Acknowledgements

Being a parent of two girls, I am always looking for ways to help them become strong, independent women. This book afforded me an opportunity to not only write something specifically for them, but connect with other amazing and dynamic young women and bring their stories forward as continued sources of inspiration. That said, this book was not created without the help of an entire team of amazing people.

First, this book would never have been written without the daily support and inspiration from my husband, Dirck, and my girls, Fabiana and Erika. Not only did they keep the household running every time I went away to my writing cave, but they also supplied a constant source of courage and inspiration to bring this book to life.

Next, I couldn’t have shaped the ideas and the book without the encouragement and guidance of my editor, Lacy Compton. She has been a never-ending sea of support, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. The team at Prufrock Press gave substance to my ideas and helped me create something amazing.

My writing partner, Michelle McLean, an inspirational woman in her own right, helped point out the flaws and push me to dig deeper and go bigger.

There were so many amazing girls and women who shared a piece of themselves to make this book more than a few words on a page. Thanks to all of you, the pages of this book have come to life in a way that inspires. In particular, thank you to Jessi Kirby, Melodye Shore, Elle Horne, Heather McCorkle, Abby Mohaupt, Mona Chicks, Rebekah Graham, S. R. Johannes, Stasia Ward Kehoe, Paula Earl, Erin Hastedt, B. E. Sanderson, Lisa Rivero, Gretchen McNeil, and Jen Merrill—your Note to Self contributions are so very special.

So many parents and kids contributed to this book through letters, interviews, Skype sessions, focus groups, and conversations. More than 300 people from 30 states and five countries participated in some way. I am so humbled by your willingness to share your stories and thoughts. You are all amazing tributes to what it means to be resilient and strong.

My writing wouldn’t be anything without the readers, bloggers, and online community that has welcomed me into the fold and shared themselves with me. Thank you for allowing me to continue to bring you the kinds of stories, books, and articles I want to write.

Finally, a special thank you to the two most inspirational women in my life—my grandmother, Maria Tumilty, and my mom, Judi Warren. Although you are both no longer present in my world, you are part of my daily thoughts and prayers. I see you in the faces of my children and the strength in their eyes. From you both, I learned what it means to be a strong, powerful woman. I learned never to buy into the stigma and stereotypes of women in our culture. And I learned that my only limits come from me. I owe you more than you will ever know.

—Christine Fonseca