Yes, I Buy

As a mom of four kids, somebody ALWAYS needs something. My 14-year-old son always needs food, preferably pizza or hamburgers. My 13-year-old son always needs something for a school project due tomorrow, that I'm just hearing about today. My oldest son always needs shoes, after conveniently having a growth spurt two weeks after the last pair were purchased.

And my youngest, my only daughter-- needs--well, okay, maybe she doesn't really NEED something, but there are so many cool things to buy for girls, sometimes I can't help myself.

Medicines, toiletries, clothes, books, entertainment, sports equipment, food. You name it. My handbag almost automatically opens anytime they're nearby anticipating the sucking sensation as their vacuum-like hands hover over it, requesting money.

To be fair, many times their requests are legitimate. Sometimes, it's a legitimate want, but not an absolute need, and sometimes it's completely frivolous (although there's a place for that sometimes too.)

I'm sure I'm not alone in bankrolling my kids. Maria Bailey, author of "Trillion Dollar Moms" reports that U.S. women spend $3.7 trillion per year in consumer goods and services.

But even as the largest consumer group, moms needs are often unmet by product design, marketing and service.

As a mom, a business writer and a blogger, I'd like to help bridge this gap.