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"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."
--Twyla Tharp

Mojo is energy and power, and the big question is how does a burned- out mom find a starting point that will allow her to reconnect with her inner power source?

The good news is that the answer does not have to involve more work, it involves play. I believe that creativity is the underutilized secret weapon of motherhood.

Sure, we play with our kids all the time, but it's not the kind of play where we let ourselves go. When we play with our kids we're usually still guiding them, watching out for everyone, making sure to stay "appropriate." What moms need is a chance to let our minds roam freely, to think wild thoughts, to have a taste of mental privacy.

In Mojo Mom I explore many ways to bring a sense of creativity into our lives. I truly believe that all mothers are artists. When you rev up your mojo it can flow to other areas of your life. Art, whether it's music, dance, crafts, or drama, generates sense of joy that permeates the rest of your day.

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As I have written about motherhood on MojoMom.com for the past six years, I've grappled with the concept of "The Mommy Wars." Is this a real phenomenon? Media-fueled myth? Mass hallucination among all the nation's moms?

I have concluded that there is no full-out "war" as portrayed in the media, but many of us have taken a small sliver of conflict into our hearts, where it can do damage to all mothers. I believe this has happened because all mothers are under such pressure to "do it all" (whatever all means to each family) without enough support that we each start to feel defensive about our own lives. Then we project our own feelings of doubt onto other women who are doing things differently, as though their different life path threatens ours.

In Mojo Mom: Nurturing Your Self While Raising a Family I set out to bridge this conflict by highlighting the common concerns of all mothers. At the heart of it all, moms face many of the same challenges: all-or-nothing career choices, lack of social support, a Second Shift at home even if one has an "enlightened" partner, and a desire to support and care for our families.

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Amy Tiemann is our guest blogger during the week of April 6th. If you have any questions for Amy Tiemann, add a comment to any of her posts.

Here is more information about Mojo Mom: Nurturing Your Self While Raising a Family - read an excerpt.

Mojo Mom helps you answer the question, "Who Am I Now that I'm A Mom?"

What is Mommy Mojo? It's the feeling you get when you're a parent at the top of your game, juggling the kids and the many facets of life, and keeping your own needs in balance. Motherhood is a tremendous gift, but it's also a huge identity shift. Becoming a Mojo Mom means bringing your self and your dreams back into focus, while still giving your family the loving attention it needs. It may sound like a fantasy, but it can be done.

Mojo Mom shows women practical ways to:

* Prepare to become a Mom without losing your identity
* Survive and enjoy the intense early years
* Save some of your best energy and creativity for your own ideas and dreams
* Reenter the workplace or take on a new path with confidence and ease
* Learn the key elements to the long-term success of your marriage
* Become a Naptime Activist-and change the world in just an hour a week
* Rise above the "Mommy Wars" between stay-at-home and working moms
* Use motherhood as an opportunity for reinvention