My youngest girl created this image on a computer game and I adore it. I like how she made it so full of yellow; brightness and joy. I'm thankful that my daughters have always had such a wonderful imagination. They have been drawing since they were old enough to hold a crayon and their drawings have never ceased to amaze me. It is something about imagination that keeps children truly happy from the inside out. My children teach me to see life in full color; to truly express myself, to nurture my imagination. In them, I see me, as they are my reflection.

Sweet recollections

I adore the relationship I have with my children and I hope that it only gets better. It is not always perfect and there are times when I don't know what to say or do, but isn't that all part of parenting? Through each new phase that my girls enter in their own lives, I am actually transformed in my own life. They are teaching me so very much...The levels of communication have changed considerably, what we talk about and the places that we go have changed as well. But what doesn't change is the love I feel...in fact maybe I am feeling the love even more so, knowing that one day, my little chicks will fly away from the nest...

I will love them forever, to the moon and back...

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.