At 24, I was considered a young mother; at 39, considered old. In between, I had been a single mother, a stay at home mother, a working mother; I have divorced, remarried, and blended a family. I coordinated the blending of my family of 3 non-biological sibs as they welcomed 2 shared half siblings, never once thinking of each other as anything but full brothers and sisters, even when regularly separated by joint custody arrangements. I have navigated three school districts, advocated for my own children and other children's special needs, and successfully mentored many teachers and parents in the context of my early childhood education career. I have dealt with elder care issues, mental health issues, friends and loved ones with cancer... my experiences span the human lifecycle.

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