Not pulling your weight in parenting? At some point it happens to all of us!

I find it amusing that tabloid press continually insists Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fight constantly, are on the verge of breaking up daily and that she feels Brad "isn't pulling his weight." From one day to the next, an unnamed source states something detrimental in their relationship is occurring.

Surviving a relationship where children are involved can get heated at times. What married couple with children hasn't fought over thinking the other isn't pulling the correct weight in the relationship?

In the latest report out about the couple of six children states that Angelina is so upset at Brad that she yells at him because his eggs are lousy. She feels she's shouldering the parental burden and Brad can't do anything right.

How many nights have I come home, exhausted and weary from work, wishing a hot meal was awaiting my arrival only to have my hopes dashed with questions of, "What's for dinner?"All the while the dishwasher is still loaded from the night before and laundry piles at the door. How many mornings has my husband wanted a little more shut eye, when I state "Your morning!" I know it's my morning but the dishwasher not being unloaded questions the equilibrium of whose turn it is.

I have three kids and there are times when I ask myself, "What was I thinking?" Even with nannies that help with the Jolie/Pitt clan, I'm sure all of the attention six children demand comes with a breaking point. Patience is defiantly a virtue and three children ranging in ages of 11 to 5, I am still learning.

Just today after a long day at work, kicking of my heels and collapsing on to the bed was something I want but my little bit is off with her normal daily greetings of "Watch Me!! Watch Me!! I want to play a game!! I'm thirsty!!" All the while jumping up and down she happily greets me. Middle babe files in rambling on and on about something that I will never fully understand and then oldie flaunts in throwing around her long hair, smacking gum wanting to use my phone so she can text our neighbor.

"HONEY!!! HELP!!"

I hear movement on the steps; he is here to save me for a moment. In the game of married with children, it's a give and take. Some days, we take more than others but then some days, we give way more than we ever thought possible. It's balance.

For the children's sake and for the sake of the hearts of Brad and Angelina, we should all hope they work it out.

When was having a family ever easy?

How long would you wait for marriage?

I was one of those girls who never wanted to get married. Growing up in a household where men came and went and so did husbands, I wanted to pursue other interests in my life other than having a ring on my finger. Not that I don't love the looks of men, I do. I'm not a man basher, just not that interested in having their presence the most important thing to me.

Lo and behold, I was married before I thought I would be. At the age of twenty one, I walked down the aisle to marry my man and eight years later, we are still going strong. Luckily for me, I met and married a man who didn't make me feel that if I wanted to stick my head in a eight hundred page novel and get lost for days at a time, he would leave. He's rather a nice, caring and thoughtful man with interests other than me at all times.

Over the weekend, we attended a wedding of a couple whom we have known for quite awhile. The ceremony was beautiful along the banks of the beautiful Rappahannock River in Virginia. Other than the north wind that decided to pick up and freeze many home to an early bed, it was perfect. As I watched the bride make her way down the aisle, a tear was brought to my eyes. It's so amazing to watch two people take vows to one another. Watching the man is also the best part of the ceremony.

I've known couples that have been together as long as I've been married that are still uncommitted in the sense of wedding rings and bridal registries. The vows of marriage do not mean much to them. Their commitment to one another is strong without these testaments. It makes me wonder how long many will go in a relationship before marriage is thought of?

How long would you wait for marriage? Is it not important to make vows in front of family and friends for your relationship?

Did your parents mess up your view of relationships?

My mother and father divorced when I was eight. After living without my parents married to one another, I decided I didn't have to get married either. Why when the outcome can be so messy?

Years went by and then one day I met a man and we moved in with one another. We had a daughter. Such a cute little thing but had some serious stomach issues as a baby... whew. We shared the responsibilities with each other. He took out the trash while I cooked. I cleaned the bathrooms and he cleaned the litter box. We took turns changing diapers and giving baths. Everything was perfect or so I thought. It all happened so fast. I never saw it coming.

He asked me to marry him.

What? I asked. I thought we were happy?All this time I had been avoiding this question and here it was. What was I to do? I loved him, yes. I wanted to spend my time with him, we have a blast together. I wanted to lie down every night beside him, he has a nice tummy to put my head on. He didn't like to take baths that much at the time, seriously that issue has gotten better... yay! I had to think about this one.

After the years of dealing with my parents mistakes and their love life, was I going to fall right into their footsteps and get married? What if it didn't work out? My daughter would be the one to suffer the most, I thought. Happily she would be living her life, thinking everything was hunky dory and then one day her parents would get tired of one another and they would split. I wasn't sure if I wanted to place that on her. After some thinking and then some shopping, I started to change my mind. I would have to take a chance on this love thing and in the end I might lose but he might lose too.

There is a funny, funny thing about marriage. After the years pass your love does change as some people worry about. It flips and floats and meanders along. At times you will get on one another's last nerve but you know what? It's cool. Send him out of town for a weekend with the boys. I like to think of it as family and a family is all I ever wanted.

Having seen what your parents went through in their marriage, did it ever hinder your love decisions?

Watching them, did it make you more aware of what you didn't want in your relationships?

Wedding Rings: Why Not Wear Them?

Last night on Larry King, Elizabeth Edwards was the guest. Promoting her book, Resilience, she sat behind the table on set giving her story behind why she would write a book discussing her cancer, marriage, and infidelity of her husband John. Towards the end of the interview, Larry King asked about her not wearing her wedding ring.

Larry King: "You told our friend Oprah that you didn't wear your wedding ring becauseyou jammed your finger..."

Elizabeth Edwards: "I really jammed it. This is actually sort of a funny story.When John was running for the Senate, he runs and when he runs he usedto run with his ring and he would sweat and he lost the first weddingring that we ever had, he ever had and he'll take it off in the shower,for the shower or something so one time he went to an event and he wasn't wearing his ring, very early.

And this ring - so I went to a place where they sell rings, I said I'dlike to see your size nine wedding rings and she said, well, we havefive of them and I said, I'll take them all.

"I really did jam my finger."

I was slightly confused in her answer because much of it made no sense. The sentences were run ons and how often she repeated things were baffling.

Okay so he lost the first ring running and sometimes he takes it off when he is in the shower? Who out there takes off their wedding ring in the shower? I know I don't. I know my husband doesn't. I'd be afraid it would wash down the drain (maybe he wanted it to wash down the drain.)

I do know there are people who do, but how do you feel without it on your finger? Do you feel any different?

Elizabeth Edwards went to a place that sells rings and bought all five of the rings in his size? That seems a little wacky to me. I guess when you live in that 28,000 square foot mansion you can afford to scoop up five wedding rings for your loved one so they choose the one to wear by the outfit they are wearing for the evening.

Do you take off your ring when you shower?

Purposely take it off before going in public?

Have you ever worn your ring to hurt your spouse? If you have so, how did it make you feel? Your spouse?

Should you ever take off your wedding ring?