What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

The little moments are everything. The little hand reaching out for mine at bedtime. The quiet whispers of a secret that they can't wait to tell me. The "I love you's" or the "you're the bests" are the absolute best thing to hear. And it's so incredibly rewarding to see how they treat others - offering them a toy to play with, the last Easter egg they found, trying to calm another kid down with empathy and compassion. It is amazing to watch how they have become so caring and kind.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

That perfection is a myth and that connection matters most. My kids won't ever have the perfectly clean and pristine house or the Martha Stewart home cooked meal, but they will have a roof over their heads, food on the table, and above anything else, mine and my husbands attention, support, and love. They will always know that they can come home, even when grown. That the richest part of our lives is not the money but the time we've spent together.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would take my family on a nice vacation! Neither of my kids have seen the ocean and I'd love for them to experience that and to be able to see their reactions when they do. Focusing on building some core memories that we will always remember and cherish - because life is too short otherwise. I try to build on our connection and relationship every day, but being able to take them on a trip that they will remember forever would absolutely mean the world to me.