Midwest Mimi

  • When Boredom Starts Looking Like Trouble

    Some minds do not do well with empty space. When there is no risk, no complexity, and no fire to put out, boredom can start looking like trouble. I am learning now that I do not need to kill the part of me that needs complexity. I need to stop feeding it poison. I need…

  • My Kids Think School Is Out. I Know Better.

    School may be out for the summer, but learning has not stopped. In our house, summer learning looks like audiobooks, gardening, chores, paid work, boredom, conflict resolution, and all the practical life skills that do not fit neatly on a worksheet.

  • Our Container Garden Became a Mystery Garden

    Our container garden started with salvaged pots, scattered seed packets, and a toddler who thought organization was optional. Now it is teaching us patience, food skills, homeschool science, and how to practice for the future before we have the land.

  • The Same Girl Either Way

    A personal essay about homeschool culture, girlhood, faith, rebellion, and learning that someone else’s narrow idea of a “godly girl” did not get to define who I was.

  • I Promised My Grandma I’d Be the One

    Printing the first draft of my middle-grade book made me realize I am closer than I thought to keeping an old promise. What started as 20,600 words on a screen became a stack of pages in my hands, carrying my grandma’s hope, my mom’s absence, my dad’s bedtime chapters, my daughter’s childhood words, and the…

  • Taking Out the Trash

    We threw out what we didn’t need when we moved. Not just things. People too. It wasn’t dramatic or loud. Just a quiet decision to stop carrying what was making our life heavier, and start building something more peaceful for our family.

  • Start Where You Are and Grow Something Anyway

    I thought I needed land to start a garden. A yard. The right setup. But all we had was a small porch, a few salvaged pots, and kids willing to get their hands dirty. So we started anyway. This is what it looks like to grow something real in a space that wasn’t built for…

  • I Didn’t Refuse Help. I Didn’t Feel Safe Accepting It.

    When I turned down Early Intervention for my daughter, it wasn’t because I didn’t love her. It was because help didn’t feel neutral. It felt like exposure. For poor parents, the line between support and scrutiny is thin.

  • Parenting Through Presence, Not Perfection: What My Kids Taught Me About Co-Regulation

    There were mornings I could feel myself going offline. Not dramatic. Just done. My patience thin, my nerves shot, my thoughts moving faster than I could hold them. Sometimes I would sit on the bathroom floor just to breathe and let the moment pass. And quietly, my kids would follow. They wouldn’t ask for anything.…

  • You Are What You Consume

    The world asks us to witness everything, all the time. But constant exposure comes at a cost. This essay explores why discernment matters, how what we consume shapes our nervous systems, and how we can model healthier boundaries for our kids without turning away from truth.

  • The Real Rhythm of a Disabled Household

    Some people assume disabled households cannot function, but the truth is far more nuanced. In our home, each of us has needs, rhythms, and strengths, and together we have built a life that works. This is the real rhythm of our disabled and neurodivergent family.

  • 8 Myths About Homeschooling (And What It’s Actually Like)

    Homeschooling is messy, flexible, and real. Not denim jumpers and isolation. Let’s bust the biggest myths and talk about what homeschooling actually looks like.

  • The Legacy of Reading: How Books Build Connection and Resilience for Kids and Adults

    I grew up surrounded by books. Both of my parents were avid readers, and the legacy of their love of reading shaped who I am and how I see the world to this day. My mom, Elaine, was both our homeschool teacher and our church’s librarian. She chose a literature-based curriculum that placed stories at…

  • From Public School to Homeschool: Protecting My Children After Systemic Failure

    Why We Left Public School Our homeschooling journey didn’t begin with picture-perfect lesson plans or a carefully chosen curriculum. It began with heartbreak and with the simple truth that protecting our kids was nonnegotiable. I was homeschooled myself and loved the experience, but I made a different choice for my own family. I valued the…

  • Family Adventures on a Budget: Free Museums, Library Passes, and Hidden Discounts (Part 2)

    In Part One, I shared how parks and nature are some of the best places for budget-friendly family adventures. Camping, hiking, swimming, and exploring caves can fill your weekends without draining your wallet. But affordable adventures don’t just stop at the park gates. Especially if you’re traveling outside your local area, you might find museums,…