An award-winning writer, Pat Snyder has for nearly a decade crafted a regular column called Balancing Act for a chain of 22 suburban newspapers in the Columbus, Ohio area. The column, featured by Suburban News Publications, deals with the light side of families’ struggles to balance their lives in these fast-paced times. In early 2009, some favorites, along with a number of “leash laws,” or tips for a more balanced life, will be released as her first book, The Dog Ate My Planner.

Over the years, Pat has used the column to reveal, if there was ever any doubt, that she does not have it altogether in this business of working full-time and maintaining a peaceful homefront.

For example, she has confessed that moving elderly parents, getting kids off to camp, and deciding whether to use a Palm Pilot, were just too overwhelming when there were already Christmas stockings to stuff, banana bread to produce for the school bake sale, book groups to attend – without reading the book – and dancing lessons with hubby to revitalize that marriage bed spark.

That was on top of keeping track of winter gloves, trying to lose weight, collecting all the family photos in a professional-looking scrapbook, remembering to return unfortunate purchases, and ultimately building a new house with a first-floor master when her one-time dancing partner had to have his leg amputated.

Here are a few reader favorites from Balancing Act:

Helicopter Parent? Who? Me?

TV Skills Are Remote

Winter Adds An Extra Layer

Flossing Could Be Heart-Felt Exercise

Five Big Rocks Make Quadrants A Quandary

Confessions Of An Errant Errand-Runner

Holidays Spark Skirmish Between the Two of Me