• Elon Musk said he doesn't plan to shut down Starlink's terminals in Ukraine.
• "We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip," Musk said.
• SpaceX sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukraine during the early days of the war.

Elon Musk said on Sunday that he will never turn off Starlink's terminals in Ukraine.

"To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals," Musk wrote in an X post on Sunday.

"We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip," Musk added.

Musk's remarks came after Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, wrote in an X post on Sunday that his country "will be forced to look for other suppliers" of satellite internet services if SpaceX "proves to be an unreliable provider."

Poland was spending about $50 million a year on Starlink's services for Ukraine, Sikorski wrote.

"Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink," Musk replied to Sikorski on Sunday.

Sikorski's post also drew a response from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said on Sunday that Sikorski was "just making things up."

"No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink. And say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now," Rubio wrote in an X post.

Musk's position on Ukraine

Musk was initially supportive of Ukraine when it fought back against Russia in the early days of the war.

In June 2022, Musk said SpaceX had delivered 15,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine after Russia's invasion began in February that year.

In 2022, Musk also challenged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to single combat over Ukraine and suggested the president could "bring his bear" to their man-on-man fight.

But Musk's pro-Ukraine stance has shifted.

In October 2022, he posted a peace plan to end the Ukraine war on X. The plan, which called for Ukraine to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, was praised by the Kremlin.

During a 2024 X Spaces event with GOP senators, Musk said he thought there was "no way in hell" Putin would lose the war in Ukraine.

"This spending does not help Ukraine. Prolonging the war does not help Ukraine," Musk said in February 2024 while calling for the US to stop funding Ukraine.

On Sunday, Musk said he was "sickened" by "years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose."

"Anyone who really cares, really thinks and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop," Musk wrote on X.

Last week, the Trump administration paused all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

"The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," a White House official said in a written statement to Business Insider.

Musk and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

• Palmer Luckey's startup Anduril scored a $642 million deal for anti-drone tech in Marine Corps bases.
• The 10-year contract is meant to help fight smaller drones like the exploding ones in Ukraine.
• The Defense Department said Anduril was chosen out of 10 total bids.

Defense startup Anduril clinched a $642 million contract on Friday to help the US Marine Corps fight smaller drones at its bases.

Anduril's new deal is for the Marine Corps Installation-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, which is essentially a network of anti-drone defenses for bases and facilities.

The announcement comes after Anduril scored a separate five-year $200 million agreement in November to bring counter-drone tech to the Marine Air Defense Integrated System. This mobile air defense system can be mounted on vehicles like Humvees.

Like with the MADIS, Anduril's offering for this new contract is to fight smaller drones, which the US military classifies as Group 1 and Group 2.

Such drones are typically no heavier than 55 pounds and fly at a maximum altitude of about 3,500 feet, like the exploding commercial drones used in the war in Ukraine.

When the Corps first opened its contract in April 2024, it warned of a "security capability gap" for dealing with these smaller drones at its bases.

"The sUAS threat poses unique challenges to military installations when compared to those of operational forces," the Corps wrote.

The Defense Department said on Friday that 10 companies had submitted proposals for the contract.

With Anduril scoring the deal, the department said that 80% of the work until 2035 would be done in Costa Mesa, California, home to Anduril's headquarters. The rest is expected to be performed in Washington, D.C., and other Marine Corps facilities.

The announcement did not specify what type of product or how many systems Anduril will deliver.

Press teams for Anduril and the Marine Corps did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider outside regular business hours.

One of Anduril's main offerings for fighting smaller drones, Anvil, features a quadcopter that flies out from a portable storage box to track and crash into enemy systems. It can also be fitted with explosives to attack bigger targets.

Additionally, the company sells electronic warfare jammers called Pulsar, which it's already providing to the Pentagon as part of a $250 million deal from October.

Anduril, founded in 2017 by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, has become a rising star in the defense industry as it emphasizes ready-made designs that can be produced at scale. In that sense, it hopes to reuse the same design to bid for multiple contracts instead of creating each one specifically for a single deal.

The firm is also working with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and runs its products on an AI software called Lattice to survey the battlefield and identify threats.

One of its biggest scores so far is a $22 billion contract with the US Army to provide soldiers with mixed-reality goggles. The contract was originally awarded to Microsoft but later ceded to Anduril.

The firm hopes to expand quickly. In August, Anduril raised $1.5 billion to build a 5 million-square-foot factory in Ohio that it said would "hyperscale" production.

• Mark Carney is expected to replace Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the coming days.
• The Harvard graduate and former Goldman Sachs banker headed two central banks.
• Canada's ruling Liberal Party elected Carney to replace Trudeau on Sunday.

Mark Carney, the former governor of Canada's and England's central banks, is expected to replace Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just as the country faces a chapter of uncertainty over tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The Harvard graduate and former Goldman Sachs banker was elected as the leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party on Sunday. Carney's predecessor, Trudeau, said he would step down as party leader in January.

Carney, 59, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister in the coming days. An election to determine the next prime minister must happen by October, but it could be called sooner.

Until then, the country will have to navigate Trump's 25% tariffs, which he imposed on March 4 but delayed until April 2.

The tariff turnaround, combined with Trump's comments on making Canada the 51st state of the US, has ignited a defensive fervor in Canada.

Carney referenced Canada's relationship with the US during his victory speech on Sunday.

"I know that these are dark days. Dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust," Carney said.

Carney's financial sector background

Carney has never held political office but has a deep history in the financial sector.

He was born in Fort Smith, in the Northwest Territories, and graduated from Harvard, where he played ice hockey. He spent 13 years at Goldman Sachs, working at the investment bank's offices in London, Tokyo, New York, and Toronto.

Carney led two central banks at pivotal moments.

After leaving Goldman Sachs in 2003, Carney served as deputy governor of the Bank of Canada. He was made governor in 2008, at the start of the global financial crisis. He was the first non-British governor of the Bank of England from 2013 through 2020, where he guided the bank's response to Brexit.

Since leaving the Bank of England, Carney has held a mix of commercial and international roles. He was appointed vice chair of Brookfield Asset Management in 2020 and was made chair after the division was spun out as a new company in 2022.

In 2021, Carney became a board member of Stripe, a digital payments company. He was named as the chair of Bloomberg's board in 2023.

That is on top of his work with international organizations. Before he left the Bank of England, Carney was appointed UN special envoy on climate action and finance in 2019. In 2021, Carney launched the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, a global climate-finance coalition.

In January, Carney said while announcing his leadership bid for the Liberal Party that he had resigned from all his commercial and international roles.

What he thinks about Trump's tariff threats

In his victory speech Sunday, Carney didn't hold back on Trump's tariff threats. At times, he spoke as though he were facing off against the American president rather than his expected opponent, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's Conservative Party.

Carney threatened to impose dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs that would have "maximum impact in the United States."

"My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect, and until they can join us in making credible and reliable commitments to free and fair trade," Carney said on Sunday.

Carney didn't hold back on Trump during his speech.

"Trump, as we know, has put, as the prime minister just said, unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living," Carney said. "He's attacking Canadian families, workers, and businesses, and we cannot let him succeed, and we won't."

• Kate Hudson, 45, says she isn't afraid to apologize to her kids whenever she's in the wrong.
• Instead of being combative with them, the "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" actor tries to acknowledge her shortcomings.
• There are several steps to making an effective apology, psychologists previously told BI.

Kate Hudson, 45, isn't afraid to admit to her kids when she's in the wrong.

During an appearance on Thursday's episode of the "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce" podcast, Hudson spoke about being "conscious of" her own behavior while parenting her kids and learning how to apologize to them when she goes "too far."

The "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" actor recounted a recent incident when she butted heads with her son, Bingham, 13, after he refused to do something she had asked him to.

"And in that moment, I got triggered," Hudson told host Kylie Kelce. "It wasn't about him, it was about my own inability to resolve or walk away from the moment that was happening."

Instead, Hudson said she "became combative" with her teenage son.

"But it happens all the time as a parent. When you walk away from it, you can recognize where you might've created more of a problem than you did a lesson," Hudson said.

She said that admitting to her kids that she could've handled the situation better would have been more helpful in resolving the conflict.

Not only that, it would also be a better parenting model for her kids to emulate.

"Sometimes in conflict, you go too far, and you need to say you're sorry, instead of teaching them that you doubled down," Hudson said. "And what you find in going to your kids and saying, 'I could have handled this better' or 'I made a mistake' or 'I'm sorry I didn't trust you' — whatever the scenario — is that connection becomes stronger."

Knowing when to acknowledge her shortcomings has been a key part of her parenting journey.

"I think that's the biggest lesson for me, and now that I feel like a veteran mother. Been like doing it for 21 years," the "Running Point" star said.

Hudson welcomed her eldest son, Ryder, in 2004 with her ex-husband, Chris Robinson. In 2011, she gave birth to her second son, Bingham, whom she shares with ex-fiancé, Muse front man Matt Bellamy. She welcomed her daughter, Rani, in 2018, with her current fiancé, Danny Fujikawa.

Psychologists previously told Business Insider that there are several steps to making an effective apology. These include being accountable, putting a plan in place to rectify the mistake, and being sincere.

It is also important to avoid phrases like "I'm sorry if…" or "I'm sorry, but…" since they reduce the apologizing party's accountability, Leah Rockwell, a licensed counselor, previously told BI.

"By adding 'and' into an apology, you create an easy way to open and broaden the conversation rather than to close it," she said. "As soon as the word 'but' is present, you are operating from a place of defensiveness."

A representative for Hudson did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.

• Shailesh Chauhan shares strategies that helped him grow his career growth across Big Tech companies.
• He emphasizes saying no to your managers and resisting the urge to showcase how much you know.
• Overcommunication is crucial in fast-paced environments to ensure alignment and clarity.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shailesh Chauhan, a product manager at Meta in the Bay Area. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his employment history.

I began my career in civil engineering in India and moved to the US for a master's in the same field. While studying at the University of Illinois in 2011, I realized that software was driving a big chunk of innovation, and I wanted a career in tech.

I started taking coding classes and built my skills to the point I was hired as the first product manager at a small startup in the Bay Area. I spent five years at the analytics software startup and saw it grow from a company of 10 to one of over 1,000 employees.

I left the startup in 2018 and joined Uber as a product manager the same year. Two years later, I moved to Amazon and worked as a product lead for Amazon Web Services. In 2022, I made a career switch to Meta, where I work as a machine learning product lead.

Four strategies have helped me switch industries and scale my career:

1. Learn to say no

Saying no is extremely hard, especially as a junior employee. You tend to overwork yourself, which can be a risk to your reputation if you overpromise and then underdeliver because you took on too much.

Denying some requests can earn you more respect from your managers. It demonstrates maturity and strategic thinking because you don't allow yourself or your team to spend time on any random thing thrown at you.

I see it as my job to think about what are the biggest opportunities for me and what I want to say yes to. This allows me to carve out time for projects that are important and save my team's time.

One way to tackle this is by asking counter-questions about whether what your manager is asking will benefit the final product or the team. Another way is to list tasks you think are important and have high impact and ask your manager: "Hey, I understand that this may be important, but how would you relatively think about it?" Now, you can say no gracefully.

2. Be the dumbest person in the room

This is a strategy I first learned at the startup I worked at, where I was surrounded by senior leaders from Google. I was the first person hired on the product team, and I felt pressure to project what I knew about our product. But I found it more valuable to listen carefully to get a full picture of the company and product so that I don't fight over things I don't really believe in.

Since then, I have found it valuable to play the "dumb card" and ask as many questions as possible, focusing on questions that uncover insights for other people. It is tempting to show that you are knowledgeable and that you have experience, but that should come from your work, not your words.

Early in your career, being quiet can be hard because you feel the need to fill any silent moments in meetings and one-on-ones. It's OK to embrace the silence instead of saying something redundant. Listening intently helps you bring in fresh ideas, which helps you prioritize your long-term career development over the short-term wins at that meeting.

3. Focus on relationships beyond work

I focus on building personal relationships with the people I work with because good relations go beyond company and country boundaries. Also, I do my best work when I am surrounded by people I trust and enjoy working with.

I ask myself whether someone I am working with would want to work with me when they leave the company. If the answer is no, I try to work on that relationship so that it lasts beyond our day to day work.

4. Over-communication is key

Sometimes, people feel that they should not repeat themselves after making a point. But I think overcommunication is a feature and not a bug, especially in fast-paced environments where there are so many people and priorities, all working across multiple time zones.

So even when I feel like I risk sounding redundant, I choose to repeat myself because there are always one or two people who miss a message you send. I utilize different channels and make sure that everybody understands me and is on the same page.

• After losing my job, I wanted to use my free time to catch up with people.
• I was nervous on my way to meet a stranger who had been my friend on LiveJournal.
• Reconnecting made me feel 19 again.

On a Wednesday afternoon in August, I sat at my kitchen table and tried not to sound creepy. I was about to slide into the DMs of a stranger who was maybe actually a girl I'd known on the internet.

Reaching into the past is like operating one of those arcade claw machines in a dark room: you'll emerge either with a treasured artifact or empty-handed. Even if the Instagram account I'd found was the same Sarah I'd known on LiveJournal as "lonelypainter," a reference to Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," I didn't know if she'd want to reconnect. Not everyone is as nostalgic as I am.

I only had to wait 10 minutes for my answer. "Hi! You guessed correctly! It blew my mind a bit to see the username 'heyromeo' pop up in my notifications! Wow. It's great to hear from you! How have you been?"

We fell right into talking about art again, encouraging each other like we had all those years ago when I knew her as a writer, and she supported my budding literary identity.

I decided it was time for us to meet in person.

We lived about 2 hours away

Now, Sarah was also a musician, and I loved her clear, delicate voice as I listened to her song clips on Instagram.

After losing my job at the end of September, I resolved to take chances and catch up with people while I had the time. Sarah and I had only lived about two hours apart for most of the past 20 years; why not finally meet up "IRL"? She loved the idea, and we picked a Sunday in November.

I felt nervous when the day came as if preparing for a first date. What if the virtual friendship we remembered fondly didn't carry over to the real world?

Jason Isbell, one of Sarah's current favorite musicians, played softly on the television as we drank tea in her cozy living room. It felt like hanging out, particularly in college, when being under 21 or too broke to go out, leads to talking, watching movies, or listening to music in dorms and first-apartment living rooms.

I felt like I was 19 again

In the 15 years since we drifted away from LiveJournal, I was still married, now with two kids. Sarah said she felt like she'd "lived many lives." I told her about my novel-in-progress and we discussed the essays she'd recently published on her Substack about recovery and sobriety.

Before I left, Sarah played a few songs for me on piano and guitar, a John Prine cover and some originals. I felt goosebumps as I heard "Room To Move," a song about leaving an abusive relationship with a defiant chorus of "And I don't ever miss you."

Time collapsed; I felt 19, 41, and all the years between. The project of reading my LiveJournal and seeing Sarah's comments on nearly every entry inspired me to look for her. It also showed me how many people come into and out of our lives over the years. Staying close to all of them wouldn't be possible, nor is it always desirable. But I feel deeply grateful for every connection I ever made, however fleeting or painful.

"From my writer's heart to yours," Sarah signed her CD for me. I drove home listening to the songs I'd just heard live, my friend's voice filling the car with warmth, and a plan to return in March to see her play again.

• President Donald Trump downplayed fears of an economic recession in a Fox News interview.
• Trump said that the US economy will face a "period of transition" while it adjusts to his tariffs.
• Economists predict Trump's tariffs may increase inflation without boosting US manufacturing.

President Donald Trump downplayed economic uncertainty over his tariffs, saying a "period of transition" is headed for the US economy as it adjusts. But he notably did not rule out a recession in the near future.

Trump paused his 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada earlier this week, just after they went into effect. In an interview on the Fox News show "Sunday Morning Futures," Trump said he paused his planned tariffs on Mexico and Canada to help American car manufacturers and "to a certain extent," to help both countries. Trump paused the tariffs until April 2.

"I wanted to help the American car makers until April 2," Trump said on Fox. "April 2, it becomes all reciprocal. What they charge us, we charge them."

After a strong start to the year, the stock market has seen significant volatility in recent weeks. This week, the market saw considerable uncertainty, with the S&P 500 down as much as 2% on Thursday following tariff concerns.

Still, Trump downplayed fears over a possible recession in the Fox interview. When asked if he expected a recession in 2025, Trump responded: "I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America."

"It takes a little time," he added.

Trump also avoided questions about providing clarity for publicly owned businesses about how his tariffs could disrupt the economy.

"They have plenty of clarity," he said. "They just use that. That's like, almost a sound bite. They always say that, 'we want clarity,'" Trump told Fox about business asking for economic clarity.

Trump paused tariffs impacting US auto manufacturers on March 5 after Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors called the president requesting a reprieve. When pressed by Fox about what "automakers are going to do for a month" while the tariffs are paused, Trump said that this is a "transition period."

"I said, 'look, I'm going to do it this one time, but after that, I'm not doing it,'" Trump told Fox. "They called me and they wanted help during this little transition period, and I gave it to them."

Economists are still grappling with the impact of Trump's tariffs, which some economists say will increase inflation. Some analysts say that Trump's tariffs will not help increase manufacturing in the United States.

"Tariffs will not increase US manufacturing: technology, rather than trade, has been primarily responsible for the fifty-year decline in manufacturing jobs," John Veroneau, a former deputy US trade representative, wrote in a February 11 post on the Council on Foreign Relations website.

• SpaceX's Starship exploded after its latest launch to space, causing flight diversions and viral videos.
• The Federal Aviation Administration closed Florida airspace after the SpaceX incident.
• A previous Starship explosion in January also caused debris over the Caribbean.

Mariah Davenport and Dane Siler were over an hour into their flight when they saw it: flaming debris out their window.

The young couple, both college students in Wisconsin, told Business Insider that they were heading back to the US on Thursday from the Dominican Republic where they had been vacationing in Punta Cana.

Siler said the Frontier pilot had warned them that the flight from the Dominican Republic to Chicago might take a little longer because of a diversion in the flight path due to the SpaceX Starship launch Thursday night.

However, they were surprised when, not yet midway through the flight, they heard the pilot make an announcement.

"He said, 'If you look to your right, one of the rockets just blew up,'" Siler said. "I'm like, what? So then we looked through a window, and that's when I grabbed my phone and recorded it."

A video of the flaming debris that Davenport posted on TikTok went viral, accruing over 12 million views in a matter of days.

SpaceX's Starship spun out of control shortly after its launch and exploded as it reached space. The Federal Aviation Administration closed the airspace over much of Florida after the incident and issued a temporary ground stop at several airports.

The explosion comes a month after a Starship exploded during a test flight in January and rained debris down over the Caribbean, causing similar flight disruptions and diversions.

"We thought it was cool," Siler said. "We didn't think we were in any danger, and then 20 minutes later, he told us that we were going to have to go back to Punta Cana, so that was another hour and a half."

Davenport said she was unnerved when, after the plane had landed back in Punta Cana to refill on gas, she overheard a flight attendant mumble, "That was too close for comfort."

"Hearing that was very frightening," Davenport said.

The couple eventually made it home several hours later than planned.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

Frontier and SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Ben Stiller, the 'Severance' director and EP, sees similarities between Lumon Industries and Apple.
• Stiller discussed the hit AppleTV+ series with Apple exec Eddy Cue at SXSW in Austin.
• 'Severance' Season 2 is currently airing and explores themes of corporate culture and capitalism.

Ben Stiller, the executive producer and director of the AppleTV+ series "Severance," said he sees similarities between the fictitious corporation in his show and the real-life global tech giant Apple Inc.

"Severance" follows a group of employees at Lumon Industries whose work is so mysterious that their work personas (or "innies") are medically severed from their outside selves (or "outies") with a small chip implanted in their brains.

The series, which is in the midst of airing its second season, offers striking visuals and a nuanced take on corporate culture, the impacts of capitalism, and the depth of human emotion.

Stiller spoke about the show with Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services (including AppleTV+), at the 2025 SXSW Conference & Festivals in Austin, Texas.

"I think we were lucky in that when we started out, you guys gave us a lot of creative freedom," Stiller said.

Stiller suggested that Apple has similar mysterious qualities that draw the viewer into Lumon in "Severance."

He's not the first one to point this out. Fans have previously drawn comparisons between the two companies, such as the circular architecture at their respective headquarters and the reverence allotted to their company founders.

"It's funny because people talk about, 'Oh wow, you know, Apple is a huge corporation, and Lumon is a huge corporation,'" Stiller said.

He added that it is "the perfect show to be on Apple" because of its aesthetic and mystery of "what's going on" in the company — similar to Apple.

"But I've never once ever gotten any, you know, like note or anything from Apple about anything we do, and I feel like there's an intrigue about Apple," Stiller said. "By the way, how is Apple doing? Because sometimes I worry, are you guys doing okay?"

Cue said Apple is doing great and working on creating "new things that people really love."

Spokespersons for AppleTV+ did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Throughout the second season's airing, fans have taken to social media in a frenzy to assemble theories about different aspects of the plot.

As the show progresses, Lumon's mission and objectives become increasingly sinister, and Adam Scott's Mark Scout tries to piece together the mystery behind his workplace and his severed memories.

Business Insider secured quotes from the interview via live closed captions from SXSW's website.

• The Walt Disney Company developed Celebration, a residential community in Florida, during the 90s.
• Celebration's first residents arrived in 1996 after winning a housing lottery.
• Now, about 11,000 Central Florida residents call Celebration home.

The Walt Disney Company had an ambitious plan in the 1990s: build a picture-perfect community brimming with the charm and feel of America's small towns.

Until then, the company had primarily focused on attractions and entertainment projects when it developed Celebration, which is a residential community just 15 minutes from Walt Disney World.

While visiting family in Orlando, I decided to drive to Celebration to explore the community 29 years after the first families arrived.

Ahead of my trip, I also spoke with Joe Davison, one of the first postmen in Celebration. He began working at its post office in 1996 and retired in 2009.

"I wouldn't trade it," Davison said. "That was by far the best 13 years of work for me."

I also spoke with Celebration HOA President Don McDonald, who has lived there with his family since the mid-1990s.

"The first few years it was very tight knit," McDonald said. "There were only a hundred and some odd houses. We knew everybody and the kids knew everybody, and we felt relatively safe letting the kids run free and free range."

Disney broke ground in 1994.

The Celebration Company — a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company — developed the community with the help of several architects, including Robert A.M. Stern. Stern's firm helped create the master plan, which sought to build a picturesque landscape endowed with small-town charm and Southern flair.

"An emphasis on tree-lined streets, parks, and civic buildings will create a strong public realm, an essential ingredient to any real town," the company website says.

Community is the main focus in Celebration, so the architects created their designs to encourage that.

"Garages are located on alleys, opening the streets to views of houses rather than garage doors, and at the same time allowing for narrower lots which decrease walking distances and enhance the sense of community," the website says.

When I arrived on a balmy Saturday, the community appeared especially lively. A group of children performed a choreographed dance in a nearby park, where a cultural festival with booths representing different countries and a bouncy house was in full swing. Nearby, families strolled leisurely through the town center.

Disney hosted a lottery to choose Celebration's first residents.

Celebration's first residents scored their homes and apartments through a lottery hosted by The Walt Disney Company.

A 1995 article from The Orlando Sentinel reported that once potential homeowners were chosen, they made a refundable $1,000 deposit and an appointment with a sales consultant. The paper reported at the time that homes were worth between $127,000 to over $500,000.

McDonald and his family were among those who entered Disney's lottery. He and his wife wanted to live in Celebration for education options for their children.

"Disney was going to build a state-of-the-art school, so we wanted to get the kids in," McDonald said.

The first residents began moving moved into Celebration in 1996, but it wasn't a bustling town just yet.

"A lot of people moved there from all over the country, but we weren't really that busy then," Davison said.

Working in the post office during Celebration's early years allowed Davison to meet many of the new faces.

"At that point in time, the post office was pretty slow, so a lot of people coming in were residents," Davison said.

The atmosphere among residents in Celebration was welcoming, which he said was different from his previous post office job in South Miami.

"A lot of them would let you know you didn't live there," Davison said about Miami. "In Celebration, nobody ever treated me like an outsider, which is nice in that respect. You felt like part of the community."

Around 2,700 people called Celebration home by 2000, according to the census data.

Some modern Celebration homes cost millions.

Celebration has grown quite a bit since the first residents arrived in 1996.

Three neighborhood — or village — expansions were completed from 2000 to 2003. The most recent expansion happened in 2021 with Island Village, which is nestled into the west side of Celebration.

On my way to the town center, I noticed the idyllic, charming homes dotting the neighborhood.

Home prices in Celebration vary, but active property listings shared by local real estate agencies show a mix of six- and seven-figure residences. One six-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Celebration Village is selling for $2.5 million, and a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Island Village is on the market for $929,000.

Condos, townhomes, and rentals are cheaper. A two-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome in the South Village is priced at $440,000, while a one-bedroom, one-bath condo in Celebration Village rents for $1,550 a month.

The median household income was $97,654 in 2023, according to the US Census Bureau. The town's population has also grown since the first few residents arrived. About 7,400 residents called Celebration home in 2010, and the population rose to 11,100 by 2020.

The population is around 13,000 as of 2023, according to Census Reporter.

The town center attracts residents and visitors alike.

The town center opened in the fall of 1996.

McDonald said one of the perks of moving to Celebration was how accessible shops and restaurants were to residents.

"Everything was right here in town, so we rarely had to leave," McDonald said. "To this day, we call it staying in the bubble."

He recalled being able to travel to Celebration's downtown, where he could grab a bite, get a haircut, and pick up groceries with ease.

"It was like living in a small town, but we certainly had the amenities of a bigger city. We kind of got the best of both worlds."

Now, after a private equity firm purchased Celebration's downtown in 2004, the town center has nearly 60 businesses, shops, and restaurants. Among them is the Downtown Diner, where Max's Cafe & Coffee Shop used to be. Other businesses in Celebration include a Mexican grill restaurant, a martial arts academy, a hotel, and a Starbucks.

While walking through the town center, all I could think about was how it perfectly encapsulated the nostalgia of small American towns. Couples enjoyed fudge treats — courtesy of Kilwins Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop — while friends darted in and out of boutique shops. The streets were lined with pastel-colored buildings, including restaurants that overlooked Lake Rianhard and Lakeside Park.

Although Celebration seems almost artificially perfect, McDonald said his community is very real.

"This is not 'The Stepford Wives' or 'The Truman Show,'" McDonald said. "We don't have artificial birds in the tree. Every one of those birds is a real bird. They wake me up in the morning."

Some shops are still in Celebration decades later.

Photographs from the 1990s offer a glimpse into Celebration's early years, when shops and stores lined Market Street, including Market Street Gallery.

I ventured inside, where they sold everything from sparkling Christmas ornaments to home decor. Items based on Disney characters were displayed around the shop. A website for Celebration's Town Center said the shop acquired new owners in 2019. It's family-owned and operated by Celebration residents.

Davison said retailers settled into Celebration, but some struggled to remain in business due to rent prices and what he considered a lack of publicity from Disney.

Celebration is only a 15-minute drive from Magic Kingdom, meaning it's part of a competitive tourism market where retailers are trying to attract tourists and locals alike.

"Businesses didn't stay very long because they weren't making it, to say the least," Davison said.

McDonald, who used to own antique map store in Celebration, said it was "hard to compete."

If Celebration ever got a makeover, McDonald said building the downtown closer to U.S. Highway 192 could benefit the retailers because they'd be closer to the broader community.

Celebration's iconic movie theatre is now defunct.

Davison said the AMC Theatre in Celebration opened its doors in 1996. He said the community gathered at the movie theater one evening to watch a showing of "The Preacher's Wife," starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.

"That's where a lot of people that were living there met each other for the first time," Davison said.

The movie theater became integral to the Celebration community. It doubled as a church and held Sunday services before a permanent place of worship settled in Celebration. The theater was also the site of Celebration's first high school graduation.

However, the two-screen, 527-seat theater closed in 2010. A resident told BI in 2018 that the theater's final showings were "Megamind" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."

Unfortunately, Celebration's AMC theatre is still shuttered 15 years later.

The theatre's doors were locked and the lights were off when I found it during my trip in February. Posters advertising Celebration — not films — were stuck on the darkened windows.

Although the theater stands empty, the building feels like a landmark highlighting Celebration's early days.

The fountain has kept residents cool for decades.

Most Americans are still bundling up in winter coats and scarves in February, but not Florida. The temperature was about 70 degrees Fahrenheit when I was in Celebration, where most folks wore warm-weather clothes.

The fountain proved to be a popular spot for families and children passing through Celebration's downtown. Many of them stopped to take in the scenic landscape or splash in the water.

The Inn at Celebration opened at the turn of the century.

A stroll down Bloom Street will lead to The Inn at Celebration, a 115-room hotel built along Lake Rianhard.

The hotel, built in 1999, was previously called the Bohemian Hotel Celebration and the Celebration Hotel. Renovations were completed in late 2024.

Davison said the hotel was a pillar in the community, and at one point, residents used it to host charity bingo games.

It also became valued by the larger Central Florida community, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the 2000s. The NFL team hosted its camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and housed players at The Inn at Celebration for seven years.

Now, there are several schools in Celebration.

Celebration School welcomed its first students in 1996. A website for the school said students previously attended school in the Town Hall building before the current campus opened in 1997.

"At the time, there was only one school and it was K through 12," Davison said. "In fact, the first graduating class it was only four kids."

Davison said the locals threw a small parade on Market Street to celebrate the graduating class, which is just one example of how residents tried to foster a tight-knit community.

As Celebration's residents grew, so did schooling options for families.

Celebration School pivoted to K-8 education after Celebration High School opened nearby in 2003. Additionally, local children can also attend the Montessori Academy of Celebration, Creation Village World School, and Island Village Elementary School.

• When my son was 1, we moved from San Francisco to Thailand.
• People in Thailand welcomed us with open arms and helped me when needed.
• We moved back to the US when he was 5 and experienced culture shock.

When my son was 1, I moved from the tumultuous San Francisco Bay Area to the rolling hills of Northeastern Thailand. When I stepped off the plane, I could tell my parenting experience would be different.

Once on the ground, we hopped into a courtesy van that would take us on another hourslong journey to Loei Province, our final destination in rural Northeastern Thailand. As we stopped to fuel up at one of the many 7-Elevens dotting the highway, I ducked into the store to buy some essentials.

Unfortunately, my screaming baby had other plans. He kicked and arched his back as I tried to pay the cashier, only to be suddenly whisked away and soothed by a middle-age Thai woman (and perfect stranger) while I fished through my pockets for the unfamiliar Thai currency.

I'd soon learn this was the norm in Thailand: I never got dirty looks when my son was tearful or noisy, only an endless stream of adoring aunties ready to help the moment they were needed — even before they were asked.

I was a helicopter mom in the US

As a former helicopter mom, this was new for me. Parenting in the San Francisco Bay area had been a notably solo venture, especially as a young mom whose friends weren't very interested in kids, let alone starting families.

When we settled into our new home in Loei with a small community of expats, I learned the extent of the Thai people's friendliness and camaraderie. I enlisted the help of a nanny named Ot, who insisted we call her Auntie with the familiar Pa before her name.

Pa Ot became a true auntie to my son and, frankly, like a second mother to me. With several kids of her own and much more experience than I had, she showed me how to soothe my baby's mosquito bites and remove the relentless cradle cap that cropped up repeatedly in the sweltering humidity.

People took care of us

She showed my son how to eat in the traditional Thai fashion, grabbing and molding sticky rice into a tiny bowl with his fingers to scoop up a morsel of meat or vegetables. She also taught us both how to speak Thai, though my son was always ahead of me.

On weekends, she'd invite us to the local river to swim, another opportunity to meet the Thai villagers and learn about their way of life. She even showed me the wall where she'd printed his photo after months of helping to care for my son and hung it as if he were a part of the family.

Then, there was Jung Niem, the groundskeeper who tended the gardens in our little expat community. He'd invite my truck-obsessed son to sit in the front seat of his work truck with him and paw at the steering wheel, never too busy or distracted to take the time. The office manager, Pi Pat, would routinely grab my kiddo and plop him on her lap, laughing as he banged on the keyboard and terrorized the tiny office.

When we moved to Bangkok, the welcome continued. Our high-rise apartment complex was like a little village, with two restaurants, a dry cleaner, a 7-Eleven, and two massage shops on the ground floor. Mothers and kids were always outside, ready to play, and we didn't need to perfect the language to make friends.

When we moved back to the US I experienced culture shock

The true culture shock set in when we moved back to the US when my son was five. I had forgotten how insular people could be, even parents with kids who ostensibly needed me as much as I needed them. Between competing schedules and priorities, pinning down a playdate was akin to coordinating a rocket launch.

In Thailand, I finally learned how to relax and accept the help I needed as a young, inexperienced mother. The Thai people welcomed me and my son with open arms, no questions asked: community was a given, not a luxury. On returning to my country of origin, it struck me what poverty of community we often face in our individualist culture, especially in a frenetic metropolis like the Bay Area.

Thailand taught me what a powerful gift it is to receive community support as a parent, giving new meaning to the oft-used but seldom-lived adage, "It takes a village."

• NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams held a press conference last week.
• Wilmore said politics hasn't influenced the timeline for when he and Williams will return to Earth.
• Elon Musk said the astronauts were left at the International Space Station for "political reasons."

NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore said politics aren't the reason he and pilot Suni Williams are still in space nearly nine months after they were expected back on Earth.

The two launched on Boeing's Starliner ship on June 5, 2024, planning to stay on the International Space Station for a week or so. It's been over 275 days since then.

Ahead of their anticipated return in late March, Wilmore and Williams hosted a press conference from the International Space Station last week, answering questions about their mission, return, and how politics plays a role.

Although Wilmore and Williams are about 250 miles from Earth, comments made by President Donald Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk have thrust them into the political spotlight.

In January, Trump said Wilmore and Williams were "virtually abandoned by the Biden Administration" in a post on Truth Social.

Musk, the face of DOGE, said the two astronauts were left in space for "political reasons" during a joint interview with Trump on Fox News in February.

The billionaire reiterated this claim during a spat on X with European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, saying he offered to bring Williams and Wilmore home on a SpaceX ship, but the Biden administration declined.

During the press conference, a reporter asked if Wilmore and Williams felt politics had influenced their timeline to return to Earth.

"From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all," Wilmore said during last week's press conference, adding, "We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that."

When asked how it felt to be at the center of a political story following Trump and Musk's comments, Wilmore said politics are "part of life" and that he and his fellow crewmates aboard the ISS — Williams and Nick Hague — support the US and its leaders.

The astronauts have been in space since June 2024

In June, the two astronauts traveled to space aboard Boeing's Starliner ship to conduct its first crewed flight, which was meant to prove Boeing could be used for routine human space travel.

However, five of Starliner's reaction control system thrusters malfunctioned as it flew to the ISS. The spacecraft's helium system was also leaking.

NASA and Boeing, unsure of how the thrusters would perform on the flight back to Earth, conducted weeks of tests and reviews. Ultimately, NASA did not feel confident in Boeing's spacecraft and tapped Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring Wilmore and Williams home.

Although the pair were expected back on Earth in February, a delay with SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship means they aren't expected to return until late March.

NASA plans to launch a new crew, dubbed Crew 10, into space on March 12. If all goes according to plan, after Crew 10 arrives at the ISS, Crew-9 — including Wilmore and Williams — will hand over operations to the new crew.

"Following the handover, NASA and SpaceX will prepare to return to Earth NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard Crew-9 pending weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida," NASA said on its website.

Representatives for NASA, SpaceX, Musk, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment made outside regular business hours. A representative for Boeing referred BI to NASA.

• "Saturday Night Live" brought in comedian Mike Myers to play Elon Musk for a second week running.
• The episode began by spoofing the aftermath of Musk and Marco Rubio's White House clash.
• Myers drew parallels between his "Austin Powers" supervillain and Musk's influence on US politics.

Mike Myers made a second appearance as Elon Musk on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend. The billionaire tech investor, Musk, continues to dominate headlines for his involvement and influence on Donald Trump's presidency.

Following last week's introduction to Myers's savagely funny impersonation of Musk, the NBC show began with a cold open spoofing the aftermath of the clash between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the DOGE advisor that occurred during a meeting on March 6.

The sketch began with James Austin Johnson, playing Trump, trying to broker peace between Rubio, played by Marcello Hernández, and Musk.

"I know you're under a lot of stress but I can't have you fighting with Elon, OK? I need you to be my good little Marco," he said.

"Mr. Trump, if you think I'm going to stand here and let you call me that, you're right," Hernández's Rubio replied.

The New York Times reported that Musk and Rubio exchanged tense words during a meeting in front of Trump and about 20 others over the level of staff cuts that Rubio has carried out.

Per the outlet, Musk accused Rubio of having fired "nobody" and resisting his push for large staff reductions, kicking off a verbal sparring match between the two of them.

In the sketch, Hernandez's Rubio said: "While Elon's been causing chaos, I've been working behind the scenes, and I am very close to a deal with the Panamanian government to retake the Panama Canal."

"Eh, I don't want it anymore. You know, seems like a hassle. What I really love is Thailand. Okay? Because I've been watching 'White Lotus' and it looks beautiful," Johnson's Trump replied.

Midway through the scene, Myers appeared as Musk. Following a jab about him wearing a suit for once ("It's giving groomsman"), Johnson's Trump tried to resolve the conflict.

"I can't have you two at each other's throats, OK? After all, I have a perfect record. Everyone who's ever worked for me has left on good terms and then gone on to write a book called 'The Man Who Ruined Everything,'" he said.

"Marco, get your budget under control," Johnson continued. "Elon, stay in your lane. You're not the boss."

As Johnsons's Trump outlined their respective roles, Myers's Musk zoned out and questioned whether he'd made a mistake in getting involved in politics.

In a voiceover, he mused: "Phase one of my plan is complete: Ingratiate yourself to the president and take over the media. But was taking this job a bad idea?"

"A lot of people seem to really hate me. My Tesla stock is crashing, and my personal net worth just dropped by… $100 billion dollars," he added, as he brought his pinky to the corner of his mouth, referencing his famous Dr. Evil line from the "Austin Powers" films.

As the audience erupted into laughter and cheers, Johnson's Trump wrapped up the meeting and the sketch.

"So, headlines from the meeting. One: America is doing bad guys now. Two: Marco, get your budget under control. And three: Elon, stay in your lane, you're not the boss."

"But I paid you $300 million," said Myers's Musk, referencing the enormous sum Musk spent in political contributions to support Trump and other Republican candidates last year.

"And that's why you're the boss," Johnson said without a beat. "We'll get out of your office."

• Season three of 'The White Lotus' explores themes of identity and spirituality in Thailand.
• Creator Mike White is interested in Buddhist principles, which influenced the character's arcs this season.
• Greg's storyline continues from season two, hinting at karmic consequences for his past actions.

Identity is a prison. That's the operating thesis of season three of Mike White's hit HBO satire "The White Lotus." To be on the nose for this season's Thailand-set exploration of privilege and hijinks, the line is uttered by a Buddhist monk in the premiere episode.

White has used each season's location and its meaning in the American consciousness to draw out the mess of interpersonal relationships among the hotel's staff and guests. In the first season, the colonial afterlife of Hawaii set the scene for exploring wealthy, predominantly white tourists' extractive relationships with the locals who serve them. The romance of Italy in season two formed the backdrop for the passions, affairs, familial and marital drama of the group who visited Sicily.

In season three, the spirituality of Thailand rattles the cages of identity The White Lotus' Western tourists lock themselves in. It's a location that allows the show to examine Eastern spirituality and satirize the way Western tourists appropriate it for their own self-help vacations.

"They're all in some kind of hurt," White said of his Thailand White Lotus visitors in an interview with Time. The dramatic irony is that the suffering they've come to cleanse themselves of is caused by the very thing that allowed them to be there in the first place — the exorbitant wealth and privilege they wield.

That irony likely isn't lost on White, who takes special pleasure in making sure his characters — even the lovable ones — get what's coming to them. You could call it karma, which just so happens to be a key principle of Buddhism, Thailand's dominant religion.

So who's due for some karmic repayment this season? Here's how the major tenets of Buddhist philosophy could offer some clues.

Prisons of identity

White has personal experience with Thailand and Buddhism.

"I had a Buddhist self-help phase when I had a nervous breakdown in my 30s," he told Time in January. "I use Buddhist concepts as a way to sort of organize my ideas."

Time in Buddhist philosophy doesn't work the same as time in Western philosophy. In the West, time is linear. Our lives have a fixed start date — birth — and end date — death.

In Buddhism, time is circular. Life is a cycle of death and rebirth. Identity isn't as fixed within a cycle of reincarnation, since you could be reborn into a higher or lower caste in the next life, depending on the karma you make in this one.

To be caught up in the material circumstances of the present creates the "prison of identity" discussed on the show. Each group of Western tourists is struggling with the prisons of their own identities in some way or another.

For the Southern Ratliff family, particularly the parents, pill-popping Victoria (Parker Posey) and stressed Duke dad Tim (Jason Isaacs), their identities are defined by having good values and by being successful. All that is about to come crashing down, though, since Tim's office is being scrutinized by the feds for a money laundering scheme he participated in years ago.

Rick (Walton Goggins) is clearly tormented by the prison of his own identity, which has led him on a heavily implied revenge tour to Thailand to track down the person responsible for his father's death. The fixation on his father, his origin story, and the emptiness it's left him with is what the Buddhists would call attachment (derogatory) — the kind that only causes you suffering.

The trio of women on a girls' trip are trapped by the competition they've built up with one another. They're constantly vying for power over one another, to be seen as the most successful of the three. "It's not a midlife crisis; it's a victory lap," Southern housewife Kate (Leslie Bibb) insists in episode one.

Karmic repayment

"The White Lotus" is ostensibly an anthology, but if you've seen more than one season, you know that isn't exactly true. In Italy, Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) was the throughline from the first season in Hawaii, and you could say she met her karmic end in the Mediterranean for the false promises she made Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) in Hawaii.

In Thailand, Greg (Jon Gries) is the throughline from the previous season. When we encounter him on Koh Samui, he's assumed an alias "Gary" and denies having ever been to the White Lotus in Hawaii, where he met Tanya and Belinda. If you think of each season as one cycle of reincarnation, then Thailand is Greg's next life after the one he left in Italy, which effectively concluded with Tanya's death.

Of course, the audience knows all about the bad karma Greg stirred up in Sicily by organizing his wife's hit. Since the episode four teaser shows Belinda closing in on Greg with a little bit of internet sleuthing, it's fair to expect his old life to come flooding back.

In Buddhism, you can't enter a new life without balancing the karma, good and bad, that you've made in your previous one. Greg, responsible for the demise of Tanya at the end of last season, still managed to escape unscathed.

It's fair to expect he'll be getting some cosmic payback at the end of this one, whether it comes in the form of a snake bite, a poisoned seed, or a watery demise on the resort grounds. If Thailand has anything to teach him, it's that you can't start over without a little karmic justice.

• Elon Musk has called for the US to exit NATO.
• In a post on X, Musk said it "doesn't make sense for America to pay for the defense of Europe."
• Trump has repeatedly criticized European defense spending and threatened to leave NATO if allies didn't pay more.

Billionaire Elon Musk has suggested the US should leave NATO, as tensions between the US and its European allies continue to build.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, reshared a post on X Sunday that read "Exit NATO now!"

"We really should," Musk wrote. "Doesn't make sense for America to pay for the defense of Europe."

The current White House administration has had an increasingly strained relationship with its European NATO partners, with President Donald Trump repeatedly criticizing Europe's defense spending.

Trump has called on European members of the alliance to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP —significantly more than any member, including the US, currently spends. In his first term in office, Trump also threatened to withdraw from the alliance if allies did not boost spending.

While a number of countries have since pledged to make such changes, Trump has remained skeptical, saying earlier this month that the US would not defend NATO members who don't pay enough for their own defense.

It comes at a pivotal time for Europe as it seeks to step up support for Ukraine while the US appears to be pulling away from Kyiv. Trump announced that he would pause military aid to the country earlier this month following his dramatic clash with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the Oval Office.

Musk has taken on an influential role in the Trump administration.

In his position as head of DOGE, he has pushed for mass layoffs of federal workers and canceled federal contracts in a bid to cut government spending.

• My husband and I retired to Cuenca, Ecuador, but always wondered what other options were out there.
• We spent time in Cancún and Playa del Carmen to see why many American expats retire in Mexico.
• We were pleasantly surprised and impressed by the weather, shops, and more in each place.

In 2010, we left the United States and retired abroad to Cuenca, Ecuador.

Although we're fortunate to enjoy a fabulous retirement life abroad, we've always wondered if there's an even better place for us out there.

So, over a decade later, we set off on an adventure that lasted more than two years to explore other potential retirement spots around the globe to find out.

Our journey started in Mexico, a popular spot for American retirees in part due to its proximity to the US, generally lower cost of living, and its warm weather.

While there, we spent two weeks each in Cancún and Playa del Carmen, two of the country's popular Caribbean vacation spots.

Although we chose tourist-heavy cities, we tried to get a taste of daily life by staying in neighborhoods outside the main vacation and hotel areas.

We were pleasantly surprised by Cancún

Located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancún is a major tourist destination in Mexico. That said, Cancún has a "hotel zone" along the beach that's miles away from the city itself.

Most visitors (like us on an anniversary trip years ago) arrive at the airport, take a shuttle to their hotel, and never leave the vicinity before departing for home.

On this trip, though, we rented an Airbnb in a residential section of downtown to attempt to see what it might be like to live there.

We found downtown Cancún to be quite different from the miles of fancy resorts, boutiques, and eateries in the hotel zone.

As we walked around, we passed numerous modest single-family homes and locally owned shops and restaurants. We liked that the downtown had everything we could need for daily life within walking distance.

In addition, the area had some popular American chains, like Walmart, which had a surprisingly impressive selection of affordable products and produce.

Plus, there's a major international airport just 20 to 30 minutes away from downtown — ideal for American expats who want to visit family back home.

Our apartment was miles from the beach, but an inexpensive bus ride made getting there a snap. However, once we got to the miles of public beaches, we were disappointed to find very few designated access points.

It was harder to enter the beach than we expected, especially since we'd been used to walking from an oceanfront hotel directly onto the sand when we'd stayed in Cancún as tourists. This was definitely a drawback, but not an insurmountable one.

Overall, though, we were pleasantly surprised at how similar downtown Cancún felt to our current neighborhood.

Playa del Carmen seemed to offer the best of both worlds for American expats

Located about an hour south of Cancún is the coastal town of Playa Del Carmen. Unlike Cancún, Playa del Carmen doesn't have an isolated hotel zone separate from its residential areas.

This city has beaches, the famous 5th Avenue a couple of blocks away, and then local housing and businesses all the way to the major highway that runs from Cancún past Tulum.

I liked that nearby neighborhoods could easily access the beach and popular spots like 5th Avenue. The lively area felt like Mexico's version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, filled with tourists, vendors, and live music. This was fun, though I worried it could eventually be annoying to navigate while trying to do chores and run errands on a daily basis.

Even so, the area felt overflowing with outstanding food and shopping options.

In addition to local offerings, we found popular American chains like Walmart, Sam's Club, Office Depot, and many familiar chain restaurants in the area that US expats missing home would surely enjoy.

Although Playa del Carmen doesn't have its own international airport, the one in Cancún is only about an hour away.

Overall, we can see why retirees would choose either place

It was exciting to see what else is out there for other Americans looking to retire abroad.

We appreciated how Playa del Carmen and Cancún both felt beautiful and walkable, with fairly easy access to airports, which is great for retirees moving away from family.

We can definitely understand why the warm weather, beaches, and other perks would bring expats to either place.

That said, we also realized the area's generally hotter temperatures weren't quite an ideal fit for us. For now, we still call Cuenca home.

• I'm a Lisbon local and tour guide, which means I see visitors make many of the same mistakes.
• Some wrongfully assume Portugal's weather will be sunny all year and don't pack comfortable shoes.
• We generally appreciate it when tourists leave tips and try to speak Portuguese.

Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, is high on many must-visit lists for a good reason. After all, it is a historical and gastronomic paradise.

I was born and raised in Lisbon, and I'm now a tour guide there, so I've seen visitors make a lot of missteps and errors while visiting my beautiful city and the areas beyond it.

Here are five mistakes I wish tourists would stop making when they come here.

Assuming the weather is always pleasant and sunny

Many picture tons of year-round sunshine when they think of Portugal — I can tell by the way many tourists fail to dress properly when the weather is anything else.

Before you visit, know that our Mediterranean soil comes with all four seasons.

Summer is indeed hot and sunny, a great time for sunset cocktails on the Tagus River and outdoor diner parties with grilled sardines and small cold beers in the Alfama quarter. Winter can be a bit chilly.

In spring and autumn, temperatures tend to be more mild, making these great times of year to hike across Lisbon's seven hills and go on day trips around the city.

However, you'll want to pack carefully because the weather can also be the most unpredictable during these months. Definitely do some research before packing for your trip.

Wearing flip-flops or high heels around the city

Like many other Portuguese cities, Lisbon has an array of beautiful cobblestone patterns in its squares and sidewalks. However, these stones can get slippery and sometimes be uncomfortable to walk on.

So, pack sensible, comfortable footwear. The Portuguese pavement can be challenging enough to navigate without high heels and flip-flops.

Not even trying to speak the local language

Although many of us locals enjoy practicing our English with tourists, we still appreciate it when visitors try to speak Portuguese.

Making an effort to use our language is a nice tribute to local culture — and there's a good chance you'll get better service just for trying.

At the very least, it's polite to know and use basic phrases, like hello (olá) and please (por favor).

Drinking strong Portuguese coffee as if it's the same as what you usually have back home

In Portugal, most of our coffee blends are made with robusta beans. If this is what you're used to back home, you should be fine.

However, robusta beans have way more caffeine than arabica ones, which are the more common offering in the United States (and much of the world).

To avoid caffeine overload, be mindful of this difference when getting drinks here. If you want a bigger cup of coffee that's less intense, order an abatanado (basically an Americano).

Also, keep in mind that we typically consume our coffee at a leisurely pace — it's meant for sipping while sitting at a café. It's rare to see locals drinking coffee out of plastic or paper cups on the go.

Thinking the Portuguese don't like to be tipped

Tipping culture varies around the world, but that doesn't mean service workers here don't appreciate an extra bit of change.

In Lisbon, tipping isn't considered as essential as it is in the US, as our service workers are usually paid a living wage. However, tips should still be used to reward good service, especially at tourist-friendly activities and restaurants.

As a tour guide, I know firsthand just how much we appreciate them.

• My eldest is 14 and a half, and it's not unusual for me to be ignored, insulted, or shouted at.
• I try not to take it personally, but I still need my teen to know I'm there for her.
• Recently, we've discovered we enjoy working out together.

As a mother of four girls, ages 7 to 14, I thought I'd be prepared for the teen years.

I was so naive.

Having a teen daughter is wonderful, funny, messy, eye-opening, and joyful but can also be scary.

Unlike all the previous parenting stages, you can no longer kid yourself that you have control over anything. Not when your adorable, cooing baby is your height, slamming a door in your face, ignoring everything you say, or informing you that our outfit makes you "look like a potato."

I never wanted to be my child's "best friend." However, it was shocking how different our relationship became (seemingly overnight), though every teen parenting book warned me this would happen.

Initially, I took it personally: the insults, the eye-rolling, the mumbled, monosyllabic answers. Now, I look for ways to keep channels of communication open between us.

Like exercising together, which has become one love language we both enjoy.

Connecting through shared passions

One of the challenges in my relationship with my eldest daughter is how similar we are, from our physical features to our personality traits.

I understand why she needs to push me away. I behaved identically as a teen.

While we can connect over a shopping excursion (teen girls tend to be nice once a Sephora purchase has been made, at least for a little while), our shared passion for fitness and sport has really brought us together.

Moving together

As a teen, I wanted to become a professional ballerina, spending my days training at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan.

My daughter is a junior county-level cricketer, not a dancer (we live in London), so we both understand the importance of having a passion for something that you want to live and breathe all the time.

Not everyone will understand the focus, discipline, commitment, and sacrifice required, but my daughter reminds me of myself at her age.

Last year, my teen started circuit training as part of her school sports program; I'd begun lifting weights to build strength during perimenopause. We'd work out in the living room, or my daughter would ask me to throw balls in the backyard. Slowly, we found ourselves doing spontaneous fitness sessions, like going for the odd run or heading to the hotel gym together on vacation.

Instead of exploding into a screaming match, we'd often giggle during these gym sessions. My daughter would give me training tips; I'd usually beg her to switch to lighter weights (and she'd ignore me). But somehow, it felt effortless — and fun.

These workouts are never about "improving" appearance, though my daughter enjoys hitting a new speed or endurance milestone. We discuss the merits of being strong rather than thin, but we also know that we don't exercise solely for our bodies. With our busy minds, exercise is our happy place — calming but energizing, motivating, and grounding.

Learning a new language together

Teenage girlhood often involves rejecting your mother in some way. I'm OK with that, but no matter how many doors get slammed in my face, I want to make sure my kids always know mine is open.

Communication can look different from what we expect. When we work out, my teen and I are mostly silent. Occasionally, I'll ask my daughter what song she's listening to; she'll wonder if she can "borrow" the workout top I'm wearing for our next session.

Sometimes, she'll catch my eye and smile at me in the mirror behind her. Like she knows I'm there to spot her, cheer her, support her — in life, as well as in the gym.

• "American Idol" returns for its 23rd season on March 9, 2025.
• Some winners, such as new judge Carrie Underwood, have sold millions of records and won Grammys.
• We've ranked every winner's success, from Abi Carter to Kelly Clarkson.

Thousands of people have tried out for "American Idol" over the past 23 years, with the hope of becoming America's next biggest pop star.

But how many of the 22 winners have actually become the next American idol?

Ahead of the show's 23rd season premiere on Sunday, we've ranked every winner of "American Idol" based on their amount of success since appearing in the competition.

Our ranking considered factors including how many albums or songs they've sold, chart placement, cultural impact, award nominations and wins, and how famous they are compared with other contestants on their season (we're looking at you, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert).

This list is not based on talent, because all of these musicians possess beautiful voices.

Here's how we think the "American Idol" winners stack up.

22. Just Sam (season 18)

The low placement of Just Sam, 26, the winner of season 18, is no fault of their own — their season was interrupted because of COVID-19, and they weren't able to tour or do any real press for years.

In 2023, they spoke openly with The Washington Post about how winning a reality show didn't automatically equate to success. After leaving Hollywood Records after two years with no released music, Sam was spotted busking on the New York City subway.

20. Abi Carter (season 22)

Abi Carter is our reigning "American Idol," winning in 2024.

Since then, the 22-year-old has released her debut album, "Ghosts in the Backyard," which didn't chart. She's also yet to hit the one-million streams mark on any of her songs on Spotify, so we reserve the right to change this placement if she scores a hit soon.

20. Maddi Poppe (season 16)

In 2018, Maddie Poppe was crowned the season 16 champion.

Poppe, 27, has failed to make much of an impact on mainstream music, though a few of her songs' streaming numbers are in the multimillions on Spotify.

Her songs have charted on the adult contemporary/adult airplay charts, but not particularly high. She does, however, have a People's Choice Award under her belt for "competition contestant of 2018."

Poppe also loses points because of Gabby Barrett's success; Barrett came in third place during season 16 but has become a country music star with her hit single "I Hope," which was nominated for single of the year at the 2020 CMA Awards and reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. In 2025, Barrett will make her acting debut in "Hurry Up Tomorrow" alongside The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan.

19. Iam Tongi (season 21)

Season 21 champ Iam Tongi became the first Pacific Islander to win "American Idol" in 2023.

Tongi, 20, has released multiple singles and even earned a No. 1 song on the World Digital Song Sales chart with "Why Kiki?," which is why he's at this spot, even though he hasn't done much since winning (yet).

18. Laine Hardy (season 17)

Laine Hardy won season 17, the second of the "rebooted" series, in 2019.

Since then, he peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart and has released multiple singles.

Hardy's 2018 song "Hurricane" has been streamed over 12 million times on Spotify, and he had a song reach No. 19 on the Country Song Digital Sales chart.

17. Lee DeWyze (season 9)

Lee DeWyze was the season nine champion in 2010.

Both DeWyze, 38, and the runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, have essentially disappeared from pop culture since appearing on the show, especially compared with some of its other winners.

DeWyze had four songs chart on the Hot 100 from his first post-"Idol" album, "Live It Up," ranging from Nos. 24 to 88. "Live It Up" and his 2013 album, "Frames," made it to the Billboard 200, charting at Nos. 19 and 116. He released his seventh and eighth albums in 2018 and 2024, but both failed to chart.

DeWyze definitely had his moment, and while he continues to make music, he has faded into pop-music obscurity.

16. Kris Allen (season 8)

Kris Allen's season-eight win in 2009 can best be summed up by his face upon winning.

Allen's win remains as confusing in 2025 as it was in 2009, when he inexplicably lost to Adam Lambert, one of the most talented musicians to ever grace the "Idol" stage — he's touring with Queen, for crying out loud.

Lambert also acts, has topped charts, has sold millions of records, was nominated for a Grammy in 2011, and starred in the Broadway revival of "Cabaret" from September 2024 to March 2025.

Another contestant from their season, Mickey Guyton, recently had a breakout moment and has been nominated for four Grammys. She's also the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category, according to Wide Open Country.

Comparatively, Allen has fallen short. The 39-year-old had seven songs make it to the Hot 100 but never broke the top 10 — at the time, this was unheard of for "American Idol" contestants. His highest-charting album was 2009's "Kris Allen," which peaked at No. 11. He hasn't had an album chart since 2014.

15. Trent Harmon (season 15)

Trent Harmon won what was then the last season of "American Idol," season 15, in 2016.

In 2018, Harmon, now 34, released his debut album, "You Got 'Em All," which peaked at No. 34 on the Top Country Albums chart. A 2017 single, "There's a Girl," reached No. 27 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and has been streamed over 55 million times on Spotify. His album reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, but it didn't reach the Billboard 200.

Overall, he's a perfectly respectable late-season contestant. However, Harmon has lost points for beating La'Porsha Renae, who we believe deserved the win.

14. Noah Thompson (season 20)

Noah Thompson was the season nine champion in 2022.

The 22-year-old was successful with his debut single, "One Day Tonight," which reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot Country chart and has 40 million streams on Spotify.

However, Thompson loses some points since another contestant from his season, Cameron Whitcomb, is arguably more successful. He has two songs on Spotify with over 44 million streams and two charting singles on the US Rock charts ("Medusa" and "Hundred Mile High").

13. Candice Glover (season 12)

Candice Glover was crowned the 12th "American Idol" in 2013.

Unfortunately, season 12 of "American Idol" will be best known as the season with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's beef, overshadowing the highly talented Glover.

Since the show, she's released only one album, "Music Speaks," in 2014. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Her coronation song, "I Am Beautiful," reached No. 93 on the Hot 100.

Glover, 35, remains the most famous person from her season, however, bumping her past a few competitors.

12. Caleb Johnson (season 13)

Caleb Johnson was crowned the winner of season 13 in 2014 and has released only one solo album since.

Johnson, 33, one of the few "rock" winners of "American Idol," was beloved on the show. But since winning in 2014, he's released only one album as a solo artist, "Testify," in 2014. It peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200. He's failed to chart any songs on the Hot 100.

He released his second album with his band, Caleb Johnson & the Ramblin' Saints, in 2021, which seems to be more what he's into stylistically, but streaming numbers are low.

However, in 2023, Johnson joined Meat Loaf's backing band, the Neverland Express, on a multi-city tour to rave reviews, per Chicago Concert Reviews. As Adam Lambert can attest, this is a lucrative gig.

11. Chayce Beckham (season 19)

When Chayce Beckam won season 19 in 2021, he became the first-ever champ whose winner's single was written solely by the winner — and when it topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart, it became the first song since "Ours" by Taylor Swift in 2012 to be written by just the musician performing it.

It's got 289 million streams on Spotify, and also reached No. 45 on the Hot 100.

Beckham, 28, hasn't replicated that success so far, though, preventing him from being higher on this list.

10. Nick Fradiani (season 14)

Nick Fradiani won the 14th season of "American Idol" in 2015.

Fradiani, 39, already had a bit of fame before competing: He was part of a pop-rock band called Beach Avenue that competed on "America's Got Talent" in 2014, but the band didn't make it far. So Fradiani decided to try his luck as a solo act on "American Idol."

In August 2016, he released his sole album, "Hurricane," which peaked at No. 121 on the Billboard 200. He had only one song reach the Hot 100: his coronation song, "Beautiful Life," which peaked at No. 93.

He's since returned to Beach Avenue, and also made his Broadway debut in 2022 in "A Beautiful Noise," the Neil Diamond musical. He is now leading the national tour as the younger version of Diamond.

9. Taylor Hicks (season 5)

When Hicks won "American Idol" in 2006, he was briefly one of the most famous people in the US. The Wrap reported his season was the most successful in two ways: It has the highest ratings to date, and each of the top 10 contestants secured a record deal — nine of them with major labels.

Hicks' coronation single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 — an impressive feat — and his 2006 album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He also became the first "Idol" winner to secure a long-term Vegas residency before it was cool, per Forbes, and he starred in "Grease" on Broadway as the Teen Angel.

However, the 48-year-old hasn't charted since 2009, and he has been overshadowed by other contestants from his season, most notably Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee, but even other contestants like Mandisa, Kellie Pickler, Kevin Covais, and Elliott Yamin all achieved chart success.

8. David Cook (season 7)

David Cook won the battle of the Davids during season seven in 2008.

Cook bested David Archuleta to become the seventh "American Idol" champ. The 42-year-old has released three albums and three EPs since "Idol," the most recent of which failed to chart upon release in 2021. His self-titled 2008 album also reached No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Though his coronation song, "The Time of My Life," didn't top the charts, he's had more hits than say, Taylor Hicks, with 15 songs charting in the Hot 100. His last song to hit any chart was 10 years ago.

Besides singing, Cook was on Broadway for two 2018 stints in "Kinky Boots."

Archuleta's enduring fame works against Cook's placement on this list, as many millennials are still bumping "Crush" to this day.

7. Ruben Studdard (season 2)

In 2003, Ruben Studdard became the second "American Idol."

Following Kelly Clarkson would've been a tough act for anyone, but Studdard held his own. His 2003 debut album, "Soulful," reached the top of the Billboard 200, and his next five albums all reached the top 200 as well.

He had two top-10 songs, "Flying Without Wings" and "Sorry 2004," and he has been nominated for multiple major awards, including at the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Grammys.

The 46-year-old has also found success in gospel and R&B, though he hasn't had a major hit in over a decade.

In the past decade, Studdard has appeared on "The Biggest Loser" and made his Broadway debut in 2018 with his runner-up, Clay Aiken.

It's Aiken, actually, who takes points away from Studdard. Aiken is more famous than Studdard is now, but their enduring friendship is sweet. In fact, Aiken and Studdard appeared on season 11 of "The Masked Singer" together as a pair of beets.

6. Phillip Phillips (season 11)

Phillip Phillips, who won season 11 in 2012, had the bestselling coronation song in "American Idol" history.

"Home" is "Idol's" bestselling coronation song, per Billboard, which bumps Phillips way up this list. Phillips, 34, also opened for John Mayer on tour, is the only famous person from his season, and was nominated for various awards at the American Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards.

Both "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone" have over 100 million streams on Spotify, and he has four songs that have reached the Hot 100.

His first two albums, "The World From the Side of the Moon," and "Behind the Light," peaked at Nos. 4 and 7, though his 2023 album, "Drift Back," failed to chart. We'll see whether Phillips can make a comeback.

5. Scotty McCreery (season 10)

Season 10's winner, Scotty McCreery, barely edged out Phillip Phillips of season 11.

McCreery, 31, has enjoyed success since his win in 2011, including three No. 1 country albums (and one No. 2) and a certified platinum debut album (which also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200). He's the only country music artist to chart a song without a record label.

He's received multiple award nominations, including at the American Country Music Awards, the CMTs, the Teen Choice Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the BMI Country Awards, and has had multiple hit singles. "Five More Minutes," "See You Tonight," and "This Is It" all reached the top 10 in the country charts.

In 2024, McCreery received one of the highest honors in country music when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. That same year, Rolling Stone ranked his album "Rise & Fall" as one of the best country albums of the year.

McCreery's season does have famous alumni (Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart), but neither has clearly surpassed McCreery, so he's earned his place in the top five.

4. Jordin Sparks (season 6)

Jordin Sparks, who won season six in 2007, is one of the most successful "American Idol" winners.

Sparks, who was just 17 when she won, has become one of the most famous and beloved "Idol" contestants. She's sold over 1 million albums and 10.2 million singles in the US alone. "No Air," the highest-selling single of any "Idol" contestant, peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

The 35-year-old has had two top-10 albums, a Grammy nomination (along with multiple other noms and wins), and eight Hot 100 singles. She has starred in two Broadway musicals ("In the Heights" and "Waitress") and even cowrote Ariana Grande's breakthrough single "The Way."

While she hasn't had a smash single in a few years, she began a comeback with appearances on "The Masked Dancer" in 2021 and "Dancing with the Stars" in 2022, and released her fourth album, "No Restrictions," in 2024.

3. Fantasia Barrino (season 3)

In 2004, Fantasia Barrino became the third "American Idol," so it's fitting that we ranked her at No. 3.

The singer, who goes by Fantasia professionally, has had quite a career. Her first single debuted at No. 1, and her debut album was certified platinum. Her next seven albums all made it to the Billboard 200, and she's seen much success on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, with a No. 2 in 2019 on the Adult R&B chart.

Fantasia, 40, was also inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, starred in "The Color Purple" and "After Midnight" on Broadway, was ranked 32nd on VH1's list of the 100 greatest women in music, performed at Aretha Franklin's funeral, and starred in her own Lifetime movie.

In 2023, she made her feature film debut in the movie adaptation of the musical "The Color Purple," for which she received Golden Globes, Critics' Choice, and SAG Awards nominations.

Fantasia also has a Grammy win from 12 nominations.

The only thing working against Fantasia? That Jennifer Hudson, a future Oscar winner, was on her season; Hudson is easily one of the most famous "Idol" contestants of all time.

2. Carrie Underwood (season 4)

What is there to say about Underwood, 41, that hasn't already been said?

She is the female artist with the most No. 1s on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and she has eight Grammy wins (including best new artist), 12 Billboard Music Awards wins, 17 American Music Awards wins, a Guinness world record, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more.

Billboard named her the top female country artist of the 2000s and the 2010s. Underwood has sold over 4.3 million concert tickets, per Pollstar, and was named one of Time's most influential people in 2014.

In total, she's sold 85 million records worldwide, according to her website. She has 28 No. 1 country songs. It's staggering.

This year, she's returning to the "American Idol" stage as a judge, the first former winner to do so.

No one else from her 2005 season, including Bo Bice or Constantine Maroulis, came close to her amount of success. In fact, there's only one "Idol" who could best her ...

1. Kelly Clarkson (season 1)

Who else could be the most successful "American Idol," but Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever champ? She created an entire empire from her 2002 win.

While Underwood might have chart success in country music, Clarkson has crossover appeal. She's had three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, is the first artist to top the pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts, and has had 11 top-10 singles on the Hot 100 (with three No. 1s).

She's also recorded a modern-classic Christmas album, judged on "The Voice," has been nominated for 17 Grammys (winning three), and had one of the bestselling songs of 2002 with her coronation single, "A Moment Like This."

Clarkson, 42, has also secured a career outside music. Her delightful talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," has won eight Daytime Emmys from 11 nominations. Only an Oscar and a Tony to go, Kelly!

• It was always my dream, but raising two kids as a stay-at-home mom was harder than I thought.
• I lost my identity during my kids' infant and toddler years, and getting it back took work.
• My kids are teens now, and I love to see new moms holding onto their own identities and interests.

I was 27 when I had my first baby, and like most people in their late 20s, I thought I had everything figured out. I'd been raised in a conservative church environment where women were taught their main purpose was to become a wife and then a mother. My husband and I had been married for a few years when we decided to start our family. Bringing a baby into our home felt, at the time, like I was finally fulfilling my purpose.

When my son was 2, I gave birth to our daughter. Our family was complete, and I felt proud I'd locked down a husband and had two babies before 30. All that was left to do was enjoy motherhood — or so I thought.

I love being a mom, but early on, I lost myself

Being a mom has always come easy to me, but in those tear-filled, sleepless infant and toddler years, motherhood had a cost. Now in my 40s with two teenagers, I see how I lost my own identity somewhere between hand-sewing Halloween costumes and scheduling park playdates. Rediscovering who I was at my core was tough once I realized I was lost in mom life, but I'm proof it's possible.

Before I had kids, I acted in community theater, went to a monthly book club, traveled, and maintained things like nail and hair appointments. I also had a career. In an office. Where I interacted with other adult humans daily. When my babies arrived, there was no time for reading, acting, or leaving my neighborhood. I traded salon mani-pedis and pricey blonde hair for drugstore polish and some pretty bad home-hair-dye mishaps.

I don't regret being a stay-at-home mom, though it took a toll

My dad, who was my best friend, died unexpectedly when my first child was an infant, and in one of our last conversations, he admonished me to quit my job. "Babies are only small for a little while, Terri," he told me, "this is time you'll never get back." Two weeks later, my dad was gone, and a mixture of grief and thinking his advice was sound led me to quit a job I adored — an executive director position at a non-profit organization — and become a stay-at-home mom. I don't regret it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't incredibly difficult.

There are so many perks to losing yourself in being a mommy to two small humans. The memories, love, and closeness I still share with my kids to this day make those difficult years of wiping butts, handling toddler tantrums at the grocery store, and navigating the surprisingly icky world of making mom "friends" worth it.

Today, my kids are approaching 17 and 15, and I'd give up almost anything to rock my thumb-sucking baby girl to sleep or hear my toddler son mispronounce "yogurt" one more time. But I'm also glad to have myself back — to know that I'm a mom and a billion other things, from a frequent world traveler to a secret lover of smutty romance novels.

Remembering who I was pre-motherhood was tough, but worth it

A lot of things broke in my life before I rediscovered myself. My marriage suffered in my kids' elementary school years. I started therapy, made tough decisions to distance myself from my family for mental health reasons, took control of my health and lost 100 pounds, and, most recently, stopped drinking alcohol completely. But it wasn't just big changes that helped me rediscover myself. I chipped and chiseled away at my exterior of being "Bennet and Kennedy's mom" to find someone who loves long walks outside, thrifting, keeping a small circle of trusted friends, and cooking. I'm still their mom, but it's not the most interesting thing about me, and that makes me a better mom to them both.

These days, I'm blown away by young moms who refuse to let go of their identity. I hear them on podcasts, see them in my community, and watch them on social media as they parent and write books, go to movie theaters, travel kid-free with their spouse, and schedule a mid-day massage while someone else looks after their kids.

I wish I'd had moms like that in my life when I was younger, but since I didn't, I'm always the first to tell new moms it's OK to take time for themselves in whatever form is meaningful for them. The young moms I cheer the hardest for are the ones I see holding onto themselves while parenting, because it's the key to it all.