About Dawn

Dawn’s parenting life has been lived in stages, first as a working mom with one baby eleven years ago, then as a part-time working mom of two kids five years ago, followed by a lovely stint as a stay-at-home mom of three wacky children four years ago. In the fall of 2011 life came full circle, and she again began working full-time as a preschool teacher while trying to juggle all the joys and frustrations that come with a family of five.
 
In her online life, she indulges in her love of reading as a reviewer at 5 Minutes for Books. She contributes essays to a site of incredible local bloggers, The DC Moms, as well. None of these online opportunities would have come about if she hadn’t first started blogging her heart and soul out at my thoughts exactly, where she adopts the moniker morninglight mama and writes like no one is watching, with a ridiculously high word count.
 
What's your inspiration?
My failures… of which I’ve had many. While others may think I can be competitive, I really feel like the only person I compete with is myself, and I want to do better than I’ve done in the past. Whether it’s as a mom, a wife or a writer, I just want to continue to grow and get better.
 
What's the one thing you can't live without?
Am I the only one picturing that scene from The Jerk when Steve Martin is grabbing at everything in sight -- “The only thing I need is this!” Anyway, beyond my husband and children, I’d have to say my obscure answer is this: words. Written words for me to read and the tools for writing down my own words, these are the things I cannot live without.
 
What's your favorite part of being a mom?
Some days my immediate answer would be bedtime. Most other days, I’d have to say that the best part is simple -- that look that comes across my kids’ faces when they have a moment of pure love and appreciation. That’s a look that only a mom can receive, and I try to treasure those moments when they occur.
 
What's the single best piece of advice you can share with other moms?
It’s a personal passion, and as a preschool teacher I can attest to the immense value of reading to our children on a regular basis. Keep books everywhere and make them a part of your everyday routine. Read to your babies, and you’ll soon have toddlers who love to chew on books, preschoolers who tell their own stories from the pictures, and elementary school kids who carry books with them for fun.