What kinds of things could you write about? Places to go, things to do with your kids. I used to think being a hotel concierge would be cool, or a kids/family concierge somewhere. I'm passed that now for sure. Which brings me to another thing-I used to think that having a baby/small kids was the absolute pinnacle. I was so excited about all of it-from maternity clothes to baby gear-to the actual baby/preschooler. I thought that being 30 was probably just IT. Also-prior to that, the 20something post college, wear great clothes and go out with your girlfriends stage was wonderful to. I paid careful attention during those stages to anyone I saw out also at similar stages or right above me--how did they look? what were they wearing? how did my outfit stack up against there? (Oy vey.) And I couldn't imagine that being 20-35 wasn't the absolute best time of your entire life and that those women were always who I aspired to. And do you know something-now that I'm 51-I don't notice them AT all. I mean-I think, oh, young mom with baby. But I don't look at the kid, or the baby gear, or what the mom really looks like, or wonder about her life in any way. I just think, young mom, btdt, moving on to other thoughts. Part of my crying years ago when we finally took the crib down (and part of why I had so many kids and they're so spaced out in ages) is I could not imagine my role as anything other than Young Mom. Not that I've rebranded myself as something real either (I jokingly call myself Old Mom or Type B Mom) but I'm at peace with letting that part of my life go. And beyond just grieving, and being content, I actually love the stage we're at. I like that my teens are busy and funny and smart-and their surliness and occasional curtness-is balanced out by G's sweetness and still wanting to snuggle. I have built in babysitters. There's only a very occasional time where I have to scramble for childcare or carpool help. This is just a wonderful, unexpected, time of my life.