Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eighteen Wishes

When Tucker turned eight, I wrote a post called Eight Wishes, and it’s hard to believe I posted that ten years ago! And even though everything I said there still remains true to this day, I think it’s time that I added to my wishes for him. So, my dearest Tucker, here are my original eight wishes followed by ten more.

one.
that your passion for learning never fades,
that you never stop asking why,
and that you never stop trying to make the impossible possible.

two.
that your smile always stays genuine,
that you keep that sparkle in your eye,
and that you keep joy in your heart even when it’s hard to do.

three.
that you continue to show compassion to others,
that you keep asking how you can help,
and that you keep wearing your heart on your sleeve.

four.
that you will always be friends with your siblings,
that you will laugh with them and have fun together
and that you will love and protect and care for each other.

five.
that you will always be a good friend,
that you will know when to help and when to give space,
and that you will have friends who know how to do the same.

six.
that you will feel a connection with your Creator,
that you will ask hard questions and seek the answers,
and that you share what you’ve learned in a kind, loving, and gentle way.

seven.
that you will be brave and courageous,
that you will look for adventure (with a healthy dose of reason)
and that every now and then you close your eyes and leap.

eight.
that you will always be my little (big) boy,
that you will always know how much I love you,
and that you will always know that I am here.
Always.

8yrsold_web-1-3

nine.
that you will continue to be yourself,
that you will be proud of all you’ve accomplished,
and that even when your confidence slips, you’ll still know that you’re gonna be okay.

ten.
that you will continue to work hard,
that you will be ambitious and determined,
and that, even when things get tough, you will just keep swimming.

eleven.
that you will find someone who loves you as much as we do,
that you will open your heart to them and let yourself be loved,
and that you and your person grow and change and blossom together.

twelve.
that when you fail (and it will happen), you fail with grace,
that you know that your worth is not defined by what you do or don’t do,
and that no matter what we’re always a phone call away.

thirteen.
that you learn how to make wise investments,
that you realize that investments mean more than money,
and that you invest your time, talents, and love into people and things that fill you up.

fourteen.
that you realize self-care is non-negotiable,
that you take time to look at the clouds and listen to the birds,
and that you know where to go when you need rejuvenating.

fifteen.
that you define your own system of value and virtue,
that you understand that no one is right all the time,
and that it’s okay to change your mind.

sixteen.
that you will stay happy and healthy,
that you will take care of not just your physical body but your whole being,
and that you will remember that long walks are good for your head and your heart.

seventeen.
that you will find your place in this world,
that you find what means the most to you and you share it with others,
and that you feel satisfied and fulfilled.

eighteen.
that you look within yourself first when you’re making decisions,
that you know where else to turn when the decisions are too daunting to make alone,
and that you always know that we’ve got your back when you’re just not sure where to turn.

I hope you’ll use these wishes as a guide as you enter adulthood.
We are so proud of who you are and what you are and all that you are and will be.
Happy 18th, buddy.

Love always,
Mama

Moments Become Memories

A few months ago, I went to a baby shower where they asked attendees to write down some advice about parenting. I went back and forth between wanting to write down little tidbits of info I’d learned over the years versus saying my advice is to ignore all the advice. I ended up writing nothing.

But I’ve been thinking about it a lot since then, so here is my advice:

Live one moment at a time and appreciate each moment for what it is.

There will be good moments and bad moments and happy moments and sad moments.
And there will be some moments you want to remember for ever
and some moments you want to forget.
All those moments put together are what make you the parent you become.

When my kids were little,
I had so many people tell me that I would one day look back and miss it.
That hasn’t been true for me.
Sure, I get melancholic sometimes and old pictures can make tears sting my eyes,
But it doesn’t make me sad
And I don’t wish that I could go back to when they were little.
I think that’s because when I was in the moment, I realized it was a moment.
In an effort to make sure I remembered everything,
I photographed and I wrote and I bottled up as many memories as I could.
Do I remember it all?
Of course not.
But can I recall the feeling of a newborn having the hiccups while lying on my chest,
And the joy of seeing that first smile,
And the pure frustration a baby who never.stops.crying.
I can hear the giggles of toddlers watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
I can close my eyes and go back to those early days of homeschooling where I wasn’t sure we were doing it right, and I feel the excitement and uncertainty wrapped up in each other.

I can’t remember it all, but I can remember the moments who made me me,
the moments that made us us.

And I hope I’m doing the same thing now.
Our life is so incredibly busy.
We’re constantly running from one rehearsal to another practice to another meeting.
But I still take things one moment at a time.
I look for the beautiful moments and put them in my pocket.
Buying 8 different syrups to make lattes together.
Waving hand-made pom-poms at a band competition.
Laughing together at TikTok.
Listening to them “play” Twinkle, Twinkle with the dryer buttons.
Watching Stranger Things with kids piled on top of me even though the sofa is big enough for us to all have our own seats.

I like to think that one day I’ll feel about these days like I do about the early days of motherhood.
I hope that I’ll remember more of the good than the bad.
I hope that I’ll think, “That was beautiful and wonderful and fun, but I’m glad it’s done.”
I hope I am living these moments to the fullest so that there’s nothing to look back on and wonder if I could have done more.

If I wished myself a superpower
I would make this moment last for hours
If I had my will, time would just stand still
Wait for me until I find some magic film
To take a photograph and live inside

I need some way to prove that this was real
A memory is not enough
I’m scared that I’ll forget the way it feels
To be young and in love

Let me stay right here
Just a moment longer
The picture is so clear
Please let this last forever

“Photograph” by Cody Fry

14,981

14,980 days.

That’s how many days I’ve lived
how many mornings I’ve greeted
how many days I’ve laid to rest
how many days I’ve had a grandparent
alive and cheering me on

and for a reason I can’t quite explain
I’m not quite ready to lay my head down
and close my eyes on this day
not. yet.

see, today is the last day
that I’ve woken and lived and loved
on the same plane
as the ones who loved me like no other can

oof.

today is the last day
that someone remembers
what her daughter’s face looked like the day I was born

today is the last day
that someone knows
a hundred of my little secrets
whispered conspiratorially over the years
{are all grandparents great co-conspirators
or did I just luck up and get four?}

today is the last day
and tomorrow is the first,
a day I knew would come
but I wasn’t ready
quite. yet.

today is the last day
but tomorrow is the first.

So tomorrow I’ll open my eyes
for the 14,981st time
and we’ll gather
– though we may be few in number –
and we’ll sing the songs
and pray the prayers
and thank God for the moments we had
and for all the moments that will be

in memory of Barbara Layfield Atchison (1935-2020)


Year O’Magic

In 2019, Marshall and I both turned 40. As a gift to each other, we bought annual passes to Disney World for the whole fam damily. Our adventure started last Spring Break, and we were supposed to finish the Year O’Magic this Spring Break. Obviously, that isn’t going to happen.

I know that I don’t really have room to complain. We went at least once a month for the last 11 months (what the what??), but this trip was going to be ah-may-zing. The pièce de résistance. We had the best fast passes, the best resort, the best dining reservations. I mean…it was gonna be something, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’ve been throwing a bit of a pity party for myself today. I know, I know. It’s stupid. I know that. I know how bougie I sound. And I wish that I weren’t as sad about it as I am, but here we are.

I decided to go through all my old pictures and make a photo book of our adventures this past year, because we had some really, really good times and I want to remember it all. But my favorite part about all of our trips? Just being together. And even though we aren’t at the Mouse’s house, we’re all still together. And as much as I wish it were different, I have to admit that I’m enjoying these days at home together just as much (maybe even more than) as our time at Disney. If I could just get someone to cook all my meals…

I have over a thousand pictures from our Year O’Magic, but I picked a few group shots to share. °o° You’ve probably seen all these before on social media, but let’s face it; this is more for me than any of you anyway. 🤷‍♀️ 

more than I ever expected

I almost hate to admit it:
how happy I am to be at home.
No errands to run.
No running late for pick-up.
The only running right now is running out of napkins.
(Who knew those would be such a hot commodity?)

But people are dying.
More people are going to die.
It’s not that I’m happy about that.
I’m not.
But I am conflicted.
The world is falling apart
– more than ever in my lifetime –
and it’s tempting to watch the news
and stay online
and read all the things
in the name of being informed.

But my heart and my soul both know
that for me, for me
I have to stop.
I have to set limits.
I have to close my eyes
and stick my fingers in my ears a bit
And focus on the only things that I can do right now.

Stay home.
Wash my hands.
Love my family.

And that?
That I can do well.

These moments with my children
are filling my heart.
Laughing with them.
Talking with them.
Just being with them.
Without practices and lessons and games.
Without rushing from here to there.
It’s more than I ever expected
in so many ways.


Four-Seven-Eight

Today went surprisingly well.
I mean, no major melt downs
or bumps we couldn’t handle.
And yet…it still seems…

so overwhelming.

We have room to roam,
a parent at home,
plenty of food (and toilet paper) –
the best of scenarios for this moment.
And yet…it still seems…

so overwhelming.

I think coming to the slow realization
that this is the new normal
not just for a few days or a few weeks
is just…
so overwhelming.

And I’m not quite sure what to do with myself.

And so I watch my kids and marvel at their resilience.
I take a moment to soak up some sunshine.
Breathe in…two…three…four…
and hold…four…five…six…seven…
and let it go…six…seven…eight…

Well, they’re home. What now?

Many of my friend’s children started “homeschooling” on Monday. My children start today. Since we’ve homeschooled before, we’re a little ahead of the game, but things are going to be very different this go ’round. For starters, I am not the teacher this time. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing teachers we have that have worked so hard to have all the materials and plans ready for us. Our teachers have done everything in their power to make this as painless as possible, but I’m kidding myself if I think it’s going to be easy peasy. But we’ll make it, and so will you.

(Gratuitous photo of my children because their cute little faces haven’t been on this blog in so long and it’s high time to resolve that)

These are a few things I needed to remind myself about before we start this journey. Here’s hoping it can help you out a little, too.

10. Have a to do list, but keep it simple.
We’ll be using BINGO charts for each kid, and I’ll be doing my 3 MITs. At the beginning of the day, I’ll write down three of the Most Important Things that must be done. It’s okay if one of those things is “Take a shower.”

9. Take breaks when you need them, but set a timer.
It’s suuuuuuper easy for your breaks to run long. So, seriously, set a timer.

8. Do work when it works best for your family.
We’re not morning people over here, so I expect we won’t start “school” until at least 9, maybe later. (Some days? Probably much later). If you have to work all day and your care giver can’t help with school work, try doing the “easy” stuff after work and save the “hard” stuff for the weekend. (Also, see number 1).

7. If you have multiple children, encourage them to help each other.
Older kids can help younger kids in obvious ways, but, believe it or not, younger kids can help older kids, too. The best way to learn something is to teach it, right? If an older child is struggling with one of their concepts, have them explain it to the younger child. Being forced to “dumb it down” is sometimes exactly what you need to make it click! If you don’t have multiple children, call us. I have plenty of extra children to share via FaceTime.

6. Dance breaks are a must.
You don’t have to be a good dancer. As a matter of fact, it’s a bonus if you’re not. I promise you’ll have even the most stoic teenager smiling if you shake that groove thang hard enough.

5. Remember that every child is different.
Some kids are going to fly through all of their work and ask for more. Other kids are going to take 2 hours to write 10 vocab words. I have one of each of those, so I know how easy it is to compare them. I promise it’ll be a lot easier on all of you in the long run if you don’t.

4. Celebrate the big stuff…and the little stuff.
Set goals and celebrate them. The super-speedy kid? Give them accolades for finishing all their work in a timely manner, but don’t forget about the kid doing 10 vocab words in 2 hours. You may need to try doing a little dance or cheer or song after every word.

3. If something’s not working out, stop and come back to it later.
If you’re trying and trying and trying and it just.isn’t.working. Just stop. Change gears. Do something different, and come back to it later.

2. Get the work done, but don’t freak out if you don’t.
While continuing education and learning is incredibly important, the main goal right now is to stay healthy. That means physically as well as mentally.

1. Remember that you are not alone.
For all of the trouble it can cause, I really think social media is going to be our lifeline during this time. Ask if you need help.

I know that every situation is different, and that for some folks it won’t be all that hard to slow down and enjoy this time with their family. But I also know that there will be many people who are having to work overtime, and it will be an incredibly difficult season. I see you. I am praying for you. I am here for you. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

P.S. I forgot one thing! The best part about schooling at home is that you don’t have to put on pants(!!!!), but in all the excitement of that, don’t forget to brush your teeth and put on deodorant.

no one ever told me

you hear all about the moods and the ‘tudes and the eyerolls
the angst and (perceived) agony are no secret to anyone
but there’s one thing that caught me off guard,
that stole the air from my lungs and left me struggling to breathe
grief
no one ever told me about the grief
no one warned me that it wouldn’t be just she who changed,
but Me
and Us
no one prepared me for that

One Thing

One Thing happened and then another and another
stacking, no piling haphazardly a top each other,
ready to crash down in a pile of frustration.

I wanted to hide, to slip away for a minute or maybe two,
but there was already someone in the staff bathroom
and there’s too much stuff under my desk for me to fit down there.

So I sit back down and look down at my MIT list*,
no idea where to begin.
“What’s the best way to eat an elephant,” I ask myself and laugh.
And I start to take the first bite.

“Ms. Ivey?”
A little head pops in my door.
“Hey, buddy. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to see if you were in here,” she says.
“Welp…I’m here!
And I’m glad you’re here…
but where are you supposed to be?”
“The library,” she says with giggle.

She goes, and I go.
Both of us doing all of our Things.
Busy, busy.
So many Things.
And my phone buzzes a reminder of yet another Thing to be done.
But this Thing?
This Thing is something I want to do.

My girls’ group.
Oh, I love my girls.
Not our usual day or usual time,
But we’ve claimed it as ours this week.
And so we gather.
And we talk.
And we laugh.
And I sit with a comb and brush all the bits of straw from her jacket
as she tells me stories of rolling down the hill
while the others color quietly.
And I sharpen color pencils as they ask for each one.
And I staple the pages of our books together juuuuuust right.
One Thing after another after another.
But these are the Things I don’t mind.
These are the Things that matter.
These are the Things that make up my days.
And, to be honest, I’m pretty okay with that.


*Most Important Things. MIT just sounds better than To Do, right?

go. go. go. stop.

Last year I started saying no more than I said yes. I started taking time to do some things I wanted to do. I started reading again. Sewing some, crafting some. For so long (too long) I let other people, circumstances dictate my time. With homeschooling four kids, life is naturally chaotic. That’s normal. That’s what it should be. We work hard in the mornings and some days we don’t have to work in the afternoon. Some days we’re still plowing through until Marshall gets home. But we have the option to take a 2-hour lunch break. Or go to the park on a lovely day. Or spend an extra 30 minutes at the library. Just because. I’ve begun to leave time in my schedule, purposely leave time open just because. And I fully believe that our life is better for it. We do one sport, one music class. That’s it. And while that may not be feasible forever, it works for now.

I don’t expect my children to be the next Mia Hamm or Yo-Yo Ma. I do expect them to work hard at what they choose to do. I expect them to play hard, to practice diligently. I expect a lot of things from them. But I also expect for them to learn how to sit and listen, how to read because they want to read. I want them to play because it’s a beautiful day. I even want them to know it’s okay to take a nap if you’re tired. Listen to your body. Listen to your heart. Fight the urge to do more, to be more unless it’s absolutely necessary. There’s nothing wrong with having drive or excelling in something. I want that for them, too! But as I try to learn how to balance life, I hope that I’m teaching them as well.

I know it’s not easy. I used to say it wasn’t possible, too. But I promise that you can squeeze it in. Five minutes. Two minutes, even. Just sit in the yard and listen to the sounds around you. Meditate. Draw. Write. Watch your children play from a place where they can’t see you. Dance in the rain. Lie on the couch and turn on a song that makes your heart soar…or settles it down…or fills you up with whatever you need. It’s when your body is quiet, your heart-gut can listen. It’s when you are doing nothing, the best ideas will flow. Not every time. But some of the time. And that’s better than none of the time.