It’s difficult to believe that I babysat for this bright-eyed girl as full of creativity back then as she is now. But the years have added sophistication, well-honed writing skills, a calming speaking presence and the wisdom from life experiences that can only come from becoming a mother. Lane Pierce now writes creative essays on parenting for the award-winning blog, Scary Mommy and also she is a regular contributor to Listen to Your Mother, a program produced by Milwaukee’s National Public Radio. The process of becoming a mother so fundamentally changes our identity that telling the story whether to friends or through writing seems like an act of self-care. We need to tell that story because it has so significantly impacted our lives and reflect on its power. I thoroughly enjoyed her reading of her essay entitled “Ready or Not” and thought you might enjoy it too.