Doctor’s appointments. Dental visits. Immunizations. All these appointments and more clutter the family calendar. While it is a given that mom, dad, and the little ones will have regular medical and dental visits, what about the eyes?

Did you know that May 14-18 is EyeSmart Week?

Eye exams are just as important as other medical visits. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends eye screenings for all aging adults. The AAO recommends that baseline screening even if adults have no signs or risk factors for eye diseases. It is suggested by the AAO that adults get an eye screening starting at age 40 — the age when early signs of diseases or changes in vision may occur. During the baseline screening, the ophthalmologist will determine when you need to come back for followup exams.

If you have symptoms of or are at risk for an eye disease — such as family history, diabetes, or high blood pressure — the AAO recommends seeing an ophthalmologist to establish a plan for regular eye screenings. Of course, if you have a long standng condition or an eye injury, you should consider to see your eye care provider. You should also see an eye care provider regularly if you wear glasses or contact lenses.

An ophthalmologic evaluation can show any abnormalities of the visual system and related structures — serious and minor. Eye screenings — as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology — can also reveal systemic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. Adults over 40 should know that relatively common eye diseases can go undetected without proper screenings by an eye care provider.

Moms? Over 40? As you schedule medical and dental visits for your family, don’t forget to make an appointment for an eye screening. Eye screenings will allow you to preserve your vision and keep your eyes healthy.

This was a sponsored post on behalf of Eye Smart Week. All opinions are our own.

Baseball. Gymnastics. Karate. These are just a few of the activities kids are involved in these days. That’s not to mention the fact that Summer is near and things are going to get even more hectic. Playtime outdoors, the pool, vacations. It’s a wonder your kids even get fed, huh?

It’s difficult to provide healthy snacks while on the go. But it’s not impossible and Lance Snack Crackers is making it even easier!

Lance offers wholesome sandwich cracker varieties, baked to perfection with real peanut butter and real cheese fillings. Lance Sandwich Crackers and Lance Cracker Creations are available in over two dozen varieties; ToastChee, Whole Grain and Lance Cracker Creations Granola with 5 Grain varieties (my personal favorite). Each product is freshly-baked. You get crispy crackers with real peanut butter, cheese or chocolate fillings. Delicious!

Bring Lance crackers with you to the:

• doctor’s office for those moments when your child needs a snack in between lunch and dinner
• a boost of energy right before the big soccer game
• a late night snack on the ride home
• or just enjoy Lance crackers at the playground with your kids

Lance Sandwich Crackers and Lance Cracker Creations have 0 grams trans fat, no preservatives and no high fructose corn syrup. You can get more information about Lance Sandwich Crackers by visiting www.lance.com or the Lance Snacks Facebook page. You can also find Lance on Pinterest where you will find pictures of all their snacks as well as reviews and other fun things such as summer activities for the kids!

Recently, Lance has partnered with DREAMWORKS for the release of “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”. In “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent — Madagascar style.

They want you to know that you can provide wholesome snacks while enjoying family fun time. Watch as the characters from Madagascar 3 are brought to life on Lance Sandwich Crackers! And that’s not all they have a wonderful sweepstakes that is just as exciting.

Lance Big Top Sweepstakes - Enter for a chance to win a grand prize: one trip for a family of four to New York City. You will also have the opportunity to instantly win one of 100 Madagascar 3 video games for Nintendo Wii™ system or one of 500 movie passes to see Madagascar 3 at participating theatres. The contest runs from May 1 – July 2.

Make this a Summer to remember by having fun and snacking healthy!

This is part of a promotional campaign with Lance Crackers. All opinions are our own.

One of Tara Kuczykowski’s beautiful daughters during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

For more Disney Social Media Moms Celebration posts, or to add your #DisneySMMoms post, visit our Disney Social Media Moms linky.

For more of my photos from Disney, you can find them on Flickr and you are welcome to use any for your posts, just please credit them. (I am still adding more photos, they aren’t all up yet.)

Mom Bloggers (and Dad Bloggers too!) post a photo on your site, link up and find others… Wordless Wednesday is tons of fun. (And I know it says “wordless” but I just can’t bear to not write anything! If I had created it, I probably would have named it something different! LOL So feel to link up your word-full or word-less Wednesday photos!)

Leave the URL to your photo (clearly mine are never truly “wordless”) and then visit others!

Here is a fun thumbnail linky:

And here is a basic linky if you prefer your linkies the good old fashioned way!

Thanks to Uisce for creating Wordless Wednesday.

Written by Janice, co-founder of this Mom Blog 5 Minutes for Mom

If you like this post, we would love it if you gave it a Stumble, Tweet, Pin, or Facebook Like. Thanks so much! We really appreciate your support of 5 Minutes for Mom.

Disclosure: We were invited to take part in the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration conference. Various tickets/passes, accommodations and other associated perks were supplied to our families for the duration of our stay, as part of this event. We help co-host the celebration but are not specifically asked to publish content related to the conference or Disney. All opinions are our own.

Jennifer here –

What in the world do you get a mom who has everything she needs? Well, if she is crazy busy like me, a new phone might just be the gift she would love to have!

I recently had the opportunity to review the newest phone from T-Mobile — the HTC One S.

While I have always been an Apple Iphone user, I am tempted to change to an Android phone now that I have had a chance to try one out first hand. I am sure that many of the Android phones on the market are fabulous, but the  HTC One S is an awesome phone!

The HTC One S is thin and lightweight. It weighs 119.5 grams with battery in, which is amazingly light. I held both my Iphone and the HTC One S in my hands to see and feel the difference and there was NO comparison.

The next thing that I loved about the HTC One S is the fact that I can talk/text on it. This was a feature that my daughter discovered and once she did, I started texting everyone! You just open your texting and set the settings and choose who to send your text to. Then you speak in the speaker and it will type what you speak! I love this hands free feature for when I need to send a text but have my hands tied up in work.

Here are some more great specs about the HTC One S:

• Upload your entire music library, even Itunes (up to 20,000 songs) for free
• 8 mp camera on the back and a face front camera of 2mp
• 4G
• 10.5 hours of talk time

The HTC One S is available for purchase as a contract phone, so be sure and check with your TMobile rep to find out more.

Enter to win an HTC Amaze 4G

The HTC Amaze is similar to the HTC One S and we are going to be giving one away to one of YOU. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win. Remember, the more ways you enter this giveaway, the better off your chances are of winning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was sent an HTC One S Unit to try out for a few days and review. All opinions listed are my own.

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom Advertising and Communications Contact, Jennifer. You can find her sharing her thoughts at her own blog Jen’s Journey. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Does Dr. Sears with his attachment parenting suggestions make you feel extra guilt?

The ladies on The View are worried that Dr. Sears is making moms feel unnecessary guilt. They all say he’s making them feel guilty about choices they made as mothers.

But I tend to disagree.

I don’t think most moms feel extra guilt when they read about attachment parenting from Dr. Sears. My guess is that moms respond in one of the following ways…

1. Some ideas resonate and they follow some of the suggestions or they feel support for parenting techniques they’re already using despite not having labeled them as “attachment parenting”.
2. They disagree with the majority of the ideas and leave it at that.
3. They jump right in and find support for parenting in a way that feels natural to them.

But Barbara, Joy, Sherri, Whoopi and Elisabeth all responded differently and I’m wondering if you agree with them.

They feel that Dr. Sears and the suggestions in attachment parenting make most moms feel extra guilt because the techniques such as co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding and baby wearing are not workable options for many families.

What do YOU say?

Do you think the existence of those parenting techniques make moms feel guilty if they aren’t able to follow them?

• Did you follow any of the ideas of attachment parenting?
• Would you label yourself an attachment parenting mom?
• Do you feel guilt for any of your parenting decisions?

As I wrote in my response to the infamous Time article about Attachment Parenting, some of the AP ideas resonated with me once I had my first baby and I chose to use some of the tools/techniques in parenting my two girls.

I often joke around about mom-guilt and how I feel guilty for traveling or having childcare, but when I really analyze it, I don’t think I actually feel guilty for my decisions as I know I’m doing what’s best for my family.

As women, once a baby is growing inside us, we will forever be forced to make sacrifices as we try to impossibly balance the needs of ourselves, our children, our relationships and our work. We will naturally struggle with guilt as it is impossible to give completely to each.

The question becomes how much guilt do we allow ourselves to feel. I think we all feel a certain amount of internal struggle and “guilt”, and that we should strive to recognize that the balance we find is dynamic and changes continually as our families go through stages and that every woman’s formula is different.

My philosophy is try not to compare myself, do the best I can today and let go of the guilt.

What about you? Leave a comment and tell us whether Dr. Sears and attachment parenting ideas make you feel guilty.

Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of
this Mom Blog, 5 Minutes for Mom.
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at http://pinterest.com/5minutesformom/

Summer is a time for fun in the sun. Whether it’s time in the pool or grilling out with friends we love to be outside. And don’t you want that time to be just as comfortable, stylish, and relaxed as the inside your home? I know I love the outdoors but I also like the idea of having that comfortable feeling outdoors.

BrylaneHome has just launched a new collection of outdoor furniture meant to help you create a cozy outdoor space. They have Outdoor Wood Furniture; Metal Bistro Table and Rattan Chairs; Extra Wide Outdoor Wooden Rocking Chair; Oversized Rectangular Gazebo; Jumbo Screened Gazebo; 9’ LED Patio Umbrella; Grass Skirt Patio Umbrella; and much more!  They provide stylish options for cushions and allow you to mix and match your items for a beautiful environment for you to relax and entertain in. They even have a Plus Size Living collection, specially designed for the plus size customer (holds up to 500 lbs).

BrylaneHome wants you to have functional outdoor furniture that also allows you to have a beautifully designed area outside. I think they have done an excellent job! I definitely want to go on a shopping spree!

Right now BrylaneHome is offering customers 15% off their entire order from now until 5/31/12 with coupon code BHPRESS15.

You can order anytime 24/7 by visiting  BrylaneHome.com.

Customers can also join the thousands of fans who are following BrylaneHome on its Facebook  and Twitter pages.  

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributing writer, Lesley. Lesley is a mom of two kids – one girl and one boy. She’s married to her first and only love, Robby. Author of Dragonflies ‘n Daydreams. Her blog has a little bit of everything – life, love, parenting, along with product reviews and giveaways.

This has been a tough year for my family.  We have had to cope with some pretty high stress issues the last 6 or 8 months and the stress has definitely taken a toll on all of us.  Every member of my family has succumbed to illness more than once this winter and heading into spring we are still trying to rebuild our weakened immune systems.  So it was with great pleasure that I agreed to try SmartMune this month.

SmartMune is an all-natural nutritional supplement that works to prime your immune system.  How does it do that?  Well…here’s the technical explanation from SmartMune:

Once swallowed, immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract take up Wellmune WGP®, the only ingredient in SmartMune, and transport it to immune organs throughout the body. While in the immune organs, immune cells called macrophages digest Wellmune WGP® into smaller fragments and slowly release them over a number of days. The fragments bind to neutrophils, via complement receptor 3 (CR3), which are the most abundant immune cells in the body. In fact, neutrophils account for 60-70% of all immune cells.

With Wellmune WGP®, the neutrophils are now primed for activity. Unlike other immune health ingredients, Wellmune WGP® enhances immune function without over stimulating the immune system, which may be harmful.

Here’s my not-at-all-technical-because-I’m-not-scientific explanation: When I take these, my gut digests them into particles that travel through my body.  Then these wicked cool immune cells digest the Wellmune into smaller pieces that get sent out into my system over the next few days.  Then those little pieces find some even more wicked cool immune cells to hang onto and then when my body needs to fight infection, the neutrothingies with the Wellmune hanger-on-ers rush to the infected site to protect the body and kick some evil infection boot-ay!  That’s how I broke it down for my 12 yr old son. Who reminded me that he is 12, not 3 and that he is capable of having an intelligent conversation about immune boosters.  Point taken, my young padawan.

SmartMune has spent over $300 million dollars on development and research and has worked with several major university and government institutions to evaluate its efficacy in humans under various physical and psychological stress situations.  The results found that SmartMune was more than twice as effective as MCG-3, AHCC, mushroom beta glucans and Echinacea.

Things I like about SmartMune:

• no known drug or supplement interactions that negatively impact SmartMune.
• 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
• safe to consume daily
• free of any genetically modified organisms
• non-allergenic

So here’s what I can tell you in no uncertain terms about my experience with SmartMune: I am feeling better since I started taking it almost 2 weeks ago.  The feelings of being run down and tired have started to dissipate and I don’t seem to have as much “brain fog” or tension as I have been experiencing the last few months. I haven’t changed my routine or my diet since I started taking SmartMune, so it’s pretty easy to attribute my improvements to the supplement.  I can’t wait to see how much better I feel after another month of using this “Intelligent Immune System Support!”

SmartMune also has a kid-friendly version of this immune booster called SmartMune for Kids.  I was glad to hear that it is safe for my boys and will be adding it to their daily routine quickly so we can all get back on our feet and functioning at full speed again.

Enter to win

Enter to win a 30 day supple of SmartMune. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway. Remember, the more ways you enter, the better your chances are of winning. This giveaway will end May 24th, 2012.

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I received a bottle of SmartMune to help facilitate this review. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributing writer, Geri Chase.  Geri is mom to 2 hilarious boys and wife to an insanely funny husband, all of whom like to remind her that the fact that she is a girl does not give her immunity from their testosterone induced humor.  While she pretends not to be amused, she secretly laughs herself silly over their antics and frequently blogs about life and family friendly products over at I Am Boymom.    

Lolli here…

If you were to go back through the Tackles that I have written over the last several months, you would see a very strong trend. I am not exactly proud of the trend, but it’s a reality that I have to face every day around my house.

The trend? Of all the projects I’ve tackled and the goals that I have worked on this year, none of them have been about cleaning, organizing, or home improvement. And that’s not because I have mastered those skills. No, sadly, those areas are the most neglected around my house.

Back in the days before I needed to earn a living, I was careful about keeping the clutter picked up, the carpets vacuumed, and the windows sparkly clean. But when my available hours drastically changed, I found that my priorities changed as well.

Suddenly I found myself considering cooking dinner, cleaning a few dishes, and washing a few loads of laundry as really productive.

In the middle of this shift in time and priorities, I realized that something new was happening. Instead of the old feeling of needing time away from home and kids, I was craving MORE time with my kids and more time just relaxing around my house instead of only working in my upstairs room.

I’ve made some changes to maximize the time I get to spend with my kids, and although they are not drastic, they represent a shift in my thinking.

How I make the most of mommy and me time:

• I save my errands for after school so that I can take a child with me. Shopping with mom can be treasured time!.
• I make a point of eating breakfast with my elementary school aged kids each morning (my middle and high schoolers eat FAR too early for me!)
• I take advantage of car rides and bring kids along whenever possible.
• Even though my kids are all independent readers, I make a point of reading out loud with them.
• I join in with their chores (plus, seeing Mom cleaning with them always motivates them so much more than hearing Mom shout orders down the stairs).
• As often as I can, I take my kids out on one-on-one dates with me. I love to see movies, so I use our dates as an excuse to see as many movies as I can.
• I focus on THEM.

I think that focus, no matter what activity we are doing, is the most important factor in creating meaningful moments with my kids.

How do you maximize time with your kids?

Calling All Tacklers!

We’re looking for YOU – guest bloggers to post about your own tackles right here. If you are interested in showing off your tackles (we all need some tips and ideas!) then send a quick email to lolli.5m4m at gmail (link in the About Lolli section at the bottom of the post). Thanks for your inspiring tackles!!

Mom Bloggers — what are you tackling this week?

Link up your Tackle it Tuesday post…

Tell us what you’re up to with all your other tackles… housework and otherwise… add your link to your tackle in the Linky below!

We are Tackling Our To-Do Lists Together and making housework bloggable — Each week on Tuesday, we are posting before and after pictures of a project or trouble area that we tackled this week.

Find out more about how Tackle It Tuesday began.
The project can be little or big – whatever you want.

Basically, Tackle It Tuesday is about giving ourselves incentive, deadlines and satisfaction in tackling all our tasks — whether household or otherwise.

If you tackled a project this week, just add a comment and add your link below.

Tackle it Tuesday is managed by Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Photo source: Bigstock photo

I have a sensitive nose. Just ask my husband (who does NOT have a sensitive nose). And I’m not just talking smells. My nose is sensitive to allergens, too. Yes, I am a seasonal allergy sufferer, with itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and all.

Back when the townhouse next door had a bad case of black mold, I knew I had to buckle down and buy something to clean my air. So it was that, a few years ago, I purchased my first air purifier.

This past month, I had the opportunity to test out a new air purifier from Rabbit Air. The Rabbit Air MinusA2 Cherry Blossom artist series air purifier makes all other air purifiers that I have seen or tried previously seem like children’s toys. Not only is the MinusA2 beautiful to look at, but it is an extremely powerful machine.

What the Rabbit MinusA2 Air Purifier removes:

• Pre-Filter: Large particles, Pet hair, Dust, Mold
• Medium Filter: Bacteria, Pollen, Dust particles, Mold
• BioGS HEPA Filter: Fungus, Bacteria, Dust mites, Pollen, Allergens, Household odors, Mold, Dust particles, Tobacco smoke, Greenhouse gases (NOx & SOx), Dander
• Customized Filter:
  • Germ Defense: Allergens, Mold, Bacteria, Particles that can carry viruses
  • Pet Allergy: Pet dander, Dander that can carry viruses, Bacteria, Pet odors
  • Toxin Absorber: Chemical Substances, Off-gassing, Greenhouse gases, Cigarette odor, VOCs, Formaldehyde
  • Odor Remover: Tobacco smoke, Household odors, Cooking odors, Pet odors, Musty odors
• Charcoal Based Activated Carbon Filter: Tobacco smoke, VOCs, Chemical substances, Household odors, Cooking odors, Pet odors, Exhaust fumes

I love that the Rabbit Air MinusA2 air purifier is designed to either stand alone or be mounted on the wall (a floor stand is included with the unit and can be easily removed for wall-mount). I was drawn to the pretty design on the unit that I was sent, which makes the air purifier a nice addition that adds style to a room instead of a bulky, unattractive addition like most everything else.

How the Rabbit MinusA2 Air Purifier works:

Inlet: Indoor air is drawn through the filters 360 degrees around the front panel.
Outlet: Clean air is expelled from the back of the unit in an upward direction towards the room.

My teenagers have commented this past week that the air that comes out of the MinusA2 feels cooler, like a mini air conditioner. It really has been a nice fan that not only helps the room “breath easier” but it creates helpful airflow, especially during the warm Spring and Summer months.

We’re giving away a Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier (a $569.95 value!!)

One lucky 5 Minutes for Mom reader will receive the Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier (the fancy Cherry Blossoms model that I have!). Simply enter using the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on May 23, 2012

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Written by 5 Minutes for Mom writer, Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Note: I received a Rabbit Air MinusA2 Air Purifier for review, but the thoughts, opinions, sensitive nose, and allergies are all mine.

I think that most mothers want to record their children’s lives. Many of us started blogs prompted by the reflection that motherhood brought out in us. Others share joys and frustrations via Facebook or Twitter. Perhaps we journal or scrapbook or write yearly letters.

If you want to write about motherhood, but sometimes feel uninspired or struggle to find the time, read Jennifer’s review of Use Your Words over at 5 Minutes for Books.  Read Elizabeth’s essay below, then leave a comment below if you’d like to win a copy of the book so that you can be similarly inspired.

Sharon is not really my child but it is to me she cries out in the night. I get up, cool tiles under my feet, and walk into my daughter Ilsa’s room, where Sharon sleeps uneasily next to her in the double bed. I crawl in on the edge and cradle her skinny, long body. I tuck her head, covered in tight curls, under my chin, although it feels odd, too intimate, to comfort another woman’s daughter like this. But there is no one else to bring comfort. “Shh, shh, it’s okay, it’s okay,” I soothe, although I am lying. It is not okay. Sharon’s mother was killed by her father a week ago, and we are taking care of her until her grandmother can come up from Cote d’Ivoire to Nouakchott, where we live, on the coast of Mauritania. The sense of betrayal I feel—both the parents were close friends of ours—is nothing compared to what will be felt by this alien child whom I have taken into my heart.

Every day she comes home from preschool at noon in the desert heat. It’s March and already hot, the dry wind blowing across 3000 miles of sand and gathering strength from arid places until it seems to suck your very breath when you step out into it, the heavy heat like gold bars crashing down on your head. A friend of ours whose daughter, blonde and sturdy, goes to the same preschool gives Sharon a ride to our house. I meet her at the door in the wall that surrounds our house, and we hold hands as we walk past the low shrubs blooming in this desert thanks to the large hose that runs off our washing machine and waters the sand. Our house, built of concrete blocks, feels dark and cool when we first enter it. It is only a block or so from the house where Sharon lived with her parents, our friends.

Every day, she comes home from preschool and loses it. She shouts and hits, has a tantrum. I hold her tight and soothe her. “It’s okay, Sharon. It’s okay. I’m here. I love you. Auntie Elizabeth loves you,” I tell her. Her English isn’t bad, although her first language is French, but in this crisis my French flees. “Je t’aime, je t’aime,” I manage. Eventually, she subsides into sobs, her lanky body racked with them, while I clutch her tightly. I do not cry. My tears are dried up in the horror of this new reality as my head whirls to wrap around the fact that I did not know this man I counted as a friend, and that the horror is complicating my chance to grieve my friend Yolande, and her marvelous singing voice and sly sense of humour and fierce love for her only daughter.

Ilsa and Sharon

My own children come home from their French elementary school for lunch. Sharon is 4, half the age of my 8-year-old twins but already half a head taller than Ilsa. Elliot, nearly 10, is having the hardest time with her being here, but they’re all struggling. They loved her parents, both of them. How can someone they trusted, called “uncle” affectionately, went boogie-boarding with in the strong Atlantic currents, ate spicy Ivorian food with, have stabbed their “auntie” in the heart while their daughter slept in the next room? The presence of Sharon, the amount of my attention she takes up, is hard for them—they are not greedy children, and they understand, but they are hurting too and they need me. I am not there. I am gone, with Sharon, to view the body (a counselor said this might help her understand the fact of death); with my husband, navigating the complications of a legal system in a dusty undeveloped country where the constitution is half-based on tribal law, half-based on Islam, and thoroughly corrupt so that, even after he confesses to murdering his wife, he is given a one year sentence. He worked with us at the English center and stole a grant we’d just received, and we have no doubt that this explains that short prison sentence. He committed the crime on the twins’ 8th birthday and was released from prison on their 9th birthday.

He now lives with a couple of whom the wife was formerly Yolande’s best friend. This hurts me still.

His daughter wears Ilsa’s t-shirts instead of her own clothes and looks at a family picture of the 5 of us. “Where am I?” she says. She holds her arm next to mine, thinks for a long time, and then goes to the bathroom and begins scrubbing, hard. This breaks my heart anew. She is so beautiful. A woman comes by to braid her hair, so she’ll look nice for her mother’s memorial service. She cries and cries until Ilsa, smiling, holding her hand, sits to have her hair braided too.

I try to journal once while holding her. She takes my pen. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO she writes, wobbly preschool letters following the lines on the page.

That year, by Mother’s Day, Sharon is gone, back to the country of her birth, to live with family known to her only through phone calls and framed pictures on polished side tables. That year, I feel like I was meant to be mother of 4 but am left with 3, a perfect 3 yes, but with one missing all the same, never to be found again. I find a forgotten tiny flip-flop in the sand at the end of the porch but I don’t cry. I just stare at it for a long time, and then go lie down on my bed.

This essay was inspired by the writing prompt “Sensory Details.” I’d planned to write something quite different, but I sat down and suddenly memories of Sharon came pouring out. I’ve never written about her before. She lived with us for a month, but she changed the shape of family for me forever. I have had no news of her since she turned 6. She would be 11 now, but her country has experienced a lot of unrest. I hope and pray she is well and that she has forgiven me for letting her go with her grandmother and aunt, even though we all know logically that was the best choice.

Remember to leave a comment if you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers.

• The winner of Stay Close to Mama is #27 Joy.

Book blogger Elizabeth is celebrating Mother’s Day with her 3; Elliot, who will be 17 this summer, and twins Abel and Ilsa, 15. Learn more about her life in Mauritania, Morocco, and America at her blog Planet Nomad.