I've always had a difficult relationship with my mom, but now I'm her caregiver. I'm struggling to set new boundaries with her.

Tech Insider : Business
a woman helping an older woman put on her shoes
The author (not pictured) is the caregiver for her mother.

Maskot/Getty Images/Maskot

My fiancé and I feel no connection to our last names. We're debating whether to create a new one when we marry.

Tech Insider : Business
S. Nicole Lane leaning on her finace in a restaurant
The author and her fiancé are considering creating a new last name when they get married.

Samuel Gernand/The Gernands Photography

I worried about who would care for my child with significant medical needs. I gave her 3 siblings to help when I'm gone.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Four siblings posing for a photo
The author had three more kids after her first daughter was born with significant medical needs.

Courtesy of the author

I was a teacher for 10 years. I was never really happy until I changed careers.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Rear view of multiracial students raising hands in classroom during lecture
The author (not pictured) decided to quit teaching and is now a freelance writer.

Maskot/Getty Images/Maskot

When my ex and I separated, I moved out of our family home. Having my own space made me a better mom.

Tech Insider : Business
Woman arranging things in her new apartment. She has blonde hair up in a bun and is wearing a yellow sweater.
The author (not pictured) moved into a new apartment when she and her ex separated.

Getty Images

I live on an island in Maine where kids still get to be kids. They play unsupervised, and the community looks after them.

Tech Insider : Business
Rear view of two sibling boys running in forest together
The author, not pictured, is a teacher in North Haven, Maine.

Pekic/Getty Images

I was having a hard time getting my teens to talk about their day. These 3 questions changed everything.

Tech Insider : Business
Mom and kids at a game
The author found that her teens wouldn't talk to her about their days until she started asking the same things.

Courtesy of the author

I went to an all-inclusive resort with my best friend's family. I didn't know how much I needed a family vacation.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Noelle Wiehe (left) with her friend Ashley (second from left) and Ashley's family on vacation at an all-inclusive resort, they are all in a pool.
The author, left, went on vacation with her friend Ashley's family, second from left, to an all-inclusive resort.

Courtesy of Noelle Wiehe

I quit my teaching job and earn more money as a freelance writer. Here are the 5 keys to my success.

Tech Insider : Business
headshot of Steph Mickelson
I quit my teaching job to be a writer and I've never been happier.

Courtesy of Andrea Anderson

I won't have an empty nest after deciding to have another baby in my 40s

Tech Insider : Business
Mom and kids posing for photo
The author had her first child at 25 and her second at 45.

Courtesy of the author

Subscribe to Essay