Seriously, why didn't anyone ever tell us exactly what was going to be hard about parenthood? Why can't I sleep at night like the rest of the world? Am I destined to become a vampire at menopause?

Why do children's birthdays cluster around April, June and October (including mine)? Why do we put so much energy into choosing presents for the little people when the most important thing we can give them is a gift receipt?

I finish up with that unique euphoria you get at really special moments in your life, when you know you're where you belong, where you were always meant to be. That is, I describe when it happened to me, I don't actually experience it during the podcast. I'm sure you're both relieved.

For money, that is. We give up our careers to raise our children, assuming we'll pick up where we left off at some point. But when the time comes things are different: the market changes, and so do we.

The pursuit of happiness has been a given for centuries, but are we really meant to be happy? Darrin McMahon has written a book on the history of happiness, and I was inspired when I heard him interviewed by Leonard Lopate. My thoughts on happiness and its paradoxes.

We begin our saga with the sordid tale of a computer nerd gone rebel, quitting the corporate world to become a laundress/cook/cleaner, with ponderous results. What's next, you ask? So do I.

My name's Leslie, and I'm the resident soccer mom. I'm a former computer nerd who suddenly found herself married with three kids and no career. That's it in a nutshell. Can you say "mid-life crisis?" I knew you could. I'm going to spend some time exploring my mid-life crisis. I know I'm not alone, so write me at ddesoccermom@yahoo.com and tell me about yours. Better yet, tell me how you dealt with/are dealing with/will deal with your own, so we can all get some ideas, not to mention a break from the monotony.