To my daughters I say things like:

"You have all time in world, enjoy now, figure out what you want and who you are before you begin to think about starting a family."

"Take your time - get into a relationship because you WANT to, not because you feel you NEED to."

"Listen to your gut, your 'inner bell'. Do what makes you feel full of life and secure in knowledge that you're where you need to be at this moment."

"Don't look for a man to complete you - look for a man to complement you."

"Learn how to make yourself happy - never expect another human being to take on that responsibility."

And, I'm right, I know I am - doesn't every mom know that?

Thing is, it took me two marriages (and subsequent divorces), six kids and living as a single mom for five years to learn those lessons. Most kids (at least when I was a teen) grew up, graduated high school, went to college, dated, had fun, and THEN settled down to have a family.

They gave themselves a chance to spread their wings and find out who they were and what they wanted before they allowed their wings to be clipped by marriage and parenthood.

Not me.

I got married at 17, first child at 18. Now, at age 40, I have six children ranging in ages from almost 22 to 12 and am in my sixth year of 'independence.'

This week I had a coaching session that caused me stop, sit back and reflect on why we're really here.

My client, M, and I have been working together with a focus on building her business, however, for this particular session, M advised she had learned of a dear friend's death earlier that morning, and wanted to honor her by reflecting on powerful impact she made on her life.

M had married young and moved far away from her family. Still a teenager, she and her husband settled in a small community in a beautiful mountain region.

Because she was so young and had little in common with members of community, she felt as an outsider.

One day, she visited her local post office where she met Post Mistress, Edna. Edna immediately made M feel welcome and opened her home and heart to her.

Through many years that followed, Edna supported M through births of her children, heartbreaks that life inevitably brings, trials and tribulations of raising a family, and joys and celebrations that follow each victory.

Edna was there when M lost her parents and M was there when Edna lost her husband and several of her children. Edna would listen and support M without judgment. She showed love and acceptance to M and everyone else she encountered.