Maria Smith is a freelance writer, blogger, wife and mother of 4 kids under 8 years old. Prior to having children, she was a TV producer at The Oprah Winfrey Show, ESPN, CBS, and other entertainment outlets. Today, in between diaper changes and homework help, she writes for a variety of parenting, travel and health and wellness publications.  She has been featured as a "mom" expert on ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Babble, Women's Day, and The Nest, among others.  Maria lives with her family in Atlanta and is an active member of the her church, the Carl E. Sanders YMCA,  Mocha Moms Inc, and MOPS.