Sometimes I wonder if I am accomplishing anything at all. These days it’s hard for me to string two uninterrupted minutes together to work. It feels like I am not very good at any of my jobs: business partner, wife, mother. They all seem to be getting shortchanged.

And then just yesterday, Gail says to me how great things are going, and how much I am getting done, and how we should be so proud of how well we’ve all adjusted since Peyton was born. ‘Huh?’ I thought to myself. ‘Has she been around lately?’ She smiled at my confusion, and replied "You need to celebrate the smaller victories."

How wise she is. I guess it comes from having lived through all of this a little longer. I do get caught up looking for the big prize, measuring only the biggest rewards, and not giving myself credit for the many small tasks I complete along the way.

When Peyton was less than a month old, Emery Rose, Peytie and I were off to McDonald’s (a special treat for Emery Rose after gymnastics class). It happened to be right during the local high school lunch hour, and the place was wall to wall teenagers. I wanted to go elsewhere, but if you’ve ever promised something to a two year-old (especially McDonald’s) you know that was really not an option.

I ordered the food, got back to the table, and realized we needed ketchup - a very important element to Miss Emery Rose. I was worried about leaving the girls alone at the table with the restaurant so crowded. Feeling quite flustered, I rushed over, got the ketchup, rushed back and sat down.

And then it happened. Emery Rose looked at me and said, with the most grown-up expression I had seen from her, "Thanks. You’re a great mommy. I love you." And there in the middle of all those bustling teenagers, I kissed my babies and wiped away the fountain of joyful and proud tears.

And now I realize that there are many small victories. The fact that I get us all dressed and out of the house in the morning is a victory. The fact that I will manage to finish the newsletter before the show (albeit at the last minute) is a victory. The girls outfits may not be perfect, there probably are typos and errors in the newsletter, but I’m not looking to be perfect anymore.

I get my big, big rewards everyday anyway. I get hugs and kisses from my girls, love and support from my husband and mom, laughter and challenges from work. What more could a girl want?

xoxox, Karen