'd have a chance at having a daughter. A girl of my own. Something I never thought I'd have.

This is what I want her to know.

It took me years to leave my girls with a babysitter. But now there are days when I really just need the down time; a couple hours to be in quiet and hear my own thoughts, remember a grocery list, or finish a sentence without interruption. On the rare occasions I need a sitter, it sometimes seems like I'd do just about anything to get those few precious moments of freedom. Even lie.

After all, I want to make sure the sitter won't be scared off by what really happens in my house. You know what I mean, right?

Here are a few white lies to try to ensure you can get a sitter who will care for your kids.