On the move with my little ladies...

I am looking forward to spending time with my girls...they will be having their Spring break very soon and we have a big trip planned. They are very excited and so am I! Open road, new sights, quality time together and laughter, what could be better? Gone are the days when I'd hear "are we there yet?" Well, almost...

They truly enjoy being in the energy of traveling and can understand what it all entails for the most part. Packing is actually fun! They are at the age where they can decide what they'd like to bring along and it is encouraged as it helps them to be responsible and it is less work for me. :)

I treasure these times we have together, for all too soon they will be doing their own navigating and traveling...time is precious and so are the memories that we make together. I will never forget the many road trips I went on as a child with my family. The excitement would keep me up all night long...When I was 11, we drove from my hometown, Hyattsville, Maryland to San Antonio, Texas, stopping in most of the states in between. I remember the magic and newness of New Orleans, the rich history of Atlanta, Georgia and how I felt when we reached our destination. It is my hope that my girls will always retain a sense of adventure as they grow into their own. I always tell them to never be afraid of traveling to a new city, it is the wanderlust in me! The more experiences a child has, the richer their lives become. Happy Traveling!

Motherhood is a sacred dance; a second chance to see purity within

We are caretakers, matchmakers, lovers and creators; we accomplish so much as mothers. But we are also prone to being "super" mothers; women who take care of everyone and everything. There was a time when I believed in choosing that path but it burned me out and I had to find a new way of mothering. I think we owe it to ourselves and our children to show them that we can indeed be unsure, or hurting or even emotional. Growing a tiny human being in pregnancy and then growing that same child as a mother is one of the most misunderstood, yet amazing feats ever taken. I have caught myself feeling overwhelmed at the prospect before me; a wave of doubt in my capabilities as a mother. I've been told many times that I'm a wonderful mother, that my children reflect a peace about them but I have still felt unsure and still do at times.

It has been easy most days but harder on others, along the way I felt the need to hide my tears; I'm not supposed to cry about this! But there were moments that I did, especially when I couldn't find the answers. I realized that the best thing I could do was allow my children to see me cry or allow them to hear me say, "I don't know."When we reveal that vulnerable side of ourselves to our children, they can feel the genuine connection with us even more. After all, don't children readily express their emotions with us? Sadness, anger, fear and happiness whenever they feel it coming? I can honestly say that my children have seen me grieve, cry, and laugh plenty of hearty belly laughs from the pit of my soul. They have even seen me scared; scared of the unknown...They do know and sense that protective lioness energy in their mama but they also know that I have been weak. We are truly stronger than we know, but the truth is that we thrive so much better when we have a sense of community as mothers. It is so important for us to nurture each other on this path.

The dance of motherhood is a sacred dance; we see our children through many stages in life while we are also going through our own unique stages. We are amazing creatures to be able to balance all of that and more; it is undoubtedly what makes us so strong. To all mothers, I salute YOU.