There, in the evening air, we sat beneath the twinkle lights, with our faces lit by the row of candles on the patio table.

One by one, we took our turn, accepting our vulnerability and speaking from a place of raw honesty.

Eleven women with 11 different goals.

We gathered for the first time last year and shared our wishes for the coming year.

We spoke of small goals and lofty dreams.

We laughed, we choked back tears and we placed our dreams in the hands of others.

We remembered that yes, we were mothers, but we were also women, with challenges to conquer and dreams to fulfill.

In those moments, we gave ourselves permission to make ourselves a priority.

For so many reasons, all moms need good mom friends >>

A new year, with new dreams

Over the course of the past year, we’ve watched each member of our group reach goals, both large and small. We’ve encouraged one another and shared information and connections.

We’ve opened doors for one another and listened as goals shifted and expanded.

Last weekend, under a canopy of twinkle lights, we set new goals, this time with the knowledge that our words carried promise and that to speak our dreams was to give them life.

Our group has proven to be one of my life’s greatest joys.

Though I love each of the women in our group, I must say that we’re not different... what we share isn’t unobtainable. A group like ours is something every woman can have in her life if she makes it a priority.

Get out there and find your mom tribe >>

How it all began

While our group was formed with blogging and social media as our common thread, any shared interest can serve as the foundation for your group, whether your bond is based in common career aspirations, parenting styles, fitness or any other shared connection.

It’s all too easy to assume that others know what you want from life, but unless you actually tell them, they can’t truly know.

Although it felt a bit awkward in those first moments of our first dinner, we found ourselves opening up as the night went on and we quickly realized that there’s something amazing about giving a voice to your dreams.

By verbalizing what you want most and sharing your words with a group, you’ll find they feel more real and your group will be there to support and encourage you.

Lessons learned along the way

Include friends who have dreams that they’d like to achieve and care enough about you to help you reach your own. If they don’t have their own solid goals, they won’t understand the importance you place on your own.

Trust that although it may feel awkward to take turns giving voice to your greatest wishes, it gets easier with time and it’s worth making yourself vulnerable.

Consider creating a group email or private Facebook group dedicated to supporting one another and staying in touch. When you need a favor or a bit of advice, having a place of your own is a wonderful thing.

Be patient. Your group may grow and change throughout the years. Be open to that and trust that in time, you’ll look back and know that your commitment to surrounding yourself with the right people will pay off.

Have a formal get together once a year, at the very least. Formal for us means no kids, no spouses and a commitment to spending the night listening and sharing.

Enlist one member to document your goals as you go and make that list available to all members of the group. By doing so, you’ll be reminded of your own hopes for the year ahead and you’ll remain mindful of everyone else’s so you can help in any way possible.

Lastly, give some thoughts to sitting beneath twinkle lights… I'm convinced they carry magic.

May your group be as lovely as ours.

More on the importance of friendship

4 Steps to building better friendships
Back to school: How to deal with mom cliques
6 Ways to meet new mom friends

During the first few months of school, you’ll receive many flyers advertising after-school activities and little league sports. This year, make your child an active part of the decision-making process. Talk to your child and get input before registering for any activities. Find an extracurricular activity or sport that your child has genuine enthusiasm for.

For kids who walk on the wide side

Got a daredevil on your hands? Try a solo sport that gives her the chance to work out her high-flying tendencies. Rock climbing gyms, gymnastics classes and skate parks offer kids great ways to hone active sporting skills. Gymnastics might not seem like a daredevil sport until you’re trying to do your first backflip. Look into structured lessons that educate children on proper safety measures. If your child uses a skate park for skateboarding or bicycling, invest in a good helmet and pads and always follow the rules.

Discover safety tips every parent should know >>

For kids who love to dance

Ballet isn’t the only option for children and teens who love dancing. Dance classes aren’t just for girls, either. Ask your local rec centers and dance studios about options like hip hop, contemporary, cheerleading and jazz. Popular shows like So You Think You Can Dance are going a long way toward showing kids that dance can be cool, athletic and challenging. If your child loves to dance but doesn’t want to take a traditional dance class, try Capoeira, a Brazilian fighting style that combines music and graceful, fluid martial arts. For competitive kids, look into dance teams that involve attending competitions.

For kids who play ball

For many kids and teens, it’s all about traditional group sports. The key to finding the right fit is finding the sport that best aligns to your child’s interests. When choosing, also keep in mind how far you have to drive, what the fees will be and how often your child will be required to attend practices. Sports like baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse are generally available for kids to play either through school leagues starting in middle school or community leagues for younger kids. Skill levels and maturity levels vary. Pay attention to your young athlete’s attitude and be ready to put out fires when it comes to issues like losing and feeling inadequate.

What do you think of soccer helmets: Good idea or way too goofy? >>

For kids who aren’t that sporty

Remember, extracurricular activities aren’t limited to sports and fitness activities. While it’s important for kids to stay active and fit, they don’t have to do so in a completely structured environment. For kids who want to participate in after-school activities that aren’t sports, look into clubs that are hobby- and skill-based. Thespian societies, anime and gaming clubs, service organizations and academic clubs are just some of the ways your kids can get involved with peers after school. If your child opts out of sports or activities with a fitness element, gently encourage time spent outdoors or regular exercise.

More after-school fun

Trampoline parks: Jump for joy? Not so much.
20 Creativity-boosting activities for families
Creative everyday play ideas for kids

What were the top twin girl baby names of 2012? The most popular names for twins are in line with the top girl names overall, which was Sophia this year and Isabella the year before, according to the Social Security Administration. Who else made the list?

Top twin girl baby names

Check out last year’s top twin girl names here >>

Twin baby name trends

Sophia is the most popular girl name of the year and Olivia is the fourth most popular name, so it is not too surprising that the Olivia and Sophia combination wins the most popular twin girl names of the year. The Gabriella and Isabella combination shot up to the second most popular spot, after being in the number 15th spot last year.

Many parents are choosing to name their twin girls with a similar theme, for instance virtue or spiritual names , as well as Heaven and Nevaeh . Another theme is destination names, such as London and Paris, as well as the seasons .

Another trend when naming twin girls is to choose names that start with the same letter, such as Ella and Emma or Addison and Avery — or names that end with the same letters, such as Haylee and Kaylee. It is also interesting the popularity of Mackenzie, as well as the alternatate spelling of Makenzie, both made the list!

Cool celebrity twin girl names

If you love old-fashioned names, you will love the names of Sarah Jessica Parker’s twin girls: Marion Loretta and Tabitha Hodge. For a more trendy twin set, Lisa Marie Presley named her twin girls Finley and Harper. Marcia Cross gave her daughters the southern sounding names of Eden and Savannah, while soccer star Mia Hamm named her twins Ava and Grace.

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell named their twins Charlie Tamara Tulip and Dolly Rebecca Rose . How cute is that?

Along with Romijn's daughter Charlie, actress Diane Farr also gave one of her twin daughters the gender bending name of Sawyer, which she said was a family name she passed on. Her twin girls are named Sawyer Lucia and Coco Trinity.

Grace is a popular name for celebrities, as singer Dave Matthews named his daughters Stella and Grace. Lance Armstrong named his daughters Grace and Isabella.

Check out more celebrity twin baby names here >>

More twin baby names ideas

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Dos and don'ts when naming twin babies

Whether you block your kids from certain television shows or websites, it's hard to know if they're 100 percent protected from content you don't want them to see.

Find out if you're really protecting your child

Parents and experts disagree — is there really "control" with parental controls?

Do parental controls really control inappropriate content?

When parents think about parental controls, they usually think about the internet. The web can be a scary place for sure — but what about television? Let's start there.

Parents can set parental controls on TV, and even block certain channels depending on what type of TV or cable system they have. That said, television ratings — the content kind, not the viewer kind — can be hard to decipher. I usually block anything rated "MA" for mature audiences from my kids, but have come across more than a few "TV 14" rated programs that were what I considered really inappropriate for my kids to watch. I just finished watching an entire series of an "MA" rated show with my teenager that, save for a few choice words in each episode, wasn't objectionable at all in my opinion. So much for ratings, it really comes down to specific content — and what I deem appropriate for my kids may not be the same for yours and vice versa.

Are parental controls worth it on the web?

Absolutely, according to Nicki Klinkhamer, a mom who works for TrueCare.com, a social media monitoring tool. She says setting parental controls doesn't mean you're spying on your kids. "It's keeping your child safe. A lot of parents get that wrong and think their child needs privacy," she says. "Well, the internet is not private, and the world is watching. Each day I am swamped by stories that horrify me and have made me a strong advocate for monitoring. Kids are living their lives online, and parents need to realize this — they need to be involved."

Learn how to set up parental controls>>

However, Dr. John Duffy, a clinical psychologist and author of The Available Parent, cautions parents that parental controls aren't perfect.

"By and large, parental controls do not tend to be very effective," he says. "Kids today are highly tech-savvy, and many know their way around parental controls. Also, so much material is available online, and if they cannot find exposure to some material at home, kids can certainly find it outside the home, typically either at a friend's house, or through a smartphone."

Learn about tracking your teen's texts>>

The best parental control is you

Duffy says, "I find that the most effective measure parents can implement to keep their kids safe is to talk to them about what they watch, what draws them to it, and the risks associated with it. This kind of open discussion will not provide an immunity to a curious mind — I don't think anything will, to be honest. But it will help your child to be prepared for what they will undoubtedly be exposed to. It also lets your children know you're available to talk to them about it should they need you. And these are critical conversations to engage in to keep your kids safe."

Read more on tech safety for kids

Top 10 online safety tips for kids
Cell phone safety for kids
Overwhelmed by social media

Is your child beginning to struggle with grades or behavior? Learn how to best serve your child and how to work with his teachers to help him succeed.

Learn how to
help your child

Discover ways to support your child at home and approach problems gently.

When your child struggles at school, it’s hard to shake the immediate feelings of disappointment, frustration and even defensiveness toward the teacher who identified the problems. Brush away these unhelpful responses and go into action mode. You have the power to help your child succeed at school.

Discover 10 Steps to school year success >>

Try these 10 Ways to save time during the school year >>

More on school

Dyscalculia may be causing your child's math problems
7 Reading games kids love
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What should parents do when their kids can't sleep because they’re anxious about school?
Dr. Dennis Rosen: It’s a good idea to try and talk through the underlying issues on their mind before your kids go to bed. This can reduce the anxiety and keep it from “climbing into bed” with them and interfering with sleep.

Tune out early

How can parents help grade school age children develop good sleep patterns?
Dr. Rosen: Consistency. Keep kids on a regular schedule; reduce or avoid media exposure in the last couple of hours of the evening; encourage children to read quietly in bed the last 15-30 minutes before bed with a low intensity reading lamp. Elementary school kids need between nine-and-a-half and 10-and-a-half hours of sleep a night.

What are some mistakes parents make when it comes to their kids' sleep needs?
Dr. Rosen: Kids need to be on a schedule. It’s probably best not to let kids sleep in more than one hour later than usual on weekends. Allowing kids to sleep in on the weekends, often several hours later than their usual wake-up time for school, shifts their internal clocks back and sets the stage for “Monday morning jetlag” that can sometimes take the whole week to overcome.

Wide awake

What tips do you have for teens and tweens who have trouble falling asleep?
Dr. Rosen: Avoid caffeine consumption past noon. Keep school work out of the bed . Remove computers, televisions and cell phones from the bedroom one hour before bedtime. Total sleep time is more important than bedtimes. Teens should be getting at least eight and probably closer to nine hours of sleep a night.

What are your thoughts on teens who sacrifice sleep for academics?
Dr. Rosen: Sleep is a physiologic need, no different than drinking or eating. Insufficient sleep affects physical and mental health, cognition, behavior and mood. With only 24 hours in a day, it’s important that your expectations of your child are realistic.

Read more on kids and sleep

How much sleep should your teen get?
Help teens get the sleep they need
Why teens sleep patterns change

Kids and night terrors

Night terrors usually occur around the time a child starts preschool but can begin into the early school years. According to the American Academy of Pediatric's website for parents, Healthy Children, a night terror is categorized when “your preschooler will be in bed, appearing to be awake and upset, perhaps screaming and thrashing, eyes wide open and terrified, but he won’t respond to you.” A night terror is a disruptive sleep behavior and can often be distressing for parents.

How to deal with night terrors

A night terror typically looks as if your child is not himself, which often concerns parents. According to Healthy Children, children do not remember anything about the night waking or night terror. A night terror can often include your child pointing to imaginary objects, kicking, screaming, calling out words or phrases and generally being inconsolable.

The AAP recommends that parents hold the child to protect from self-harm and to offer positive reassurance. Offering words like “you’re OK” and “Mommy and Daddy are here” or similar will help settle your child safely and after 10 to 30 minutes, your child will settle back down and go back to sleep. One of the best remedies for night terror is putting your child to sleep at an earlier time. Lack of sleep, or being overtired, can cause and increase night terrors for your young child.

Preschooler sleep problems solved >>

The difference between night terrors and nightmares

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a night terror and a nightmare. The main difference is that a young toddler is more likely to experience a nightmare as opposed to a night terror, but it can begin later. The AAP classifies a nightmare as a frightening dream that wakes a child causing him to be afraid and often crying. While a night terror can occur any time of night and typically occurs after only a few hours of sleep, a nightmare often occurs in the second part of the night, during the child’s most intense sleep and dreaming period.

Children who experience a nightmare often have a difficult time returning to sleep due to anxiety and fears he may or may not be able to express. Unlike a night terror, a child can remember a nightmare and will sometimes talk about it the next day or beyond.

Sleep and toddlers: How to create soothing bedtime routines >>

How to deal with a nightmare

Healthy Children suggests fully waking your child if he is not awake already. Once your child is awake, it’s best to comfort him until he is asleep and then talk about and talk through your child’s fears the next day. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if your child is complaining or having nightmares every night.

Source: HealthyChildren.org

More on children’s sleep

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10 Quick sleepy-time tricks for kids
Sleep hormone improves sleep disruption in children with autism

Time for her own email address?

You feel like you've just wrapped your head around the fact that your child has a cell phone and texts on it incessantly. But now she wants an email address too . So the question is: Is it time?

If you're looking for an expert to tell you that there is one magical age when a child is ready to have an email address, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment. Because although it might be the norm for a child to be in middle school when she first gets an email address, most experts agree that the age when you first let your child get an "@" can only be determined by you.

For Bethany Stephens, mother of two, that age is 9.

Like it or not, your child is part of the digital age

Stephens says her oldest daughter, a 9-year-old third grader, just got her first email address this week. "She's part of the digital age and I'd rather teach her about managing and understanding online resources than preventing her from having access."

But Stephens is also being cautious. "Her email address won't be available to anyone she chooses; it will be provided to only a select few family members and friends. For now, all incoming mail will copy into my inbox for security."

5 reasons why your kids should have a cell phone >>

You can get an email address for a 2-year-old...

If you're social-media savvy and want your child to be as well you might choose to go the same route as Tiffany Markman. "When my daughter was born, I immediately bought the global and local domains for her name. I also created a Twitter account, a gmail account and a few other important bits."

"She's not even 2, but already she's kitted out for the world of digital communication. However, I won't let her use any of these things — including her own Facebook profile — before she's clearly mature enough to understand the etiquette, the dangers, the responsibility and basic time management. I have no idea when that'll be , but I'm not expecting to have this negotiation much before age 12 or so."

Facebook and kids: How young is too young? >>

Sometimes there are special circumstances

You might have decided long ago that your child would not have an email address until she reached a certain age. But now, you might be divorced, living far from a family member or in another situation where her ability to email would be beneficial. And you might just choose to rethink your "email policy."

Author and single mom expert, Kerri Zane reminds parents that sometimes there are family circumstances that might make it beneficial for a child to have email. "Particularly for single moms with difficult former spouses, oftentimes texting or email is the only way to connect with your child when he or she is in the other parent's custody," says Zane.

Read more about technology and your kids

Mom vs. Dad: Technology and your kids
Your kid's first computer: What to look for
Digital parenting: How to keep kids safe online

As Frank, a father of four boys, was flying across the country on a Friday evening one fall, he was astonished by the overwhelming number of Friday night footbal lights shining from the ground below. In nearly every town of every state, communities had come together to enjoy one of America's favorite pastimes: High school football.

"The best thing about Friday night football," says one varsity coach, "is the way it can unite a community. Every high school kid can be involved in one way or another... whether he plays football, or not."

What parents should know about college athletic scholarships >>

"Dare Me" by Megan Abbott: a disturbing look at high school cheerleading >>

Everyone else

While the football team, cheer squad and band provide ample opportunities for your child to be involved in a Friday night football game, they're not the only options he or she has. These students found their own ways to take part in one of America's favorite traditions.

• Cassie and her fellow members of the school's culinary club run a special food stand at the home games. "Instead of hot dogs and pizza, we serve chili, soups, ethnic dishes and sophisticated desserts. We get cooking and business experience, and the proceeds fund our club!"
• Kevin is on the yearbook staff at his school and hopes to one day make it big as a national editor. "I'm on the sideline every Friday... not with pads, but with my camera," says Kevin.
• Mary Beth loves to help others. "Our school board lets us do something charitable at every home sporting event," she says, "and football games are the best." Mary Beth has organized fundraisers for local cancer patients and food drives for the local soup kitchen.
• Nate is the go-to tech guy for his school's football games. "I help out with the lights, the scoreboard and the sound system," says Nate. "We're pretty high-tech compared to a lot of other schools."
• Mindy aspires to be a female sportscaster. For now, she's content to work in the high school press box. "Some weeks I keep stats for the school paper, and some weeks I get to call the game over the loudspeaker," says Mindy.
• Steve just wants to be involved. "I will do whatever is needed," he says, "from running the chains to drying the footballs to filling the water bottles." Every team needs at least one Steve.

More about youth sports

When girls take sports too far
The fall of youth sports
Who's coaching your children?

Back in the ’80s, when I arrived home from school I would cozy up for a small snack of junk food and soda. But these days we know that this isn't the best idea for kids.

Eating for a better afternoon

Should kids be snacking after school? And, if so, what's a good snack to power them up?

Does this sound familiar? The kids get off the bus and before you can even ask about their day, they are clamoring to find out what’s for snack and how soon can they have it? Don’t worry, your kids are totally normal.

“When kids get home from school they are often ‘starving!’ That's why it is important to have filling, low-calorie snacks at the ready,” says Christen Cooper, MS, RD of Cooper Nutrition Education & Communications.

And it's with good reason too.

Planning a better snack

The after-school snack fuels a kid's brain and body for homework, extracurricular activities and more, says Cooper. Those sugary, fatty, bad-for-you snacks that you may have enjoyed as a kid aren't the right snack for kids though. "There is no place for these snacks in the after-school hours because they don't help with alertness, brainpower, or energy, and they do tend to "spoil" dinner ," says Cooper.

So, what should you serve instead? Cooper suggests, “Fresh berries, apple slices, oranges, or any other fruit sliced and ready .”

Fruits and veggies aren't just healthy, they also ensure that your child gets all the proper nutrients for the day. “One of the biggest problems today in kids' nutrition is that few kids get anywhere near the number of fruit and veggie servings that the USDA recommends for good health,” says Cooper. “Taking advantage of that after-school hunger is a great way to help kids get those servings in.”

What about when they don't come right home?

If your kids are involved with activities right after school and don't come home, it's still important that they get a good snack to eat. But don't rely on the school. "Many schools have only a vending machine to supply kids with food from the close of school until their parents pick them up, sometimes well into the evening hours," says Cooper. "Coaches have complained to me numerous times about kids who show up at practice, having skipped lunch and having had no snack or an unhealthy snack before sports practice. That's a recipe for low performance and worse, injury."

Make sure you pack a healthy snack for your child to take with him. "The same foods that kids should eat at home serve as good pre-sports or pre-activity foods: Fruits, veggies and lean proteins. Peanut butter keeps well outside the fridge," says Cooper.

More on food for kids

Smart ways to snack
Healthier snack food choices
Preservative-free snacks

While it's a given that blended families come with baggage, what are you to do when the members of your household just can't seem to get along?

Help keep the peace in a stepfamily

From smoothing conflict between stepsiblings to how to settle your stepparenting issues, learn how to help encourage harmony when it comes to blended families at war.

Stepsibling rivalry

While a little sibling rivalry is expected between brothers and sisters, bickering amongst stepsiblings needs a little extra TLC. "It's important to step in when tempers are getting out of control and family members' anger is disrupting family activity," advises Dr. Jane Greer, marriage and family therapist. When things become heated with your kids and his, encourage each child to spend time on their own and to respect each kids' personal space and possessions. While you shouldn't coddle them, forcing children to get along as a new family unit quickly may foster resentment, so tread lightly.

Before you pull out your hair, check out the best blended family mom blogs >>

Stepparent resentment

Even in the happiest of blended family homes, some children may take longer to transition into the new family unit, especially when it comes to accepting a new parent in their lives. When you find your child holding a grudge against your spouse or sense your stepchildren keeping an emotional distance from you, encourage them to talk about their feelings in private — it may have more to do with the situation and less to do with you or your hubby. While you cannot force a bond, finding some mutual interest that encourages bonding may ultimately break down the walls your kiddos have built.

Unfortunately, the ill feelings can go both ways. When stepkids are acting out, talking back and being blatantly disrespectful to the new parent in their life, you or your partner may be less than likely to form an emotional bond at first. You may be surprised to learn that the key to smoothing stormy waters between stepparents and stepchildren is to lower expectations of the relationship and have patience; the bond between parent and child may never be perfect, but it doesn't have to be turbulent over time.

Stepparenting differences

Your relationship may have started out with hearts and flowers, but throwing kids into the mix can create a lot more stepfamily problems than you and your partner may ever have anticipated. And, the unfortunate truth is that how well parents get along will greatly influence how the children cope with many blended family issues like bonding and discipline. When you find yourself butting heads after merging households, seek the help of a family therapist specializing in blended families and work on maintaining mutual support between you and your husband to increase your chances of survival as a stepfamily.

Pick up tips for blended families: How to make it work >>

Although every family has its ups and downs, even blended families at war can find peace amongst family members. "Stepfamilies are by far the most difficult systems to navigate when it comes to conflict, but not impossible," according to Tricia Ferrara, licensed professional counselor and behavioral health specialist in Chester Springs, PA. "The best cure [for blended family issues] is prevention. Define boundaries and expectations regarding your role among family members early on, so you know when your opinion will or will not be welcomed." With a little proactivity combined with a whole lot a patience, your family will be less defined by your stepfamily problems and more identified by the bonds you all form in time.

Read more tips on stepparenting

5 Things a stepparent should never do
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The internet has brought so much to our lives since it boomed in the mid-90s. Who could now live without a certain online bookseller, online travel booking and, indeed, this fabulous site? But sometimes, I think, the 'net takes us too far.

orange Convenience
or micromanaging?

One of my favorite things about being online is being able to communicate with my kids' teachers by email -- notes in the backpack always felt so inefficient. Although I try to keep such communication to the absolute minimum so I'm not interfering with their job, it is comforting to know it's there.

As schools have moved toward more of an online presence, schools' entire grade reporting and tracking systems are going online, too, giving parents access 24/7. Some of the sites hosting online grades include jupitergrades.com, thinkwave.com and engrade.com.

Willpower

If some issue were to arise, I can see using this online grade tracking system. In that sense, I like knowing that it is there. But for now, I'm going to depend on my own willpower to not check grades on a daily or weekly basis. Until presented with evidence I need to do otherwise, I am going to trust in the relationship I have built with my son.

For more on kids and grades

How to deal with bad grades
Set your kids up for homework success
10 Steps to school year success

Check out more costumes in our Ultimate Halloween costume guide >>

Alice in Wonderland

Your wee one will look so cute in this Lil' Alice in Wonderland toddler costume . This costume features the adorable blue dress and headband. You just need to add a pair of shiny shoes.

Batman

Superhero costumes are all the rage this year and many kids will want to stick to one of the all-time favorites — Batman . This toddler costume includes the jumpsuit, cape and cowl.

Check out more costumes in our Ultimate Halloween costume guide >>

More than a cartoon

Who can forget the benevolent Fairy Godmother in Cinderella?

She was so kind and generous, and provided Cinderella with the tools to go after a new life. But did you know that cartoon character was based on a real person?

Growing up, many girls fell in love with the Disney flick Cinderella — and couldn't help imagining what it might be like to have a Fairy Godmother of their own. Well, for J.P. O'Connor, she got to live that fantasy. Her mom, Mary Alice O'Connor was the inspiration for the kindly Fairy Godmother.

J.P.'s father was layout artist Ken O’Connor, who was working on the Cinderella film. He turned to his wife, who was in her 30s, for inspiration as the team tried to create the Fairy Godmother, imagining what she might look like as an older woman. At the time, her mom was very trim with jet black hair, says J.P.

"We all pretty much know in this famiy that we’re going to be a little rounder when we age. My dad appreciated a womanly shape and he knew that was probably going to happen to her," says J.P.

But the Fairy Godmother's likeness wasn't so much about the shape, but about her attitude and actions, which J.P. says really captured her mom.

Fairy Godmother, in real life

So, what's it like to grow up knowing that the iconic Fairy Godmother is your mom ? J.P. says it was incredible. "I had an incredibly lucky childhood and life. I was blessed to have her for a very long time in life," says J.P. "Every day she was like the Fairy Godmother to all of us. She encouraged us... she really made us believe."

Mary Alice was a lot like the Fairy Godmother, says J.P, with a generous spirit and a strong desire to help others help themselves. "She never really did the work for you, but she helped you do it. She gave you tools, she gave you encouragement. She would say 'perhaps we could look at it from this angle,'" says J.P. "She led from behind."

Helping others

Mary Alice was involved in many community organizations and even helped found an organization that helped people with mental health challenges — at a time when discussing such things was unheard of. "She stepped up to needs in the community and wasn’t afraid to take things on," says J.P.

And through it all, J.P. says her mom "gave 150 percent" to whatever she was doing. "She was always a lady. Even though she was the first woman to do this and the first woman to do that she always was lady-like," says J.P. "People always say, 'I never heard your mom say a bad word about anyone.'"

Her parents story, told

On October 2, Disney released Cinderella on Blu-Ray for the first time, including new special features. "The artistry and the time they took to remaster it is just stunning. It’s really like the actual film. They’ve really gotten back to the original film," says J.P. "It’s just so inspiring. I think we all need a little inspiration these days."

Before J.P.'s mom, Mary Alice, passed away in 2010, she learned of the new edition — and that the story of the Fairy Godmother's creation would be told. "My mom knew before she passed and said, 'Oh, I don’t know. Do we really need to tell our story,'" says J.P. "It’s a wonderful love story and I am a sucker for love stories and I think it really tells so much about how someone with dreams can really make a difference."

Mary Alice was a truly special woman. "She really counted on people meaning what they said, doing what they said. That was really, really important to her. I think she believed that everyone had some special gift all their own," says J.P.

J.P. says that the special feature on the new princess Fantasyland being built at Walt Disney World is also pretty spectacular. "I think the magic continues and it will keep going," says J.P.

More inspiration

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Check out more costumes in our Ultimate Halloween costume guide >>

Ian's song "At Seventeen" says: “I learned the truth at 17, that love was meant for beauty queens. And high school girls with clear skinned smiles who married young and then retired. The valentines I never knew, the Friday night charades of youth, were spent on one more beautiful. At 17 I learned the truth... ”

When I was 17, it was a pretty good year for academics, athletics and extra-curricular activities, which included my first job at a local clothing store. Where, soon after I began my job, the shop owner tried — and failed — to molest me. At 17 I learned the truth…

A mother's fears

Though I’ve long since accepted the molestation attempt as just one chapter in my life’s story, my son’s new-found love of The Who’s "Tommy" musical score hit home. As a teen, the songs “Cousin Kevin,” “Do You Think it’s Alright?” and “Fiddle About” sent chills down my spine. Now, with a son on the autism spectrum, the central theme of those songs make me positively apoplectic.

Molestation concerns every parent, whether your child is atypical or not. Heck, I was a typical teen , and it still took me a week to tell someone of the molestation attempt. What happens to a child who literally has no speech, or a child who can’t describe what’s going on? Every single day, I pray that no harm comes to my child, or any other child. But as we all know, there are evil people in this world.

Never free again

Jerry Sandusky, the once-venerated-now-vilified pedophile Penn State assistant football coach molested 10 boys over 15 years. Sandusky, who bribed the boys with attention and coveted football tickets, called himself the “tickle monster” and told the boys, “don’t tell your mother," was recently found guilty on 45 of 48 counts, ranging from kissing and massages to groping, oral sex and anal rape. Sandusky will never live as a free man again. Sadly, neither will any of his victims.

As parents, we must be vigilant and go with our instincts. Whether your child is neurotypical or atypical, if you have to ask, like Mrs. Walker did in "Tommy," “Do you think it's alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?” Let me tell you, it’s not. Not at 17, not ever.

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Meet Kelli

It won't take you long to realize that Kelli Currie is an overachiever  — it will become evident quickly when you try to pin her down on exactly what she does. Mom to two? Check. Wife? Check. Successful business owner? Check. Second-year law student? Check. Graduate school student? Check.

This mom is doing it all and with a positive attitude that pushes her further ahead with each step, despite a schedule that would likely make your Google calendar app cry. Kelli's lifestyle can easily be an inspiration to moms who are struggling with the "having it all" debate in their own lives, rather than making other moms feel inferior for making them feel as if they aren't doing enough. As Kelli humbly says, "What's important is that a woman feels fulfilled in whatever she's pursuing. Can we have it all? Can we choose to juggle all of these hats and still do it with grace and a modicum of sanity? Absolutely. But it's perfectly alright to simply pick one hat, or two or twenty."

A day in the life

It's a good thing Kelli looks good in hats, because she wears a lot of them throughout the day. With a day that often starts with a 5:30 a.m. workout, ends with a midnight study session for whatever law school or graduate school course is most pressing, and filled with the myriad obligations and activities in between — including playing mom — from the outside, Kelli somehow manages to make it look effortless. There's a lot of juggling, a lot of precise scheduling and a lot of necessary flexibility in Kelli's schedule, because as any mom knows, you never know who's going to wake up with the flu in the middle of the night, and while digging into a 100-page reading assignment can't wait, neither can a child who is throwing up.

"Instead of trying to do too many things, I do my best to simplify the hard days," Kelli tells us. "Part of being able to juggle so many things is being honest when you simply can't and asking for help. I call in reinforcements if I can and let people know when I need to reschedule things because of sick kids, insane homework or general disaster."

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On having it all... or not

But, what does Kelli think? Is she striving to have it all or simply attempting to pack everything she loves about life and wants to achieve into one single go around?

"In any given moment or hour or day or week, I absolutely do not 'have' it all. Some days I'm a student, other days I'm a mom or wife, a mentor, a teacher, a nurse, a daughter, a sister. I do not believe for a moment that I could wear every hat all of the time."

Even if you're a mom who feels like trying to balance making sure everyone in the house has clean underwear with trying to get dinner on the table before 10 p.m. feels like a stretch most days, there are lessons that all moms can take away from Kelli's story, including the realization that "having it all" is exactly what you want to make of it. Just because Kelli and her family have created their own balance in making their current lifestyle work for them, doesn't mean that your own version of "having it all" has to be identical.

Kelli, the overachiever herself, says it best, "I think the question is less about 'having' it all and more about appreciating that we have the ability to choose to enjoy many different endeavors that will often compete for our time."

Image credits: Andria Lindquist

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Other popular options for tween and teen girls include Lady Gaga costumes, as well as Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. Just make sure that when they are dressing up as celebrities that the costumes aren't too risque or revealing for their age.

Check out more costumes in our Ultimate Halloween costume guide >>