Heather Chapman, right, writer of parenting blog The Mother Tongue, is a Herald-Leader news assistant with two young children and a husband who plays the drums. Her house is very loud. In her infrequent spare time, she confesses a fondness for knitting, calligraphy, and all things geeky.

Feature writer Mary Meehan has been a reporter for more than 20 years and a mother for nearly 10. She's still trying, in vain mostly, to perfect both skills. A single mom who lives in Georgetown, she's part-time potter, a full-time knitter, an occasional gardener, an avid fan of HGTV and a reluctant expert on Hannah Montana.