I am a compulsive person, but - although I can also be a wee bit obsessive and perhaps a tad on the neurotic side, at times - it doesn't necessarily make me a bad person.

"What's up with Mini-me's socks?"

[blank stare]

"Oh well."

Being the youngest of 4 children -- not to mention the last in a line of lovingly used hand-me-downs -- my husband and I sort of blew off the fact that my youngest daughter had chosen a pair of quitters.

[shrugs shoulders]

No, I'm not giving up - although, I did quit worrying about such things a long time ago - I just don't sweat the small stuff, anymore.

There are days that, no matter what I say, do or pull out of my magic Mommy bag of tricks, someone will be annoyed, disappointed or just down right miserable and that someone probably lives in the same house, with me.

For example:  A simple trip to one of my favorite stores - all hail Tar-shay - for some socks.  That's it.  Nothing else.  Can turn into an expensive catastrophe.

Who knew that I would spend so much money, for socks!?!

One of my most favorite words, in the English language, is "clearance" - right up there with "all you can eat" and "wrist band day" - unfortunately, hunting through dozens of racks jam-packed with clothes is not my two youngest children's idea of, you know, a good time.

I promised a quick trip down the toy aisle - okay, swearing on dead ancestors was involved - if I could get a few minutes and a quick glance at the 75% off rack of jogging pants, t-shirts (a.k.a. Mommywear) and...whoot...I found the cutest outfit...at more than half off the original price.

So, we're in the toy aisle and I was trying to convince my 5-year-old daughter that she did not need another princess dress.

"You said we would only buy socks - so, why are you getting an outfit and I can't!?!"

So, we end up leaving without the costume, or the very noisy laser gun my 8-year-old son was reluctant and very angrily leaving behind.

Hence, the big bag of socks and no jogging pants.

Lesson learned?

Quitters never quit - we've just grown accustomed to not winning and sometimes can look sort of, you know, slouchy.

I'm just saying.