What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

The most rewarding part is watching my kids reach milestones that help them become who they are meant to be. It’s so incredibly to watch them shine and reach those goals. My kids have been through a lot. Their dad’s cancer treatments, our divorce, their dad leaving the country, his death, homelessness, and more. Through it all they learned resiliency, how to stay hopeful when the odds are staked against you and to keep moving forward.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

Motherhood has taught me to be flexible and also present. You never know what is going to be thrown at you. We don’t know how long we have on this earth or how much time we have with our children. It’s not a race to a finish line. Each day we have the opportunity to connect and grow with our children. The little moments add up. The hustle and fast pace of our world tries to pull us all over the place. Kids remind us to slow down, look at things from a different angle and it’s ok to play.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would get a new couch for the house and some patio furniture. I would love to be able to snuggle the kids on movie night and comfortably entertain friends. It would also help the space feel more like a home. My oldest desperately needs a car so she can have more independence in college. I would get the medical help I need for my back. I’m still hoping I can avoid surgery.