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

The most rewarding part of motherhood has been watching my daughter develop her personality and helping her explore and learn about the world around her. I get to nurture her while letting her come into her own. I get to relive some of my own childhood memories playing with her and redefining for myself what patience and unconditional love look like. It's an incredible unbreakable bond we share, and I get to experience the world again through her eyes. She is the purpose in my life.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

The biggest lesson I've learned from motherhood is that sometimes the path we imagined or dreamt of doesn't look like the current journey we are on and that is okay. I've also learned that you can find love and grief intermingled and still find joy and peace. Having a child through embryo adoption who spent over a month in the NICU was not on my list of life goals, but it is one I would choose over and over again because there is no doubt that my daughter chose me before I ever knew her.

What would you do with $20,000?

I would love to do a professional photo session with my daughter. I missed out on maternity and newborn photos due to an early and complicated delivery. As a solo mom budgeting is always a challenge. It would be nice to plan a mommy and daughter trip and maybe some pa and self-care for mama. My daughter loves dance and music so I'd use some of the money to enroll her in dance classes this Fall.