Bethenny Frankel's top parenting lessons

Bethenny Frankel with daughter Bryn. (Photo: Bravotv.com))Before she was a wife and mother, Bethenny Frankel was a housewife. That alone is proof that Bravo's breakout reality star doesn't stick to the script. In two years she's gone from a single, hard-working personal chef to a happily married mom running a lifestyle empire. In between there was "Skating with the Stars," a few bestselling books, a workout video, a hit show, a wedding planned in record time and a little girl named Bryn Hoppy. Tonight, Bravo premieres Frankel's new series, Bethenny Ever After, a glimpse into her trials and errors as a new mom. And there are bound to be a few-at the root of the 40-year-old's success is trademark candor and, in a world where the pressure is on to be the perfect mother, Bethenny doesn't sugar-coat. This is precisely why we asked her for advice. She opened up to Shine about what she's learned as a new mom: the good, the bad and the downright incredible.

Lesson 1: It's not just a baby thing-moms get major separation anxiety, too. "Leaving my daughter for overnight work trips is excruciating. It happens so rarely but I really don't like missing even a moment with her. Breastfeeding was also a massive challenge yet the greatest reward. Women don't discuss how difficult a process it can be yet so worth the effort."

Lesson 2: Nothing is scarier than when your baby is sick. "Bryn had a cold and vomited in her crib. I just hated it more than anything. All I want to do is hug and snug her and make all her pain go away."

Lesson 3: A good man is great to find. "Jason is an incredible person and a very involved, attentive father. He does everything I do. He tells me I'm the "best mommy" which makes me so happy. He really let's Bryn be a mommy's girl and spend so much quality time with me. He knows I need that in many ways to heal myself."

Lesson 4: Always stock your kitchen with healthy staples for mom, not just baby. "I always have salad greens, baby tomatoes, parmesan, lemons. In my freezer, I always have frozen peas, spinach, butternut squash, ground turkey and skinless boneless chicken breasts. In the cabinet, I have brown rice, whole wheat pasta, spices and olive oil. I always use what I have in my refrigerator and create new meals every day."

Lesson 5: When it comes to homemade baby food, mushy rules. "If it's mushy, mash it: avocado, sweet potatoes, white beans, cauliflower, butternut squash, peas potatoes."

Lesson 6: Don't stress about the school stuff. "I don't stress one bit about schools. Bryn may go to public school, or she'll get in where she gets in. I don't believe in sending my child to an Ivy League pre-school. I was never hyper-focused on school and I turned out okay I'm certainly not going to schmooze school heads to beg for acceptance. We'll find the right environment that works for her and us."

Lesson 7: In fashion, comfort comes first. "Leggings, wrap sweaters and long sleeve t-shirts. It is impossible to change a baby alone in a bathroom without leggings."

Lesson 8: Mother really does know best. "Trust your instincts. I think we should play our own game and create our own rules and solutions. Every day I learn something new to help me as a mom."