I was a young mom and thought mom friends were overrated. Then, I made one.

Tech Insider : Business
The author with her son as an infant at the beach.
The author was 26 when she had her son and didn't have any other mom friends at first.

Courtesy of Ashley Archambault

Mariska Hargitay says she's 'grateful' she waited until 40 to get married

Tech Insider : Business
Mariska Hargitay.
Mariska Hargitay.

Nathan Congleton/NBC

I was the first person in my friend group to have kids. At first, I was lonely, but then they started asking me for advice.

Tech Insider : Business
A mother holds her baby in her arms.

d3sign/Getty Images

It feels like I'm constantly spending money on my kids between September and December. I'm budgeting differently this year.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
a woman holding a receipt and her phone with more transactions
The author spends a lot on her teen at the end of the year.

Fly View Productions/Getty Images

Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi now goes to bed at 7 p.m. and tells her kids that she was acting on 'Jersey Shore'

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Travel
Nicole Polizzi attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025
Nicole Polizzi was ready to settle down and have kids.

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

As a CEO and former Google manager, these are the 3 questions I ask during reviews. I apply them at home with my kids too.

Tech Insider : Business
Family posing for photo while traveling
Chase Rigby is a father of four and applies the same approach at work and at home.

Courtesy of Chase Rigby

I've raised 4 kids. My secret to keeping it together is saving the last hour of the day for myself.

Tech Insider : Business
A woman relaxes in bed.

Fiordaliso/Getty Images

Halloween decorations brought my kids and me together. Doing it alone this year made me feel like I've lost them.

Tech Insider : Business
House exterior decorated with spiderwebs, skeletons and pumpkins ready for Halloween
The author's home (not pictured) isn't quite as spectacularly decorated as this Halloween house.

Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

I thought being a grandma would be easy. I've learned to respect boundaries and follow rules that aren't mine.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Travel
Grandma walking with grandson
The author cannot share photos of her grandkids on social media.

Courtesy of the author

My 18-year-old self would be horrified at the idea of moving back to my hometown. Now that I have kids of my own, it makes sense.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
The author and her family stand on a dock near the home they moved to near the author's hometown.
The author, shown with her family, says moving from a big city to a small town was one of the best decisions her family has made.

Courtesy of Kathy Larson

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