And sometimes you do everything right and something bad just happens. It's as simple, and as scary, as that.

Figuring out who you are is the whole point of the human experience.

I'm very optimistic. I think if you would describe me, my pretty consistent affect is that I'm a pretty happy person.

But it's important, while we are supporting lessons in respecting others, to remember that many of our youngest kids need to learn to respect themselves. You learn your worth from the way you are treated.

My father really, really pushed me to excel in a way that I resented for years and then realized had really worked for me.

However, there will be a Republican Party platform that will coalesce around their convention. Unless I miss my guess, it will be considerably more conservative on these issues, perhaps even than Governor Romney is, and I think that that will give Americans a clear set of choices about all issues, but about women's issues too.

Some of the most important lessons I've learned have been from stumbling, and I am deeply grateful that my parents allowed me to fight my own battles.