My oldest heard me say this to him from the time he was little --

Robert --- I've never been the mother of an 8 yr old (or 10 or 14). I'm going to do things right and I'm going to do things wrong -- and since you're the oldest -- you get to be my guinea pig
;-)

Show your kids your war wounds and they won't be afraid to show you their bruises.

Show your husband that you're not super mom or super wife -- that you're just another person stumbling through life -- and he'll want to take the journey with you.