Even with all of her maturity, sophistication and intolerance for everything you do, this same girl still needs her mom.

So what’s my job now?  To laugh with them I guess, about life and things we shouldn’t take too seriously.  To care about something enough that it drives you. To teach them not to depend on me, but still need me.  And how to be independent, but value community and family. Teach them how to be big brothers to their sister and how to figure out what they believe, stand up for it, but not be intolerant of others.

That's the problem with being a person that's been left or rejected: it can haunt you.

by Matilda Beltz, age 13 Should I put that picture of my PSL on my snapchat story? Does this selfie look bad? Do they all secretly hate me? Are my …

As my son’s teenage years approached, I knew I didn’t want to be that mom.