I cannot pour from an empty cup and neither can you. Remember who you are, remember what is good, remember to take care of yourself, and then do what you can
Author: theunexpectedeverafters
Surprised by the Unexpected
Several weeks ago, while visiting my parents in rural Minnesota, I braved the morning’s subzero temperatures with the goal of capturing a photo of the beautiful sun dogs that surrounded the sunrise. Despite the face-numbing cold, I enjoyed the peaceful outdoors and listening to the birds and squirrels moving audibly over the crisp, frozen leaves. …
New Year: Focus on Living
As I prepared to write my 2025 post, I thought to myself, this year is going to be different, I am going to write about slowing down and living in the moment. Except as I re-read my past New Years posts, I realized that in essence this has been my theme all along. It is a reminder of how easy it is for me throughout the year to get pulled into the hustle culture and catch phrases on how to successfully do it all, that I forget to remember that I previously decided not to buy into it. Nevertheless, this New Year I am recommitting to continuing the journey of enjoying the day-to-day life I live.
Through the Lens of Love
Parenting moments that involve teaching and shaping kids’ perspectives amaze me with their opportunities for my own continued growth. Several weeks ago, as my husband and I helped our son navigate a frustrating experience, we gently offered guidance for future interactions. My husband mimicked glasses, holding up circled fingers to his eyes, as he reminded …
5th Blogiversary!
This month we celebrate our fifth blogiversary of the Unexpected Ever Afters! We are thrilled to mark this milestone and we wanted to take this opportunity to share our “5 Top 5 for Our 5th! ” Thanks for joining us on our journey.
Navigating Worry: This Mom’s Journey Through Stress
I just wanted to share this post for all the mamas that are also drowning in worry. A soft landing spot on the internet for the middle-of-the-night “Am I worrying too much?” or “Will my anxieties ruin my kids?” searches. You’re not alone.
You Have Arrived…Sort Of
Summer vacation recently came to an end (how is it already the start of another school year?), but despite this season’s conclusion, it seems I barely scratched the surface of the anticipated break mode that’s supposed to accompany it. I can acknowledge I did thoroughly live into the past three months, but rather than a …
Literary Memory Lane
This summer, I have been exploring with my kids one of my favorite hobbies, reading. As my kids’ interest in reading has grown, their literary journey has gotten me to think about books from my childhood and their significant impact in fostering my love of reading. It is fascinating to recall ways that a handful of stories unexpectedly influenced my hopes, dreams, and life goals.
Creativity for the Journey
This past school year, I had the opportunity to volunteer in my son’s classroom working with students to review spelling words and math problems. I felt confident my previous experience volunteering in classrooms and homeschooling my own kids would be an asset, and I resolved to ensure each student I worked with during my one-on-one …
June Reflections
I enjoyed soaking up the start of summer with some extra time to spend with my family as well as additional time to relax. I found myself reading more, laughing more, and even sleeping more soundly. In the blink of an eye, the month was over. As I transitioned into July, I thought about a reflection practice that I learned from a favorite author of mine, Emily P. Freeman.
the unexpected ever afters 