Connect What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

Watching them laugh and hang out with their friends is the most rewarding part for me. I had my oldest when I was 18, and all together I grew up too quickly. So, when I watch my children just enjoy being children, laughing at goofy things, partaking in their favorite activities I feel so much gratitude. It's the little moments that hit the hardest.

What is one memory of your kids that you will never forget?

The first time I took the boys to the lake alone after we separated, I was terrified I couldn’t give them enough. But as the sunset painted the sky, one curled up in my lap and the other rested his head on my shoulder. We sat there in quiet warmth, their small hands holding mine. My heart swelled as I realized their peace, their safety, their love, it wasn’t tied to what we’d lost. In that moment, I felt I was enough. We were enough. And that was all that mattered.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would take half of it to take my children to Disney World. We would stay in the Disney ESPN sports resort. (I "plan this trip year after year, the reality is it's unrealistic in our one income household. I'd use 5k to sit aside for an emergency savings. (Paycheck to paycheck it's difficult to save as a single mother) the rest I would use month to month to pay someone to clean and organize once a month, and just to have a little extra here and there for small things that make a big difference.