The Super Cool Moms I Leaned On In the Early Years of Motherhood.

I've known a lot of incredible moms in my life (including my own--she'll get her own post), but these are the moms who I was closest to when I was raising young children. These are the moms who showed me the way. I especially love the way these women refused to join rat-race parenting, and just loved their children for who they are. Also, they love the outdoors, animals, and art and have made those a part of their parenting.  

This is Stacey my sister-in-law. She taught me to be patient with my children and once even said "If you think of all the things that are wrong with your children, you'll go crazy. So don't even bother thinking about them." That phrase comes to me whenever I wish my children were more; I just put an X-mark on negative thoughts and love my children for who they are. Also, Stacey is a huge believer in getting your kids outside for the joy and confidence that the outdoor brings. She loves to feed her family. She builds her children up with encouragement and praise. Her children are mostly grown now--and they are fabulous people. My brother fell in love with her in-part because of the mother she was to her four small children. (Together they had 2 more.)

This is my sister Pam with her two daughters. All of her energy has gone towards loving and strengthening her children. I have watched her work her tail off so that birthdays, weddings, vacations, and celebrations were wonderful experiences. She believes in vacations and their importance in bringing family closer. She is also an artist at heart--sewing, scrapping (and dang! can she ever throw an outfit together). She cooks the meals her children like. She plowed the teenager years before me which was a tremendous gift--I watched her raise teenagers with patience, grace, and faith. And mostly love...she was right by their side for all the hard stuff.
































This is my friend Chantel. Here she is in Pompeii with her children. She raises her children with so much energy. If they become curious about snakes, well then she will fill the house with books on snakes, buy a snake, and talk about snakes. Her children's natural interests become the whole family's interests--and she has really smart kids. She thinks beyond tradition and conformity. She was one of my champions when I sent Anne off to Germany at 16...and a year later Chantel moved there herself, mostly so that her children could have a world-wide perspective. She believes art is important and makes sure that there are lots of watercolors, brushes, paints, and art papers around so that her children can create.

This is Shar with her only granddaughter. She makes really good cinnamon rolls. She has LOVED her 5 children. She worked her tail of for her kids---first, when her husband was deathly ill and she was raising small children. At that time, she ran the whole show; she was the primary earner, cooked every meal, and made sure the homework and meals were done. Mostly though, what I watch in Shar is that she loves and adores her children. Her children have found their own paths and she has been so proud of them. And anyone who has been in her house knows--she loves her children's friends like her own. And that has been a huge gift to my own boy.




This is Kathryn. She is a loving mom, just in her eyes and voice. I don't know how else to say it! Her eyes alone emit so much love. She has consciously created a calm life for her children--staying at home even when she was itchy to work. She focuses on the good things in life--music, art, culture. The table is always covered with projects and Kat's errands always include a trip to the art or fabric store. She delights in her children.

This is Rachel. I first met her when I was living at the University Village. She taught me the ways of natural childbirth and nursing which I was so grateful for later. You really need someone to show you the way if you choose the natural route. Also, she just spent time with her children. She was physically with them in all ways. If they were watching a movie, so was she. If they were coloring, so was she. She is a laugher--and her house was a place of joy. She took her kids outside, and taught them to love animals.