Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN, is the author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips (www.nutritionatyourfingertips.com), a practical, easy-to-follow,
go-to guide for healthy living. Here's what this New York mother of two has to say:

"Brian, my husband of nearly 17 years, has taught me so much about parenting. He is a big problem-solver and likes to do one thing at a time and do it well, while I, like most women, multitask and often feel frazzled doing so! He has taught me to handle my stress/feeling overwhelmed by breaking down tasks into pieces and practicing better time-management skills. For example, he's taught me to think about exactly what I have to do to get the job done, and to break it down using a calendar. Using this strategy has helped me feel more in control of my time, and more organized in my thoughts. I have also been able to help my older son, now in fifth grade, apply this idea to his schoolwork. Brian is also great at teaching the kids specific skills—he likes to encourage the kids (and me, for that matter) to practice with a plan. An example: shooting a lay-up in basketball. If you try to make a lay-up without breaking it down into steps, it will be tough to do. If instead you break up a lay-up into each individual move required to help you do one, you'll be much more likely to succeed (watch out, NBA!). I try to teach these concepts to my children because it's much easier to do things step by step, one thing at a time, instead of trying to tackle everything at once. 

My husband has also taught me different ways to think about things, which has helped me in the way I parent my children. We try to teach our children to have a strong work ethic and to try their hardest and apply themselves to the best of their ability when they're at school, but that's a lot easier said than done. My husband is great at applying what the kids are learning at school to real life—providing a context—to make the lessons learned at school stick. For example, when it comes to learning math, my husband uses the analogy of building a bridge. In math, there is only one right answer. You can't almost get it right. When you build a bridge, there's no room for error—you need to build it correctly so that people can be safe when they cross the bridge. The lesson is that you don't have to be a perfect person, but that some things you do in life have to be done perfectly or there could be terrible consequences. A great life lesson!"

Annie Ulichney is the creator of Banglz (www.banglz.com), stylish half-pound wrist bracelets that help you integrate exercise into your daily to-do. Here's what this Wayne, Pa., mother of three has to say:

"I don't know about you moms, but I have gotten in the bad habit of doing endless chores and not stopping until I collapse into bed at night. From getting the kids ready for school, making lunch, cleaning the kitchen, straightening up the kids rooms, going through the to-do pile, updating the family calendar, sweeping, folding laundry and, well, you know the daily routine—not to mention my work! There's so much going, going, going that I forget to stop and enjoy the day.
 
My husband comes home after his long day at work and he wants to relax and enjoy some family time. He has taught me how to slow down and just be. He enjoys being with our three girls and simply playing a board game on the floor, reading books or wrestling with our dog and kids in the yard. He reminds me how important it is to slow everything down when we are all home at night or on weekends and savor the conversation and laughter. These precious moments are my favorite time of the day, and my husband is to thank for this. He has allowed our hectic lives to stop for some brief, memorable moments each day."

Susan Doherty is chief marketing officer at Wowd (www.wowd.com), a real-time search and discovery start-up company that gives consumers real-time updates on hot topics they want to read about—literally as they happen. She's been married for almost 19 years and is the proud mother of a 9-year-old daughter. Here's what this Redwood, Calif., mom has to say:

"It's okay to get dirty! Dirt? Yes, that stuff out in the backyard. Kids love to be outside and experience nature. One day, I saw my husband and daughter out in the yard covered with mud and a great big hole beside them in the garden. My daughter proudly showed me the huge ball of dirt (more like mud) that she and her dad had dug up. Look, Mom, we made a dirt ball! I was a bit stunned. Why? I asked. Because it's fun, she said. You know, they were right. They were having a great time. Later, they put the dirt back and even planted corn seeds, but they really enjoyed the process and the fun of it all. My daughter was so proud of the corn that she grew herself. My husband taught me that spending quality time doesn't require planned activities, scheduling or even money. Sometimes, the most special times are when we just have fun, act like kids, and maybe even throw in a little dirt."