Our book has printed–it was a very long but easy labor, and we now have a gorgeous baby book in our hands (actually, thousands and thousands of them… talk about multiple births!). No learning to walk for this little beast, though, she’s off to a running start.

Now that we have a beautiful new website (thanks Jen, Cruz and Jim, geniuses, all) we’ll be pounding the proverbial pavement again. Or, in plain English, the internet. So, stay tuned.

We couldn’t believe our ears and eyes when we saw Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah recently.  She was talking about her mega-bestseller, Eat Pray Love. It’s about a year she spent trying to find herself. It takes the readers on her terrifying (and at times funny) journey from devastating depression and self doubt, to serenity and love.

Lots of people loved the book, but many find her selfish. Who wouldn’t want to take a whole year traveling the world so they can get back on track? Busy moms certainly don’t have a year. They barely have five minutes.

What we found so thrilling, though, was that ultimately she was exploring the same ideas we explore in Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too: how we can live full and complex lives that also feel authentic and balanced. Sure, her particular situation was different than that of most moms we talked to when doing our research, but the core of her findings was the same: not taking our needs seriously can be destructive.

First, busy moms like us need to give up on being perfectionists, and second, we need to take the time to do the hard work and find out what makes us tick.

We argue that the best way to find real happiness for you and your family is by first focusing on your own needs. Take time-outs for yourself, you’re worth it!