Midwest Mimi

  • 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 it’s a sudden rainstorm canceling a hike or a store being unexpectedly closed, it’s not just a small inconvenience. It can throw off the entire day’s rhythm and…

  • The Part You Don’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 I’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…

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

    Some days, getting outside just isn’t in the cards. My body hurts too much to load the van. The weather’s wild. Or the kids are on sensory overload before we even leave the driveway. But even when we’re stuck indoors, we still crave nature. We crave softness, connection, and moments that help our nervous systems…

  • 7 Ways Nature Builds Resilient Kids

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

  • 🌿 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…

  • Real Life, Real Limits: Giving Yourself Grace Outdoors

    I’m not perfect at this. We, as a family, aren’t either. Not even close. We’ve had so many great days outside; moments of laughter, peace, and connection. But we’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…

  • 🌿 Seeing Nature Through My Kids’ Eyes

    I often get asked how we manage family adventures with kids of different ages, needs, and personalities. The truth is, it takes a lot of planning, patience, and flexibility. But it also takes something even more important: the way each of my kids brings their own unique strengths, quirks, and hearts into our time outdoors.…

  • 🌿 Why Kankakee River State Park Stole Our Camping Hearts (and Might Steal Yours Too) 🌿

    Earlier this spring, we packed up the circus (a.k.a. our family) and headed to Kankakee River State Park for a few days of camping. And honestly? We’d go back in a heartbeat. The Campground Vibes We camped midweek in May, which meant blessed peace and quiet. No generators humming, no kids shrieking at dawn (other…

  • My Toddler Wears a Backpack Leash—and Why That’s Okay ❤️

    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. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but for us, it was practically a parade. Royce doesn’t normally walk…

  • This Wasn’t the Life I Saw For Myself ❤️

    This wasn’t the life I saw for myself. I’m a 43-year-old disabled mom to three kids, married to a woman who’s walked with me through hard seasons and healing. We’ve been together for nine years and finally married on March 2, 2024. We spent seven of those years searching for answers about my health. She…