I became a better mother through becoming a better person. I was overweight, miserable, worried about the state of the house all the time, and ended up being a robotic mom; just functioning by taking care of biological needs – feed the kids, diaper them, kiss a boo-boo, then go back to whatever I was doing. I never stopped long enough to just LOVE them.

I realized I needed to do something…and I couldn’t love other people if I didn’t learn to love myself again. I read Bill Phillip’s ‘Body-for-Life’ book and did the diet/exercise program prescribed. The program was a lot about changing both the person on the inside as well as the person on the outside and involved doing at least 3 nice things for people a day. Before I knew it, 12 weeks had gone by…and I have seen such a huge difference in every single area of my life.

My kids can tell the difference. They sense Mom is happier…and they want me to hold them more. They come over and put their little heads on my lap so I can stroke their hair and talk to them. I’ve learned that it’s okay to let the house go sometimes…but it’s not okay to put yourself last and definitely not okay to brush your children off. My relationship with them has changed so much just by setting a good example for them and eating right, exercising, and looking and feeling better again. Positivity is contagious. Negativity is, too. I’m so happy I’m in tears…and I just hope every mother learns to stop and appreciate the small things. They grow up so fast…