Fun moms have a bag of tricks to pull from in all kinds of situations.  When your child is down or stressed, distract with a Puppet! Author Susan Linn writes on the amazing way children respond to puppets in her book, The Case for Make Believe ( Newpress; $17.95). Kids adore puppets and they can be used for redirecting unwanted behavior in a pinch. If you have a puppet at home, great. Otherwise, simply transform your plain old hand into a puppet character who can swoop in and intervene whenever she is called upon! Add a silly voice to your “talking hand,” and you just may be able to make wonders happen. More often than not, your hand puppet will bring a little smile and momentary break from the intensity of a situation when you’d like for your child to relax.