Being a mom has changed me.

Being a mother has changed me in many ways. For example, I’m a lot less picky about my meals. If I have a chance to sit and eat at all, I’m happy. I’m also less wardrobe conscious. Friends who have known me for a while will smirk at this one but I really was wardrobe conscious at one time. For a while there I actually even had a great high end wardrobe. These days the wardrobe is a lot of Lands’ End and hand-me-downs. Maybe I’ll be high end again one day. But that won’t happen until baby Jay stops using my thighs as handkerchiefs.

I’ve also realized that I’m not nearly as smart as I thought. There’s nothing like a four year-old with a healthy dose of common sense and a consistent chorus of, “Mom, that’s not right”, to keep an ego in check.

Despite a new perspective on my own intelligence, and a lack of relaxing meals and high end attire, I’ve never been happier. I guess that’s the beauty of seeing the world from a mother’s perspective. My children inspire me.

This year, they’ve inspired me in a special way. They’ve inspired me to begin a series of personal finance themed storybooks for children ages three to seven. Rather than the usual, how-to format, I’ve written the books using rhyming couplets. Thankfully their dad the English teacher was here to help with that. Though my little guys are pretty smart, there are a few things that they can learn from their mom. I want them to grow up understanding the importance of hard work, saving and sharing. Hopefully the books will help them with that understanding. Hopefully they will help your children too.

The children’s books, Jake Saves the Day and Jake Earns a Treat are available through our website. Life & Money