I learn so much as I raise my girls Beatrice (age 12) and Eugenie (age 11); it's an education like no other, like on-the-job training!

I have a great deal of fun with my girls, but I can tell you that I take my job as a role model, teacher and advocate very seriously. These are their formative years — all school-girl sweet — but they're growing up so fast. I make it a point to be an active part of their day-to-day life, which isn't always easy with the amount of traveling I do.

We talk a lot, even if it's on the phone — to me, keeping the lines of communication open is key. Most days we start and end our busy days together, as we do most weekends and on all school vacations. I miss them terribly when I travel so I can't help but fax them little love notes.

When I was their age, my parents' marriage was coming to an end, and rather than talk about how I felt, I put on a strong face and retreated into myself. Yes, I had school, friends and sports to keep me busy, but looking back I can see how much I needed an adult's reassurance that everything would be all right.

Amid the turmoil at home, I found I could calm myself down by eating favorite foods like egg salad sandwiches and soft boiled eggs with sausages and toast points. It seemed harmless enough, but of course what I was doing was learning to eat for comfort, an insidious habit that caused me years of trouble with my weight.

My girls feel secure in their home and in the fact that their mother and father, though divorced, are united as parents and totally devoted to them. Some call us the happiest divorced family in the world. How is that possible? One word: communication. The world is a frightening and complex place for children, so there's no substitute for a parent's wisdom and candor to help them make sense of it all.

I'm very honest and forthright with my girls, especially when it comes to healthy eating and fitness. Thankfully, neither of my girls is overweight, and there's no reason for them to diet. Nonetheless, they have many of the same fears and insecurities as most girls their age, so in our home I encourage them to get their issues out on the table so we can take a look and put things into perspective. I know from experience that lack of self-esteem can lead to all kinds of trouble. There's no better prevention than to help a child feel good about themselves and feel like they have some sense of control in shaping their life.

None of us is born with good food sense. It took me 38 years and the help of Weight Watchers to finally understand the importance of food and exercise in my life. I now do what many Weight Watchers members do with their children: Take what I've learned and pass it along to my girls in ways that help them establish healthy habits — for now and hopefully for their entire lives. I don't believe in labeling foods "good or bad," but I do make every effort to help them make smart food choices on their own. And I encourage them to have fun with exercise, whether it's through sports or just playing actively with their friends.

No mother wants to rush their children into adulthood, but consider for a moment how your child's life might thrive in the coming years, thanks to your efforts to raise them well-nourished and physically fit. A healthy lifestyle in youth is an amazing gift for the future.