You would think that after over 10 summers with kids out of school, I’d be a pro at planning for the shift, establishing routines that work, and finding thoughtful ways to spend quality time with my kiddos. And yet, every single year, the end of the school year sneaks up on me. Halfway through summer, I find that I’m buried in work that’s behind schedule, overwhelmed by play dates and summer activities, and struggling with the loss of routine and desire to have a meaningful and fun summer that isn’t dominated by screens, yet allows me time to work and enjoy the season – is that too much to ask?

Discover the best life advice for your 20s, 30s and 40s. Our team shares the biggest lessons learned about careers, relationships, confidence and more.

The funny thing is, most of the things I’ve come to accept as truth about ambition, motherhood, life balance, and health are the opposite of what ten or even twenty-year-old me thought was real and true because the absurdity of holding it all together gracefully and effectively is a myth.

So, with that in mind, let’s dig into the 10 funny and honest things I’ve learned as a mother and business owner, who’s also thriving through cancer treatment.

Discover the best lifestyle and career blogs for women in 2026, offering expert advice on personal growth, professional success, wellness, and fashion to help you thrive in every aspect of life.

If you have ever been called the ‘strong one,’ you know that this title doesn’t just get slapped on, and it likely didn’t become your core personality trait overnight, or after some shocking life event. Here’s the truth about being the strong one that no one tells you, and how you can change your perspective on what it means to have strength, and also take care of yourself.

The best thing you can do to set yourself up as a parent for coping with the real reality of life, and set your children up to handle adversity and build resilience, is to accept a hard, hard truth: Motherhood (or Parenthood) is not at all about creating a picture-perfect childhood for your children. And you are not failing if the unexpected has stomped into your life and derailed your perfect parenting plans. The best parent you can be is the one who embraces that learning how to move through challenges and the unexpected is the most important gift you can give yourself and your children.

Here’s what I’ve learned and put into practice as a mother: life threw me some major curveballs as a parent, forcing me to rethink everything I thought I knew and thought I could control.

Whether you’re just diagnosed, in cancer treatment, or post-treatment, trying to navigate a new world as a cancer survivor, finding ways to welcome self-renewal into your life, and emotional recovery as you navigate healing is critical to your long-term health and wellbeing. I’m not here to tell you that you need to “bounce back,” or “fight through” anything that you are experiencing now, or recovering from.

I’m just a mom, who’s navigating treatment and recover from stage four cancer, and wants to share some of the essential things I’ve learned so far.

Here’s what I now know about Immunotherapy, based on my experience so far. 

I will either write additional posts or update this post about things I learn as I progress through the rest of the treatment, which will ideally finish when I am “cancer-free” or “cancer stable.”

I’m a mom, and I have stage four melanoma in my pancreas and liver. I’m currently in cancer treatment. This is what I learned as I turned forty-four during the most challenging part of my cancer journey.