Nadine Silverthorne

This week I was asked to be interviewed for a story by the fabulous Rebecca Eckler (I promise to post the link when it's online). The topic? "How to be a cool mom." I guess being a Sweetmama and all, I fit the bill.

Funnily enough, the 28-year-old me would have cringed at that subject. It's kinda like Fight Club, she would have argued. First rule of Cool, we don't talk about Cool. The nearing 35-year-old me, however, was thrilled to be asked. And while I gave her a lot of material, I've been thinking about "What it means to be a cool mom" ever since.

I'm proud of all I've achieved since becoming a mother. Though I wrote and edited in the past, it was my journey as a mother that brought me to this sweet career doorstep. I spend a lot of time and energy trying to "be in-the-know" -- not just in shopping trends, but in technology, in culture, and now the unstoppable force that is social media.

The reality of my "cool mom lifestyle" is that I am constantly struggling with every decision I make. Am I doing what's best for me over what's best for my kids? Is the fact that I'm at work for a good chunk of their day going to scar them for life? When dealing with the kids affects my work, does that make me a bad employee? If I leave them at their aunt's while I go away with my husband for a weekend, does that make me a bad mother? Should I just give it all up and focus on them for the next two decades? If I do that will I lose my identity completely?

The truth is that it's a constant balancing act, one that often has me hanging by a thread. I know I'm not the only mom who feels this way. Working or at home, deciding when to put your needs, interests and self first... well few people I know have this all figured out.

So I ask you -- how do YOU do it? How do you find the balance between self and kids? Login (top right) and leave me comments below.