I'm 57 and helping raise my 6 grandchildren in a crowded multigenerational home. I thought my life would be easier by now.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
A family in the living room.

Mario Arango/Getty Images

At 35, I won a beauty pageant. I wanted to show my kids I could do anything.

Tech Insider : Business
Kristan Vermeulen headshot
Kristan Vermeulen won Ms. Maine in 2025.

Courtesy of Jen Dean

I needed to save money, so I challenged myself to a 30-day spending freeze. I learned a lot about my financial habits.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
a woman pulling out dollars from her wallet
The author decided to stop spending money for a month.

iiievgeniy/Getty Images

We didn't need childcare, but we still paid $7,500 to send our toddler to a program for 4 hours a week. It helped her build independence.

Tech Insider : Business
Child walking into school
The author's child attended school for four hours a day.

Courtesy of Michael Matassa

My husband and I run a company together. We set boundaries around work talk and prioritize our relationship.

Tech Insider : Business
Couple posing for photo
Katie Bloomfield and her husband, Danny, started a business together in 2019.

Courtesy of Katie Bloomfield

I've got all the parenting skills. I just don't use them when I care for my grandkids.

Tech Insider : Business
Woman holding baby
The author learned how much parenting had changed while taking care of her grandkids.

Courtesy of the author

I'm a math teacher and have over 1 million followers on TikTok. I help kids and parents make math more fun.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Travel
Deidre Kelly headshot
Deidre Kelly is teaching kids math on TikTok.

Courtesy of Deidre Kelly

My kids are growing up near their cousins. It's priceless.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Cousins posing for photo
The author's five kids are growing up with tons of cousins.

Courtesy of the author

My dad played for the NFL for 12 years and is a Hall of Famer. To me, he's just Dad.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Daughter and dad posing for photo
The author's dad was an offensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams.

Courtesy of the author

I joined a decluttering challenge and got rid of 496 items in a month. I made a point to not throw anything in the trash.

Tech Insider : Business
Mesha Griffith headshot
Mesha Griffith went viral with her decluttering challenge.

Courtesy of Mesha Griffith

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