As I’ve been discussing my most recent book, Melonade, a lot of memories and big emotions have come back to me from my childhood. So I wanted to write a little note to my younger self.

Being a mom, there are certain things in life that are inevitable: bedtime often comes with tears, there is always at least one dish forgotten before loading the dishwasher, there is never anything to eat in the fridge (according to our children), and we have dust bunnies.

I could hear her cry and she wouldn’t settle so I went in and the second I held her to my chest she nestled in and fell right to sleep.

I saw a little boat covered in water in the kitchen from my son’s bath time and I picked it up just like I normally do…

Writing for my children and for the enjoyment of other families has brought me a whole new level of purpose, validation and accomplishment.

Taking the leap to become a self-published author while also being a stay at home mom has been terrifying, rewarding, and completely chaotic.