As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child”—and during my recent trip to northern Mozambique with Save the Children, I saw just how true that is in the village of Nacala.

I just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about a study that was done on US Middle Class Families.  There was research done on how middle class families raise their children in the US vs other countries.  The basic results were that there is a "child-centered focus" which creates a dependency dilema.  Although we want our children to be independent, we do so many things for them that they are actually very dependent.  I am guilty!

Today, I'm celebrating all of the workplace moms, who were up at the crack of dawn getting kids off to school, while at the same time getting themselves ready to face the world.  Maybe you had to get your game face on as you know that you are going into some major meetings today that require your full attention or perhaps you are jumping on an airplane to go and close a deal that will land you an incredible bonus, or if you're like me, there is a stack of papers on your office desk that represent projects that can't happen if you don't take some immediate action.

I have a love/hate relationship with the word "Mommy."

Let me explain.

It's time that I spent more time actually BEING with my kids, rather than just DOING stuff in their vicinity.

Let me explain.

Like the heart of The Grinch, from the moment my first child was born it seemed that my never-ending-to-do-list grew three sizes each day.

Dissent

At about week 25, I finally had a meltdown.  Not a screaming melt down, but a tearful meltdown.  The overwhelming stress of the job, home and sickness that continued to plague me finally got to me and I just had to cry.  It was one of those days that work was stressful and someone made the comment that "Everyone hates everyone here..." hit me like a ton of bricks.  I don't hate anyone and I certainly don't want people to hate me.  I am just trying to do my job!  Which means I am an advocate for my customers and I am trying to get people to do THEIR jobs so my c

In every space movie I've ever seen, the most dangerous part of the trip is always re-entry. Hurtling back to Earth at high speed, searing heat and vibration threatening to break the ship apart. Gasps of relief when the heroes make it safely back home.

I never thought coming home from a month of non-stop business trips would feel the same...minus the hero's welcome part.