Velcro Shoes

Before children: I was thankful to have been born in the USA, the most powerful free democracy in the world.

After children: I am thankful for Velcro tennis shoes. As well as saving valuable time. Now I can hear the sound of my son taking off his shoes -- which gives me three extra seconds to activate the safety locks on the back seat windows right before he hurls them out of the car and onto the freeway.