Some years ago I decided I was a "real" mom. Didn't much like the title "stay-at-home" mom. Something about the word "stay" sounded too inactive for what I was doing. I did like the term "SUPERMOM". Then I met a woman with three sets of twins - yes THREE SETS - born in six years. I felt suddenly under-qualified for the title. There is, of course, the constant and age-old struggle to be the "perfect mom". But I woke up long ago to the facts that my house will never be all the way clean, my children will never be all the way fed (certainly not with meals made and frozen a month ago), I will never be all the way fit, and those cute little matching dresses will never be all-the-way sewn (at least not before they're outgrown). So I am a "real" mom. Nothing more, nothing less.

It was on this premise that I started the Real Mom guides. There are some other great products out there - I've used more than one - but I was hoping for a simplified, flexible, practical way to homeschool all my children with the Book of Mormon as the central facet of our program. I didn't really want a one-size-fits-all daily lesson plan. I also didn't want to spend 15 hours replicating the Jaredite "tight-like-unto-a-dish" boats while my six-month old ate glue and scraps off the floor. I did want a concise, practical schedule which incorporated music, scripture memorization and reading from the Book of Mormon. I wanted one with ideas about tying into other subjects without me having to buy into the whole curriculum. I wanted one that used the full text of the Book of Mormon for study, with a reasonable amount of reading each day. I especially wanted one I could use with all of my children at once. When I didn't find just what I wanted, I put it together myself. The results, I think, are pretty good.

If, like me, you consider yourself a "real mom", come on board - all real moms are welcome here.

And speaking of inspiration:

I dedicated A Real Mom's Guide "To my father, who taught me all about Polar Stars..."

President Hinckley talked about the Polar Star when he said "...the Polar Star came to mean something to me. I recognized it as a constant in the midst of change. It was something that could always be counted on, something that was dependable, an anchor in what otherwise appeared to be a moving and unstable firmament."

We lost my sweet father to lymphoma just three years ago. No words can describe the amazing man that he is. But as a "real" Dad, he gave me both a solid grounding and wings to fly.

Some have questioned the picture shown on my cover saying that it looks as if I'm a single mom. Indeed, there were times I felt like it. My husband works full-time, served 6 years as a bishop, and used to spend long hours on the road. Nowadays, thankfully, we see more of him. But if you are one of those moms who goes days or weeks or occasionally even months as a "single" mom, just remember there is no substitute for the things they learn from Dad. We gain so much watching Dad in his willing, steady service - to his family, his ward family and his work family. Then too, there are the priceless moments where testimonies are forged over dinner, on dates and in quiet conversations with Dad. Make no mistake about it, my children have a "real" dad.

Hat's off to all you "real" Dads out there. May you continue to be the anchors and the guiding stars we so desperately need.