So, this morning I read a wonderful blog post by author Jen Hatmaker.

(By the way, don't you love surnames like that one? I have friends with last names that delight me, including Button, Pillow, Dollar, and Treat...not to mention Starbuck. But I digress...)

I don't know Ms. Hatmaker, but several friends of mine have read her book Seven and found it truly life-changing. Hatmaker's post today was genius. If I were more of a control freak, I'd insist that all of my friends write their own versions of it and then I'd invite them over for a big "full disclosure" party.

Called "How to Be Awesome at Everything," she describes how to be "awesome" at blogging, (summer) parenting, gardening, and PR - all things, to varying degrees, she has muddled of late. Among other things, she's let weeds take over her garden, alienated her recently-adopted children by putting them in summer school while her other kids stay home playing video games, and - after building a blog following - failed to write a post for a few months. She cloaks these confessions in humor and promises that if her readers only imitate her, they too will be "awesome."

I've been similarly awesome this summer. Well, and last spring, too. Oh and this past winter. I can't disclose each and every instance of my awesomeness, but suffice to say, I've been pretty stellar.

For example, in a season when I've been giving fascinating lectures to my kids about single-tasking and being present, my son Ian (see photo above) wryly noted one evening that I was using my cell phone as a WiFi hotspot at his sister's softball game so that I could play Words With Friends. (I'm awesome at being present!)

On the night we arrived at our friends' condo in Florida, after reminding my family in the car that "It's not all about us!" and to be mindful that our dear friends have a newly adopted child and need extra support, I gulped a glass of chardonnay, burst into tears, and spent at least an hour telling them the tragic tale of how challenging it is for me, as an introvert, to do publicity after writing books. And, woe is me, I've had two book "tours" to do in the past twelve months. (I'm an awesome friend...and have awesome perspective!)

Or earlier this summer when, five minutes after losing my temper with my kids and falling into every cliched parenting phrase from "How many times have I told you..." to "Someday you'll appreciate...", I gave an hour-long, live radio interview to a station in Ohio (Or was it Idaho? Iowa? See I'm awesome at U.S. geography, too!) about being a calm, intentional parent. (I'm awesome at practicing what I preach!)

If you need one last piece of evidence of how awesome I am, just consider all the fan mail I get! One day recently when I was on deadline (and had a few moves to make on Words With Friends), I decided to take a moment and answer email. When I was still working through flagged, unanswered messages, I received a response, and then a second, from two of the people to whom I'd just written.The messages indicated that my correspondents were a bit puzzled. You live in Chicago? You have an adopted child? It was then that I realized, for the hundredth time, that these two fans had thought I was that other Jennifer Grant. You know, Cary's daughter? (I'm awesomely famous!)

So how awesome are you?

Wow. Jennifer Grant's, MOMumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family is more than a parenting book. It is a love story, a must read for every Mom (and Dad!). With gut-wrenching honesty, Grant reminds us that imperfection should be celebrated, not feared, because we find beauty, grace and redemption in the messiness of real life. A life-changing book that will inspire you to enjoy a calm, connected life with your children, no matter how imperfect.