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

Motherhood has gifted me with perspective. A perspective shift on how you view everything and everyone. It softens you, if you let it. And you start to look back at your experience of your own mother, and appreciate her even more. You realize that everyone telling you 'it goes so fast' while you're wrangling crying kids at the grocery store, to go cook a dinner nobody will eat, they are right. When I'm 80, I would give anything to relive the smallest moments with my kids, even the grocery store.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

There is no such thing as a perfect mother. And it's a lesson I wish I could shake into everyone. After losing my Mom and best friend this year, you realize you just miss your Mom. You just love your Mom. And it wasn't for the perfect outfit for the family photos, or the perfectly wrapped Christmas gifts with the matching bows and pajamas. It's because she just loved me so very much. She showed up for me, even if she was late or in her pajamas. That's what counts. The love we give.

What would you do with $20,000?

Our favorite memories have been made together at our home, so I'd use the $20,000 to make our home the ultimate destination for our family. With six kids and busy schedules, I want it to be the place for family, friends and fun-birthday parties and family cookouts. A place that as my kids grow and become more independent, that no matter how old they get, this will always be the place they call home.