For nearly two decades I was a full-time working mother. Then, I lost my job and 2 of my 3 kids moved away.

• Balancing work and motherhood was a constant juggling act, but I did it well for many years. • Then, I lost my job before sending my two oldest kids off to college. • With no deadlines to meet and my kids not needing me as much, I'm reevaluating my future.

For nearly two decades, I functioned as both a full-time mother and a full-time magazine editor.

Then last year, I was laid off from the job from the job I had held for nearly 11 years, only a few months before my two oldest children left for college and my youngest started middle school. Overnight, my calendar cleared and my phone stopped buzzing. No more daily deadlines, no more commutes, no more mental checklists of who needed to be where and when.

At first, I felt relief. I was burnt out and in need of a break, and the timin