For many years I have been a devoted stay at home. This is not to say that I have enjoyed every single moment of motherhood or that I totally agree with the idea that constantly giving and doing for others is the greatest feeling on Earth.

There have been many teachers in my life. Some of them have been part of my family while others have been strangers that I initially thought offered me nothing of value. Down the road; they did! As a mother, my greatest teachers have been my children; each of them in their very own unique way.

Before Dr. Phil, Dr. Ferber and all the other psychologists, pediatricians, Nanny 911’s and Dear Abby’s of the world parents relied on common sense and family to figure out how to raise their children.

Giving a child a cell phone is not necessarily a bad idea; but it does seem that many parents forego all intellectual judgment and financial scrutiny when making the decision. After all, do they really need one?

I started a silent diet several months back not telling a soul. I cut out the Coke’s and began eating properly. Instead of picking up half eaten chocolate covered pretzels and finishing the food on my children’s plate I began replacing meals with Slim Fast shakes and cutting out sugars and sweets altogether.

To understand your self worth you must first realize that it is not measured by anything external. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how you look. It doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive or how successful your kids or family are. Self worth is not about anything other than the inner you that you know.

It is interesting that even people who are healthy can be forced into facing a diabetes diagnosis. It is a confusing illness that can be undetected and subtle in its symptoms causing just enough to discomfort to make life feel stressful.