Shelley has had a hard life. Her father was murdered, her mother went to prison, and she became a young mother. But Shelley knew she wanted an education. After two decades of hard work, grit, and determination, she completed her graduate work in counseling. She talks to me about her struggles and her unwavering resilience to show her children that knowledge truly is power.

Mary is the brilliant mother of three grown men who are as interesting as they are fun, and her and her husband are adjusting to life with them out on their own. They are reporters at the family business, the local newspaper, and Mary has written about her boys in the past. She talks to me about enjoying every age and living in the moment.

Emily is a daycare operator with years of experience. She offers parents some tips on how to find the right daycare and how to maintain a good relationship when you find the right one.

Lisa is the mother of a two year old foster child, and she is in the process of petitioning for adoption. She was also an emergency foster parent for two other children this summer. She talks to me about why she decided to become a foster parent, and why she doesn't want to be called anything but a mother.