Lauren had no intention of ever becoming a parent. A successful business owner, she decided early not to have children. Then she met and eventually fell in love with a man who had full custody of his three kids. Wanting to make sure they "did it right," Lauren and her husband took it slow and formed meaningful relationships with his children. Then they married, and everything changed. Lauren talks about the growing pains of marrying a family, and how she made it work raising teenagers not biologically her own.

There are so many paths to becoming a parent. Bre and her husband have been able to become parents thanks to in vitro fertilization. The mother to a daughter and a son, Bre explored IVF after her and her husband went through testing to determine their fertility. Bre has become an advocate for parents who are traveling the road of IVF. She also wrote a blog about her journey, and is active in supporting parents who are in the process of getting pregnant through IVF. Her blog: http://onestepatatime-bre.blogspot.com/

How does a feminist Naval Officer reinvent herself as a military wife and mother? My guest Maggie has done it with soul searching and lots of humor. Her husband is deployed for months out of the year and she knows that everyday he faces dangerous situations. Although she has traveled the world and given her children many unique adventures, the childcare is solely her responsibility while her husband is deployed. Maggie talks about transitioning from serving her country to raising her children, surviving the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011, and finding herself in every new city.

Andee and her husband Bob moved to a new town three days before the birth of their second child. Not knowing many people, they relied on their love for music, theater and church to foster new relationships and become a part of their community. Forty years later, Andee reminisces about raising her children, opening her own tea shop, and how love of music became a common thread in her family.

Eric and his wife Jes lost their daughter Seraphina in the summer of 2016. After Jes spoke to me about their loss, Eric wanted to offer his perspective in the hopes that he could help other people in their situation. Eric talks about his beautiful daughter, about the differences in how he and his wife have processed their grief, and what he needs to do to protect and care for his family moving forward. If you or someone you know has lost a child, please visit The Compassionate Friends website to find a local chapter support group. www.compassionatefriends.org

Jes and her husband Eric are the parents of two children; Django and Seraphina. Seraphina passed away in the summer of 2016 from an asthma attack. The family has been navigating through their grief and their new normal in the months since her death. I am honored and humbled that Jes would share her story, in the hope that it will help other grieving parents through their suffering.

Have you ever wanted to make a major life change? Jessica and her husband have done just that. After contemplating a move across the country for nearly a year, she accepted a job in Portland and will be moving her family there. Knowing that their current life wasn't what they wanted for their two year old daughter, Jessica is making brave changes in their location and lifestyle to give their child the life they dream of. She talks to me about her desire to make a better life for her family, and her fear of the unknown.

Meet our first father!!! Tim is the dad of two daughters - a four year old and a one year old. Tim grew up in the country and as a musician, and is raising two daughters to appreciate music and live in the city. He tells me all about how he handles hair braiding, toenail painting, and princesses.

Raven is the mother of a beautiful 19 month old boy. She gave birth to her son when she was 18 years old, and feels that although being a young mother has its own set of challenges, her experience also comes with a lot of joys specific to young motherhood. Raven and her mother are both parents to very young children, and they are enjoying a unique experience of raising babies together. She talks about the fun of experiencing motherhood with her own mother and how giving birth to her son made her "grow up."

Elizabeth is the mother of three boys, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Elizabeth struggles with the daily needs of her children, including therapies and three hour trips to see specialists. Although she wouldn't trade her experience or her boys personalities, she talks about her challenges and what she wishes more people understood about her sons' disorder.