Well, hello there!

Hi, friends! It's been a minute, hasn't it? It's been a couple of years since I have posted here, and I realize I never even wrote a "good-bye for now" post, I'm so sorry to leave you hanging like that. So much has changed since I last wrote here -- of course the kids have grown in leaps and bounds, barely recognizable from the posts that will live right underneath this one. And as you can see from the photo above, our family finally added a beloved doggie to the fold. Her name is Piper and she really couldn't be a sweeter companion to all 4 of us. Zipper is still kicking (though not very companionable to Piper.) But, everything that has changed in the past 2 years, is small in comparison to what has happened this month of March 2020! It's hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the month now, in what seems like an endless string of "all the same" days. I have found myself more than once in the evening hours, recalling chores or activities that I did the same morning and not quite sure how it could possibly have been the same day -- time is slowing down and stretching out. Anyway... these wild times we are living through beg to be documented, as well as shared, as the entire world is living a mutual experience. So, I've been thinking about this space...dusting it off...sharing my thoughts. I don't know how often I'll be able to show up, but I feel like I've made tremendous progress in just remembering my password (ha!). Most of all, I want to say hello and connect during this hard time.

As homeschoolers, our days are not all that different than before. Except, of course, our sudden reliance on Zoom for all of our enrichment and our limited options in getting out of the house when the need arises. I haven't been very fond of the advice, that comes hurling out of all corners of the internet, about how parents that find themselves suddenly homeschooling should be handling themselves. This time is so hard and taxing on all areas of life, that those trying to navigate 24-hour togetherness with their families, should not have to bear the extra burden of if they are doing it "right." Certainly, do what works for you. If a color-coded, incremental schedule works for you, if that makes you feel more in control and grounded, than by all means do that. But, if you find yourself being battered around by waves of anxiety, let me offer this: try not to worry so much. If you are working from home, homeschooling multiple children, worrying about loved ones, and wondering how your family will weather this public health and economic crisis, please go easy on yourself. We have stress and anxiety creeping in to our body and minds at every corner, if you can take that chaotic energy and process it into a feeling of peace and safety for your families, it will be the aid and healing that we all so deeply need right now. How do you do this? How does one turn anxiety into peace? By letting go and living in the moment... with patience and gratitude. In times like these, our accomplishments should be measured in breathing and being, and that's it (well, and that we all managed to eat, that is important, too.)

I'm not one to give advice. I believe wholeheartedly in personal freedom and with all of my heart know that we are all walking unique and individual paths as varied and infinite as the universe itself. But, it's hard to argue with the idea of being kind and good to yourself and those under your care. Because, those little ones under your care are watching, absorbing, and filing away your stress-management techniques for their future lives. Showing our kids how to be peaceful and gentle with themselves is exactly what I would like for them to take away from this inordinately challenging time.

Here's what I love about writing, whether it be here digitally, or written in my journal. It's about sharing my reality, or perhaps more accurately, my hopes for my reality, and by the very act of releasing it into the ether, an intention is set. After this long day of helping Rylie with her multiplication facts, and building out yet another Kiwi Crate with Otis; all while Ryan attends an "all-agency meeting" in the middle of the living room, feeling my chest tightening when I think about the impending economic fallout and what that means, quite literally, for everyone that I know, and worrying about our parents, grandparents, all the expecting mamas, and immunocompromised among us... perhaps the only comfort in all of this, is knowing that I am not alone with these feelings, that yes, in fact, these feelings are quite universal these days. And maybe there is one more comfort: that which is my family, my people... together doing the things we love and feeling incredibly fortunate for all that is good.

Health and love to you and yours as we ride through this storm together!