Welcome to the middle -- Your age is not a dirty word -- The scale is not the boss of you -- My favorite muffin-top photo -- The love story of turning forty -- When you think your love story is boring -- That time I thought I lost my wedding ring -- A time to fight -- Ordinary is sexy -- To the father of my children -- Parenting is do-overs times infinity -- Sobbing in my minivan over honor roll -- What you don't know about parenting -- No one disappoints quite like a hero -- A promise for my daughter -- The life-saving quirks of our kids -- A love letter to three of the loudest children I know -- Our first home after fifteen years of marriage, three kids, and nine rentals -- Step away from the mugs -- Your front door is your superpower -- Why I showed my kids my one-star book reviews -- Financial free fall -- How to fail in public -- When our kids have "unrealistic" dreams -- What happens when you lose -- Gladiators -- When parenting looks like a 5K race -- All hail the sidelines moms -- I can't believe what I saw you do last night -- A pocketful of friends -- The gift of years and words -- Church in the parking lot -- For the Thomases -- It was hard to believe my pastor on Sunday -- My faith leaks -- Life and grace -- when you wonder if you matter at all

Do you ever wonder how you woke up one day with all the responsibilities of a grown-up who secretly enjoys going to Costco, can no longer recognize the tween celebrities on the magazines at checkout, but is still surprised when a Starbucks Barista calls you "ma'am"--because your inside self is frozen in time from about twenty years ago? So does Lisa-Jo Baker. Welcome to the middle! In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo Baker invites women to get a good look at their middles and gives permission to embrace them--beyond what the media, the mirror, the magazines, or our teenagers say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most women are thinking about marriage, parenting, failure, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs. Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is (Your Age is Not a Dirty Word). Because she has finally grown comfortable in her own skin (The Scale is Not the Boss of You). She's not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it; for all its wildly ordinary glory (Sobbing in my Minivan Over Honor Roll). Because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, muffin top included