I've been thinking about you a lot in the past few days, for various reasons. So my heart is already full of love for you, Friend. But just now it overflowed and I wanted to tell you something on my mind.

On another Mommies Network board I am on, I had a pm interaction with another Mommy. She remembered something I'd said a long time ago, and I thought I might be able to encourage her in a situation similar to the one I'd been through.

As I was reading her thanks to my reply, which cost me absolutely nothing to sit down and spend 10 minutes throwing at her, I thought about how many times in the past 5 years I have had interactions like this. Where I am desperately in need of advice from someone who has BTDT, or encouragement or understanding, and someone, or *many* people have reached out to me, whether on the open forums or in private messages.

How many times have I had the opportunity to give my own humble encouragement or share info someone really needed, again at no cost, barely an effort of my own?

I know I've told you, Heather, that I think these boards are a genuine cultural phenomenon....something no one else was doing successfully before you came along. But I am struck once again tonight by the beauty of this social mechanism you created (and of course which is kept going by so many dedicated volunteers.) By how elegant a solution these boards are for modern moms who need each other so much.

Aside from the tremendous blessing you personally have been to me, dear Friend, your creation has been a part of my life that is meaning beyond belief. I know a lot of husbands and friends and family scoff at our "mommy boards." But when I think of the moments when I have been upheld, cheered, "healed" by interactions with other women on these boards, I am profoundly grateful to you (again...and to the many other women who have helped make your vision a reality.)

I don't mean to embarrass you. But I just wanted to honor you for the fact that you have changed my-- and many others--life.

Written by Charlotte Mommy Tracy (hsmommy)
Published by Kelley (kelchristina)


Do you want to give back to CM? Check out our Help Wanted Forums for all open positions and apply today!

Do you want to contribute to our blog? Email me today!
kelleyc@charlottemommies.com

What is it like being a mommy? Charlotte Mommies has given me the chance to make friends that can completely understand me and what being a mom means in my life. Mommy networks are so much more than advice or chatting. Charlotte Mommies has become a part of my family that I couldn't live without.

The reason I am able to associate myself with these wonderful women and amazing network is, because of my amazing son who I absolutely adore. I am blessed everyday by his amazing smile and perfect little laugh, but it's the small little things that he does and amazes me with everyday that I adore. I am lucky to have so many other moms to share and relate those moments with.

When I asked in the Mommy Forum what everyone's favorite mommy moment was, every mom responded with so many of the obvious responses. The amazing smiles our little one's wake us up with everyday (even if it is at 4am.) The laughter, love, joy, hope, and love these amazing little gifts bring into our lives. Every child has their own personalities that bring different little rays of sunshine into our lives. For everyone to share these special moments was fun and exciting to hear about what each of us has either already experiences or has yet to come. This is what one mommy had to say :

"The sweetest thing my daughter has done was after I got back home from getting my incision fixed from my C-section bursting open after having Aiden, Audrey crawled up very carefully beside me and gave me a kiss on the head and told me I'd be all better. I don't know if I was so emotional from just having had the baby or so loopy from my pain meds, but it touched me (and still does now that I'm thinking about it.) - Roseburline

The way our little ones can touch our lives is a way no one else can make us smile. Being a mom is about these moments that make us wake up in the morning and go to bed at night with those sweet little faces in our heads. Another mommy said, "Once when ds was about four months old he was sleeping in our bed next to me. He stirred, but didn't really wake up, reached his hands out and waved them around until he found me. Then he sighed and settled down. It was so sweet." - sarahmsquared. What else could be sweeter than this?

Luckily the stress, the exhaustion, and the worries are not always a bad thing. Sometimes the sweetest moment gives us the sweetest tears.

"When we were "snuggle bugging" one in evening my my bed before bedtime, she just reached up and put her hand on my cheek, just like I do her. It brought tears to my eyes!" - tinaf312

Being a mom, isn't just the sleepless nights. It's waking up to the joy and love these precious little hearts bring into our lives. Charlotte Mommies gives moms the chance to share that joy with the entire mommies community. Finally, moms can relate to a whole lot more than the diapers you buy and the sleep we wish we were getting. Ask yourself, what's your favorite mommy moment? Remember the moment's like these that brings the whole meaning of mom to life.

"DD sneaks in our bed during the night. In the morning, I'll ask "who snuck into my bed?" She'll say, "it was ME! Because, I love you."" - shoufun.

My favorite part of being a mom is being able to make my son so happy. Being able to watch his milestones and know I made such a strong, couragous, beautiful boy. I can't wait for the days,months, and years to come. What else could we ask a mom than to hear those three special words? "I love you." I don't know about you, but nothing could ever sound any more sweet.

Published by Kelley user kelchristina
Anything you want to see in our blog? Email me at kelleyc@charlottemommies.com!

The following was written by one of our members.  This was her response to the question: "What does CM mean to you?"  She has given permission for us to use her words.  I will keep her anonymous.  Enjoy!


It means having a site that I can log on to and feel the support of mom's who go through things that I go through, who feel the same feelings, and face the same struggles......

It means finding advice, and encouragement in sometimes the least likely of places, and it means sharing little parts of our journeys as parents with each other in order to help our fellow mom along......

It means community, friends, CM makes me want to have a "home" where I live, not just an area, or a house. This site is networking at its best, I have found my dearest friends through this site, my job, and, for the most part, my social life.

CM's mission makes me want to donate my old toys to others instead of throwing them away, it makes me want to make healthier choices for my kids, better choices for the environment, write a better budget, and save my family some money. This site makes me want to organize fund raisers, and help other mom's in need, and stop in target when I see a mom struggling with bags, and help her carry them or help her put away her cart . She could be a CM, and even if she isn't, this site has made me realize that there are other mom's out there in the world, something that when you are focused on just getting yours from point A to point B, is easy to forget.

All of this I get, for free, I don't have to google a million parenting questions to get textbook answers from strangers, I get answers from people that I have an idea of who they are, and where they are coming from, mom's who I know have been there...... I get real moms, gathered in a place that we can talk, debate, get together, get our kids together, and gripe about things that we might not be able to tell anyone else......a site that allows you to put as much or as little into it as you like, and asks essentially nothing in return other then that you use it ..... to me, that is a gift, it is something I treasure. I don't know any other "club" out there where you can join for free, be as active or inactive as you want, set your own time commitment to it, and gain as much as we can on here.

This site is my one stop shop for being the best mom that I can be, I do not rely on CM to tell me how to parent, or show me what to do with my children, but being a member here has helped me be a better happier and more fulfilled mom, which is I suppose is the mission itself.

Today, I am thankful for the innocence & optimism of children. I love it! They see the positive in everything and it makes me smile. Kids grow up way too fast these days anyway, I wish they could stay innocent forever. For example, I love how Zoe thinks that when she sees two people kiss, that means they are married. And, when she was the flower girl in her aunt's wedding, she told her uncle that he looked "so handsome, like a prince" and that he was wearing "prince" clothes. Currently, she is waiting for a neighbor's pregnant dog to "lay" her puppies and she is very excited. I'm thankful for their honesty because it gives me hope.

I wish they could stay like that forever!

Written and submitted by: Sonya Tarrant check out her blog at: http://lovemyamos.blogspot.com/

I asked the fantastic people over at the CM blog if they wanted to join the 30 Days of Thanks http://www.30daysofthanks.com/ project, and I'm happy to say that they do, and that I'm lucky enough to be the first post! So, if you are thankful for anything, and I'm betting most of you are, write up a post about it and send it to tonia@charlottemommies.com for your chance to get in on the fun!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 4

Today I am thankful for:

Other terrible moms.

I have my days. I admit it. Those days when you look back and start mentally adding up how much therapy will cost your child later in life. Those days when you said things to your children like:

• You *must* stop talking. Now. Right now. Not another word.  
• STOP touching me!  
• And one of my personal favorites - If you can't get your own sippy, you'll just have to be thirsty.

Those days when you wish you could put yourself in time out - preferably in a bath with an alcoholic beverage.

So today, I am thankful that it isn't just me.

I'm thankful that yesterday my friend showed up at school with the crazy-mommy eyes (you know which ones I mean, and don't pretend you don't).

I'm thankful that I wasn't the only one refusing to push my kid on the swing at the playground today.

I'm thankful that I'm not the only one who sometimes forgets to pack lunch.

And mostly, I'm thankful that on days when I am feeling like whatever the opposite of Mommy-of-the-Year is, they act like they've been there and done that, even if they haven't.

Written and Submitted by: Heather Hinson (maxnrowd) on CM.  Follow her blog at: http://www.runningmylife.com/

More details can be found HERE: http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/novdrive.html

Go check out the MF or your Area Groups for information and see what you can win!

Do you have great organizational and people skills? Are you looking for a part-time or full-time job that is flexible and fun that helps moms in your community? If so, The Mommies Network wants to hire someone just like you!

TMN Sponsorship Account Executive
This is a TMN position. There are no membership pre-requisites required to apply.
The Mommies Network is growing and as part of that growth, we need some good people in your market to help with sponsorships.

The Sponsorship Account Executive should be organized, have great time management skills, feel comfortable contacting local business and building relationships to find sponsors for the local site. This can be accomplished through phone calls, emails, and face to face appointments.

SAEs will be compensated with bonuses based upon successful sponsorship contracts and there are tremendous growth opportunities as the network continues to grow. If you are interested please send your resume to Rachelle Watkins: rachelle (at) themommiesnetwork (dot) org.

Just add a few more school supplies to your back-to-school shopping and make a difference in our community! You can either drop off these supplies with your area group mod, or bring them to our 7th BIRTHDAY PARTY in September!

With your help, we can make a difference and help kids in our community who cannot afford to start their school year with their much-needed school supplies!

Thanks for your help!