When it comes to parenting, it's the most basic things that trip me up.

I can handle the big stuff. My kids know about death, they know the proper names for private parts, they can make their own breakfast, sort laundry and operate the TV/VCR/DVD better than me. They can ID most birds and bugs. I even taught them to ride two-wheel bikes this weekend.

It's the most basic of things that earn me a big, fat, red "F" in the Mommy skills column. Like putting on their own coats and dressing themselves. Honestly, I still dress my Kindergartner most mornings. Not because she's incapable of it, but because she doesn't do it fast enough. I know...I know....I'm not doing her (or me) any favors.

My latest "F" is for teaching how to tie shoes. Kelly, 6, came home from school a month or so ago & announced that she and another little boy are the only ones in her class who can't tie their shoes.

My husband took it upon himself to teach her -- which is good because I had NO idea where to even begin with that. Every night at bedtime/story time, he'd grab her little sneaker (the only pair of shoes she owns that tie) and work with her -- making rabbit ears and holes and such.

He told me she got it, but, she obviously didn't since I still have to tie them every morning. I make her try -- she makes a half-hearted attempt and then dissolves into tears when she doesn't succeed.

So, now, at the top of the household whiteboard/"to do" list is: "Teach Kelly to tie shoes." Here's hoping it's a feat I can accomplish by the time she goes off to college.

That...and dressing herself.