Hello fellow mother, this is your invitation to join me for a cup of tea.  I know, there isn’t time—you need to be multi-tasking; licking envelopes or changing diapers while we chat—or you’ll never fit all your daily tasks and responsibilities into the allotted time.  Me too—I just returned from a meeting and have ten minutes before the kids arrive and the homework begins.  But if I don’t take five minutes for a break in my day, if only for a moment—I’ll be bitter and irritated by nine—so please join me.

Pull up a chair, have a cookie.  As mothers, we sometimes need reminding what all the home-making, cooking, loving, working and growing is for.  I know – because I forget – I get caught up in the day to day grind, with a list of things to do scrunched in my hand, feeling completely out of touch with the happiness I thought this mothering job would bring.  I forget to shine a light now and then on the glorious success I am in all areas of my life—even on the most hectic days.
I try to remind my friends who are moms (and they do the same for me) that they are glorious successes – amazing, take-action, problem-solving, creative, compassionate women.  We have learned our skills the hard way – through raising kids.  We’ve triumphed over potty training, craft projects, bullies, broken hearts, driving lessons, and college applications—all while juggling our own lives. 

On the following pages you will find snapshots and excerpts from your own life.  Don’t worry—I haven’t been looking through your window, eavesdropping on your most intimate conversations with girlfriends, or reading your diaries—but you may think I have.  That’s because we live remarkably similar lives--as we try to raise great kids, have loving relationships, establish fulfilling careers, and still find time to grow into the women we want to be—we have a tendency to lose our way.  We focus on what isn’t working instead of all the things we’re doing well twenty-four hours a day.  We may look at another mother and think, “how does she do it?”   Well, here’s the secret:  we already know. 

So please pull up a chair, give yourself a moment to get comfy as you settle in.  I hope the following stories give you strength to face whatever this day may bring and help you to celebrate your monumental accomplishments as women and as mothers.