So I'll have a go now!

Starting with name, location, how many children:
I have two stepkids, both teenagers, but we have been a family for the past 12 years. One has recently started High School and one just entered into University. Despite rather varied backgrounds, we are all currently in the US.

How did you find Minti:
I don't really remember. I'm sure it was through some kind of search engine somewhere, but I have no idea what I was looking for that brought me here.

What's your favorite thing or feature at Minti:
I love how international everything is. You can get some really fresh viewpoints on advice when there are so many voices from so many cultures contributing. On our cooking group alone I am learning that even working out a grocery list is a cultural thing.

What's your favorite thing about being a parent:
When I see our two kids excited, healthy and making their way forward, it makes me happy. Not pride so much, really, just an overall sense of things being all right.

What has been your biggest parenting challenge:
Keeping up with everything teenagers get into. Sometimes it seems like everything is working against you. People often forget teenagers are not just skinny adults. They are still impulsive and inexperienced and forging all this with raging hormones and mixed societal messages. They are dealing with way too much on their own for the adults around them to just withdraw their guidance.

What's the best parenting advice you've ever gotten from someone:
My husband keeps reminding me that for bad or good, once they are out of the house and out of school (college for us), you will have to let them make their own way. We do everything we can now, then just step back and let them go. Then they will make some mistakes, have some successes, and at that point you cannot claim ownership of either.