I took a long break from blogging and Instagram this past year. Not on purpose. We chose to homeschool due to the pandemic and that “YES” meant saying no to a lot of other things (like spending my time here), and some of it felt like sacrifice and some of it felt just right. Actually, it all felt right for our family, but I won’t pretend that it was a completely graceful experience. I was often frustrated, lonely, unfulfilled and restless. And tired. Can you be restless and exhausted all at once? I was.

However, while I was wrestling with some of my own personal struggles of navigating the pandemic and having everyone home ALL THE TIME, I simultaneously loved getting so much intentional time with my boys. And with Stevie! I was used to him traveling weekly for work and of course, used to the big boys attending school. It was a real ADJUSTMENT when suddenly the kitchen was this endless nightmare I couldn’t figure out how to keep clean. But truly, I didn’t realize how much I craved getting to know my little boys in this particularly new way. Seeing the way their minds worked while they learned how to sound out words or spell their name or add pennies. It was astounding. They are so smart and funny and precious and I am just so grateful I get to be their mom. Please hear me here - you do NOT need to homeschool to be an intentional parent, you 100% don’t! But it was an incredibly bonding experience for us as a family, one that I will always treasure.

I learned SO MUCH from the amazing homeschool families we met along the way. The way they do life really opened up my eyes to how important it is to engage with nature and animals and just PLAY to give kids so much foundation for understanding the world. My kids thrived this year and if I ever feel called to homeschool again, I will totally do it.

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We have chosen for them to return to the school where they were attending before the pandemic, and we are all truly excited about it. But I’ll admit I’m going to miss them madly and will most definitely cry ugly tears at that first (and probably second and third) drop off in a few weeks.

I honestly didn’t think I would come back to the world of Instagram or blogging. I started to feel like I had outgrown this space, and in a way, I guess I did. 2020 was actually a spectacular time to step away, because there was so much happening in the world and I couldn’t possibly navigate it on social media while I was trying to navigate it privately with my family. And like so many of you, I felt like outgrew who I used to be. That was really uncomfortable but also really really good. I got to a really secure place where I was truly fine with never opening the Instagram app again or writing here again. I honestly felt called to lay everything that was mine aside for that season. At the time I didn’t think it was just for a season, I thought it was for forever. Any small or large pursuit or endeavor that took away time from my family, I just felt like I needed to say no to. It was the time for me to pour completely into FAMILY. It’s very counter-culture to what we are being told we should do - we should be pursuing dreams and prioritizing ourselves in honor of self care and “hustling” right?! (Ha, that term really irks me. I am the opposite of whatever “hustle” represents and I am soo good with that.) But it was interesting… it’s interesting what happens when you fully surrender a part of your life/heart/desires in pursuit of a bigger “YES”. In doing this, something within me was finally laid to rest. The striving that I didn’t know I had going on inside my heart - it was finally quieted. And it was a good thing! Strangely enough, it led way to a wonderful, surprising new rhythm. We have been living slowly for so long and I don’t really want to go back to whatever version of busy and hustle and striving we/I used to be.

Lately I’ve been feeling the nudge to re-engage, to pursue the things I love again, to HAVE FRIENDS AGAIN. To write again. I miss writing and I have things to say. I quieted down for a long while.

So I’ve been getting to know myself again. I’ve been taking a painting class. Doing yoga on my porch. Taken over the back yard with different types of gardens (because we need a cutting garden and an English garden AND a pollinator garden duh silly…) I’m taking myself a lot less seriously and I don’t feel so guarded. I was so guarded for a long time.

I know its been like A YEAR for all of us. I hope you have found a sense of peace in the storms that have swirled since the pandemic hit. I hope you have found a sense of hope and a steady calm that supersedes challenging circumstances. I hope you have found yourself once again and been kind to yourself. You deserve it and everyone around you deserves it, too.

This space is still here and I’m feeling so much peace about returning and having conversations again. I’ve missed you, friends. So tell me… what did you surrender during your 2020 experience? And more importantly, what did you gain?

Love to you all. xx

How are you, friends?! HOW ARE YOU REALLY.

In the midst of fighting this global pandemic (COVID-19), I shared here and here some thoughts on Instagram, because that is where so many of us go to check in with each other. However, I wanted a chance to share more here on my blog - especially some of the resources I’ve found helpful as we navigate a new normal over here as a family.

We are living in a time like no other people group ever has. We are the first generation with so much technology, information and news at our fingertips. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE.

Whether this “new normal” is for a few weeks or a few months has yet to be determined! I am grateful for the reminder that in times like these, choosing to be optimistic doesn’t mean having to feel or act happy all the time. It’s perfectly fine to have “meh” moments and feel sad, angry, confused and overwhelmed. I can still choose optimism while I am simultaneously feeling these other feelings, too.

We have actually been navigating a new normal over here for a while, as a family. After Rhys was born 4 months ago, I fought a staph infection for a few months, which kept me home bound (along with the whole “healing from a c-section and feeding a baby constantly” thing), so I have actually been adopting a hermit-ish culture of my own as of late. I have a lot more to share about that little capsule of time, but I’m going to wait until this whole pandemic is past us because we have enough health information overload right now.

However, in light of the past week where the entire world has changed, and everyone has been encouraged to practice social distancing and limit exposure to others - now we are all in the same situation. We are probably all having our moments of processing this new circumstance we facing - staying home while working and educating our children. I know that I am personally fine one moment and then NOT fine the next - it’s a process of unfoiling what I think and feel about all of this. Processing all the impact, all the losses. While trying to stay strong for my family and providing a good structure so that everyone feels safe and cared for. It’s a lot to think about! Thank goodness we have each other to bounce ideas off of! Never have I been more thankful for social media, the Internet, texting and FaceTime. Here are a few things I have been compiling over the past 10 days or so, specific to homeschooling and family life, and hopefully this will help as you navigate your situation as well…

our homeschool schedule.

We moved some things around and have turned our dining room into a homeschool space for the boys. The new set up and having a schedule helped me so much last week. We have been starting school a little later in the morning than we normally would than if we were actually going to school, which has helped me (and the boys!) sleep a little more. Great immune-boosting for us all! Here’s the rest:

8 - 9am - Get dressed, clean rooms, have breakfast
9 - 11 - School lessons
11-12 - Free play (we call them “centers” because for some reason that makes it feel official - usually megablocks, magnatiles, or STEM building toys)
12 -12:30 - Clean up, make & eat lunch
12:30 - 1 - Read a book OR Listen to a story (more about that below), free coloring
1 - 3ish - Nap time! Rest time for Everett (he chooses quiet activities he can do alone - reading and playing LEGOs)
3 - 4 - Outside time (depending on the weather) or special project (a craft or something from our activity jar)
4 - 5 - Watch a TV show while I prep dinner
5:30pm - Dinner
7:00/7:30 - Bath, books, bedtime

With the weather being so beautiful last week, we actually got up and took a walk immediately before breakfast, almost daily. That helped so much! We all need the movement and vitamin D! So when the weather is good, I will gladly throw this schedule out the window and then dive into the outdoors instead! ;)

RESOURCES FOR HOMESCHOOL LIFE.

In addition to the lessons and videos our wonderful school is sending, I am so grateful for all the free resources that are being offered around the web! Here are a few that we are aware of and trying out:

1. Scholastic Learn at Home Lessons (FREE)
I love how simple and straightforward these are. Everett keeps asking to do more of them!
2. Radish Kids Cooking Kit (FREE)
We snagged this before they sold out, but if you add your name to the wait list they will let you know when they restock these free kits!
3. Audible Stories (FREE)
I actually started using audible a few months ago for myself and immediately got obsessed (been working my way through all the Jane Austens!) But even for those who don’t have an account and don’t want a monthly membership, Audible is offering a selection of family and kid-friendly books for absolutely free. I am thrilled about this. We’ve been listening to a few every day and its a great calm-down activity before naptime.
4. KiwiCo At Home Activities (FREE)
We don’t have a subscription to this (although I’m thinking about it - would love to hear if you have enjoyed a subscription here!) but they are providing a ton of free resources to parents and kids with activities, DIYs and more ;)
5. Lovevery
This baby/toddler subscription kit contains Montessori-style learning toys that I am looking into for Rhys specifically. He is getting to the age where he needs more interaction and its coming at a time where I have to divide my focus between the 3 boys all throughout the day. I think this will help all of us interact with him but I haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet - would love input if you’re currently using this!
6. ABC Mouse (FREE)
I haven’t used ABC Mouse before, but if your school requests access here, there is a free code available to use this subscription service for 2-8 year olds. If you don’t want to wait for access, there is a free 30-day trial available as well.

TIPS FOR HOMESCHOOL LIFE.

I am so grateful that so many of you sent great ideas in to share! Especially you veteran OG homeschool mamas, you are the real heroes. A few ideas and reminders I was sent:

1. PLAY is the best way for young kiddos to learn. 1-2 hours of school per day for elementary age children.
2. Cook something together + read something together. These are major building blocks for learning (math + English).
3. Idea Jar - Fill a jar with 20+ activity ideas that are tailored to your kid’s ages. A few examples: letter writing, dance party, plant some seeds, play a board game, FaceTime a friend, choose someone to say a prayer for, put together a puzzle, play with LEGOs, listen to an audiobook, scavenger hunt, bake something, read a Bible story, build a fort, play in the yard, etc.
4. FaceTime read to friends! Let your kids pick a book and then record yourself reading it to them. Then send it to cousins, best friends, whoever has kids and would love a special video message book for their kids! One mama told me it helped her kiddos not get so bored with their own books.
5. Don’t stress. Little kids might not remember the impact of this virus (the way we adults will), but they WILL remember what it felt like to be at home with their parents - they will remember the time spent together, the meals shared, the board games played, the prayers spoken. Lets keep that in the very top of our minds as we respond to situations that occur at home.

TIPS FOR NOT GOING INSANE.

Exercise! Exercise outside (for and hour or more, ideally) has been especially KEY for all of us.
Get creative! I downloaded Jenny Highsmith’s FREE hand lettered coloring pages for myself! The kids have more than enough resources at their fingertips, and my sitting with them and coloring alongside has been really helpful and therapeutic for me personally.
Incorporate chores throughout the day. This way, you aren’t stuck with a mess at the end of the day! Stevie and I are keeping the kitchen spotless right now, because we both feel stress triggers if the kitchen is a mess while we are all occupying the same spaces.
Cry. It’s okay to cry. There’s a lot happening. I also have taken little breathing breaks on the porch. Just 5 deep cleansing breaths makes SUCH a difference to me. Especially when I pair it with a rollerball swipe of my favorite essential oil (Balance or Elevation are incredible).
When in doubt, POPCORN AND MOVIE. It’s the ultimate save.