I speak regularly for mothers’, women’s and writers’ groups. Recent appearances include:

At the Annual Conference for the American Society of Journalists and Authors in Manhattan, I spoke on a panel called “Full-Time Income, Part-Time Hours”

At the Read Between the Lynes Bookstore in Woodstock, IL: I spoke on a panel called “Writing Meets Motherhood”

I spoke on a panel called “Freelancing in Chicago” at Columbia College in Chicago

I also speak regularly at mother’s groups in Chicago and in other areas of the Midwest, and am available for speaking engagements in the future. Some of the topics I speak on include:

Otherhood Being a mom can feel all-consuming…but what happens when the “you” part of the equation disappears? Even though your kids are your number-one priority, there are still ways you can carve out time for yourself and make a life that’s not wholly defined by Cheerio crumbs and diapers.

So, where’s your village? Got a “tribe” of other parents you can lean on? If not, you should. I’ll talk about why building a strong community of mothers is so important for children and grown-ups alike, and how you can create a “village” of your own.

Big-family wisdom any family can use. I’ll share insights on raising families of any size, along with some of the best advice and tips I learned while interviewing large-family parents for Table for Eight.

Becoming Mothers. Having a baby changes a lot more than just your bedtime and budget. I’ll address some of the common concerns women face during that first year of motherhood, and how moms can handle the changes in their lives with grace and optimism…as well as a healthy dose of flexibility and reality.

Preparing for Postpartum So you’ve made your birth plan, bought a layette, took childbirth classes and read all about taking care of a baby. But have you thought about how you’ll care for yourself once the baby is actually here? The postpartum weeks bring physical and emotional ups and downs that many new moms aren’t prepared for. I help expectant mothers (or couples) know what to expect and make a plan to help the weeks after birth go smoothly.

Freelancing 101. Trying to figure out how to break into the world of freelance writing? Whether you want to write for a living or just get an essay published somewhere, I’ll give you the information you need to get started…or take it to the next level.

I also speak about other topics including working at home with children, getting a book published, creativity and motherhood, and work-family balance. Contact me if you’d like to discuss having me speak at your next group or function.