Our United Nations of Writers… (alphabetical by country)

AUSTRALIA

Inspiration to Dream

Fiona at Inspiration to Dream is a married mother of three amazing and talented MM’s (mere males, as she lovingly calls them) aged 13, 16 and 22 and will become a nana in the middle of 2011. She believes she’s more daunted by becoming a nana than she was about becoming a mother! This Aussie mother figures she will also be a relatively young nana and she’s not sure that she’s really ready for it yet, but then she asks, are we ever really ready for it? Motherhood or Nanahood. (Not really sure that’s a word, but she says it works for her.) Fiona likes to think of herself as honest and forthright and is generally not afraid to speak her mind, which she says sometimes gets her into trouble, but hey, it makes life interesting. She’s hoping to share with you her trials of being a working mother to three adventurous boys, the wife of a Mr Fix-it who is definitely a man’s man and not one of the ‘sensitive new age guy’ generation, as well as, providing her thoughts and views on making her way in the world. Since discovering that she’s the first blogger joining the team from Australia, she also plans to provide a little insight into the ‘Aussie’ life as well. Additionally, Fiona can be found on her personal blog at Inspiration to Dream.

BRAZIL

EcoZiva

Eco, from the greek oikos means home; Ziva has many meanings and roots, including Hebrew (brilliance, light), Slovenian (goddess of life) and Sanskrit (blessing). In Brazil, where EcoZiva has lived for most of her life, giving birth is often termed “giving the light”; thus, she thought, a mother is “home to light” during the nine months of pregnancy, and so the penname EcoZiva came to be for World Moms Blog.

EcoZiva, born in the USA in a multi-ethnic extended family, is married and the mother of a seven-year-old boy and a baby girl. She likes to say she is a stay at home working mother, as she tries to do most of her research at home to be able to stay with the kids as much as possible. Trained as a biologist and presently a post-doctoral university researcher investigating the effectiveness of environmental treaties, she also does some freelance translating and volunteers in the local environmental movement.

EcoZiva enjoys doing many different things at once and has all sorts of interests personally and professionally, which include environmentalism, reiki, Waldorf education, natural birthing, marine ecology, international relations, attachment parenting, extended nursing, etc., etc. Writing is a huge passion and she once had a blog on raw foodism and food disorders, which can still be found here (while she decides whether or not to resuscitate it).

CANADA

Carol @ If By Yes — Vancouver

Carol from If By Yes has lived in four different Canadian provinces as well as the Caribbean. She is now living in Vancouver and is married to a strangely Perfect Husband who shares dual citizenship with Canada and the United States. A former service dog trainer with a degree in Psychology and a diploma in Veterinary Technology, Carol has now turned her attention to training her baby boy, who will also grow up with dual citizenship. In 2008 Carol struggled with depression, which culminated in an emergency room visit and a prescription for antidepressants. Since then, her blog has kept her sane while she went through cognitive behaviour therapy, pregnancy, carrying the Olympic flame, losing her job, and the birth of her son. Even though her baby spent the first three months of his life screaming and never seems to close his giant eyes, Carol has found that motherhood suits her, and she is doing much better, although she still struggles with occasional anxiety. As well as being a wife, mother, and professional worrier, Carol is known for wearing inside-out underwear, microwaving yoghurt, killing house plants, over-thinking the mundane, and pointing out grammatical errors in “Twilight”. When not trying to wrestle her baby down for a nap, Carol loves to read and write. Long-obsessed with animals, she is now discovering that babies aren’t that different. As her baby grows she finds more and more that her old techniques from dog training days work on her baby, sometimes, too! She is looking forward to sharing her trials and tribulations of parenthood and life in Vancouver with World Moms Blog and hopes that everyone will get a good laugh at her expense. Carol can also be found on her blog, If By Yes, and on Twitter @IfByYesTweets

Kirsten Doyle — Toronto

Kirsten is a South African-born Canadian who lives in Toronto. One summer afternoon, about a year after her arrival in Canada, she met a mysterious stranger in a park. Ten years and two children later, they finally made it down the aisle! Kirsten is proud to be Mom to George (7) and James (5).  George was diagnosed with autism when he was almost 4, and although special needs parenting has been filled with challenges and despair, there have also been many moments of triumph and some wonderful progress.  James, who was either lucky or unlucky (depending on your point of view) to be born on Christmas Day, is one big adventure of discovery. When Kirsten is not trying to keep up with her energetic kids, she is either working at her project management job, or keeping her sanity by going out for long runs.  Every year she runs a half-marathon for a cause – to raise funds for autism services.  Someday, when (if!) time allows, she will be either brave enough or stupid enough to train for a full marathon. Connect with her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @running4autism. Be sure to check out her personal blog, Running for Autism!

JC Little – Montreal

JC Little is The Animated Woman: mom, animator, humorist, and social media minx. Her short films and cartoons are showcased at TheAnimatedWoman.com, and she has a Disney-syndicated TV show My Life ME. She’s a Wacom-featured artist, and writes/draws monthly for the “perfectly mediocre” AimingLow.com.

JC grew up in Canada and Hong Kong, the middle child in a mixed race family: Chinese, British and Italian. She’s a happily married mom of three and a director who’s 28 year career in animation has spanned commercials, feature films, new media and TV series. JC created and directed the kids TV series My Life ME, now airing in Canada, France, Germany and Disney Channel Asia.

As the founder and president of Montreal based company Little Animation, she’s focused on creating meaningful animated video content for children, such as Kids’ Stories International, and the Little Earth Charter. JC built LittleAnimation4Kids.com, earth-friendly games for pre-literate children. Little Animation is currently producing a half-hour comedy entitled The Footprint, to introduce children to their eco-footprint.

Multitasking Mumma — Ontario

Exuberant mother of one, almost wife to another, Leighann Jones, also known as Multitasking Mumma, makes her home in Ontario Canada. When she’s not wrestling Polar Bears and Caribou from her front lawn, she’s working full time in a job she’s passionate about and truly enjoys going to. Her blog is a place where she can write about her struggles with Post Partum Depression, her love for her daughter and the love of her life, and dole out throat punches weekly. Leighann is an advocate for PPD, mental health, and child abuse awareness and encourages all bloggers to find their voice. We are all here to do great things. You can find her on her blog, Multitasking Mumma, and on Twitter @MultitaskMumma.

Salma — Toronto 

Having had a semi- arranged marriage (her request), Salma is very curious about love and marriage. Her hubby is sure they are a unique couple, if not one in a million. Her roots are tied to Jamaica, while her hubby is from Yemen. Their routes, however, have led them to Egypt and Canada, which is most interesting because their lives are filled with cultural and language barriers.

An Imperfect Stepford Wife is what Salma describes herself as because she simply cannot get it right. She loves decorating, travelling, parenting,learning, writing, reading and cooking, She also delights in all things mischievous, simply because it drives her hubby crazy.

Salma has 2 daughters and a baby boy. The death of her first son in 2009 was very difficult, however, after the birth of her Rainbow baby in 2010 (one day after her birthday) she has made a commitment to laugh more and channel the innocence of youth through her children.  She has blogged about her loss, her pregnancy with Rainbow, and Islamic life.

While she is on Maternity Leave, she also spends her days as a Playful World Traveller going on creative journeys with her Rainbow child. Even though she earned a degree in Criminology, Salma’s true passion is Social Work. She truly appreciates the beauty of the human race. She writes critical essays on topics such as feminism and the law, cultural relativity and the role of women in Islam and “the veil”.

Salma works full-time, however, she believes that unless the imagination of a child is nourished, it will go to waste. She follows the philosophy of un-schooling and always finds time to teach and explore with her children. From this stance, she pushes her children to be passionate about every aspect of life, and to strive to be life-long learners and teachers. You can read about her Imperfect Stepford Chronicles  and her world travelling fun Chasing Rainbow.

CHINA

Taryn — Beijing

You could say that Taryn has travel in her blood: a South African-born Canadian, Taryn has lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and Indiana, and has travelled extensively to Iceland, Israel, Italy, India, and a few places that don’t begin with the letter I. After a brief stint as a
travel guide writer, where she realized that her dream job was actually a lot of work for not much pay, she gave in to the lure of a steady
job (and pay cheque) and settled in Canada’s beautiful capital,Ottawa.

In 2010, she embarked on her biggest adventure when her daughter Charlotte was born. A few months later, her hubby J. accepted
a work assignment in Russia, and the family moved to Moscow. In 2011, Taryn accepted a work assignment of her own in Beijing, China where she currently lives. While excited about the opportunity to live in the world’s biggest up-and-coming country (and to practice herMandarin skills), moving to China has meant leaving J. behind in Russia while he finishes up his work assignment before moving toBeijing this summer.

In the meantime, Taryn juggles career-dom, living in a foreign culture, and being a temporary single-mom to a spunky toddler. Taryn is also the blogger behind Mama’s Got Wanderlust, where she writes about her adventures in travelling, parenting, and living abroad.

EAST TIMOR

Shaula Bellour — Dili

Shaula Bellour was born on an Air Force base in California and grew up in Redmond, Washington. She now lives in Dili, Timor-Leste (East Timor) with her British husband and 3-year old boy/girl twins (F & Z). She has degrees in International Relations and Gender and Development and works as a consultant for the UN and non-government organizations. Shaula has lived and worked in California, France, Kenya, Colorado, New York, England, Eritrea, Kosovo, Lebanon and until recently, the lovely state of Oregon. She plans to find her way back to the Pacific Northwest one day, but until then she’s enjoying living in the big wide world with her family. In her spare time, she can be found frolicking in the sand and sea with her dynamic duo, dodging potholes, pigs and pedestrians, navigating foreign grocery aisles, and doing her best to cope with the tropical heat (she’s a NW girl after all).

 FRANCE

Jennie — Paris

Jennie dreamt she would marry a French man at the age of 18, and spun off to study abroad in Avignon in France in order to meet him.  It didn’t happen that year.  Even with the whirlwind of travel in the four years following college (where she dated a French man for three out of those four years), nothing came to fruition in the way of wedding bells and lasting love.

But just when she had completely forgotten about the dream, she finally met her French husband in NY.  Rather, she finally opened her eyes and saw him after being acquainted with him for years.

Jennie has lived in Taiwan, France, Eastern Africa, New York City and currently lives just outside of Paris.  She speaks rudimentary Mandarin, passable French and has had a varied career in Human Resources, Asian financial sales and humanitarian work.  She is currently a mother to three young children, with writing and teaching gigs on the side, and blogs at A Lady in France.

INDONESIA

Lady E — Bali

Originally from the US, Lady E has credited her intense wanderlust and desire to live around the globe to her nomadic childhood.  Every two to three years, her father’s work with a large international company provided the opportunity to know a different part of the US (VA, OH, PA, GA, SC, NY) and eventually Europe (Germany and Italy) and Asia (Thailand and Japan).  Though her parents and siblings finally settled down in the heartland of America, Lady E kept the suitcases in action and has called Ghana, South Korea, Togo, and now Bali home.

Single Mom to a fabulous five-year-old citizen of the world, Lady E is an educator and theatre artist who is fascinated with world cultures and artistic practices. Her big dream is to some day run an organization that teaches conflict resolution and cultural understanding through the arts. In the meantime, Lady E and her Little Man, also with an E, plan to keep investigating theatre and influencing education, one continent at a time.

With an Associates degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, a BFA in Acting, a Master’s degree in Education, and an honorary degree in hospitality management (she did mention the waitressing acting degree, right?), LadyE struggles occasionally with finding her “brand,” and wonders if she really needs to. You can read some of her ramblings and perhaps find the common thread by checking our her personal blog here: http://erinmthrelfall.posterous.com/

Maureen — Jakarta

Maureen is an Indonesian by birth, yet westernized woman. Recently divorced, she’s a mom to one boy who never ceases to amaze her. They are now living back in her home country of Indonesia. Growing up a miner’s daughter she had spent large chunks of her childhood in remote parts of Indonesia’s small mining towns.

She used to think she was a nomad, and her childhood makes her love traveling, sometimes to places off the beaten path.

She moved to the States to marry her now ex husband and blogging was her way to communicate with both, her family and friends. Her blog, Tatterscoops, took off from there to what it has evolved to be today.

When she was still married, she lived in Upstate, NY and Dothan, Alabama before moving to Guangzhou, China for a couple of months. Returning to her home country permanently since 2009 and having gone through her divorce, she says that blogging has become her therapy.

Today, Maureen is busy rebuilding a new life for her and her son while trying to juggle single motherhood and surviving in a country where divorce is still deemed as a disgrace, a shame. By her writing, she’s also hoping to change that stigma and to inspire other women, especially Indonesian women, to break free from that chain.

ISRAEL

Susie Newday — Tel Aviv

Susie from New Day New Lesson was born in New York. At age 21 with a kid and a half, she moved with her husband to Israel where they spent four years as members of a small kibbutz on top of a mountain with a great view. Susie and her family are Jewish and modern orthodox. They keep kosher and observe the Sabbath which helps her disconnect from the online world a day a week.

Susie is a registered nurse and now works three days a week in outpatient oncology after 15 years as an ER nurse. (And to answer the most common question people ask her, no — oncology is not depressing because her courageous patients give her so much more than she gives them.) She also works part time managing the Hebrew & English websites for a medical services company, and she is trying to finish her practical work for the life coaching course she just finished.

Most importantly, Susie is a happily married mother of five amazing kids from age 5-21. (Which also makes her a chef, maid, tutor, chauffeur, launderer…) Susie’s blog, New Day, New Lesson, is her attempt to help others and herself view the lessons life hands all of us in a positive light. She will also be the first to admit that blogging is great free therapy as well. Susie’s hope for the world? Increasing kindness, tolerance and love.

INDIA

The Alchemist

The Alchemist (thus known in the blogging world) was once a tech-savvy gal who lived in the corporate world of sleek vehicles and their electronics. She has a Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering, but after working for 6 years as a Design Engineer, she decided to quit it all to become a Stay-At-Home-Mom with her almost 5-year-old son! This smart mom was born and raised in India, and she has moved to live in coastal India with her husband, who is a physician, and her son who has just started kindergarten. She is discovering that being a full-time home maker is far more tiring and that taking care of a pre-schooler requires a great deal of patience and tolerance. She loves it though and is getting better at it along the way. She is a voracious reader and reads books across all genres. Though she got all straight As in her Engineering program, her heart associates itself more with English literature. She is currently writing her first novel when not blogging and discovering that she enjoys writing most. She still cannot fathom why it took her all these years to return to her true calling! The Alchemist feels World Moms Blog is one of the coolest places to hang out at and looks forward to read and share parenting experiences across the globe. She can be found rambling at The Alchemist’sblog (www.myworldrevolvesaroundyou.wordpress.com) or can be reached at thealchemist185@gmail.com.

Fire Crystals — Garden City Fire Crystals, born in the Middle Eastern country of Kuwait, is now a techie living in the state known as God’s Own Country in India. Her interests are books (her favourite!), blogging and computers. However, with the arrival of her little one, sleep is another activity that is fast making her top 3 list! On another note, this mother dreads her kitchen like the plague!  She hates cooking, especially Indian cooking due to the large variety of spices and things that need to go in to make it palatable, though she has no qualms over devouring any product from the cooking range. However, the thought of having to do any major cooking still makes her all flustered and anxious. Fire Crystals has an 11-month old son and a wonderful Hubby, two of her favourite people in the world. (Awww, how sweet!) Both support her writing initiatives: her Hubby by reading her work when she pesters him enough, and her son by helpfully hitting all the keys on her PC. She has recently become a rejuvenated writer since starting a personal blog and then letting it rust away in some unknown corner of Blogger. After her son was born last March, Fire Crystals had an epiphany in the form of a blogger friend who had discovered her under-used blog and encouraged her to write again. So, after a hiatus of 2 years, she transferred her belongings to WordPress and began blogging again. And, this time she was reeled back in — hook, line and sinker! Fire Crystals came across World Moms Blog soon after it’s launch, and admits to being addicted to the articles in it. Now, she is thrilled to be a World Moms Blog contributor, too!  She hopes her bevy of experiences as a newbie mother will add variety to the blog and enrich it, and sends out a “Namaskaar!” (salutations) to all our readers!  You can also find Fire Crystals on her personal blog, Merry Musing.

JAPAN

Melanie Oda — Yokohama

If you ask Melanie Oda where she is from, she will answer “Georgia.”  (Unless you ask her in Japanese. Then she will say “America.”) It sounds nice, and it’s a one-word answer, which is what most people expect. The truth is more complex. She moved around several small towns in the south growing up. Such is life when your father is a Southern Baptist preacher of the hellfire and brimstone variety.

She came to Japan in 2000 as an assistant language teacher, and has never managed to leave. She currently resides in Yokohama, on the outskirts of Tokyo (but please don’t tell anyone she described it that way! Citizens of Yokohama have a lot of pride). No one is more surprised to find her here, married to a Japanese man and with two bilingual children (aged four and seven), than herself. And possibly her mother.

You can read more about her misadventures in Asia on her blog, HamakkoMommy.

LAOS (coming soon!)

Dee Harlow

One of Dee’s earliest memories was flying on a trans-Pacific flight from her birthplace in Bangkok, Thailand, to the United States when she was six years old. Ever since then, it has always felt natural for her to criss-cross the globe. So after growing up in the northeast of the US, her life, her work and her curiosity have taken her to over 32 countries. And it was in the 30th country while serving in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan that she met her husband. Together they embarked on a career in international humanitarian aid working in refugee camps in Darfur, Sudan, and the tsunami torn coast of Aceh, Indonesia.
Dee is now a full-time mother of one-year old twins and continues to criss-cross the globe every two years with her husband who is in the US Foreign Service. They currently live in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, unfortunately renowned for being the “murder capital of the world”. While not the ideal place to nurture the first two years of their children’s lives, the challenges have allowed them to find richness within the limited (albeit safe) confines of their daily routine – a skill they will take with them wherever they go. They look forward to their next post in Vientiane, Laos in 2012. In order to establish roots for her family, she and her husband have a home in Denver, Colorado, her husband’s hometown. It is a place where they reunite with family, old friends and neighbors in between their ‘homes’ overseas.

MALAYSIA

Alison Lee — Kuala Lumpur

Alison only started blogging at the end of March (2011), but feels like she’s been writing forever. When she was a kid, this Malaysian mom wanted to be a journalist, specifically for an entertainment magazine, so that she could interview celebrities. (Yes, she admits to stalking celebrities.) She ended up with a degree in Communications from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.  Upon returning to Malaysia, her first job was selling online advertisements. It lasted 6 months. She says that selling was clearly not her forte. Alison then ended up in events management for the next 18 months. That landed her a job at a local public relations consulting firm, where her clients included Discovery Channel, MTV, SK-II and hey, Nickelodeon! There, she wrote press releases, proposals and press invites. However, this wasn’t enough to satisfy her need to write, but she stuck with it. After 4 years at the PR firm, she landed a job as PR Manager at Nike Malaysia, and subsequently, Marketing Manager at Nike Indonesia. Writing was still in her, but her biological clock kicked her career ambitions and writing desire to the curb. Alison wanted a baby. She quit her job and worked on getting pregnant, and did! Zayn, her son, was born December 29, 2009 in Perth, Australia. She flew back to Kuala Lumpur with him when he was just 16 days old. Alison loves staying home with her son, and says she doesn’t miss the big, bad corporate world at all. Now that her son is a little older, somehow she finds she has a little more time on her hands (haha!), and the urge to write came back with full force. So, she started her little blog, where she wanted to write about stuff she finds online for her baby, other awesome things for kids and, of course, moms. Inevitably, writing about motherhood comes in. She says, “That’s my job after all. It’s my life.” You can find Alison also writing at her blog, Mama Wants This! 

NEW ZEALAND

Karyn Van Der Zwet — Napier

Karyn, a mother of three and ex-teacher, is also known in the blogging world as “kloppenmum”. One day she realised that her eldest son was turning out sad and tantrum-y – not what she had intended at all. So, she spent more than three years reading everything she could about the human condition : neurology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, physical health… She and her husband completely changed how she parented their three children…all through trial and error and with lots of mistakes.  But now, seven years or so later, all is well! Karyn is a New Zealander, born and raised – born in Hastings, grew up in rural Hawke’s Bay — and she now lives in Napier.  She was a primary teacher for mumble number of years. She travelled for four years around Europe, but not in the usual Kiwi OE way – instead, she did it randomly and by spending long(er than most) amounts of time in a few places. She taught some more and then met her husband and eventually had three children.  And, this mum is currently coming out of the baby coma with a 16 month old! Karyn can also be found on her blog, kloppenmum. Photo credit to Sonya Lethbridge (Cheers, Sony!).

NIGERIA

Asha

Asha is an Indian-American woman who recently moved with her family to Lagos, Nigeria. She grew up outside of Boston but spent her summers visiting relatives in India. This mom of three studied English Literature in college and met her future husband on the first day of the spring semester when he arrived at class five minutes late. They dated for nine years before their big fat Indian/Nigerian wedding.

Meredith – Lagos

NORWAY

Asta Burrows – Oslo

Asta is a Norwegian thirty something, married, working mum to a wee lad who is almost one.  She grew up in Norway, but moved to London, England after she met her husband.  After living there during her twenties, she has since returned to Norway and settled down in her nation’s capital of Oslo to raise her family. She finds herself slowly turning into her own mother when her free time is spent reading, walking, knitting and meeting up with other mums for coffee.  (Ok, she still secretly loves going to the pub, too!).  However, there isn’t much time for any of the above, as she now enjoys spending most of her time crawling around on the floor, while playing with her one year old! Asta can be found on Facebook at the Asta Burrows Page and on Twitter @AstaBurrows.  And, her latest edition is her new blog, Asta Burrow’s Blog!

PHILIPINES

Martine de Luna

Martine was an expat kid in her growing up years, spending her childhood and adolescence in Hong Kong and Singapore. Thanks to the British international school system, Martine developed a love for writing at a young age, joining poetry contests and participating in writing projects and activities as early as primary school. She has been writing for publications since she was 15, when she apprenticed at a local magazine publications company in the Philippines, her home country.

Martine pursued Journalism and Creative Writing studies while she spent her late teens back in Manila, the Philippines, via the distance education program of the London School of Journalism and the International Correspondence School. She ended up becoming a preschool assistant teacher, and eventually conceptualized a tutorial program for elementary and high school students, which she ran for seven years.

Today, Martine is a work-at-home Mom and passionate blogger. Her blog, Dainty Mom, is turning 2 this March 2012. It won for Best Parenting and Home Blog for the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards, which was a pleasant surprise since the last time Martine won anything was in Primary 6, during a 100 meter sprint at her school’s sport’s day. While she’s not blogging, she’s busy making words awesome for her clients, who avail of her marketing writing, website writing, and blog consulting services. She’s also an attachment parenting, homeschool and breastfeeding advocate.

Martine now resides in busy, sunny Manila, the Philippines, with her husband, Ton, and toddler son, Vito Sebastian.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Jennifer Burden – New Jersey

Jennifer Burden is the Founder and Chief Editor of World Moms Blog, which writes about global motherhood, culture, social good and human rights.  World Moms Blog currently writes from 22 countries, has over 50 bloggers and is a public service and volunteer effort.

As the stay-at-home mother of two little girls, whom she hopes to raise with a worldly view of acceptance and respect for people of all cultures, religions and geographies, Jennifer volunteers to make the world a better place by getting more mothers involved in social good efforts through the Internet and at home. In the past, she has worked on Wall St. and at the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve in finance.

Through World Moms Blog, Jennifer has recently volunteered a grass-roots initiative for the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign.  She was also invited by the UN Foundation to speak at their Volunteer Summit this past January in Washington, D.C. about her grass-roots initiatives and why she, as a mother, supports vaccinations for children in developing countries.

Currently, Jennifer and World Moms Blog are working on a grass-roots global documentary with the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunizations) in Geneva, Switzerland. She voluntarily pitched the idea to GAVI, GAVI hired a producer and in the next few months World Moms Blog contributors around the world will be filming for the documentary to raise awareness for children on the planet who need vaccines most.

In addition, Jennifer was the first invited guest e-mail blogger for the ABC News/UN Foundation’s Million Moms Challenge campaign – currently over 100,000 mothers signed up! Her writing has also been featured on Mamapedia.

Tara B. — Washington (State)

Tara is a native Pennsylvanian who moved out to the greater Seattle area (sight unseen) in 1998 with her then boyfriend/now husband to start their grand life adventure together. Despite the difficult fact that their family is a plane ride away, the couple fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and have put down roots. They have 2 beautiful, super charged little boys and recently moved out of the Seattle suburbs further east into the country, trading in a Starbucks on every corner for coyotes in the backyard! Tara loves the outdoors (hiking, biking, camping). And, when her family isn’t out in nature, they are hunkered down at home with friends, sharing a meal, playing games, and generally having fun. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and looks forward to sharing her experiences on World Moms Blog!

Galit Breen — Minnesota

Once upon a time Galit Breen was a TRAVELER. She met amazing people and ate delicious food. And all was well with the world. And then, she started her real life. She became a STUDENT earning a BS in Human Development and an MA in Education. She became a classroom and reading TEACHER. She met a man on the internet (when it was gasp-worthy and new) and became his WIFE. She became a MINNESOTAN shortly after that, and he still owes her one for that. But the biggest earthquake shake to her soul was becoming a MOM. The interrupted sleep. The crying. The diapers. The lack of sleep. Did she mention the lack of sleep? But there was also the attachment, the touch, the bungee cords to her heart. Sigh. So today her labels are woven together. Tightly. A wife of one! A Mama of three! And a brand new puggle owner! Of one, people. Just one new puppy, thankyouverymuch. To keep her grounded and to add to the lack of lack of sleep factor, she writes. She writes about Motherhood. Parenting. Spirituality. Feminism. Education. Books. Writing. Balance. And Chocolate. Her writing is sometimes sarcastic, sometimes heart-warming and always transparent. Galit is a columnist at TC Jewfolk and has been published in places such as Jewesses With Attitude, Kveller and Scary Mommy. She is honored to connect with you here, at World Mom’s Blog. Galit can be reached by E-mail galitbreen@gmail.com or Twitter @galitbreen.  And don’t forget to check out her personal blog, These Little Waves!

Margie Bryant — Arkansas

Margie is a late thirty-something mom of three boys who, thanks to the slowly recovering economy, is currently unemployed and a full-time student. She lives in Little Rock, the heart of Arkansas, with her boyfriend (future husband) of three years and is the mom of three biracial boys; Isaiah(15), Caleb (9) and Elijah (born 6/8/97 – died 7/2/97). In between loudly cheering on her sons at their football and soccer games, she finds time to study for her Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts with a Technical Writing and Legal Studies focus. She dreams of the day when she obtains her Masters degree but even more so, she dreams of deciding what Masters program to pursue. In her role as Manager/Publicist/Agent/Groupie, she is helping the love of her life pursue his dreams in his rapidly growing radio career. When not spending time at any number of the boys’ school/sporting events, she likes visiting with family and friends, and she is an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan, loves to swim, enjoys books, films and music.  Margie relaxes by indulging in a Grey Goose Cosmopolitan with her long time circle of girl friends and can quote just about every single episode of Sex & the City. Her life has been one big adventure in twists, turns and bad decisions but is finally at a happy, stable and loving place. She can be found on Facebook at and Twitter @TheHunnyB or on her blog, The Pink Pills Make Me the Happiest.

Courtney Cappallo  — Massachusetts

Courtney Cappallo is a mom of two girls, ages 5 and 2-years-old.  She is living her dream life by residing on Cape Cod and being able to stay at home with her two little beauties.  Courtney is currently homeschooling both of her daughters for Kindergarten and preschool, respectively. Courtney uses a mix of Montessori style education with Charlotte Mason.  She is a strong believer in teaching to the five senses. Courtney’s homeschooling efforts are unique, as she uses the latest technology of the Smartboard. She is also taking on the task of learning Spanish as a second language, as well as, teaching her two children and husband Spanish. Prior to becoming a homeschooling teacher, Courtney was the Director of Marketing for Simon Property Group, which is the largest U.S. real estate company. Courtney was Simon’s Director of Marketing for the Burlington Mall, Arsenal Mall and Cape Cod Mall. Courtney is a graduate of Villanova University and is proud of her small town roots from growing up in Oxford, Pennsylvania, which only has two traffic lights! She can be found making homeschooling lessons and more at  http://www.tableof4please.com!

Allison Charleston – New York

Allison is a 35-year-old attorney-turned stay at home mom. This New York City mom lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her 2-year-old son, Chase, and her husband, Andy. In her former life, she was an attorney practicing in a mega firm on NYC’s Park Avenue, putting in long hours, working hard and reveling in the fast pace of her life. She loved living in “the city”, and when she could, she took advantage of all it had to offer. But, when Chase was born over 2 years ago, that all changed. These days, the work has changed from writing legal briefs to changing diapers and the hours are longer, but she wouldn’t have it any other way!  Allison is enjoying her adventures as a metropolitan mommy, raising Chase in New York City and trying (almost anything) to have a second child.

Maggie Ellison — South Carolina

Maggie is so grateful to be raising her 2 children with her husband in the low country of South Carolina.  Life at the beach is what she’s always known, although living in SC is new to this NJ native!  The beauty of the live oaks and the palmettos takes her breath away on a daily basis and being able to go to the beach all year is a dream for her. Art and music have also always been a part of Maggie’s life, and she is happy that her family has the same love and appreciation for it that she does.  Maggie and her family are also very active.  Her husband coaches both kids in soccer, and they like to spend their time outdoors kayaking, biking, swimming, camping, etc.  They try to seize every moment they can together, and they feel that it’s not just the family time that is important.  They want their kids to know a life of activity and respect for the outdoors, expose them to new things and teach them about the world! Maggie and her family are no strangers to overcoming life’s challenges.  They’ve had to uproot their family several times when jobs have been lost in the economic crisis.  They also lovingly face the challenges of having a child diagnosed with special needs.  Through all this, Maggie has learned to celebrate the good times and never take them for granted.  Her family is everything to her, and she is incredibly grateful for every day she has with them and for every moment she has shared with them.  Not a day goes by that she doesn’t tell them she loves them and how lucky she is to be her kids’ mommy.  How sweet!

Eva Fannon – Washington (State)

Eva Fannon is a working mom who lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her hubby and two girls, a pre-schooler and a toddler.  She was born and raised on the east coast and followed her husband out west when he got a job offer that he couldn’t refuse.  Eva has always been a planner, so it took her a while to accept that no matter how much you plan and prepare, being a mom means a new and different state of “normal”. She has learned the hard way, that no, she can’t still get to work by 8 AM in the same outfit she first puts on in the morning.  Instead, she gets dressed AFTER she has gotten the girls ready to go, and she always assumes that she’ll get wherever she’s going at LEAST 30 minutes LATER than the time she thinks she will get there.  What a wise woman! But, despite the extra steps, she wouldn’t trade being a mother for anything in the world.  She and her husband are working on introducing the girls to the things they love – travel, the great outdoors, and enjoying time with family and friends. Eva can be found on Twitter @EvaFannon.

Amy Hillis — Ohio

Amy is a native Chicagoan that currently resides just outside of Cincinnati, OH. A city girl, through and through, she’s still adjusting to small town life. Amy has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art with a minor in French from Elmhurst College.  She was working on her Master’s degree at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, when she became pregnant with her 3rd child. Although this angel boy was only here for a very short time – he left quite a legacy. Nathaniel was born with a rare genetic disorder called Citrullinemia.  Amy and her husband, James, went on to have 4 more boys, 3 of whom were also born with Citrullinemia. In January 2011, her youngest son, David passed away from complications of a liver transplant performed to ‘cure’ the Citrullinemia. Now a stay-home mom of 5, she started blogging in October 2010, while  David was still in the hospital. Two of her other sons have had successful liver transplants to cure their genetic disorders.  Her 2 older children still live in Chicago. When not hanging out with her kids, she spends her ‘me’ time writing, sewing, reading & walking. Amy also spends a generous amount of time online. She can be found on Facebook on Twitter @transplantedx3, and you can check out her blog, Transplanted Thoughts.

Dr. Jeanelle Marshawn Lanham — Arizona

Dr. Jeanelle Marshawn Lanham is an Indiana native now living in Arizona, USA. She’s the Founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Teen Center – Hodge Podge the Teen Cafè™ (http://www.HdgPdg.com), CEO of Iron WoMan Inc™ (http://www.IronWoManInc.com), a writer, is known to teens all over the world as the S.W.A.G Doc™ (http://www.TheSWAGDoc.com), a wife and most importantly a mom to two awesome boys. She joined the Army when she was a senior in high school because she did exceptionally well on the testing and was involved in the Gulf War. She served 8 years and is now a disabled Vet but that doesn’t get her down, nor stop her. Dr. Jeanelle Marshawn Lanham loves to write and help teenagers feel better about themselves. She knows ASL and signs with her deaf friends when she can. She’s always busy writing and building her Brand and found it great when she was given the opportunity to write for World’s Mom Blog. She has many goals on her bucket list and once her business has grown to her satisfaction, her goal is to own her own bull(s) (yes, real bulls!) and have them participate in the PBR (Professional Bull Riding). Traveling is a love of hers and one day she will visit Italy! You can find Dr. Jeanelle Marshawn Lanham on FaceBook at http://www.FaceBook.com/theSWAGDoc or Twitter @JeanelleLanham – Her heart is true to Rehabilitating Teens, Coaching Moms & Encouraging others.

Nicole Melancon — Minnesota

Third Eye Mom is a stay-at-home mom living in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her two children Max (6) and Sophia (4).  Her children keep her continually busy and she is constantly amazed by the imagination, energy and joy of life that they possess!  A world wanderer at heart, she has also been fortunate to have visited over 30 countries by either traveling, working, studying or volunteering and she continues to keep on the traveling path. A graduate of French and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she met her husband Paul, she has always been a Midwest gal living in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Chicago. This adventurous mom loves to be outside doing anything athletic (hiking, running, biking, skiing, snowshoeing or simply enjoying nature), to travel and volunteer abroad, to write, and to spend time with her beloved family and friends. Her latest venture involves her dream to raise enough money on her own to build and open a brand-new school in rural Nepal, and to teach her children to live compassionately, open-minded lives that understand different cultures and the importance of giving back to those in need. Third Eye Mom believes strongly in the value of making a difference in the world, no matter how small it may be.  If there is a will, there is a way, and that anything is possible (as long as you set your heart and mind to it!).  Visit her on her blog, www.thirdeyemom.com, where she writes about her travels and experiences in other lands!

Maman Aya — New York

Maman Aya is a full-time working mother of 2 beautiful children, a son who is 4 and a half (as he likes to tell anyone who will listen) and a daughter who just turned one.  She is raising her children in the high-pressure city of New York within a bilingual and multi-religious home. Aya was born in Canada to a French mother who then swiftly whisked her away to NYC, where she grew up and spent her entire life (with the exception of 4 years in the Greater Boston area to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Brandeis University).  She was raised following Jewish traditions and married an Irish Catholic who doesn’t speak any other language (which did not go over too well with her mother), but who is learning French through his children. This working mom enjoys her job but feels “mommy guilt” while at work.  She is lucky to have the flexibility to work from home on Thursdays and recently decided to change her schedule to have “mommy Fridays”, but still feels torn about her time away from her babies. Maman Aya is not a writer by any stretch of the imagination, but has been drawn in by the mothers who write for World Moms Blog.  She looks forward to joining the team and trying her hand at writing!

Mom Photographer — California

Mom Photographer was born, and raised in Poland.  Having worked as a radio news reporter and spokesperson for Cultural Association (ASK), she graduated University with a master’s degree in Mass-Media Education. This daring mom hitchhiked from Berlin, Germany through Switzerland and France to Barcelona, Spain and back again! Mom Photographer left Poland to become an Au Pair in California and looked after twins of gay parents for almost 2 years.  There, she met her future husband through Couch Surfing, an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals. Today, she is a happily married SAHM to a 1-year-old daughter, and she is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional photographer. One and a half years ago, she started her blog as a display for her 365 Project (one picture a day for a year). The project went unfinished, but she kept blogging — mostly by posting her pictures. A few months ago, she discovered a new world of blogging moms through Mama’s Little Ne(s)twork and Bloggy Moms. From that day, her blog became more about motherhood, sharing recipes and connecting with other moms through her pictures (of course). She says that her blog is a great way to practice her English, as well! Recently, Mom Photographer decided that she wanted to start sharing more about her Polish background, and her way of getting used to America (or not), too. You can find this artistic mom on her Mom Photographer Blog, her website, Twitter @MomPhotographer or on Facebook!

Kyla P’an — Massachusetts

Kyla was born in suburban Philadelphia but tried not to let that stifle her deep desire to see the world. Going away to boarding school at a young age exposed her to many international friends and opportunities to go overseas. Her first major trip was when she was 14 and had to travel from Philadelphia to the Island of Hydra, Greece solo in order to visit her close friend from school. After that, there were many subsequent trips in her teens and twenties including: three months on the rails in Europe, three years studying and working in Japan and nine months traveling back from Japan to the US when she was done. Kyla took all of her Japanese knowledge and language ability and threw it right out the window when she met her Chinese-American husband in 2000. They currently reside outside of Boston, Massachusetts where they are raising two spunky kids (nearly 5 and 2) a dwarf hamster and a Betta fish. Kyla stays home with her kids full-time and when the kids are asleep, she also is a freelance writer, copy editor, book purveyor and blogger. You can read more about Kyla’s outlook on the world and motherhood on her blog Growing Muses.

Jennifer Prestholdt — Minnesota

Jennifer Prestholdt is a lawyer and the Deputy Director of The Advocates for Human Rights, a volunteer-based human rights organization that works locally, nationally and internationally. Her work in human rights takes her around the world, but she spends most of her time in Minneapolis, MN, where she lives with her children (two sons and one daughter), her husband, an elderly cat and a dwarf hamster.

As Jennifer’s kids are now all in school (1^st, 4^th and 6^th grades), she is finally finding more time to do the things that she used to love to do, especially running, writing and knitting.  Jennifer loves to travel and has had the dubious distinction of having been accidentally locked in a bathroom on five continents so far.  Australia and Antarctica await!

In January 2011, Jennifer made a New Year’s Resolution to start writing about her experiences in order to share with her children the lessons learned from 15 years of work in human rights.  The result is her personal blog, The Human Rights Warrior.  The name comes from her son Simon, who was extremely disappointed to learn that his mother is a lawyer, not a warrior.

You can find her on her blog www.humanrightswarrior.com or on Twitter @Jprestholdt.

Angela Y. – California

Angela Y. is in her mid-thirties and attempting to raise her two daughters (big girl, R, 3 years; little girl, M, 1 year) with her husband in San Francisco, CA. After spending ten years climbing the corporate ladder, she traded it all in to be a stay-at-home mom! Her perspective of raising a child in the city is definitely different from those who have been city dwellers all their lives, as she grew up in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) surrounded by her extended family. Angela Y. and her husband are on their own on the west coast of the United States — the only family help they receive is when someone comes for a visit. But, the lifestyle in San Francisco is like no other for them, so there, they stay! This exercise conscious mom is easily recognized, especially when she is riding around her husband-built bike with two seats on the back (that’s no joke, see her pic!). And, when she’s not hanging out with the girls, you can find Angela Y. in the kitchen. She loves to cook for her family, especially dessert, and then eats some herself when no one is looking!  Sneaky, mom!

Twin Mom 112 — Pennsylvania

Born on the West Coast, my parents quickly came back to their roots on the East Coast, and so the “Jersey Girl” stigma was put upon me.  I spent the first part of my childhood in Northern New Jersey – but eventually settled in Central Jersey, where I will live for the next 25 years! Even branching out to attend college at West Virginia University – I still found myself surrounded by “Jersey” – some things you just can’t get away from! I was married at 27, and my husband and I transitioned from New Jersey to Pennsylvania.  After building our house and getting acclimated to our “new home,” starting a family was definitely our next step.  Unfortunately, we never anticipated the journey we would embark on. For the next 3 years, our introduction to the world of infertility was something that we never expected!  Growing-up, I just assumed that when I was “ready” to be a mother … I would.  Something greater than me had other plans! After an intense time of highs and lows – we got the greatest news ever!  On May 24^th, 2005 it was confirmed – parenting twins would be the next stage of our lives.  And so it began…I never imaged, for one second, I would be the mother to twin daughters! Today, like most parents, “juggling” is a word I use often! I attempt to “juggle” my full-time job as the Sales and Marketing Director for a catering venue with my job as a mother.  Together with my husband and our families – we make it work! I am so proud to be a part of World Moms Blog.  I believe that the lessons I can learn from other mothers are invaluable.  I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a wonderful community of mothers!

Wall Street Mama — New Jersey

Wall Street Mama was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to NJ when she was a teenager.  She fell in love with New York City and set her mind to one thing after college – working on Wall Street.  She has spent the last 16 years working on the trading floor at three major banks.  As an Institutional Salesperson, she is responsible for helping large corporations and money funds invest their short term cash in the fixed income part of the market.  She lives in the suburbs of central NJ with her husband of 11 years, their amazing 21 month old boy and their first baby – a very spoiled Maltese.  She has baby #2 on the way and is expecting a little girl in June 2012.  She is a full time working mother and struggles with “having it all” while wondering if that is even possible.

Wall Street Mama was married at the age of 25 but waited to have children because she felt she was too focused on her career which required a lot of traveling and entertaining.  When she was finally ready, she thought she could plan the exact month she was ready to have a child, like everything else she planned in her life.  She was shocked and frustrated when things did not go according to her plan.  Fast forward four years later, after a miscarriage and several rounds of failed fertility injections, her little miracle was conceived naturally.  She never thought in a million years, that she and her husband would be in their late 30’s by the time they had their first child.

Since the financial crisis of 2008, she has endured some of the most difficult years of her life. The stress of trying to conceive was combined with some of life’s biggest challenges.  She and her husband, who is a trader, both lost their jobs on Wall Street the exact same month.  Her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she ended up passing away while she was 6 months pregnant.  At times it didn’t seem like things would ever get better, but she has learned that life is cyclical and what comes down must again go up.

Leaving her baby boy with a wonderful nanny each day is difficult, but at times it is easier than she would have expected.  She still enjoys the seemingly addictive draw of working on Wall Street.  The past few years have been dramatically different from the “good days” but she is focused on trying to achieve what she once had before.  She is currently working on launching her own blog, Wall Street Mama, in an attempt to guide others who are focused on continuing their career, yet struggle with leaving their little ones at home. She is weathering the ups and downs of the market and motherhood, one day at a time.

UNITED KINGDOM

Sophie Walker

Writer, mother, runner: Sophie has settled in London after a peripatetic life working for an international news agency and writing about economics, politics, trade, war, diplomacy and finance from datelines as diverse as Paris, Washington, Hong Kong, Kabul, Baghdad and Islamabad. Married, divorced and remarried she now shares a house with her husband, two daughters and two step-sons.

A year ago her elder daughter Grace was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Grace is a bright, artistic girl who nonetheless struggles to fit into a world she often finds hard to understand. Too often she encounters bullying and intolerance. Sophie and Grace have come across great kindness but more often been shocked by how little people know and understand about autism and by how difficult it is to get Grace the help she needs.

Sophie decided to write about Grace’s daily challenges, and those of the grueling training regime she set herself to run long-distance events in order to raise awareness and funds for Britain’s National Autistic Society so that Grace and children like her can blossom.

Running the London Marathon in 2012 will be the hardest physical challenge of her life, but Sophie is taking inspiration from Grace’s courage and grit. Her blog is called Grace Under Pressure: http://courage-is.blogspot.com

SINGAPORE

Madpsychmom @ University of Motherhood

Madeline lives in Singapore, a tiny cosmopolitan island in Southeast Asia. She is a mother to a beautiful and intelligent little girl born in July 2010.

Ruth Wong

Ruth lives in Singapore, a tiny island 137 kilometres north of the equator. She is mommy to a sometimes mischievous but mostly sweet and adorable toddler boy born in January 2010. Incidentally, mom and son share the same birthday.

Ruth works from home as a freelance writer and translator and feels extremely blessed to be there to witness her son’s every milestone.

Prior to this, she was a social worker turned human resource professional who had worked in various industries such as retail, banking and manufacturing. In spite of the invaluable skills and experiences she had gained during those years, she never felt truly happy or satisfied. It was only when she embarked on a journey to rediscover her strengths and passion that this part of her life was transformed.

Today, Ruth is living her dreams doing what she enjoys most – writing. Ironically, she loves what she does so much that at one point, she even thought that becoming a mom would hinder her career. Thanks to her husband’s gentle persuasions, she now realises the joy she would have missed out had she not changed her mind!

Ruth is discovering that motherhood gives her greater clarity in life. It is her goal now to live a simpler yet richer and more focused life. She can be found on her blog, Mommy Café (http://ruthwongwrites.blogspot.com).

Mamawearspapashirt

June, born and bred on the sunny and sometimes rainy shores of Singapore, is a part-time working mother of two. She is also COO (Chief Operating Officer) of her household.

SOUTH AFRICA

Mama Simona — Cape Town

Mamma Simona was born in Rome (Italy) but has lived in Cape Town (South Africa) since she was 8 years old. She studied French at school but says she’s forgotten most of it! She speaks Italian, English and Afrikaans. Even though Italian is the first language she learned, she considers English her “home” language as it’s the language this South African mom is most comfortable with.

In 1993 she gave birth to her first “miracle baby.” She calls him a “miracle” because she was told she would not be able to conceive without medical intervention. However (a year after her wedding) she, very unexpectedly, became pregnant without any medical intervention at all! A resignation was promptly tendered ad she became a full-time mom to the precious child. Little did she know that in 1996 she’d be blessed again! Her “babies” are two terrific teens now!

For as long as this mom can remember all she wanted to be when she grew up was a mom! Unfortunately the reality is that few families can survive on a single income. She has therefore become a “Jill-of-all-trades”! Since being a career-woman was never a goal of hers, She’s simply done whatever work she could find whenever extra income was needed. This “technique” has led to her working in such diverse fields as Childcare, Tourism, Library Services, Optometry, Sales and Admin! (With stints of SAHM in-between!) She’s really looking forward to the day she can give up her current Admin job and devote herself entirely to blogging for World Moms Blog and (eventually) being a full-time Nonna (Italian for grandma).

A while ago she discovered Mamapedia (and from there World Moms Blog) and got inspired to share her experiences as child-carer and parent. More than anything she hopes to empower new moms to trust their instincts when it comes to the care and well-being of their children. She says, “Each child is an individual and there’s no “right” and “wrong” merely what works in a particular situation and what does not. (Obviously I’m not talking about any type of abuse here, because that is WRONG!!!!)”

The vast majority of parents are doing the very best they know how for their children. Unfortunately its possible to become totally overwhelmed by the vast amount of (often contradictory) advice currently available. In her opinion, one of the biggest challenges parents face is trying to conform to some arbitrary standard of what a “good” parent should be. She says, “Is my house as impeccable as it could be? No! Is it a place where everyone can relax and put feet up on couches (if they want to)? Yes! Do I often feel inadequate because I’m not much good at cooking, baking, arts & crafts? Of course! Did my babies grow into amazingly talented people in their own right? YES – without any help from me (apart from being their fiercest cheerleader and supporter)!”

Looking back, the only thing Mamma Simona would change are the years she tried to fit into other people’s expectation of who she should be and what she should do. “I’m still working on figuring out who “me” really is!”

SOUTH KOREA

SWITZERLAND

Kristen Kolb — Bern

Kristen is a stay-at-home to two little boys, Jackson (4 yrs) and Owen (nearly 2 yrs). She was born in New York, but eventually made her way down to Texas. She and her husband, Seth, met in Dallas and were married in December 2005. Nine months into their marriage Seth received a call that he had landed his dream job, one catch, it involved world wide assignment. The adventure took them from Texas to Washington, D.C., on to Bogotá, Colombia and then back to Washington, D.C before bringing them to Bern, Switzerland! Kristen and her family have currently lived in Bern for more than 1 year, where her husband works for the US Department of State. Four moves and 2 children in nearly 6 years of marriage have made for quite the adventure in motherhood! Kristen finds motherhood to be one of the most humbling and character building things she has ever experienced. The responsibility of raising boys with integrity and respect at times feels daunting, but she couldn’t imagine doing anything else! Kristen is a Speech Language Pathologist but has taken time away from working to focus on her family. Although she enjoys the travel and adventure involved in her husband’s career, she often finds herself feeling far from home and working to make the most of time abroad! On her blog, www.seasonsworthsavoring.com, Kristen writes about daily life with two little boys, including her experiences as she navigates a foreign culture and walks by faith. In her free time, or rather in her busy time with two boys attached to her legs, Kristen enjoys cooking, photography, antique and thrift store shopping, working on crafts, and blogging.

SAUDI ARABIA

Mama B — Riyadh

Mama B’s a young mother of three beautiful children who leave her speechless in both, good ways and bad. She has been married for 9 years and has lived in London twice in her life. The first time was before marriage (for 4 years) and then again after marriage and kid number 2 (for almost 2 years). She is settled now in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (or as settled as one can be while renovating a house). Mama B loves writing and has been doing it since she could pick up a crayon. Then, for reasons beyond her comprehension, she did not study to become a writer, but instead took graphic design courses. Mama B writes about the challenges of raising children in this world, as it is, who are happy, confident, self reliant and productive without driving them (or herself) insane in the process. Mama B also sheds some light on the life of Saudi, Muslim children but does not claim to be the voice of all mothers or children in Saudi. Just her little “tribe.” She has a huge, beautiful, loving family of brothers and sisters that make her feel like she wants to give her kids a huge, loving family of brothers and sisters, but then is snapped out of it by one of her three monkeys screaming “Ya Maamaa” (Ya being the arabic word for ‘hey’). You can find Mama B writing at her blog www.yamaamaa.wordpress.com

World Moms Blog is looking for additional writers to expand our viewpoints and global reaches!  If you are interested in writing for World Moms Blog, please send us an e-mail at worldmomsblog@gmail.com. International flags courtesy of 4 International Flags.

**We currently have a waiting list for writers in the USA, but we are adding writers from around the world!