Acid reflux pushed me out of my comfort zone early in my parenting experience, forcing me to learn to be my children's advocate. If I hadn't faced this challenge so early on, I would probably be a different parent. I realized that I could be a lot stronger than I thought I could ever be. More importantly, I learned that I could do things for my children that I was too weak to do for myself. In doing so, I learned to advocate for myself as well!

When I was pregnant with my twin girls, I really looked forward to nursing them. But breastfeeding is hard, and with preemies are more challenging. I had also had to deal with traveling for my job, pumping in between, almost total lack of sleep, and unsupportive relatives. It can be a daunting task!

I remember being quite nervous when I was told it was time for me to bring one of my preemies home because a preemie is different, right? I had a lot of questions and insecurities. Having been through this challenge, I know a few things to shore up your confidence and help you enjoy your preemie experience. I promise that it does get easier!

I apologized for everything because I grew up believing it was part of a woman's job. Over time, I realized this was not the case. I promised myself that I would teach my children that it's our ability to understand when we should and shouldn't apologize that makes us strong and independent. Here are seven times I believe we should never apologize!

Adolescence is a time of exploration. I accept that it's healthy for my kids to constantly label themselves, including changing gender labels. Every time they introduce a new label to me, I see them exploring the world. As parents, the most important thing is to help our kids identify their strengths by choosing activities to help them develop into good, confident people.

One of my daughters recently asked me if I was pro-choice or pro-life. Talk about a loaded question! I didn't want to just give myself a label. Instead, I took the time to explain to her how my decision evolved. It was important for my daughter to understand that my choice had required knowledge, time, and maturity. I did not arrive at my choice lightly.

Ever heard of a first moon party? It's a party you can throw a girl when she gets her first period. But lots of moms get carried away with the idea. They throw a party whether the girls want it or not! Yes, we want our daughters to feel proud of their transition to womanhood. But we need to remember that while this might be an exciting time for them, it's also a time of trepidation and adjustment. We need to support them as they make that transition and accept their decision whether to celebrate it or not.

When my daughter asked me if I was a feminist, I had to think about what definition. If we define feminism in its broadest term, then yes, I am a feminist. I believe that men and women should be equal. We should work together for the benefit of our families, our society, of our world. I think it's wonderful that we see more women in positions of authority. It shows our girls that this kind of success is possible for women and influences these young women's paths.

I monitor my kids' social media, and I don't give a crap about what other people think. I want to make sure that they are not being cyberbullied and not being stalked by predators. They're pretty good at self-monitoring and have definitely gotten better with age. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop monitoring them because kids at this age can make dumb decisions. Dumb mistakes I want to help them with, not punish. Privacy in our home is not assumed. It's earned when we show that we have matured and capable of making better choices.

What is Love and Logic? It's an approach that allows children to make decisions, affordable mistakes, and experience natural consequences. It uses humor, hope, and empathy to build and strengthen the adult-child relationship. It may sound too good to be true, but all it really works! As I enter the teen years, I find myself returning to those early lessons. It's never too late to help your child find freedom in self-discipline!