(Some behind the scenes shots from the in-process Spring issue of D Moms)

I'm in the thick of putting together the spring issue of D Moms which means lots (and lots) of photo shoots and writing and editing and schlepping. It's good — rewarding, inspiring, creative — one of those times when being frantic and mildly panicked actually feels sort of, well...good.

However (you knew that was coming), it isn't without a touch of irony that during the few weeks that I'm in the thick of helping create a magazine about living a mindful, balanced life as a mother, I am anything but.

For example (and I'm not proud of what I'm about to share, but given how much we beat ourselves up as mothers, I feel the need to disclose), when we were getting the last issue off to press, there was a particular night when (in an attempt to actually see her that week) I took Audrey to the office with me at 8:00 p.m. (in all fairness, it was summer). Wait, it gets better... And we stayed until midnight(!!), during which time, while I was busy editing articles about how to inspire your family to eat beautiful, fresh, organic food and read meaningful, life-changing books, Audrey was sitting next to my desk in a giant beanbag I had dragged over from the art department, eating sour Skittles and french fries while watching a Sponge Bob Square Pants marathon on my iPad.

Don't judge. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?! Here's the thing, we're all doing the best we can to stay sane and present and, yes, balanced in this crazy work/family marathon. All of us — the mamas that work outside the home and the mamas that volunteer at school and do side projects from home while wrangling the kiddos. I think it's a good thing to come clean and love on each other a little more, don't you think? (Or at least that's what I'm going with to offset my guilt about that fried food/bad candy/questionable TV extravaganza.)

Mamas unite.

Have a splendid weekend friends!