Book excerpt: For this generation of Moms, there is no cookie-cutter mold for how motherhood should be or, more importantly, how it should appear to be. These days, whether we moms have a career or stay at home with our kids, whether we are single, married, divorced, or widowed, we are forging a new path in motherhood. Perhaps most importantly, this generation of moms is releasing the need to be perfect all the time, and is embracing the notion that we can have balance in our life (most days). This new breed of moms understands that this frees up the time and energy necessary to pursue growth in ourselves outside motherhood. Furthermore, we are learning to shake off guilt and celebrate the imperfections in our daily lives. This empowers us to redefine ourselves, to use our gifts and talents to create a purposeful vision for our lives outside motherhood. Finally, we are becoming champions of our own lives, awakening the "champreneurs" within ourselves. We are grateful for the sacrifices our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers made to get us to this point. We are merely standing on their shoulders. Without them we are nothing; our gratitude to them is everything. But rather than looking behind us for affirmation, today's mothers lean on, support, and empower each other. No guilt allowed. Mommy Magic gives these moms an encouraging pat on the back, a good laugh, and affirmation that being real is important. It gives moms permission to admit that motherhood is not perfect; it is, in fact, a journey. Mommy Magic is meant to be a humorous and inspirational guide to living in chaos, an empowering and easy read to squeeze in while waiting in the carpool line. Most of all, Mommy Magic is meant as a vehicle for mothers to share, talk and laugh over the fact that nobody is perfect all the time.