Liza Salta is the owner and creator of the Liza’s Simple
Soirée Party Planner™ iPhone app and stationery (www.simple-soiree.com). Spotlighted in the "What's Hot" section on the iPhone app storefront in 2009, this iPhone and iPod Touch app helps plan, track and e-mail your entire event details while on the go. Liza is also a music executive for and CFO of Persist Music Inc., her husband's record label. Here's what this Connecticut mother of two has to say:

"As a mother of two boys ages 9 and 5, I am surprised at the resilience and adaptability my children have, as well as my husband and myself. Becoming a mother changes your perspective in life in ways you cannot foresee or imagine. A portion of this generation of mothers (myself included) tends to be too concerned with protecting their children from the outside forces in the world. Whether our kids are dealing with acid reflux, a broken arm or a bully at school, as mothers our instinct is to minimize and rectify any issues harming our children. However, as I look back on my childhood, I feel grateful for the disappointments and challenges I faced, as it made me stronger, helped build my character and prepared me for life. I am surprised and comforted by the resilience my children possess when allowed to meet challenges on their own, problem-solve and rebound without looking back! And, I am surprised at how much I learn from my sons.

Being a mother pushes me to develop and grow as an individual while my children are growing and maturing. I also feel great satisfaction in being a mother who still enforces many of the values and rules set by my parents. I choose to meet life’s challenges and gifts with a renewed spirit because I have a responsibility not only to nurture and teach my children but also allow them freedom to experience life lessons."

Marlene Capron is an account manager at BDE (www.bdeonline.biz), a marketing, media and strategic development firm in Manhattan. Here's what this Brooklyn, N.Y., mother of a 9-month-old has to say:

"That I actually enjoy it more than I thought I would. See, I was nervous about making such a huge change in my life, especially doing it later—I had baby girl Elliott Jayne nine months ago, at age 36. My husband is 31. Part of me thought I should have done this sooner, when I was more naive and had more energy. Sure, my life has changed, but you adjust…and we have the sweetest addition to our family!"

Risa Barash is the owner of Fairy Tales Hair Care (www.fairytaleshaircare.com), creator of the Rosemary Repel lice prevention products. A former stand-up comic and die-hard New Yorker, Risa now happily resides in New Jersey with her husband, Robert, and children Jack, 8, and Ava, 6.

"The most surprising thing to me about motherhood is how it completely changes your life. You hear it all the time, but until you have your own child/children, you simply cannot understand the concept.  Life is no longer about you, and you don't mind! Choices are not made in your best interest but your children's, and you don't care! Dinners, vacations, weekends—anything you can think of revolves around the kids—and it's all good. Raising happy, well-adjusted kids is suddenly all you want in life—the heck with Oprah or the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine! Seeing them happy is just about the greatest accomplishment in the world. A simple smile and the sound of their laughter is enough to forget your single days. I am continually surprised at how the simplest things make me happy. As I sit here writing this on our vacation, I am watching my kids run around the beach, their tan little legs flying over the sand and their laughter so loud over the sound of the waves. I suddenly don't care that I ate chicken fingers again for dinner last night and I won't make it to the spa on this trip. The huge smiles I just got from Jack and Ava are all I need."