I was thrilled the first time my son came home from college for the holidays. It wasn't always easy.

Tech Insider : Travel
a son hugging his mother in the kitchen.
The author, not pictured, struggled when her son came home from college.

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My kids wanted to donate toys to other kids after a hurricane hit our town. I'm so proud of them.

Tech Insider
Pile of stuffed toys from above.
The author taught her two young daughters how to declutter with the KonMari method.

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I chose not to have kids. I need to make a bigger effort to stay friends with those who did.

Tech Insider
Loving man is playing with woman's hair at home
The author (not pictured) changed her mind about having kids.

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I was proud to have an amicable $500 divorce. I didn't realize managing the finances of co-parenting would be much harder.

Tech Insider
Silhouette image of man and woman standing back-to-back in window
Sheri Atwood had an amicable divorce with her ex until managing finances while co-parenting got in the way.

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I taught my kids how to be entrepreneurs from a young age. As teens, they've made about $10,000 so far.

Tech Insider
Amanda Miller Littlejohn with her sons and daughter at the beach, they are smiling in the sun and standing on the sand.
The author has been teaching her kids about money from a young age.

Courtesy of Amanda Miller Littlejohn

I wanted to have kids but my wife didn't. I chose my relationship over becoming a mom.

Tech Insider
Lesbian couple kissing while sitting in the city during summer
The author (not pictured) chose a relationship with her wife over having kids.

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My kid went to the wrong airport when traveling home from college for the first time. I then taught him these 5 travel tips.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
a college student staring at screens in the airport
The author's son, not pictured, made a traveling mistake when going home for the holidays.

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I'm a mom of 2 teens. When they are out partying, they need to give me the address and phone of an adult present.

Tech Insider
Happy friends dancing together in a night club
The author (not pictured) has location tracking on her teenagers' phones.

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My mother-in-law often asks my kids when they'll make them great-grandparents. I don't mind if it never happens.

Tech Insider
Baby wearing a striped onesie and resting in grandparent's lap, grandparent is holding the baby's hand.
The author doesn't mind if she doesn't become a grandparent.

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I took 6 months of leave after the birth of my first child. It was too long for me.

Tech Insider
Little baby boy enjoying in mother's touch
The author (not pictured) felt financial stress because of how long her leave was.

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