It's episode 50 of the podcast! In this milestone episode, I return to the ParentNormal Mailbag that I used to answer questions from on a regular basis when the show debuted. Since the school year is back in full swing, I answer your school-related questions.

It’s the week of Spring Break for our family, so the theme of this episode, naturally, is Spring Break-down. In the episode, I'll cover what's in the ParentNormal News about spring breakdowns. I'll also touch on springbreakdowns in the ParentNormal Mailbag segment while also covering other calendar events this week like Daylight Savings Time and St. Patrick's Day.

ParentNormal Questions Answered in this Episode:

• Do you have any parenting tips for St. Patrick’s Day?
• How do you survive the daylight savings time change with kids when every parent knows that keeping kids on a schedule is so important?
• Am I the only parent who feels like they are being mocked when they hear the term “spring break?” Isn’t there a better name that doesn’t imply spring break is actually a break for parents?

It's ParentNormal Mailbag day. Last Tuesday I shared what was scary good in the ParentNormal News and on Thursday I interviewed Jill Smokler, the creator of the hugely popular parenting website Scary Mommy. So now, I'm answering your scary good questions.

ParentNormal Questions Answered in this Episode:

• I always liked scary stories when I was a kid, but I’m afraid to tell my kids scary stories that might give them nightmares. Do you have a scary story that might find the right balance for kids under 5?
• I don’t understand why my kids are afraid of the dark. Why can’t I explain to them there’s nothing to be afraid of?
• My son asked me if Frankenstein was real and if so who was his daddy? What should I tell my son?
• What are the 10 scariest experiences every parent will face?

Here is this week's ParentNormal Mailbag. Since the theme is Time After Time, I answer questions related to time.

ParentNormal Questions Answered in this Episode:

• Now that I’m a parent, will I ever get any time off?
• My toddler always wakes me up really early, before it’s appropriate to get up out of bed. How do you know what time you should get out of bed?
• I always have trouble getting my kids to school on time or anywhere for that matter. Do you have any suggestions?
• I feel like I waste so much time during the day waiting for my toddler to finish going potty. Do you have any suggestions for making the most of that time?

It’s Saturday, which means I’m answering questions from the ParentNormal Mailbag. If I sound a little sick on the podcast, it’s just because when it’s wintertime and you have kids, somebody in the house is always sick and it’s apparently my turn in the rotation.

ParentNormal Questions Answered in this Episode:

• Most parents on TV seem to be doing a poor job of parenting. Am I becoming a bad parent by watching so many bad parents on TV?
• There are so many shows kids can watch on TV and there are even more shows and videos on YouTube. How am I supposed to know what shows my kids will actually like the most without trying them all?
• The internet is making it easier for anyone to create their own shows. With that being the case, what kind of shows do you think we might start seeing if toddlers start making shows?