Coaching with Mary Clare

One night, my daughter told me she wished she could be a grown-up. She imagined all the freedom adults get—staying up late, eating candy, no homework. I told her that yes, being a grown-up is wonderful in many ways, but one of the best parts of being a kid is all the time you get to spend ***playing***. The truth is, many of us grown-ups forgot how to play.

Motherhood asks us to be brave in ways we never expect—sometimes in the big, dramatic moments, but often in the small, everyday ones. From roller coasters to horseback riding to the quiet moments of fear and love, I’ve learned that bravery in motherhood isn’t about being fearless. It’s about choosing courage—again and again—for the sake of our children and for the growth it brings to us, too.