I.

Jane: Oh-my-god-Cinder, have you been sneaking off and taking extra annoyance lessons or something?

Cinder: No. But I’ve been watching Sponge Bob again.

Jane: Well, that explains it.

Cinder: Or, it could be all-natural, courtesy of your genes. Hmmm. Probably the latter. Don’t you think?

II.

Jane: I’m going to go read the book now to Flora, you coming?

Cinder: What book is that?

Jane: You’ll love it. It’s called Butts and Asses of the World.

Cinder: Really?

Jane: Um…

Cinder: You’re the best mom in the world. Hey! This is The Mark of Athena!

Jane: You’ve been waiting for Mark of Athena since June.

Cinder: Well, yeah, but you got my hopes all up with that Butts and Asses book.

I’m so evil.

P.S. Rick Riordan’s The Mark of Athena! Finally!

If you’re as excited about The Mark of Athena as we are…

• The Mark of Athena Review (girishkumar.me)
• Rick Riordan on ‘The Mark of Athena’ and encouraging reluctant readers – EXCLUSIVE TRAILER (family-room.ew.com)
• Rick Riordan Talks About Mark of Athena and His New Norse Demigod Series (commanderben.com)
• The Mark of Athena (richlandnetwork.wordpress.com)
• Disney Publishing Announces 3.5 Million Copy First Printing for The Mark of Athena (readersread.com)

MOST POPULAR POSTS

My current personal favourite: The Authoritative New Parents’ Guide to Sex After Children (of course… what else.)

Serious: When toddlers attack (surviving “That Hitting Things”) • Searching for strategies for Sensitive Seven • Five is hard: can you attachment parent an older child • It’s not about balance: Creating your family’s harmony • 10 habits for a happy home from the house of chaos and permissiveness • The ultimate secret behind parenting: it’s evolution, baby

Funny: Floor peas • The rarest song of all • Sarcasm, lawn darts, and toilets  • What humanitarian really means  • The sacrifices mothers make for their children (Warning: grossness factor uber-high)  • It’s all about presentation  • Anatomy talk, now and forever  • Want to hear all the swear words I know?  • Of the apocalypse, euphemisms and (un)potty training  • Mom? Have you noticed I’ve stopped…  • Poisonous Volvo