With her son reaching puberty, writer Miriam Kamin is shoring up for new challenges. Her down-to-earth approach is inspiring to parents just beginning the journey of raising a child with special needs.

abandon the 'plan'
and be flexible

Miriam Kamin, author of the popular parenting blog Woulda Coulda Shoulda, is the mom of a teen daughter and a 13-year-old son. Her son was first diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder at the age of 6, and Asperger's syndrome at the age of 9. She shares her autism story, from the early uncertainties of recognizing that “something” was going on to the unique experience of parenting a child who openly discusses his diagnosis.

Reaching for connections

After receiving occupational therapy for a few years for sensory issues, Kamin’s son appeared to be improving. Despite his achievements, her instincts continued to tell her something wasn’t right. “He was still having meltdowns, and he was getting old enough that people were clucking their tongues and making snide comments about our parenting,” Kamin says. “He knew he was different, but he didn't know why. A lot of kids on the spectrum are loners, but he never was. He wanted those social connections he just couldn't seem to master. It was heartbreaking.”

Learn about getting started with occupational therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder>>

Finding what works

After being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at age 9, Kamin’s son benefited from a variety of therapies. “Occupational therapy helped him do everything from adjusting to ‘scratchy’ clothing to eating all kinds of foods,” Kamin says. “Regular talk therapy with a practitioner who specializes in spectrum kids has been very useful, as well, as have various ‘social skills’ groups he's attended.” Not every type of autism therapy worked for the Kamin family. “I know we've seen the greatest amount of growth when we finally abandoned the ‘plan out every minute’ approach and said, ‘Here's the deal. Life requires flexibility. Sometimes there's a plan, sometimes there isn't one. Sometimes the plan changes. So how do we deal with that?’”

Embracing a diagnosis

“I know a lot of people feel like a diagnosis is depressing or daunting. For us, the diagnosis was the start of things getting better,” Kamin says. At 13, her son is proud to be an Aspie, and he’s happy to talk about it. When it comes to calming behaviors and rituals, he’s able to communicate why he acts a certain way and how it feels. “My favorite recent story is that he struck up a conversation with a nice, older lady in a waiting room and went off on a big tangent about algebra, and she was kind enough to say, ‘You must know a lot about math!’ I thought for sure he would just agree, but instead he said, ‘I am pretty good at math, but I have some social difficulties.’ ”

More about parenting and autism

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Parenting and autism: Amy's story

When your child asks for a sibling

My husband and I decided not to shield our 3-1/2-year-old from the daily shots and handfuls of vitamins and herbs, but it wasn’t until recently that I wondered how our quest to have another child might be affecting our son.

At 3-1/2 years old, our son, Lucas has started asking for a sibling. Some days it's a little sister and others it's a brother. Either way, it's heartbreaking and my only response has been, "Mommy and Daddy are working on it." He has no idea to what extent.

It's not unusual when we are in the middle of a cycle to hear Lucas yell at my husband, "Daddy, you need to give Mommy a shot!" He doesn't know what the shots are for, and as long as I'm not sick, he's happy.

Sometimes I have to take Lucas with me to an appointment with my reproductive endocrinologist. The staff loves him and looks forward to his visits. He looks forward to playing with my iPhone and enjoying a lollipop while I'm spread eagle getting an ultrasound or having blood drawn. He always asks me if it hurts when the nurse inserts the needle and despite my wincing, I reply, "no."

After the first time Lucas asked when he would have a little brother, I visited my local library and bookstore only to find there isn't a book for parents dealing with secondary infertility to prepare them for this type of conversation with the child/ren they already have. Discussing the topic of infertility with a child is daunting because it's emotional and there is so much uncertainty. I can't tell him when we will have another baby.

What other moms are saying

Jenny C. says her 4-1/2-year-old daughter "doesn't know much more than we want another baby and we hope that it happens, [and] it's hard since she doesn't understand. What hurts more than our desire is hers, to hear her include us in her prayers every night and yearn for a sibling."

Kerry M. adds, "I had to take my 6-year-old to a few of my appointments and I didn't really tell him much. When he asked what they were taking X-rays of, I simply said my 'lady parts.' I told him I'd explain it to him if he wanted, but he opted for 'no!'"

"Our daughter had to be at all of our follicle ultrasounds," says Francie C., "so we were very up front about what we were looking for and why, but we were pretty casual about it with her and never made it a regular topic of conversation so she didn't get amped and heartbroken when things didn't work out."

What the experts say

According to Claudia Pascale, Ph.D. and director of Mental Health Services at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas, New Jersey, "Parents' infertility struggles need not be shared with children until one is pregnant in a stable pregnancy. Children do not have the cognitive capabilities that adults do."

Dr. Pascale goes on to explain, "I think this is one of the reasons why secondary infertility is so difficult, the parents have one foot in each camp and therefore can’t really adjust to one because she, like primary infertility patients, have not fulfilled their family, but like other parents, feel badly about not being satisfied with what they have. When one is in primary fertility treatment they don’t have to monitor or hide their sadness or difficult feelings from a child but when one is in secondary infertility, the task is so much greater because of having this child already in their lives."

"One can say to a young child that they are having a bad day or feeling sad, which is helpful for a child to see Mommy and Daddy having a bad day every now and then. But if the feelings related to the infertility are interfering in their parenting or care of their child, it is a good idea to find a resource, like a support group or therapist that can help them deal with these feelings," advises Dr. Pascale.

Coping with the guilt

For me there is a huge amount of guilt that comes with struggling with secondary infertility. Sometimes I am so focused on having another child that I feel like Lucas is being slighted. But I have no lack of gratitude for my son and I don't believe that means I can’t long for another baby.

The wonderful thing about children is that they have an innate ability to provide unconditional love and affection even when we are hurting and sad and feel unable to provide the same level of love and affection back. I always try to remember that Lucas does understand on some level and with that my dream of becoming a family of four carries on. I want another baby for me, for my husband, but mostly for our son. I want another baby to make our family more complete.

Photo credit: Stephanie Ann Photography

More on infertility

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Staying grateful while facing infertility
Quotes to tape to your bathroom mirror

Back in April 2011, Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr tweeted this pic of herself breastfeeding in a robe and red pumps with the message: "Another day in the office xxx." She had previously posted another picture of herself in bed breastfeeding Flynn on her KORA Organics website to introduce her baby son to the world. Her hubby Orlando Bloom took the beautiful photo.

In June 2012, shortly after her daughter Willow was born, Pink tweeted about this Instagram photo while on a break at a photoshoot for her album. The singer wrote alongside the picture: “Lunchtime at my album photoshoot. Deborah Anderson takes some purty pictures:)” More recently her husband, Carey Hart, posted another photo of Pink breastfeeding on his own Instagram account with the message "@pink Willz and i out to dinner in Paris. Looks like willow is having the best meal!"

Maggie Gyllenhaal isn't shy about her breastfeeding advocacy. In 2007, the paparazzi snapped this shot of Gyllenhaal nursing her daughter Ramona in a park in New York City.

Image credit: WENN

Modern Family star Julie Bowen gave birth to twins in May 2009. A year later, she talked about breastfeeding on Lopez Tonight, referring to tandem breastfeeding like "two little liposuction machines on you." Bowen showed off this photo of her little ones at mealtime.

Up next: 5 More celebrity moms who breastfed in public

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Actress Mayim Bialik, best known from her title role in the 1990s TV series Blossom and currently as Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, believes in attachment parenting and extended breastfeeding. She breastfed her son Frederick until after his fourth birthday.

Image credit: WENN

Jersey Shore's Snooki has gone from fist pump to breast pump. Snooki has been breastfeeding her son Lorenzo but due to her filming schedule, she's had to do a lot of pumping. On Twitter and Instagram, she has posted pictures of her new breast pump, photos of herself pumping and this cute picture of Lorenzo drinking a bottle of breast milk.

Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes also makes no secret of her breastfeeding. When nursing her son Phyllon Joy Gorré back in 2011, Kroes tweeted: "Working mom;) feeding my precious baby between pictures..." along with a link to this beautiful breastfeeding photo.

World Breastfeeding Week has been celebrating and advocating for breastfeeding since 1992. Over 170 countries are involved each year. In 2002, Lucy Lawless— best known as Xena: Warrior Princess— did a series of promotions for World Breastfeeding Week as she nursed her son, Judah.

Celebrity mom Alicia Silverstone might have been criticized by some for her bird-style feeding of her baby boy, but she's not one to shy away from the paparazzi. The Clueless star continued to nurse Bear Blu whenever he was hungry — even when all eyes and cameras were on her.

As more and more celebrities begin to breastfeed in public, it helps pave the way for all moms to nurse wherever and whenever their baby needs it.

More about breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding: Why pumping or covering may not be an option
Pink breastfeeds in public, gets the stinkeye
Breastfeeding photos: Moms with their babies

deduct student loan interest

Paying for college can be expensive. According to American Student Assistance, close to 60 percent of the nearly 20 million Americans who attend college each year borrow to cover the cost. That works out to nearly 12 million students who are financing their education each year.

There are approximately 37-million student loan borrowers with outstanding student loans, most of who are under the age of 30. They owe nearly $1 trillion combined in student loan debt.

Paying back those dollars can be tough. Fortunately, unlike other personal debt , student loan interest may be deductible on your federal income tax return. The student loan interest deduction is an adjustment to income, sometimes referred to as an “above the line” deduction, since you don’t have to itemize in order to claim the deduction.

How much can you deduct?

For the current tax year, you can deduct up to $2,500 in interest you pay on a qualified student loan if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $75,000 . For most taxpayers filing a federal form 1040, MAGI is the total of your adjusted gross income without taking into account the student loan deduction , the tuition and fees deduction or domestic production activities deduction . For taxpayers filing a federal form 1040A, MAGI is your AGI without the student loan interest deduction and tuition and fees deduction .

Typically, if you paid $600 or more in interest for a qualified student loan, you will receive a form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement. Use that form to report information about interest paid during the year; it does not matter if the interest is the minimum which was required or if you paid more in voluntary interest payments. A qualified student loan is a loan taken out solely to pay qualified higher education expenses.

Don’t get hung up on the form 1098-E, however. Interest is interest. You may deduct the interest paid for purposes of paying qualified higher education expenses if paid during the year, whether you receive a form 1098-E or not. This includes interest on credit card debt used only to pay qualified education expenses. It does not include loans from related parties or employers.

What are qualified higher education expenses?

For purposes of the deduction, qualified higher education expenses are the total costs of attending an eligible educational institution, including graduate school. This includes amounts paid for tuition and fees, as well as room and board , books, supplies and equipment and other necessary expenses.

How to claim the deduction

Assuming that you meet the income criteria outlined above, you can claim the deduction if you paid interest that you were legally obligated to pay. You and your spouse, if married filing jointly, cannot be claimed as dependents on any other person’s return . You may not claim the deduction if you file as married filing separately.

The deduction can be claimed for interest paid on a loan taken out for you, your spouse or a person who was your dependent when you took out the loan. A dependent is considered to be your qualifying child or your qualifying relative. Some special rules apply to the “normal” rules for dependents. For this purpose, an individual can be your dependent even if you are the dependent of another taxpayer. An individual can be your dependent even if the individual files a joint return with a spouse. More importantly, an individual can be your dependent even if the individual had gross income for the year that was equal to or more than the exemption amount for the year .

The gift that gives twice

Here’s the most fantastic part. I know that paying off these loans is tough. And in this economy, not all students can meet their student loan obligations. Sometimes, a parent or other person has to step in and pay on your behalf. In almost every circumstance — including for the home mortgage interest deduction — that means no deduction. Not so for the student loan deduction.

If you are legally obligated to make student loan interest payments and someone else makes a payment on your behalf, you are treated as receiving the payments from the other person and, in turn, paying the interest. No, that’s not a typo. Parents can make those payments for a child and the child can still claim the interest for purposes of the deduction. It’s the gift that gives twice. Take advantage of it.

More about family finances

Creating accounts for kids: Practical and tax consequences
Claiming dependents on your taxes
Tax consequences of gifts to kids

the best apps and tricks of the trade

Unless you have a toddler who’s a divalicious model-in-training, you’re probably dealing with a camera-phobic, always-in-motion, strong personality. You can get frame-worthy, professional-looking shots with less frustration and more fun.

Creativity is in order, as well as patience and the acceptance that you may have to take 50 shots to get one good one – but it’s just that one magic image that matters, right?

Toddlers are busy people with more important things to do than stop and pose for your camera. But it’s not impossible to get an amazing photo. Be appreciative of the stage these little ones are in and be inspired by it. “Two- and three-year-olds have the best natural energy and follow their own impulses,” says professional photographer Sarah Sloboda. Follow their lead, mellow out and get silly. “Your toddler feeds off your energy. If you act like it's all play, it will be,” she says.

Check out these multitasking cameras for active families>>

Some parents may think they don’t have the artistic eye to get a good shot of their toddler, but you don’t have to be a professional photographer to snap that magical photo. Just follow some simple dos and don’ts, and always remember that technology is on your side.

Look at these great photography apps for the iPhone>>

What not to do when taking photos of your toddler

Image credit: Jason G.

Don’t go to the playground: Moving swings, distracting jungle gyms — playgrounds make for complicated compositions. “Simple backgrounds are excellent for toddlers — then their rambunctious energy is the star of the photo, instead of a bold, red monkey bar,” says Sloboda. Aim for wide open fields or a deserted part of the beach.

Don’t be the adult: “Always get down to their level by sitting on the floor or grass,” says children’s photographer, Maureen Ford. “Playing with your child before you try to take a photo is a great way to change a ‘no’ attitude to one that yields genuine smiles and expressions.” Jump in the puddles, splash the paint — go ahead and get messy. It can also help to have an “assistant” along to engage your child while you snap away.

Don’t be a director: “Don't ask your toddler to smile, sing a song or look at the camera. Ask a question and they'll look right at you. Follow them around and document what they find interesting,” says Sloboda. Avoid trying to pose your kids too. "The more you try, the more they’ll resist and do exactly the opposite. Leading them works much better,” says photographer Deborah Israeli. Simply talking to your child, singing songs or asking questions about her favorite things will animate and delight her.

Don’t ignore the light: “Deciding how to use light is a huge part of what gives photos their vibe,” says Sloboda. “The angle of the light should be at your back, not the child's.” Natural light is your BFF, so head outdoors for a variety of stimulation and photo ops whatever the season. “If photographing in your home, try to use a big window for good light — west-facing window in the morning, east-facing window in the afternoon,” recommends Israeli.

Check out the super mom’s guide to the rule of thirds>>

Must-dos when taking photos of your kids

Image credit: Tiffany Angeles

Do hold still: Your toddler’s in constant motion, so it’s your job to master the art of keeping the camera steady to avoid a blur. “I take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds while snapping several frames, bracing my elbows against my body,” says Sloboda. “This keeps my wrists loose to change angles quickly, without straining, stretching or creating camera-shake.”

Do stash the toys: A home with a toddler is a home with lots of stuff, but those beloved items can ruin a good photo. “Shoot with a clean background. Don’t have a mess of toys or clutter in the background,” says Tiffany Angeles, professional children’s photographer.

Do bend the rules: Never let your kids climb the furniture? Photo time may be just the occasion to let mischief reign. “Have them stand on something a little higher but safe — like the couch — or step into a basket or sit on a big ball,” says Ford. “This will hold them in place a little longer for you to grab your shots, as the child will be busy thinking about what he or she is doing.”

Do get silly: “Giving kids the ‘wrong answer’ is usually good for a laugh,” says Angeles. “’Does a duck say meow?’ or ‘Is my hair pink?’ Having a wand or long toy in one hand and bopping yourself on the head with a loud ‘ouch’ almost always gets a giggle. You can also play peek-a-boo and get great shots when they come around the corner.”

Do go for the action shot: Be ready to photograph your child quickly and continuously as they run toward you and away from you. “These action scenarios can yield great photos while showcasing what this stage of life is about — fast, fun energy!” says Ford.

Do use props: “Props can help your child relax and keep him or her busy while you take photos. Hand over a favorite teddy bear or toy,” says Ford. “Simple, wooden toys make great photo props and toddlers will love playing with them, allowing you to capture some natural, enthusiastic images and create a controlled environment. A large, colorful candy lollipop makes for a great prop at the end of a session, when everyone is getting cranky,” says Israeli.

Do get stealthy: Israeli has two words for the parent of a really uncooperative toddler: Scotch tape. “Taking a piece of clear plastic tape and putting it on the palm of their hand will stop them in their tracks.” It’s not visible and you can snap your toddler in a moment of intense and sweet concentration.

How to put the camera down and get in the moment>>

Technology is your photo friend

Image credit: Sarah Sloboda

If your smartphone is attached to your hip just like your toddler, it’s time to make that machine really work for you.

Download all the free photo editing apps you can find — they’ll allow you to edit even a mediocre shot into a work of art, whether you want vintage, modern or otherwise. Photographers and parents alike recommend Pixlromatic, Pixlr Express, Pic Stitch, InstaCollage, PicsArt, and, of course, Instagram .

If you are considering becoming a serious mobile-photography parent, the Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone offers image stabilization, low light performance and the photo apps Fhotoroom and Apict.

Sloboda is a big fan of the iPhone, which is low-light friendly, has no delay, offers rapid-fire shooting abilities and accommodates accessories like the olloclip photo lens which attaches to your phone and lets you take fisheye, wide-angle and macro shots.

"Just remember," says Ford, “It's not about the perfect pose. It's about capturing the energy and personality of your little one at this moment in time."

Top image credit: Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick

More about taking good photos of your kids

Best photography blogs for moms
Clever and creative family photo tips
Give a kid a camera

Want a nanny, but without the burden of the expense? Consider a nanny share! In most cases, a nanny share is when more than one family uses a nanny to care for their kids at the same time.

Sharing a nanny
with another family

With a nanny share, one nanny could watch your 2-year-old and another family's 2-year-old together at one of your houses. Find out more about nanny shares and hear from two families who did and did not have a nanny share work as a childcare solution.

How a nanny share works

There are a couple of ways that people use the term "nanny share." On occasion, a nanny share is when two families essentially time-share one nanny — for example, our family uses her for our children on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and your family uses her on Tuesday, Thursday. However, the more common way a nanny share is used is when two families combine their childcare efforts, hiring one nanny to watch a combination of children from those families, at the same time. For example, one nanny would watch both of our 2-year-olds, at the same time, usually on the same schedule.

Nanny shares have become increasingly more popular in the past five years, with a turn in the economy. People who want to have a nanny for their child , but who can't necessarily afford to carry the burden themselves, have found nanny shares to be a good solution.

As easy of a solution as having a nanny share may seem, it takes mindful planning to be successful. Not only do you want to make sure that you have a nanny that can handle multiple children, from multiple families at one time, making sure that the kids are a good fit and that your parenting philosophies line up with the other family's parenting philosophies are key. In addition, logistical details such as whose house they'll be at, what happens if one child is sick and vacation time need to be discussed before launching into a nanny share relationship with another family.

Let's talk money

Financially, there's no doubt that sharing a nanny with another family will benefit your pocketbook. While the nanny may be getting paid more to watch multiple children — for example $15 an hour to watch two kids, instead of $12 to watch one — you'll still be paying less because you'll be splitting the new $15-an-hour fee with the other family, making your share $7.50 an hour.

Keep in mind that the split in cost may not always be equal with another family. If you have two children being cared for, and they have one, you'll need to carry two-thirds of the cost. Or, if you have an infant and they have a toddler, you should be pitching in more Sometimes, the family whose house is used pays less as well and same goes for the family who may offer up their car for the nanny to use to drive the children to the zoo or preschool in the afternoons.

Don't forget to discuss employment taxes with the other family — depending on where you live, the rules about paying for childcare in your home vary and the way the taxes need to be paid each month, year or quarter may also vary depending on if you or a parent in the other home is self-employed. There are services to help you navigate these complicated waters, such as The Nanny Tax Company.

Why a nanny share worked for us

The first family we talked to had been in a nanny share situation since their first daughter was an infant and although they are using a different nanny now, they are still in the same nanny share relationship with a family that they met at the park .

Now, five years later, their nanny share situation includes their two kindergarteners , a 3-year-old brother from one family and an 18-month-old sister from the other. "I think the success in our nanny share comes from not being best friends with the other family. For us and for them, this is more of a business relationship than anything," the mom shares. "The kids, on the other hand, certainly are best friends — more like siblings, really — as they have spent nearly every day of their lives together."

Why we left our nanny share

"It just wasn't for us," a different mom candidly tells us, regarding the nanny share that her family was using. "Although it seemed like a great idea, both financially and for our kids to have built-in play dates, I didn't feel like I had enough control over the direct care of my children." She explains that they came into a nanny share that was an already established nanny-family relationship. The other family had an older child starting elementary school, as well as a 2-year-old and had a pre-existing nanny who had been with them for years. "I felt like the nanny put the other children first, since she'd been with them longer and that since we were the ones who came in later, it was hard to change the ways that they were already doing things to fit the needs of my kids as well." In addition, this mom shares that being at someone else's home all day was just too stressful on her young children.

More on childcare

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Chasing the Dream: Do you need childcare?
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What’s wrong with her?

If your child stares, points or asks indiscreetly, “What’s wrong with that kid?” don’t feel ashamed. April is Autism Awareness Month so instead of shrinking with embarrassment, take advantage of that teachable moment and turn awkward exchanges into awareness-raising opportunities for our youngest generation.

“What’s wrong with her?” As a mother of a child diagnosed with severe autism, I am asked multiple variations of this question by other children regularly, usually to the mortification of their mothers.

If your child inquires a bit too loudly about another child’s differences, the reflexive response may be to duck the conversation, mumble an apology, reprimand your child’s poor manners, or whisk them away nonchalantly. Trust me — the awkwardness becomes more magnified for the other parent whose child is under scrutiny. Additionally, the message you’re conveying to your child is to avert his or her gaze and ignore the people we don’t understand; pretending they aren’t there.

Our own comfort level around neurodiverse individuals speaks volumes to our children. Mothers of all children can turn these missed opportunities into teachable moments that foster understanding and acceptance by using the tips below.

Take the lead

If possible, initiate an interaction when your child is curious. You will be amazed at how mutually beneficial and gratifying this first step can be. Simply start the conversation the way you would with anyone; people are people!

Be respectful

Remember, there are no universally-accepted rights and wrongs because everyone has different personalities. What one mother might appreciate, another mother could take offense to. Therefore, just be respectful and sincere. Almost all mothers appreciate any attempt as long as it’s born of kindness.

Make some acknowledgment

The goal is not necessarily to “say the right thing” but just say something. The parent of a child with autism often feels marginalized, misunderstood and/or judged when in public. Therefore, any eye contact, acknowledgment and positive conversation is typically welcomed.

Foster a connection

Introduce the two children. Encourage a greeting, even if it ends up being one-sided. Face-to-face interactions demystify all perceived differences.

Focus on the similarities

More important than identifying the diagnostic label is our ability to focus on strengths and commonalities rather than deficits and differences. Point out a pretty hair bow, a cool pair of light-up sneakers or other trait or interest. “Oh look, he likes the slide too! Maybe you can show each other how fast you each slide?”

Be sensitive

Choose your words carefully. Blogger and author Stephanie Nielson, scarred from burns on over 80 percent of her body, tells a story of a man who approached her with his child asking bluntly, “My son wants to know what’s wrong with you.” The man likely thought he was doing the right thing, yet his brash manner left Nielson feeling humiliated and sad.

Debrief privately

Talk to your child afterwards, perhaps in the car on the drive home. It’s important to educate young children on social etiquette, especially if he or she was pointing or staring or asking questions loudly. This conversation should be instructive, not punitive. Offer alternative suggestions for next time he or she sees someone different and has questions. Practice with a fun role play.

Creating meaningful interactions between typical children and their neurodiverse peers fosters a community that embraces differences and teaches acceptance to our future adults. The more positive we make these interactions, the more we all learn to celebrate and embrace the uniqueness of everyone.

More about children with special needs

No more Asperger's: What it means for your child
Autism: I am your child
Online resources for children with special needs

Looking for a pagan baby name? We’ve put together a list of names you’ll recognize and unique baby names that will take you by surprise. Drawn from a variety of cultures and beliefs, these pagan baby names will inspire you on your hunt.

Magical names
for your little one

The concept of a pagan baby name is very broad. Pagan baby names are drawn from a wide variety of cultures and beliefs. Some pagan baby names are drawn from Celtic or Norse mythology while others take inspiration from Native American naming traditions.

When it comes to picking a beautiful pagan baby name for your child, consider your own beliefs and interests. Do certain cultures resonate with you? Does your family practice a pagan belief system?

As you choose a baby name, let your instincts guide you. The pagan baby names we’ve selected are a mix of unique baby names and common baby names that can be traced back to pagan origins. Other pagan baby names are inspired by nature, legend and magic. Explore the meanings of your favorite pagan baby names and get a feel for what resonates with you and your family. In addition to loving the sound of a name, you might be drawn to its origin and meaning. Pagan baby names have beautiful tones of spirituality and mysticism. We’ve found lovely pagan baby names for your baby girl or baby boy.

Pagan baby girl names

These classic pagan baby girl names come from myth, legend and different cultures. From sweet Ada to popular Willow, these are great baby names and middle names.

Find Zen baby names>>

Pagan baby boy names

Our hand-picked baby boy names are soft and strong. From lovely Adonis to familiar Sirius, these baby boy names will inspire you on your baby name search.

Baby girl names inspired by nature and myth

Pagan baby names are often drawn from nature and legend. We’ve found 20 beautiful girl names from the natural world.

Discover weird baby names >>

Baby boy names inspired by nature and myth

Nature and life inspire these beautiful pagan baby boy names. Often strong and evocative, these baby boy names conjure images of the majesty of nature.

More baby names

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Stressed? Feeling guilty? These feelings are just part of being a mom — especially if you are working full time. But there is no need for you to let your worries or feelings of guilt get in your way of being both a great mom and employee.

Managing family
and work

It's no surprise that moms who work full time jobs feel the strain of their extra-busy lives. In fact, 99 percent of working mothers say their schedules stress them out.

It is natural to feel guilty about leaving your kids with a caretaker or to feel overwhelmed about keeping your boss, clients and family happy. Take action to stomp out some of that stress and manage your guilt during Stress Awareness Month and all year long.

More often these days, dads are stepping in to take on parenting duties. A recent study by the Families and Work Institute found that fathers spend an hour more a day with their kids than dads did 25 years ago. Dad's participation can come in especially handy when the kids get sick or when you just cannot make that parent-teacher conference. So when it comes to parenting, don't hesitate to share the load of responsibilities with your partner.

If you're feeling super stressed, ask your employer about rearranging your schedule so that you work four days instead of five, or have every other Friday off. This may incur a pay cut, but it might be worth it to strike that delicate balance between your career and kids. But if a flexible schedule is not feasible, try to pick one evening or weekend day when you can focus solely on your family. That means turn off the laptop, leave your cell at home and hit the playground. In addition to being a stellar mom, this play time away from the job will recharge your batteries, and you can return to work fresh and less stressed.

If you are at work right now, you're probably wishing you were at home. But guess what? You may not be that much more satisfied if you stayed at home full time. According to Dr. Leon Hoffman, director of the Pacella Parent Child Center, many working mothers wish they were home with their children, and while at home, wish they were back at work. Bottom line? Being a mom is a tough job, no matter how you slice it. But if you gain perspective on your situation and are confident about why you're working , you can get through even the toughest days with less guilt.

Here is some good news for working moms. Research shows that children who go to daycare are not destined for delinquency. A study measuring the development of more than 6,000 children found that those with moms who work outside the home experience no permanent damage because of the maternal absence. And according to Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute, more kids prefer to have their parents be less stressed out and tired than actually with them 24/7.

In a recent issue of The American Psychoanalyst, Galinsky writes,"Does this finding mean that children do not care about time? No. Children care about parents being less stressed because they do care about the time spent together." So instead of worrying about the number of hours you spend at home, focus instead on having fun with your family when you are with them.

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Morning sickness is inconvenient for some pregnant women, and a major medical problem for others. The degree of intensity varies from mom to mom, and some have sought medication to help them get through the worst of it.

First morning sickness drug in 50 years

The FDA has, for the first time in 50 years, approved a drug specifically for treating morning sickness. Now that they have given the green light, will you be requesting some if you suffer from morning sickness?

You’re pregnant, you throw up. It’s a basic fact of pregnancy, albeit a pretty depressing one. Some moms don’t suffer much at all, while others throw up so much they wind up in the hospital because they are dehydrated and unable to keep anything down. There is big news for those who suffer from morning sickness, however — the FDA has approved a medication called Diclegis for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. This is the first time a medication has had such an approval in the United States in 50 long years, and it will be available this June.

Medication during pregnancy

Taking medication during pregnancy, however, is a delicate business — you have to ensure that there will be no harm to the embryo or fetus. But if a mother is sick enough, you have to weigh the benefits of the drug against the risks. Morning sickness is tricky to treat because it generally affects mothers in the early part of their pregnancy, when the baby is forming its organs, bones and other structures.

Diclegis is a combination medication comprised of pyridoxine and doxylamine, which amounts to vitamin B6 combined with an antihistamine. It is currently sold in Canada under the brand name Diclectin. This particular medication is even more interesting because it was on the market several decades ago in the U.S. under the name Bendectin, but it was withdrawn in 1983 due to a flurry of lawsuits from mothers who claimed their babies had been harmed by the medication. The company didn’t have the money to fight the claims so it took the drug off the market instead, despite the fact that multiple studies had found no direct evidence that the drug would harm an embryo or fetus.

Good news

Many moms we spoke with felt that this was excellent news. Quite a few reported that they were prescribed other medication for severe morning sickness, such as Phenergan or Zofran, neither which have been specifically approved for use during pregnancy.

“I couldn't have functioned without it, let alone taken care of my toddler,” shared Brittney, who was prescribed Zofran during her second pregnancy. “I lost so much weight early on in that pregnancy that I was still down 5 pounds the day I delivered, even with the Zofran. I’d hate to think how horrible it would have been without it.”

Heather, a mom living in Canada, agreed that the benefits outweigh any potential risks. “I do take Diclectin twice a day to control my morning sickness,” she explained. “I would be miserable if I didn't have this drug to help me through my pregnancies. I would also likely only have one child if I had to endure 40 weeks of violent vomiting.”

Last resort

Other moms felt that any medication — particularly during the early part of a pregnancy — should be an absolute last resort. Manda, pregnant with her first child, has been experiencing debilitating nausea and vomiting. She’s only nine weeks pregnant so she wanted to go over her options with her midwife.

“I almost asked for a morning sickness medication today... but I’m really trying to go for an all-natural birth and the talk with my midwife and change of diet changed my mind,” she told us. “After seeing my little one move on the screen today, I decided I don’t want to put anything in my body that I am unsure of the risks just to make myself feel better.”

For some moms, it doesn’t seem like they have much of a choice — they have older children to tend to, little help in the home or a job they have to be present for. Your care provider may give you options, such as a different prenatal vitamin, before resorting to medication. But with this news, now they have a new choice that they didn’t have before, and with years of use by Canadian women behind them, it may be the best option.

More on morning sickness

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The royal pain of hyperemesis gravidarum
Morning sickness - Food guide

A jumbo container of foam stickers with no obvious purpose may seem daunting. But to a two-year-old, these collections of shapes, letters and animals are a wellspring of entertainment and opportunity.

For the very littlest toddlers who are just learning their colors and coming to understand big and small, a batch of foam shapes offers the opportunity to teach the intricacies of both concepts in a simple way.

Create a pile of foam pieces all the same shape and begin separating the foam. Create a pile of big hearts and a pile of little hearts or separate piles by color. Your child will begin to see the patterns emerging, mimic your lead and be able to stay busy on their own.

Foam art is a great way to teach toddlers about shapes and colors at the same time. Gather together stars, hearts, circles, squares, rectangles and flowers of varying sizes and shades. Again, begin to organize the foam and your child will follow suit. Try sorting by shape first and then by color.

Once you’ve gone through a few sorting exercises together, give your child room to do her thing. You may just catch her sorting all on her own without you initiating the act — and she may do it “right” or she may create a unique order. Either way, it’s all good and fascinating to watch them learn so quickly.

Essential craft supplies to keep in the house>>

Foam has become such a popular craft for kids that you can find foam projects for every season and holiday — from Christmas trees to Easter eggs, from hearts to leaves. Pick up a package of giant foam shapes that are big enough for your child to decorate using smaller pieces of foam, stickers or a drawing instrument.

Foam kits come ready-to-make with all the pieces included, though some of these projects can be more complicated, time-consuming and require a parent’s assistance. Your toddler may quickly lose interest in a craft that needs to be completed a certain way, so stick to basic, open-ended projects that allow your burgeoning artist to use her imagination.

Foam door hangers and accompanying foam stickers in your child’s favorite animals or characters can keep her busy for ages. Foam stickers are also a great craft for honing dexterity as your child learns to peel the backing off their stickers of choice and place them on the door hangers.

The most important thing is to give your child the freedom to decorate the door hangers on her own — provide the supplies she needs, but avoid directing her play. It’s so much more fun to see what collages she creates on her own! Plus, you’ll treasure this unique creation all the more and give her the confidence that she can do this — and so many more things — all by herself.

4 Messy outdoor crafts for kids>>

For the toddler who’s learning to spell their name and count, foam letters and numbers are a great way to introduce the basics while still having fun with a craft.

But you don’t have to just stick to the basics — give your little one the opportunity to tell you what she thinks each letter is. What’s great at this age is that toddlers love drawing connections between things — the number one looks like a chimney, the letter C is a bracelet. When given the opportunity to sit and play with the foam on their own, they’ll come up with these theories — and you’ll be delighted to hear them.

While toddlers go through phases of chaos and order, most of them love the chance to dump things out — though putting things back where they belong may be more of a challenge. One way to turn clean-up and organization into part of the fun is to have your child bag or box the shapes that they sort and separate.

Because the value packs of foam have so many repetitive shapes and creatures, this is a great way to reinforce whatever is learned, from animal names and noises to how each letter sounds.

Image credit: Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick

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Halle Berry

Halle Berry stunned and pleasantly surprised her fans when she announced she was pregnant! This will be the second child for the 46-year-old actress, who has a 5-year-old daughter named Nahla with her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry. This is her first child with her fiancé Olivier Martinez.

“This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth,“ she told reporter Alina Cho. “Thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it's been a big surprise and the most wonderful.“

Berry showed off her baby bump on the red carpet in this gorgeous purple dress with Demarco diamond drop earrings and an IritDesign ring to the premiere of The Call in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sources have said Berry is expecting a boy, but when asked she said, “I don’t know. But [the baby is] healthy.”

Because the chance of naturally getting pregnant at age 46 is around 0.01 percent or less, many have wondered whether Berry had some sort of fertility treatment.

“We don’t want the 38-year-old woman deferring childbearing to take this as proof that they can easily conceive naturally in years to come. When you hear of people in the public arena who are pregnant in their 40s, the obvious suspicion is that they’ve availed themselves of fertility treatment, but aren’t being transparent about it,” Dr. Joshua U. Klein, MD, medical director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York in Brooklyn told Health.com. “I’m not saying that’s what Halle Berry did, but the odds are against her having conceived naturally at her age.”

Either way, congratulations to Halle and Olivier and their baby!

Next up: Can you spot Glee’s Heather Morris’ baby bump?

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Heather Morris

Glee star Heather Morris is pregnant with her first child! The actress, who plays Brittany on the hit Fox show, was spotted on March 14 at the Los Angeles premiere of Spring Breakers wearing a red dress paired with platform heels.

“She's a little more than three months along and starting to show,” a source told Us Weekly.

The dad is Morris’ long-time boyfriend from high school, Taylor Hubbell, and although the pregnancy was “totally unexpected” she is reportedly “incredibly happy and excited.”

The actress has actually been talking about starting a family for quite some time.

“I want to marry Taylor and have kids with him,“ she told Fitness in 2011. "I love acting, but if it affects my relationship, then I won't continue.“

Next up: Pregnant Kate Middleton is radiant in red

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Kate Middleton

Pregnant Kate Middleton keeps her baby bump under wraps as she wears a red coat paired with a scarf at the opening of the Tamar Manoukian Outdoor Centre at Dumfries House in Scotland.

The Duchess of Cambridge recently said that she and Prince William are trying to pick the perfect baby name.

“We have a short list for both , but it's very difficult,” she said. “My friends keep texting me names.”

The Daily Star has said that the couple plans on naming the baby Philip if it is a boy, after Prince William’s grandfather Prince Philip.

And if the royal baby is a girl? The name Elizabeth Diana Carole is rumored to be the front runner.

Next up: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott’s country baby bump

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Hillary Scott

Lady Antebellum singer Hillary Scott looked gorgeous at the Academy of Country Music Awards showing off her baby bump in a custom gown from A Pea in the Pod.

The singer and her husband Chris Tyrrell are expecting their first child together — and she revealed she is having a girl!

”Once we announced the gender, it helps, because it was a lot of yellow and green [before], just kind of the gender-neutral colors,” she told Taste of Country. “But now that we know it’s a little girl, the pink is rolling in.”

She also said that her band mates are taking good care of her!

“Everybody is like, ‘Don’t carry that, let me get it, let me get the door for you,’” she shared.

Next up: Pregnant Jenna Dewan-Tatum strips down for Glamour

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Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Jenna Dewan-Tatum had fun baring her baby bump for a feature for Glamour’s May 2013 issue, which hit newsstands on April 9. The actress and her husband, Magic Mike star Channing Tatum, are expecting their first child in June.

“I thought my body was going to change so quickly with pregnancy that I’d freak out. But it was really gradual,” she told the magazine. “There’s a reason women are pregnant for nine months; by the end, you’re ready to have this baby. Channing has been great. He takes the route of no confrontation, just support, saying things like, ‘Do whatever you want! What do you want to eat? I’m going to leave it up to you.’”

Jenna, 32, went on to say that she and Channing make their relationship a top priority. “Most actors and actresses are consumed by careers and getting ahead. Channing and I are ambitious, but our relationship comes first. We take everything day by day, saying, ‘OK, how can we make this work together?’“

From Kim Kardashian to Penelope Cruz, check out more pregnant celebrity photos here>>

Photo of Jenna Dewan-Tatum: Celebrity Baby Scoop - Celebrity Mom and Baby News; All other photos WENN

These six books for military families have helped me provide my children a little more understanding for what's currently going on in our lives, and also helped them prepare for the deployment before it arrived.

I could continue to go on about all of the great military and deployment books there are out there for military children. As you can see, I have several myself. I highly recommend them to you and your children, especially if your family is getting ready to go through a deployment.

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Are you tired of shopping the same old sites for children’s clothing? Whether you are looking for a special occasion outfit, or just something cute for the playground, we found some great sites to bookmark.

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Incessant finger chewing. Alarming head banging. Repetitive kicking. These all sound like elements of a typical toddler temper tantrum, right? Sometimes, children actually may be battling sensory issues.

Behavioral or medical issue? Know the signs

Sensory Processing Disorder  has been called a neurological "traffic jam" by one of the most famous occupational therapists, A. Jean Ayres, PhD.

SPD prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. Often, this means a child's behavior is compensating for an emotional, neurological need for something more than what they’re getting, via any of the five senses .

My son, Charlie, has Down syndrome. We first noticed what we mistook for a behavior issue when he was just 14 months. We took a six-hour road trip, and our cherub gnawed on his fingers and yelled the entire time.

No, really. The. Entire. Time. We arrived at our vacation destination exhausted, frustrated and hard of hearing.

From fingers to chewy tube — who knew?

I'll play the New Parent Card with this one: We decided Charlie must just resort to the chewing/yelling combination whenever he wanted attention.

Thankfully, we know other parents who are smarter than we are. While hearing another mother's story of learning about her child's sensory issues, suddenly, our situation made sense. Charlie’s gnawing and yelling coincided with being restrained somewhere, whether it was the high chair, the car seat or his crib.

We tried handing him the red chewy tube our speech therapist had recommended long ago to help strengthen his oral motor skills. Miraculously, he grasped the chewy tube and chewed vigorously on it, no longer interested in his fingers or the yelling .

Sounds simple, but it took us two years to figure it out.

Tips for identifying a sensory issue

While diagnosing a “Sensory Processing Disorder” or “sensory integration” disorder can be complex, here are several simple tips from Erin Rockman, OTR/L , who has helped us with Charlie. Naturally, these shouldn't replace consulting your child's pediatrician.

First questions to ask:

1. Does the child’s action disrupt your life? For example, do you avoid certain places because of noises, crowds or smells?
2. Does the action occur with everyone? For example, if a child’s actions only occur with parents and not at school or day care or with grandparents, the action is likely behavioral.
3. Does the child stop the action when given a reward? “If a child is having a meltdown because of a sensory issue, then a sticker or cookie typically will not fix the situation,” Rockman explains. “The child may need some specific interventions to help regulate [his or her] sensory system.”

In Rockman’s experience, she has met children with a wide range of issues, including:

• Taste or texture  
• Sound  
• Feel

In addition, children may have vestibular and proprioceptive seeking behaviors, which Rockman says occur “when a child seeks a lot of movement as compared to his/her peers… or avoids movement, as well, for example resists swinging or playing on a playground.”

While sensory issues often occur when a child has an existing diagnosis , they also can occur in a child with no known medical condition, Rockman says.

Next steps

If you suspect a child has a sensory issue, Rockman advises discussing your thoughts with the child’s pediatrician and seeking an occupational therapy referral for an evaluation.

What should parents avoid? “Don’t rely on the therapy sessions alone to improve a child's sensory processing behaviors,” Rockman advises. “It is most effective when a sensory diet is carried over at home consistently. A therapist will provide a sensory diet based on a child's individual needs, and parents need to take an active role.”

Image credit: Maureen Wallace

More about Sensory Processing Disorder

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These adorable light bulb bumblebees are easy to make with just a few supplies. Spend the afternoon making these cute bees and other spring crafts for kids.

Bring a little nature indoors this season by creating a terrarium. This little indoor terrarium craft is simple but a whole lot of fun. Plus, it's a great way to introduce your kids to gardening.

You've probably seen those cute shell-covered jewelry boxes in gift shops. Now you and your little ones can make your own. Check out how to make this easy project and other beach crafts for kids.

All kids love imaginative play. Teach them about plant care while working together to create a miniature landscapethat includes dinosaurs, fairies or whatever they like.

Using items around the house, you can create a great kite that will follow your kids anywhere! This DIY walking kite craft is perfect for little ones.

Open another bottle of wine, Mom — you deserve it! But save that cork! You can make a variety of cool crafts from wine corks, from silly monsters to boats that really sail.

Get outside with your kids and turn ordinary terracota pots into extraordinary colorful art. This DIY planter project is simple and so much fun. Find out how to create your own garden art.

For those days when the spring weather has brought in a few showers, keep your kids busy with these special rainy day crafts. From a cloud mobile to a rain drop banner, they're sure to love them all.

Help your little ones create a special keepsake for Daddy this Father's Day. He'll love this handprint tile paperweight or any of these other adorable Father's Day crafts.

Independence Day will be here before you know it. Gear up for 4th of July by creating red, white and blue crafts with your kids. From a star wand to a tissue paper wreath, all of these 4th of July crafts are easy and fun to make.

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by Melanie Goldish
as told to Julie Weingarden Dubin

At age 5 my older son, Travis, was diagnosed with a rare and high-risk form of cancer, Ph+ ALL and needed a bone marrow transplant to have the best chance of survival. Cancer took a tremendous toll on all of us, but we were determined to choose how we’d respond to our circumstances at every turn, so we’d have some semblance of control. My son Spencer was only 4 at the time, and perhaps this journey was the most difficult for him. When a child has cancer, the siblings need healing, too.

Thankfully, there was one person in the world who was a match for Travis. Through an unrelated donor, Travis received his new bone marrow. It was a roller coaster journey for our entire family. Travis remained cancer-free for 10 years and then he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Following surgery and radiation, he again beat cancer. Today, Travis is a healthy sophomore at Indiana University.

Seeking sibling support

One day I asked then 5-year-old Spencer, “How did it feel for you when Travis had cancer?” He said, “Mom, when Travis got cancer it felt like somebody tore my body in half.” I knew my Spencer was hurting. Now I really got it.

I did research and learned that siblings of children with cancer are profoundly affected by their brother or sister’s diagnosis. There are layers and layers of impact. Not only jealousy, but anger, fear, grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, disrupted school, missed activities, additional responsibilities and sometimes moving from home.

Research shows that more than 50 percent of siblings experience post-traumatic stress symptoms and one-fourth of siblings experience what would qualify as post-traumatic stress disorder — unrecognized and untreated! No one was helping the siblings heal on a systematic and ongoing basis. I knew I had to do something about it.

I saw the “walking wounded” look in Spencer’s eyes and in the eyes of so many siblings in the hospital waiting rooms and clinics, but there weren’t organizations to help siblings of children with cancer. I decided to form a national nonprofit to send personalized comfort and care items to siblings of children with cancer, beginning with beautiful personalized courage trophies.

SuperSibs! success

Now, 11 years later, SuperSibs! serves over 33,000 vulnerable brothers and sisters of cancer across the U.S. and Canada sending free, ongoing personal comfort and care items . SuperSibs! also educates and equips hospitals and cancer support organizations to implement ongoing sibling support as a standard of care now. We also have online, age-appropriate support and a scholarship program — we’ve awarded more than 60 scholarships to siblings entering college.

Research has shown that our support has significantly reduced guilt, anger, aggression and abandonment for siblings, and has significantly increased feelings of validation, belonging, strength, understanding, hope and courage after being in our program. SuperSibs! is important to ensure total family healing.

Change the world

I moved to Duluth two years ago to be near and help care for my parents, so I stepped down from my executive director role. I’m a business consultant and I teach at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, but I’ll always be the “forever founder” of SuperSibs! and I serve on the honorary board of directors of SuperSibs!.

Motherhood has shown me that everyone is different and wants to be heard. My kids have taught me that we have far more love in us that one can ever imagine. And that nothing feels as good as being loved by our children. I hope I’ve taught each of my boys that they can use their voice to change the world and that one person can make a difference.

Read more stories about real Moms

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This is having it all... times three!

Entrepreneurial sisters, Jacquelynn Reasy Woodward, Jessie-Lee Reasy Hagan and Jamie-Lynn Reasy Khalili, who, along with their supportive parents, own the Seattle-area Sorella Salon and Spa, are building an empire that goes more than skin deep.

Family comes first for these busy moms

How they balance motherhood , trips to New York and Paris for Fashion Weeks and the day-to-day details of working together to create this family vision of having it all.

Meet the Reasy family

Founders and owners of Sorella Salon and Spa, located in the Seattle area, the Reasy family is putting the true meaning of "sorella" to the test — and quite successfully, we might add. What started as a brainstorm by the youngest Sorella sister Jacquelynn, quickly turned into a family business that will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this summer. Owned and operated by the Reasy family — which includes parents Chuck and Peggy Reasy and their daughters, Jamie-Lynn Reasy Khalili, Jessie-Lee Reasy Hagen and Jacquelynn Reasy Woodward — Sorella Salon and Spa is a business that puts family at the heart of what they do.

Jamie-Lynn Reasy Khalili

At home: Mom to two, Cy and Soleil and wife to husband, Marc Khalili.

At Sorella: Jamie is in charge of the operations side of Sorella Salons — managing their over 75 employees and all customer relations for Sorella, plus focusing on business growth and development for their ever-expanding business.

Jessie-Lee Reasy Hagen

At home: Mom to three, Logan , Kellen , Blakely and wife to husband, Jon Hagen.

At Sorella: Jessie, who left her full-time position doing wealth management for Merrill Lynch to join Sorella, is, according to her sisters, "their financial well-being," taking on the task of payroll, taxes, budgeting and financial goal-setting for the salons.

Jacquelynn Reasy Woodward

At home: Mom to two girls, Estelle and Charlotte and wife to Zachary Woodward.

At Sorella: Jacquelynn takes on the role of marketing director at Sorella, managing their social media accounts, as well as inventory for all three salons, their rapidly growing wedding services and helping to grow their business internally by working directly with their stylists.

Not to be overlooked in the day-to-day operations of Sorella is mom Peggy Reasy, who on top of overseeing the relocation and expansion of Sorella's newest space in Issaquah, she is, as her daughters call her, their biggest cheerleader. "Her morale is crucial to our success," they share.

A day in the life... times three

Three sisters, seven children total, all of them under the age of 5. Needless to say, life inside and outside of the salon is busy for these moms. But with the help of their sanity-saving Google calendar , husbands who are behind them 100 percent in their ventures and finding the time to put work aside and enjoying each other as family , Jessie, Jamie and Jacquelynn manage life gracefully as both full-time business women and full-time moms.

As for the question of balance, is it possible? Does it even exist when you're trying to simultaneously raise children and build a young, growing and successful business? The Reasy sisters share that they've learned to create their own version of balance since becoming mothers. "We worked as single women for many years," they reflect. "We were able to pour everything into the business. However, when we each got married and had children, it just wasn't something we could do anymore. We also realized that it was healthier to make margin in our life to rest, to be with our families and to recharge our batteries."

More than skin deep

There's more to this dynamic team of moms than blowouts and photo shoots. These are moms and business owners, who put giving back and philanthropy at the top of their to-do list, especially when it comes to charities involving children. "We have been blessed with healthy children and feel that it's our job to give back for those blessings," the sisters share. Sorella has been host or sponsored countless charitable events since their opening in 2003 — anything from helping a young girl who is fighting cancer shave her best friend's head to donate her hair to Locks of Love, to events that benefit a cause that's near to their hearts, charity:water .

"Having it all" means having each other

While Jacquelynn, Jamie and Jessie admit that there are times when things get "heated" working together, they also know each other and have the best intentions of the business as the center to help lead them to solutions. And all three of them agree that the benefits of working with your sisters outweigh anything else: "We can truly turn our jobs off, if we need to , knowing that we fully trust in each other to pick up the slack, if necessary."

We love the answer that the sisters of Sorella gave us in response to our question about whether moms can truly have it all... "Absolutely!" They continue by saying, "It's exhausting, we admit that, but at the end of the day, we feel fulfilled by what we've accomplished." And there's no doubt that even amongst their busy schedules and growing success, Jessie, Jacquelynn and Jamie have found what "having it all" means to them. "We have happy families, healthy relationships and balanced lifestyles. Sorella has blessed us with so much happiness, which we owe to our families, our team and our community."

Writing the book, breaking the boundaries and humbly laughing in the face of balance — the sisters behind Sorella Salon and Spa are far more than a cliché. They're the new — gorgeous, at that — faces of what it means for moms to have it all.

While they're here...

We couldn't let Jacquelynn, Jessie and Jamie leave without sharing their best beauty and hair tips for busy moms like themselves!

Image credit: Kids' photo - Zawadi J Morrow Photography, other photos - Jami Davis Photography

More on having it all

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With increases in Social Security taxes for 2013, families are doing without an average of $20 per week in their pocket. The good news is that a little penny pinching can go a long way.

Tips to save your
family money

From saving money on clothes to family savings on insurance, find out six ways your family can offset Social Security taxes with tips from consumer savings expert Jeanette Pavini.

When kids grow like weeds, thrift stores can be your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Even if you do not opt to shop exclusively at resale shops, you can supplement with leggings, pajamas, coats and winter wear and still put a dent in your family clothing deficit. Look for resale shops that also offer store credit for your gently-worn trade-ins.

The best time to find the lowest prices on cold-weather gear is when stores are making room for spring fashions. So, purchasing your family's outerwear for next fall now will help you save a ton of money later in the year. However, even if you've missed the slashed prices in stores, you can still find the surplus in outlets and off-price department stores that sell discontinued and overstock merchandise, advises Jeanette Pavini, Coupons.com savings expert.

Get tips for saving money on your cell phone bill>> 

So long as you stick to your guns and only buy what you need when you need it, the dollar store is a family savings superstore for toiletries, snacks, school lunches and toys. You can even buy party supplies such as tablecloths, favors, balloons and decorations for your kiddo's next birthday bash for a lot less than you'll spend at retail party stores.

One of the most common ways to offset Social Security taxes is to save money with coupons through the local paper or sites like Coupons.com. "In a savings experiment last year I found that with just 45 minutes, a computer and a weekly circular, $146 can buy an average shopper $260 worth of groceries," shares Pavini. "Over the course of one year, that shopper can save more than $5,000."

A family that packs their lunch together saves together! When comparing homemade lunches to the average deli sandwich cost, Pavini found that one person taking his lunch can save an average of $1,235 per year. Times that by the number of lunchers in your abode and you'll see your family savings add up fast!

Pick up the best baby gear on a budget>> 

Many car, home and life insurance companies offer to knock a little off the top when you merge your coverage to a single company. Ask about multi-driver and other money-saving options for which you may qualify, especially when your youngsters are finally old enough to get behind the wheel.

Whether you're using these six ways to offset Social Security taxes or are just looking for ways to maximize family savings, saving money doesn't have to be a total lifestyle change. Try starting with one adjustment per week and adding in other ways to save as the months march on and pretty soon you'll form money-saving habits worth keeping!

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From childhood and well into adulthood, all of us experience stress in varying degrees. Because anxiety and tension are just a part of life, it makes sense to find coping strategies that work for you. One of those strategies may be calling mom.

Stressed out? Call mom

A mother has the ability to soothe injury, dry tears and calm anxiety all with the sound of her voice. Does she harness a magical force, or is there really some hard science behind a mom’s stress-busting tones?

Many would argue that a child’s relationship with her mother begins in the womb, long before birth. Whether you subscribe to that belief or not, it’s tough to argue with the immediate and deep connection established between a mother and her baby quickly after birth. “Newborn infants show a preference for their mother's voice, and they also prefer that familiar sound while still in the womb, per a study by Barbara Kisilevsky at Queens University in Ontario,” says Heather Hans, a psychotherapist, licensed social worker, holistic healer and single mom. “The voice is the physical representation of the connection between mother and child and can be felt as a physical force.”

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Sometimes it’s not just the words but the tone of a mother’s voice that can calm a child and perhaps even speed healing of premature babies, for example.

“In the case of a biological mother, it is a voice we heard in utero,” says Dr. Ramani Durvasula , a licensed clinical psychologist and professor of psychology. “In the case of all mothers — the pitch and tone of her voice is something we heard when we were pre-verbal and it coo-ed and soothed us, and while we may not remember her doing it, that sound can still be associated with comfort and soothing.” Furthermore, a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shows that preadolescent girls exposed to stress showed lower cortisol and increased oxytocin levels after physical and/or verbal contact with their mothers.

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Patti Wood is an expert in nonverbal communication and author of several books, including SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma. She understands why even as adults, we reach out to our mothers during times of stress or difficulty. “If your mother’s voice comforts you, increasing the feel-good chemical oxytocin and reducing cortisol, it makes sense that you would seek it out,” she says. Dr. Ramani agrees saying, “Just like certain smells are soothing because they evoke our childhood home, so too can a voice — as auditory senses were a way we oriented to the world as infants and children — and words and sounds were how our mothers comforted us.”

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Often mothers don’t appreciate the power of their words — both the content and the tone. But knowing how truly impactful a mother’s words can be on a child should make us all think twice about the way we communicate with our kids. “I think that this is a wakeup call for current parents — strive to make your voice the voice they internalize and [that] will soothe your children when they are older,” says Dr. Ramani. “My mother spoke to me in an Indian language called Telegu, and although she and I have a somewhat strained relationship at times, there are still times that her Telegu words still soothe me like nothing else — at a primitive level.”

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