Turning forty-three is exciting for me, and I'll tell you why. So, if you found this post by accident, or if you're entering your mid-forties as a woman and feel ready to own this decade, let's talk about how you can redefine your mindset and embrace your 40s with confidence and self-awareness so you can thrive!

This past month was all about the adventure of summer, new places, people, and things we fell in love with—and big surprise… I want to share it with you!

Are you more of the staycation type or big-time-summer adventurer? Perhaps you're lugging along a troup of kids or vacationing with your sweetheart.

Whether you're the bootstrap tent-camping type or big resort type, here's the official Womanhood Unwrapped roundup for the remainder of summer – complete with highlights tailored especially for the superhero working women and moms out there.

Chances are, if you’re a working mom like me, you're also deep in the trenches of mom chaos, which ranges from organized disarray to full-blown apocalypse. So, before you ask how this post will help you navigate the madness, let me assure you, I've found some ways to keep my life from unraveling faster than a cheap sweater.

If you haven’t noticed already, I’m kind of an idea person. True confession: That doesn’t mean I’m always great at executing the ideas I have, but my brain is wired always to be thinking of the next thing. It’s a blessing and a curse. 😜

The point is that I’ve been noodling with the idea of doing a monthly wrap-up for women for quite a while now. I’ve tested a few ways of delivering this, and finally, voila! I came up with a plan.

So, without further ado, here’s your Womanhood Unwrapped monthly wrap-up for April 2024.

You, like everyone else, hate to be disliked. But there are times when, suddenly, you wonder how this could possibly happen when all you’ve ever been is nice to Karen. Am I right?

This is what you could call the “dislikability conundrum.”

You do everything right, and still, some people are just not going to like you. You are going to encounter this no matter what throughout your life, so what should you do? Read more.

How do you stay true to yourself and your goals when you are blown off course?

Let’s start with defining the things that can cause your psyche to fall into a tailspin of self-doubt and go from there. Sound good? Good.

Follow along as we post a new prompt from Womanhood Unwrapped here and on our Instagram for the next twelve days leading up to Christmas day.

If you’re a woman turning forty-two-years-old soon, you’ve already crossed the threshold into your mid-forties, or you’re just curious and planning for the future, here are some of the ways I’m striving to live a fulfilled and fabulous life at forty-two years old.

Over the eleven years I’ve been a parent, and yes, to all of you grown-and-flown moms out there, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Oh, honey, you have no idea yet!” All the same, over this decade plus, I’ve learned (often the hard way 🥴) a number of valuable lessons about parenting two very unique little humans.

Whether you’re a new mom of two, a mommy to more than two, or are going through a tough time with parenting your kiddos, I hope this list helps bring you some peace, insight, and a laugh or two (no pun intended 🤪).

I wasn’t always a conscious, gentle parent. I was raised by a single mom with three kids under the age of 7. My childhood was marked by her struggles, her pain, and the harsh parenting techniques she inherited from her retired military stepfather’s overpowering, colossal presence. Here’s how I healed and began to parent in a conscious and loving way.

I spent my fortieth year working through these questions, reframing my goals as a mother, partner, professional, and woman over forty. And I don’t have the answers, to be honest. But, this month, I turned forty-one, and a peace settled over me. Here’s what I realized as I moved from forty to forty-one and am now solidly in my “forties.”

It’s not the end of the world to have a c-section. Here’s why this could be an okay end to your birth story.

I chose to parent, I wanted to be a parent, and my children are lovely, unique (albeit crazy) little humans. For better or worse, I want to be part of their lives. I want to be there for them when they are sad, happy, and all the things in between.

But, some days, weeks, or months just get the best of me. And this last week was one of them. So what should you do when, like me this week, you don't have the energy or desire to be a parent anymore?

After talking myself off the ledge and taking a few deep breaths, I realized there are some things I can do and need to do right now to make sure I can function as a mom -- especially during an emotional crisis.

Mothers in today's society, at least in the United States, are expected to be there for their children's every need. They also ought to work for personal or financial reasons and take care of all household needs. Of course, there are the outliers. The mom's who work and have a partner at home take care of the family's day-to-day concerns. But in general, women now are expected to take care of everyone and everything but themselves. It's the #Momlife expectation that's, in fact, grinding us all to the bone. And that unrealistic expectation is causing severe burnout and depression across the board.

I am most proud of my ability to balance the things that matter to me. I have been able to run and grow my business, be there for my three kids, maintain my friendships and foster new ones, be a loving wife (although sometimes bitchy 😉), take care of my mind and body, read great books, and most importantly, not take life too seriously!

I am incredibly proud of the relationships I have cultivated over the years – the very real and dear friendships I have nurtured. Those relationships never fail to lift me and keep me going. Read the full post.

At 40-years-old, you can accept that you are worthy of breaking through the surface of your hopes and dreams, and goals. You are worthy of happiness and accomplishment. And guess what?! Other women want to hear about it! You’re not conceded or pompous if you share how you got there, did that, or overcame it. You might just change someone else’s life with your experience and example.

My kiddos are nine and six years old now, so I feel like I right in the middle of the ‘raising children journey.’ Although, someone with adult kids is welcome to correct me on this. And I know the teenage years are coming and will change the dynamic drastically. Therefore, I am definitely working harder these days to enjoy my little humans, and appreciate how much they have grown already. But there are still those days (or should I more accurately say, moments every day), that I do not enjoy. These are the ones I look back on and feel guilt or regret for not being more patient, or listening more. But I think it’s time to normalize the rollercoaster of emotion that comes along with parenting. Stop trying to enjoy every moment, but enjoy the important ones!

Etta Loves was born, and this year launched their US presence as well! Creating the only baby products in the world designed alongside an Orthoptist (A.K.A. expert in children’s vision) -- putting science at the core of everything they do, Etta Loves, and Jen its founder have a truly unique mission. Read her story, and how she manages life as a working mom.

If you’re reading this, hoping to gain some insight into your hopes and dreams for your son or son’s futures, I endeavor to give you the following:

• A glimpse into how this modern working mom (me!) is trying to raise my son

• Camaraderie in the son-parenting journey

• Solace in the knowledge that we’re all doing the best we can

• A community of like-minded parents hoping for better for their sons in this complicated world

What do I wish for my son? So many things, but here are the ones I pray for the most.

The biggest lesson that motherhood has taught me is to give more grace. I have learned to let go of this idea that I’m going to be a perfect mother. I’m going to make mistakes. I’m going to fail. Really great things happen when I can forgive myself for that, or ask for my kids’ forgiveness when I need to. I actually get the opportunity to show my kids how to fail and make mistakes and learn from them. Read the full story.