With my oldest, I intervened and helped whenever she needed me. Now with my youngest, I'm trying to step back and let her be independent.
After a divorce, I was wary of marriage. Then I met Craig, and we had two kids and bought a house before getting married. We're still together.
My son dropped out of school, and people in our lives didn't understand. It was the right choice for him, and he's found his path now.
I grew up thinking that parents could not be friends. But now that I have four kids of my own, I want to be both things for them.
I've alway wanted a big family. After having two kids, we delayed having more by eight years thinking we'd be better off financially. We were wrong.
I request wishlists early in the year so I can set a budget for what my kids want. I also do research before buying to find the best price.
My kids range from ages 19 to 11. I've learned that teaching them how to be adults starts early on, even though their brains are not fully developed.
I've always been drawn to masculine names for girls, and I named my daughter Kyle. She doesn't love it now, but I hope she will someday.
I've never liked mornings, but as a teacher and mom of four, I've made my peace with them. I created a morning routine that works for us.
I have a lazy eye and felt insecure about it as a kid, and kids called me names. I put a positive spin on it but still feel insecure sometimes.
I have kids in middle school and college and have been shopping for over a decade. I buy secondhand when I can, and wait for deals.
My grandparents raised me, and they were strict when I was a kid. When I had my own children, they became much more affectionate.
I was close with my foster mom, Esther, but she hated her name. She made me promise not to name my kids after her. I honored her another way.
My grandparents raised me, and they were older than the parents of my friends. There were pros and cons to the generational gap.
My great aunts helped raise me, and my kids have formed a special bond with them. The benefits of their intergenerational relationship go both ways.
My long-lost-cousin found me on Facebook and we reconnected. She sent me old photos, including the only photos I have with me and my mom.
When my brother changed his last name, I felt betrayed. But now I understand why he wanted the same name as our grandparents, who raised us.
The author says she thought of Newton-John as an extra mom after her biological mom died of a drug overdose and her foster mom died of a tumor.