Wants to Set Example to Kids to Be 'Ambitious and Courageous'

I am a mother of two spirited boys: Nicholas, 10, and Christopher, 6. And they believe their mom can do "lots of stuff."

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I like to think I am a non-traditional mom. Since becoming a mom, I have picked up a couple of skills and a few hobbies that I feel make me unique. Over the past 10 years, I wrestled in my first open wrestling tournament, after becoming a wrestling coach for an all girls wrestling team. I learned to skateboard. I traveled back in time to the 1840s as a historical interpreter, using first-person interpretation at a living history museum. I took up roller blading. I ran in a 5K. I wrote a thesis. I learned statistics. And most recently, I became a group fitness instructor. These are just a few of the things I feel make me "different."

I do these types of things, not only to satiate my desire to continuously learn. I also engage in these types of activities to demonstrate to my boys how to be proactive in life. Hopefully my example to them is to be ambitious, uninhibited and courageous; that rather than let things happen, they should strive to make things happen. I believe the earlier in life they grasp this, the happier they will be.

Lessons like these are important for me to impart to my children, because I was not always courageous. I have overcome debilitating depression, shyness, obesity and low self-esteem. I believe I should be selected for the Dancing with the Moms to aid in the completion of a transformation I have undergone over the past 10 years. Being a mom has allowed me to explore my inner child again while encouraging my children to love themselves and be all they can be right now and always.