A lot of people are feeling panicked and afraid and stressed out. This is a rough time. But things will go back to normal. They always do. I have been trying to find good information about COVID-19, but here is one things I've learned: we have not had enough time to come up with the… Continue reading Acceptance
Category: essay
Solutions and Decisions
Everyone faces difficult questions. Moms ask: Should I stay at home with my kids? Should I go to work? What is best for my kids? What is best for me? How do I take care of my children and my finances and my mental health? Is it selfish to have ambitions? Is it okay to… Continue reading Solutions and Decisions
Friendship
Option 1: Abigail is living her life. She has her routine: wake up, get ready, work, spend time with her family, read a book, go to bed. She has the occasional events with church and work and community and life. She lives in her own little sphere, and it's pretty happy there. A bit lonely,… Continue reading Friendship
It’s okay to not be okay
When I was younger, I remember hearing from people who were so happy and optimistic. They seemed to deal with difficult things with grace and gratitude. And I wanted to be like them. I thought that if I was good enough, I would be able to go through life without deep pain and struggle. When… Continue reading It’s okay to not be okay
Things I Learned From Getting a Building Permit
Recently, I obtained a building permit for a remodel. The reputation of this building department was quite negative, and I had heard stories of people taking years to get permits to build their houses. I was doing a remodel, not a new building, but I wondered if I could even get a building permit by… Continue reading Things I Learned From Getting a Building Permit
Confidence
The other day, I was making some phone calls. I have told myself that I don't like talking on the phone and I thought that I wasn't very good at it. But during this phone call, I paid attention for a minute and I realized that I am good at it. I was probably better… Continue reading Confidence
I Don’t Need All the Answers
Information is so easily available that we can basically find whatever information we want. Some of it is incredibly useful, but some of it is also inaccurate and even destructive. When I teach my kids in school, we don't combine religion with other subjects. I teach science from a completely scientific perspective. We watch lots… Continue reading I Don’t Need All the Answers
Humor in Misfortunes
Recently, I've been learning how to laugh at myself and my life. A few weeks ago, I hit a deer. While on a deer hunt. In a new-to-us minivan that we had literally just replaced the brakes and tires in a few days before. It was so completely unfortunate that I found it hilarious. A… Continue reading Humor in Misfortunes
Guilt and Apology: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations
Have you ever said that you were sorry when you didn't actually do anything wrong? I have. Sometimes I find myself constantly apologize for myself, as if I was a constant inconvenience and never doing as well I need to. Apologizing can be necessary and a really good thing to do. Saying I'm sorry when… Continue reading Guilt and Apology: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations
Progress
The first year of homeschooling was difficult for me. It did not always go well. We had some amazing days, but at the end of it, I just felt like a failure. (I wasn't a failure, though. My sister challenged me about why I felt I had failed, and I had to reframe it in… Continue reading Progress