Midwest Mimi

  • The Part You Donā€™t See: Living with Invisible Illness

    I wish I could invite people into my body for just one weekend. Not to feel pity, but to understand. Because on the outside, I look like Iā€™m managing. I can make it to a two-night camping trip with my kids. I can smile around the fire, walk slowly to the lake, laugh when the…

  • When One Heart Hurts, the Whole Family Feels It: Staying Grounded Through a Loved Oneā€™s Mental Health Crisis

    When someone in your family is struggling with their mental health, it doesnā€™t just affect themā€”it ripples through the entire household. Routines shift. Emotions spike. The energy in your home changes. And if youā€™re a caregiver, a parent, or both, those waves often crash right into youā€”while youā€™re still trying to keep the boat steady…

  • Rage Hikes and Crying in the Rain: How Nature Holds Space for Big Emotions

    When big emotions take over and even love feels unreachable, we head outside. Nature doesnā€™t judge, correct, or explain ā€” it simply holds space. For our neurodivergent family, that space is sometimes the only thing big enough to handle the storm. Some Days, the Weight Inside Our House Feels Too Big to Hold A slammed…

  • The Calm That Comes After the First 20 Minutes Outside

    Some days, everything feels too loud. The toddlerā€™s crying. My joints ache. Iā€™ve already hit my sensory limit by noon, and we havenā€™t even left the house. I want to cancel the whole day ā€” just crawl into bed and try again tomorrow. But Iā€™ve learned something, over and over again: If I can just…

  • Nature Indoors: How Pets Help Neurodivergent People Find Calm and Connection

    Some days, getting outside just isnā€™t in the cards. My body hurts too much to load the van. The weatherā€™s wild. Or the kids are on sensory overload before we even leave the driveway. But even when weā€™re stuck indoors, we still crave nature. We crave softness, connection, and moments that help our nervous systems…

  • What I Thought Healing Would Look Like (and What It Really Is)

    I used to think healing would be simple. I thought Iā€™d finally get the right diagnosis, start treatment, and feel like myself again. I thought Iā€™d go back to school and finish my masterā€™s in physical therapy. I thought Iā€™d have the energy to keep up with my daughter the way I wanted to. I…

  • 7 Ways Nature Builds Resilient Kids

    Letā€™s be honest: life can be a lot, for us, and for our kids. Theyā€™re navigating school, friendships, big feelings, and a world that sometimes feels way too loud and fast. And on the days when everyoneā€™s melting down (or arguing over who looked at whom the wrong way,) I remember why I keep getting…

  • šŸŒæ What Nature Gives Us: Why We Keep Going Outside

    Some days, getting outside feels downright impossible. My body hurts. My mind feels heavy. The kids are bouncing off the walls or melting down. My wife is wrestling her own storms. And yet, again and again, we lace up our shoes, pack snacks, load up the van, and go. We go because my kids need…

  • 9 Reasons Why Fresh Air and Sunshine Make Better Kids (and Happier Parents)

    Letā€™s be real: kids are a lot. Theyā€™re loud. They bounce off the walls. They argue with each other (and sometimes the cat). And on some days, your living room feels way too small for all those big feelings. Thatā€™s why I keep getting my kids outsideā€”because nature does something magical for them. And for…

  • Opinion: Nature Nurtures Neurodiversity:

    A glimpse into what it really takes for us to enjoy the outdoors together. Our family is made up of at least five people ā€” though itā€™s often six or more, including the extra kids who roll with us. I live with chronic illness and physical disability. My wife lives with bipolar disorder, migraines, and…

  • Learning Without Desks: How Nature Supports Our Homeschool

    We homeschool our kids, not because we think school is bad, but because we needed something more flexible, more supportive, and more aligned with our reality. We live with chronic illness, neurodivergence, and disability. That means rigid schedules and all-day classrooms donā€™t always work for our brains or our bodies. But learning? Thatā€™s still a…

  • 7 Weird Things my Family Always Takes camping ā›ŗļø šŸŽ’

    7 Weird Things My Family Always Takes Camping Camping with a disabled mom, a bipolar wife, and three neurodivergent kids isnā€™t exactly light packing. Our setup might look a little unusual, but every item we bring serves a purpose. These might not be on your average camping checklist, but they help us stay regulated, connected,…

  • Real Life, Real Limits: Giving Yourself Grace Outdoors

    Iā€™m not perfect at this. We, as a family, arenā€™t either. Not even close. Weā€™ve had so many great days outside; moments of laughter, peace, and connection. But weā€™ve also had fights, sensory meltdowns, forgotten supplies, plans canceled by pain, and days when someone had to stay behind. Sometimes, that someone is me. I want…

  • My Toddler Wears a Backpack Leashā€”and Why Thatā€™s Okay ā¤ļø

    A few days ago, we took a quick trip to the mall. It was my wife, Thy, our daughter Raeleigh, Royce, and me. We all walked into the mall, each of us on our own two feet. Doesnā€™t sound like a big deal, but for us, it was practically a parade. Royce doesnā€™t normally walk…

  • šŸŒæ West Lake Park ā€” A Midwest Mimi Park Review šŸŒæ

    Some parks become part of your familyā€™s rhythm, and for me, West Lake Park in Scott County, Iowa, has become one of those places. Weā€™ve gone there enough times that Iā€™ve lost count. Part of why we keep going back is that itā€™s clean, well-maintained, and keeps evolving. Thereā€™s a butterfly garden thatā€™s interesting and…