Growing up in a house with 5 sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of parenting — then I had a boy

Tech Insider : Business
A mother flings her son around while playing in a park.
tk

franckreporter/Getty Images

A stranger fixed my Nespresso machine when I most needed it. Decades later, I still think of her.

Tech Insider : Business
Abbi Perets headshot
Abbi Perets still remembers an act of kindness from a stranger.

Courtesy of Abbi Perets

My kids go to a hybrid school. They're at home with me 2 days a week, and the other 3, they're in a classroom.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
The author with her family picking fruit at a farm.
The author's kids go to a hybrid school, with three days in a classroom and two days at home.

Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez

I'm a sober mom, and I'm trying to teach my teens to avoid alcohol. I don't know if I'm getting through to them.

Tech Insider : Business
a mother and teen daughter sitting on the couch talking
The author (not pictured) is open about her sobriety with her teens.

Charday Penn/Getty Images

Millennial hustle culture defined my early career. My daughter made me realize I needed to shift my priorities.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
The author and her young daughter pose outside.
TK

Courtesy of Ann Dunning.

I used to travel without much planning. Having kids made me change the way we take vacations.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Children running into sea at sunset
 

Peter Cade/Getty Images

My mom and I have been taking the same summer vacation for 30 years. It's relaxing and cost-efficient.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author and her mom in the 90s.
The author and her mom have been taking the same summer vacation since 1995.

Courtesy of Jillian Pretzel

I wanted to be a young mom. I had my kids at 37 and 40, and I'm glad I waited.

Tech Insider : Business
The author sitting with her two kids on a porch step.
The author had her kids Nick (left) and Chloe (right) when she was 37 and 40.

Courtesy of Lorraine C. Ladish

I've been in an arranged marriage for 18 years. Our relationship works because we see the world differently.

Tech Insider : Business
A couple stands on a bridge overlooking a city.
In the past 18 years I've seen how our differences have made us a stronger couple.

Courtesy of Neelma Faraz.

When my boyfriend and I blended our families and traditions, we realized we needed to form new traditions, too

Tech Insider : Business
The family enjoys a pizza
Simple traditions, like pizza night, are important to the author and her blended family (not pictured).

Imgorthand/Getty Images

Subscribe to parenting-freelancer