For many of us, this time of year is a time for reflection – how we spent the past year, the happy times, the sad times, new experiences, and new friends.  My end of year mental logbook always ends with one question – what have I learned this past year?  Most of what I know and what I learn is neither singularly personal nor professional, but a combination of both.  That’s not to say that my personal and professional lives are inextricably intertwined (they’re not) or that I can’t separate the two (I can).  But such is the life of a working mother: we are always aware of the delicate balance of our personal and professional lives, the importance of family and our careers, and the very importance of how we manage both and share what we've learned.  Herewith, a list of the 10 most important things that I learned in 2011:

1. You cannot predict childhood behavior or one child’s behavior based on her sibling’s.  That would be too easy for parents the second, third, fourth time around.  No two children are alike, no matter how much everyone tells you that they look like twins.
2. Work-life balance is not something to be achieved, like a promotion or your ideal weight.  Work-life balance is simply a reminder that we must “work” at life balance.
3. Husbands must be forgiven for leaving the toilet seat up, the dishes on the table, the garbage bag in the front hall by the door.  More often than not, they are there when we truly need them, whether it’s to play with the kids while we have a bath or run to the store for tampons and pain reliever at 10 pm.
4. When pre-teens act like they don’t need you, that’s when they need you the most.
5. Pick your battles and be prepared for conversations about belly rings, drunk driving, reality TV, ice cream before dinner.
6. If something doesn’t work, change it.  Change is a part of life.  (Giving birth was your first clue.)
7. Trust your instincts.
8. Listen with your heart and listen with your head, then make the best decision you can at the time.
9. Motherhood is a miraculous journey.
10. Nothing is more important than love, and don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

Here’s to a new year, new beginnings, successes, challenges, and good times! Cheers!