Does it seem like everywhere you go these days, people want to give your kids something? From the bank to the grocery store, it seems someone is handing my kids something every time I turn around.

Oh, I know it's all well-intended, and much better than them being rude to my kids or even banning them altogether, it's just that ... I HATE all of this crap. It winds up left in my minivan, washed through my washer, or piled up somewhere in their bedrooms long after those first fleeting seconds of joy it brought.

I don't mean to be ungrateful. And yes, I could just decline their kindness, but that's easier said than done when the offer is made right in front of a toddler. Here are seven of the frequent freebies we get and why they irritate me so.

What free things do people give your kids?

Image via Boudewijin Berends/Flickr

Robert Tufts is pretty much your average 4-year-old. Only in addition to coloring, dancing, and playing, he's also in charge of running Dorset, Minnesota, since being named its mayor. For real. 

The town -- population 22 -- actually "elects" its mayor via a drawing at the "Taste of Dorset" festival each August. For a dollar anyone can enter the race, and last year Tufts was the winner. Since taking office, Mayor Bobbie has been wowing the community with his composure and charm.

Well you survived the baby years. But guess what?!? Toddlers are next! It's a whole new, exciting, crazy world. Say goodbye to clean surfaces, unbroken everything, and your sanity. How can you tell when you're the mother of a toddler? That Dora sticker on your butt is a dead giveaway. You can't have nice things anymore. And don't even get me started on potty training. Here are 25 ways you can tell you're the mom of a toddler.

There was no hope of escaping for the frog in the following video. This toddler is so determined to catch that little croaker that he'll do anything to get it -- including acting just like his prey.

You see him follow the frog for a few seconds, then all of a sudden, the toddler starts hopping ... just like the frog. He doesn't think about it; he's just so absorbed in the hunt that he's overtaken by hopping as those watching him have a hard time suppressing their laughter.

Let's be honest. Running errands with kids, particularly toddlers, is no easy feat. Not only do you have to wrangle them and pack what feels like a suitcase full of toys, drinks, and treats before you leave the house, you have to wrangle them while you're out and trying to get stuff done. It can be pretty stressful, but most moms have no choice but to take the kids along. The only thing we can do is keep them entertained -- and that's not always easy!

Here are 8 fun ways to keep the littles occupied while you get stuff done this spring. Good luck!

The controversy over parenting while stoned rages on. Does smoking pot make you a more engaged parent -- and does it make the tedious tasks of parenting way more fun? Or is parenting while high just too dangerous? I know Mary Jane works differently on different people. But just speaking for myself, I've got to side with a writer who recently said, "Hey Pot Smokers, Your Kids Know You're Stoned." That stuff doesn't make me feel more mellow and engaged. It makes me kind of crazy. And I'm not even paranoid. (OR AM I.)

Here's how you can tell when someone's parenting while stoned, and not just tired.

There are some very handy and very creative parents out there, but if you're not one of them, don't fret. This super cute and highly useful video will show you everything you need to know about the parenting tricks you've been lacking. Not sure how to make your toddler do chores or the best way to deliver money from the tooth fairy? This 10 Amazing Parenting Hacks video from BuzzFeed's got you covered.

There are times when I'm driving with my children, and they're screaming at one another so loudly in the back seat I feel my brain cracking. One is yelling she's Thirrrrrrrrrrrrrrsty!, and the other says that her voice is making him nauseated and will I please pull over now. And then we hit a traffic jam, and they start trying to hit one another with the straws from the smoothies we had two days ago, and I'm convinced that no one should have EVER invented automobiles in the first place.

Other times, however, there's nowhere I'd rather be than in my minivan with my kids. I'm randomly struck by feelings of pure joy when we're all in there together in our own crumb-filled bubble, navigating our way through the town. Here are seven of my favorite times in the car with my kids.