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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
The Unexpected Ever Afters will be taking an early summer break so we can spend time with our families. We look forward to returning with a new post Monday, July 15. Happy Summer! -Wendi & Jessica
Earlier this spring, I embarked on what’s become my annual tradition of starting seeds indoors for my garden. Similar to last year, this was a highly anticipated event and when the time came, I carefully gathered all of my supplies and started my project. I’d learned a few things since last time and was proud …
Several weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity of experiencing the eclipse that crossed over the United States. In order to be within the path of totality, we traveled from Minnesota to Missouri. Although I was excited for the trip, I wasn’t completely convinced totality would be much of a memorable experience. Additionally, I was …
Continue reading The Unexpected Joy of Collective Excitement
Minnesotans like to joke that we have two seasons: winter and road construction. This often means slow driving conditions year-round. Lately, due to my prolonged grief journey, I’ve felt like my life has been wavering between two seasons: sorrow and an elusive sense of normalcy. This has resulted in everything slowing down. Grief is a …
Several months ago, I had an opportunity to view a collection of bonsai trees. The phrase “In training” was written on a placard by each tree. At the time, it struck me as odd to consider trees being in training, they’re trees, don’t they just grow? Although bonsai trees do “just grow,” they are also …
There’s a labyrinth not too far from my home that my family enjoys visiting every once in a while. Several months ago, I watched my daughter as she sped along the winding trail while sharing cheerfully that she knew exactly where she was going and that I just needed to follow. As we wound our …
the unexpected ever afters 