Being a mom of 2 with almost no income during my divorce was terrifying. These are the steps I took to rebuild my finances.

Tech Insider
Headshot of Jolie Steele
Jolie Steele reduced her spending drastically to start her life after divorce.

Courtesy of Rachel Barehl

We got a minivan when I was pregnant with our second kid, and I'm weirdly obsessed with it. I don't care that my friends say it's dorky.

Tech Insider
Family unpacking groceries from minivan on a sunny day.
The author (not pictured) loves her minivan.

Getty Images

My husband and I just took our first kid-free vacation. It helped me realize how much he's changed since becoming a father.

Tech Insider
Katrina Donham and her husband smiling and looking at the camera while walking on the High Line in New York City.
Katrina Donham and her husband visited the High Line on a trip to New York City without the kids.

Courtesy of Katrina Donham

I spend almost as many vacation days on trips with my friends as with my family. I want my daughters to know the value of friendship.

Tech Insider : Travel
Women posing at baseball game
The author says she wants her daughters to know how important her friends are to her.

Courtesy of the author

I struggle to gentle parent my toddler. My traumatic childhood makes it difficult to stay calm during her temper tantrums.

Tech Insider
a mother holding her toddler who is throwing a temper tantrum
The author, not pictured, struggles to gentle parent her toddler.

Halfpoint/Getty Images

I took my 86-year-old mom on a river cruise. The smaller ship and bingo nights were perfect for her.

Tech Insider : Travel
Two women one elderly and one middle-aged wearing hats while enjoying a sunny day at the beach.
Two women enjoy the sun while wearing their hats

lucigerma/Getty Images

I took a 6-day road trip with 4 teenagers. We spent over $5,000, and I learned to feed everyone before they were hungry.

Tech Insider : Travel
Family posing with Niagra Falls
The author took her three kids and one boyfriend on a family road trip.

Courtesy of the author

I travel often with my 5 kids, and it's rarely easy. A scheduling mistake on a trip to Canada almost broke us.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
children looking out onto the water
The author's family made a big travel mistake.

Sally Anscombe/Getty Images

My husband is the primary breadwinner, and I stay home with the kids. But our marriage is not 'traditional.'

Tech Insider
Amber Adrian and her family sitting on a couch and smiling at the camera with a bookshelf and lamp behind them.
Amber Adrian's husband is the primary earner and she stays home with the kids.

Photo credit: Catherine Chaney

My mom moved in with me for the first 30 days of my baby's life. She feeds me homemade food and ensures I can rest

Tech Insider
Mom, baby and grandmother posing for photo
Hillary Wichlin's mom moved in with her after the birth of her daughter to take care of both of them.

Courtesy of Hillary Wichlin

Subscribe to parenting-freelancer