As I prepare to head to Mom 2.0 Summit, here in Houston, I'm a bit distracted. Each time I devoted a weekend to a conference I got to devote ALL of myself. There was nothing else going on, kids were safely at home, without the the option of having Mom come home if they skinned their knee on the sidewalk.

This year, however, I feel like I'm going to struggle to balance everything at home, yet engage with all the amazing women that will be present. I keep thinking I'm going to miss out on all the evening events and last minute get-togethers because I'll be taking the commute back home to cook dinner, or help kids with homework, or throw in a load of laundry, or ease my Husband's nerves.

Then I saw this:



All my "obligations" that I wanted to escape from, for the weekend, are what define me, they define the whole Mom 2.0 Movement. Moms, as Katherine Center's video essay clearly pointed out, what you do........ matters!

-When you cut all those BoxTops out just so your child can go to the Ice Cream Sundae party at school, it matters.

-When you wake up just to cover your sweet child with another quilt in case it gets cold, it matters.

-When you make 24 goodie bags for your child's Valentine's Party, it matters.

-When you surprise your Kindergartner, at lunch, with a Happy Meal, it matters.

-When you clear their backpacks & folders every morning just to help them be organized, it matters.

-When you forget about ALL you have to do in the day and, instead, take your toddler to Story Time, it matters.

-When you are the last to take a shower and all the hot water is gone, it matters.

-When you forget nutrition for one night and let your kids choose what they want to eat, it matters.

-When you silently back away when your toddler yells, "I do it myself!" and silently help him when he can't, it matters.

-When you hear your child read to YOU, instead of the other way around, it matters.

-When you get 2 hours of sleep in one night because you have to clean vomit, give meds, and console your child who has the flu, it matters.

-When you discipline your son because he disrespected an adult, it matters.

-When you cry because your daughter was bullied on the bus and refrain from riding on that bus the next day, just to give the bully a piece of your mind, it matters.

-When you hug your husband at night and realize your relationship with your husband, being Mom and Dad, and supporting one another is the most important and precious gift you can give your child every day............................. it matters.

To all my Mom 2.0 Summit girls, you inspire me, you encourage me, and what we are doing........ matters. Let's write a good story this weekend.

Being a Mother means having your heart broken and it means loving and losing and falling apart and coming back together and it's the best there is...... and also sometimes the worst.
-Katherine Center