This post is brought to you by the makers of Pine-Sol® Products. I have partnered with them to spread the word about the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign and sweepstakes. To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.womenRiseAboveIt.com. All opinions and stories are my own.

My husband and I don’t have children and still are up in the air as to whether we want to expand our family right now or not. But as a former classroom teacher, a daughter of a risk-taking mother, sister of a “I can’t work for nobody ever again” brother who started his own network architecture firm on hard work and an unwavering belief in his own ability, and wife to a man who took seven years to finish college because he had to drop out several times to scrape together enough tuition money, I know that my children, if we were to have them, would grow up hearing about these stories of rising above to overcome life’s challenges.

But since learning is more effective when it is hands-on, I would find instances in my children’s lives to help them develop perseverance and see the benefits of a “pro-perseverance” approach to life. Childhood ain’t easy; that I know for sure. There’s hard homework, awkward social situations, and a lot of opportunities to fail forward.

And if a child does not know and apply the behaviors and dispositions of one that perseveres, then they will be doomed to an adulthood full of frustration, broken promises, and deferred dreams. Perseverance builds winners and I am not speaking in that Rocky Balbao sense— even though the story of the underdog coming from the bottom to the top speaks to the heart of perseverance in big broad strokes.

The kind of winning that I am talking about is more subtle and nuanced. And it is more likely to happen to the ordinary, everyday winner. The ordinary, everyday winner experiences daily doses of happiness that are as a result of staying committed to something that matters to them— a marriage, an exercise and diet program, a SUDOKU, a long book, or any promise that they made to himself or herself.

In essence, I will immerse my children in the virtue of perseverance because it will help them pursue the lives that they want instead of settling for second best.

To recognize and celebrate the remarkable women among us, Pine-Sol® is teaming up with actress and activist Rosie Perez to launch the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign. From November 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, women across the country are encouraged to contribute their own stories of triumph to Pine-Sol’s moving collection of stories by visitingwww.womenRiseAboveIt.com.

If you have a story of perseverance, then this is your chance to share it with the world and to inspire other women who may also be going through challenges.  Also, by entering your story, you will have a chance to win many great prizes, such as:

• Once a week for 12 weeks, Pine-Sol® will award one lucky winner small tokens of appreciation (Flower bouquet + Pine-Sol® coupons)
• Three first prize winners will receive complimentary house cleaning services for a year
• One grand prize winner will be awarded an all-inclusive trip to enjoy a peaceful spa experience at a deluxe hotel.

Sweepstakes Rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Open to legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C. 18 years and older.  Ends 1/31/14 at 11:59 a.m. PT.  To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions, visitwww.womenriseaboveit.com. Void where prohibited.