There was a coronation on Saturday, one that brought a new princess into our midst. No, not Kate - Merida from the Pixar movie Brave. Merida is the outspoken, arrow-shooting, boyfriend-shunning princess in the Oscar-winning Pixar movie. 

It seems just like Anne Hathaway's character in Princess Diaries, Merida had to get a makeover before the powers-that-be at Disney would allowed her to join her princess-y sisters.

Left: Merida from the movie. Right: Made-over Merida

A Colorado six-year-old just wants to go pee with the girls and get on with her day, but her local school has said she has to use the boys bathroom or the nurse's office.

Coy Mathis was born a boy but has self-identified as a girl since she was a toddler. She has been diagnosed by a doctor and her passport says she is a girl. But the school says concern for the psychological well-being of the other students at the school lead to the ban.

MILF. Popular definition: Mother I'd Like to F**k.

Nice language. The term was popularized by the American Pie movie series about the hot and available Stiffler's mom. 

Since then, "MILF", its softer cousin "Yummy Mummy", and the nastier "Cougar" have been creeping into our language to describe mothers who might think about sex once in a while. MILF doesn't describe every mother -- just those who are judged to be sexy, young-looking and desirable by a younger man.

The blank page is a little bit daunting today. There are lots of topics to write about, but really there is only one thing that I can think of. The violent loss of 20 Grade One students in Connecticut hangs heavy on every parent -- no matter where you live, or how old your children are.

There is really no good way to talk to your kids about an act so brazen and so violent that you can't talk about it without crying yourself. How would I tell my 6-year-old that girls her own age were hurt in a place they consider safe? That teachers and the principal lost their lives for those kids? So I chose not to tell my 6- and 9-year-olds. I'm not sure if that was the right decision; I'm not sure if someone will say something at school or not. But for now, that is what we've decided.

My 12-year-old had to know, as he is out in the world. Before I could do that, I compiled some ideas from experts to keep in mind when talking about this tragedy: 

Princesses are having a hard week -- the newest and littlest Disney princess is being called out for not being ethnic enough. And then a Supreme Court judge tells Sesame Street viewers that being a princess is not a career.

As a parent, you see birth order from both sides --the way you experienced it, and the way you see it reflected in your own kids. 

First borns are responsible, middles have a chip on their shoulder and the babies are irresponsible -- you have probably heard it all before. But do you believe it?

There was a point where my son was unhappy at school. Not fake stomach ache unhappy, not pushing the boundaries unhappy (though that was going on too), but so unhappy that he wasn't learning anything. Which for him was a sign that something was going on because he is a sponge, a living, breathing, learning sponge. 

We asked the teachers, we talked to the principal, we did lots of things to try and figure it out.

Which relationship is the longest, most difficult and most rewarding in your life?

Not your pet, your kids or your spouse. Your siblings are the ones who travel from childhood to (hopefully) old age alongside you. Sometimes they create problems for you, sometimes they can smooth them over. 

My own relationship with my sister was difficult for much of our school years, though now we are close. But if you had told me on the day that I fished my favourite lipstick out of the pocket of my favourite suede jacket that was stuffed in the back of her closet for weeks that I would call her most mornings one day, I would tell you that you were crazy.

It's a strange thing to say that I am hopeful that my kids will fail and not just once, but a few times this year. It goes against what we are supposed to want as parents -- but it turns out that for our kids to succeed, they have to learn to fail.

This article in the Globe and Mail this weekend was a Q & A with author Paul Trough about the need for kids to be truly challenged, because failing and recovering from these challenges is what gives kids -- and adults-- what they need to become successful. The article (and I'm sure the book) is very interesting and also touches on the importance of attachment at infancy and the idea of grit.

How many time outs have you successfully given in your parenting career? Honestly. Ones that resulted in the child sitting quietly and then returning to the scene composed, apologetic and ready to play?

I would honestly say in my 12 years of parenting that I have done that a handful of times. That's not to say that I haven't yelled haphazardly "time out!!!" but it never really works out very well.