Gemma Hartley

The insecurities about my age pushed me over the edge, making me work myself to the bone trying to be what I thought society would deem as a “good mom.” So I wish people understood that it’s never OK to comment on a mother’s age — young or old. Because the judgmental connotation is always there, no matter how innocent the intent.

Last week, the internet went into an understandable uproar when a Christian woman decided to take to Facebook to talk about how she is

Again and again I refuse to prioritize, refuse to let anything slide, at the expense of my physical and mental health.

My mother called me the morning after the

I hate some of the things I see my friends and family post on Facebook.

My husband and I have been together for 12 years, eight of them married, four of them teenaged.

Travelling solo for the first time allowed me to regain my sense of self outside of motherhood. It showed me that I could still be a whole and interesting person without using my kids as my stand-in.

My six-year-old son got into the car after school and declared he only wanted to have one kid when he grew up.

We are often so focused on what we say to girls, that we forget the impact our words have on our boys. One flippant mention of my son’s “skinny” figure has turned into a source of unnecessary turmoil for him, and has lead to this difficult but important conversation about body image.

My resolutions regularly remind me that I don’t think I am enough, just as I am. So this year, instead of focusing on habit changes, I'm more concerned with changing my perspective.