I was going through photos on my computer this morning, editing out the mass amounts of dud pictures I’ve taken.  I was just about to delete this photo I captured at Jafta’s jog-a-thon a few weeks ago, because before I cropped it, it was just a random crowd shot without a real focus.  But then I squinted and noticed that Jafta and Karis were in the middle of the shot.   Karis had insisted on wearing a princess costume that morning.  She was very excited to cheer Jafta . . .

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions.  It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest post is by LeAnn. What I want you to know about being a birthmother? It hurts. Not the physical kind of pain, although that can happen if I stress out to much, but it hurts mentally and emotionally.  . . .

The last couple weeks have been in full-on crisis mode for our family.  It seems like every single day, I think, “Oh, this will just be a regular day”, and then, BAM!  Some new chaos is thrown in my lap.  It doesn’t help that our last babysitter gave her notice a few weeks ago and our new gal can’t do full-time until next month, so I am trying to do 20+ hours of work every week with 10 hours of childcare. And then, we’ve been hit with health issues, insurance drama, tax mayhem . . . . .

India is my picky eater.  She just doesn’t do veggies.  This is the only way I can get her to eat anything green. Spinach in the smoothie.  I swear . . . it’s like magic.  They never notice.  It’s also an easy way to get flax seed in.  Because my girl is not about to eat a fish-oil supplement.  But a sweet, slushie drink?  That she will do. Last year, a couple of our readers at Mama Manifesto asked us to post some smoothie recipes beyond the typical . . .

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions.  It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest post is by an anonymous reader. My name is Sarah. I am 33 and single. I will be 34 in a few months. This was not my plan. My plan was to meet my husband in college, get married at 25, have my first child at . . .

I saw a play recently called In Mother Words, and it was a series of vignettes about motherhood.  One of the short stories was about a mom who had a biological son and a daughter adopted from China, and she expressed her annoyance at how many people, upon meeting her family, eye her children and ask, “So how do they get along?” I found this portion of the play (and this character’s sassy response to those questions) particularly hilarious because I get that question all the time. And . . .

A purchase of Punjammis (sari-inspired pajamas) gives financial empowerment to women who are redeeming their lives from the sex trade in India.  (My daughter and I got to be models for their latest campaign. Fortunately this gig went better than the last time she tried modeling).  This company was founded by friends of mine and I love what they are doing for women in India.  I also love their cozy pajamas and I think you will, too.   A new CD of Lullabies from The . . .