This past weekend, I went to Borders to meet up with a writer buddy/mommy friend of mine. We let it all out and talked about any and everything: the kids, the husband, the career, our fears, our hopes and dreams, our desires.
We made good conversation for more than three hours, barely noticing the darkening sky outside. It was heavenly. I was able to get some things off my chest, help my friend get a better glimpse of herself and her bright future, and just spend some time child-free and husband-free.
It felt …

Ever since my kids were born, I’ve prayed every single day. Without fail, there’s some communication between me and the big guy. Or is that Big Guy? 
Usually I pray about little things. Please let today be a good day. Please let me know what it is I need to do if something goes wrong. Please let me make it to work on time.
But then sometimes I pray about the big things. Please show me if  I’m doing the right thing by these kids. Please let our marriage stay strong, despite the strains parenthood …

Being a mom sometimes means your flaws are in the spotlight because your babies are your walking, talking, breathing reflection.
You show your frustration, all of a sudden they’ve got their hands on their hips and are mimicking your tone of voice.
I know, after having my daughter (who is truly my mini-me), that one of my biggest problems is my impatience. When I ask for help, I’d like it to be done NOW, not five minutes from now.
Now that I am the first female role model my daughter has, I feel …

At the end of the day, you want nothing more than to kick off your shoes, slip into something more comfortable, drink some tea (or wine) and relax. If you’re lucky, you might have someone to give you a foot rub or a back rub. Maybe they’ll even give you some words of encouragement, tell you what a great job you’re doing.
Ask yourself: Who is standing on the sidelines in your life, giving you the personal chants and cheers that get you riled up and ready to tackle the next …

When I had my daughter, I took a childbirth class taught by a woman I like to call Miss Thou Shalt Not Have an Epidural Under Any Circumstances. I didn’t listen to her advice much after she stated her views on the life-saving epidural, but she said one thing to us that I always recall when things get too crazy and overwhelming:
“When you get upset or feel frustrated and don’t know what to do, remember this: You’ve already done the hard part. You created life. Your body created another body. You made a brain, …

I’ve come to accept the fact that - for the time being at least - I am always going to be tired.
Kids are a lot of work, especially when you have little ones. I can’t even imagine the day when my daughter no longer needs me to do the little things for her, like pour her juice, change her diaper, put on her shoes. Because that is what my life is like now - just an endless loop of requests, chores, demands.
So if this sounds anything like your life, know that …

I’m very big on to-do lists. I make lists for everything: groceries to buy, projects to do, cleaning to be done, etc. But I do get discouraged because it seems like I never cross off everything on my list! There’s always something left over. It’s like some cruel joke that, in my world, there are only 22 hours in a day. 
But truthfully, we all get the same amount of time each day. It all depends on how we use it. Do you check e-mail too much, or are you spending …

Most of the time, being a mom seems like a thankless job. Admit it, you never really realized how hard it was for your mom, until you could step into her shoes and see what she had been dealing with all this time. Unfortunately for you, your kids probably won’t appreciate you fully for a few years. And that’s okay. Kids are too absorbed in their own world to realize the hard work and effort that goes into keeping them happy, healthy and safe. Let that go.
So I’m here to …

It’s easy to feel like a failure as a mother, even when you haven’t been doing it long. You lose your patience, you fail to recognize the signs of an oncoming illness, you realize your kid has their shoes on the wrong feet (and they have been all day). Piled together, these situations, while seemingly innocent, can make even the most self-assured mom second-guess herself.
But what’s important is that you don’t dwell on your mistakes. Everyday, you wake up and try to do what’s best for your child. Occasionally, you …

From the very beginning of your journey, the road ahead has looked impossible. Many questions probably flowed through your mind: How am I going to support this child? Am I ready to effectively end any selfish behavior I may have? Am I ready to  wake up and not be as concerned about my own well-being, but my child’s? In short, am I ready to be a mother?
No matter where you are in this journey, whether you just found out you’re pregnant, slogging through the first few months of motherhood, or …