Midwest Mimi

  • Why Vacation Is So Special: Healing, Reconnecting, and Starting Fresh

    Vacations arenā€™t just an escape from everyday life. They are a powerful pause, a chance to reset our hearts and minds, and a moment to build new, joyful memories with loved ones. The Science of Vacation Magic Boosts longevity and heart health: A longitudinal study of over 12,000 high-risk men found that taking an annual…

  • When the Plan Changes: Flexibility in a Neurodivergent Family

    Change is hard for most people, but if you live in a neurodivergent household like ours, you know it can hit differently. When the plan shifts, whether itā€™s a sudden rainstorm canceling a hike or a store being unexpectedly closed, itā€™s not just a small inconvenience. It can throw off the entire dayā€™s rhythm and…

  • From Vacation Mode to Lesson Plans: Our Homeschool Prep Process

    We just got home from vacation and youā€™d think weā€™d still be unpacking, doing laundry, and easing back into our daily rhythm. And yes, weā€™re doing all of that. But in the back of my mind thereā€™s another clock ticking: the start of a new homeschool year. For us, that means more than just picking…

  • Local Wildlife Spotting: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Common Midwest Critters

    Itā€™s easy to spot rabbits darting across a field or deer grazing at the edge of the woods. But the Midwest is home to so many more critters that our kids can learn to recognize. Wildlife spotting doesnā€™t have to be complicated ā€” in fact, itā€™s one of the simplest ways to turn a walk…

  • From Video Games to the Range: Channingā€™s First BB Gun Experience

    While we were on vacation this summer, we stayed in a handbuilt log cabin on a small homestead in the Missouri countryside. It was the kind of place where life moves slowerā€”and where the animals have just as much personality as the people. The goats (who kept escaping their pen), a couple of easygoing horses,…

  • The Part of Vacation You Donā€™t See: Recovery Days After Missouri

    We just got back from our Missouri vacation. Iā€™m so glad we went and I truly enjoyed the time with my family. But hereā€™s the part you wonā€™t see in most travel posts: the recovery days. The first night home, I was asleep by 8 p.m. Yesterday, the day after we got back, I didnā€™t…

  • Accessibility Review of Black Hawk State Historic Site ā€“ Rock Island, IL

    Black Hawk State Historic Site has long been a favorite spot for me. Itā€™s close enough for an easy drive, rarely crowded, and offers that lush, calming greenery along the riverbank that always helps me reset my mind. This park blends history, nature, and family-friendly spaces; and it does so with a fair amount of…

  • St. Louis Zoo Accessibility Review: Tips for a Smooth Visit

    The St. Louis Zoo is one of the top free attractions in the Midwest, and itā€™s an incredible destination for families. But if you or someone in your group has mobility challenges, there are a few things youā€™ll want to know before you go. Admission & Costs to Plan For One of the best things…

  • Owl Creek Park River Access Accessibility Review

    (Formerly Bonehole Swimming Basin) Owl Creek Park River Access (formerly known as Bonehole Swimming Basin) is one of those hidden gems that makes you want to linger just a little longer. We had such a great time here that we actually visited twice in the same week. Whatā€™s funny is that even some locals we…

  • The Sensory Language of Nature

    Some days, talking just isnā€™t how we communicate. Not because we donā€™t have anything to say, but because conversation isnā€™t always possible when weā€™re overwhelmed. In our family, neurodivergence shows up in so many different ways. Each of us is wired a little differently, carrying our own blend of ADHD, autism, chronic pain, depression, or…

  • Why Nature Is One of the Best Grounding Tools We Have

    And why that matters for those with sensory sensitivities or mental health struggles Grounding helps calm the nervous system and brings us back to the present. Nature might be the most powerful (and underrated) grounding tool available. Hereā€™s how the outdoors supports mental health, especially for neurodivergent families like mine. What Does It Mean to…

  • Let Them Get Bored. Let Them Get Dirty. Let Them Explore.

    Why unstructured outdoor play is essential for growing minds, bodies, and hearts As a homeschool mom raising three wildly individual kids, Iā€™ve come to believe one thing very deeply: Kids donā€™t just need space to learnā€”they need space to wander. That means space to be bored. Space to poke things with sticks. Space to get…

  • When Youā€™re the Jungle Gym: Touchy Toddlers and Sensory Boundaries

    My toddler treats me like Iā€™m part jungle gym, part couch, and part emotional support trampoline. He climbs me like a treehouse ladder, trust-falls onto me like Iā€™m a trampoline, and hangs upside down off me at any opportunity. And while I love being his safe placeā€”I really doā€”thereā€™s another truth layered under that love:…

  • 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…