2021… New Year’s Eve came and went. We did our usual snack dinner and dance party. The kids had a blast! Nic and I loved watching them – seeing their hope and optimism for the new year. But if I’m being honest, I don’t have my typical “new year, fresh start” kind of outlook this year.
The poet Robert Frost wrote, “The best way out is always through.” And so it was with 2020. We’ve spent nearly 10 months together. March 13th was the kids’ last day at school. Since then, we have spent nearly every moment together. I love my kids, but I never intended to be with them *this* much. They miss being with their peers. They miss their grandparents and sports and school dances and the library and traveling…
I’m so proud of our kids – not just mine, all of the kids. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. For my kids, I can see it happening. They’re struggling, but they’re learning, growing, strengthening. They’ve grown closer to each other than ever before. They are asking hard questions and challenging the status quo. We will be blessed with a generation of fabulous leaders – people who understand what it means to overcome, and to sacrifice for the well-being of others – we just have to keep things moving forward until their time.
So, after an unpredictable and exhausting year, I’m channelling my kids’ eternal optimism. I’m heading into 2021 with confidence because, if nothing else, last year taught me that I can do hard things. For the last 10+ years, I have wanted to start a blog to share my journey through parenthood with whoever needed to see it. Not just the lovely times of reading stories in a tidy living room, but the real stuff – hospital stays and specialists, ADHD and homeschool, stepping on Lego bricks in the night, finding time for myself, and yes, baking, cooking, and crafting with the littles. I hope you’ll join me for a glimpse of our real life as we navigate 2021 and see what the future holds.
The best way out is through, so here we go!
beancarter.com 