Midwest Mimi

  • 6 Ways Nature Works as a Reset Button for Sibling Rivalry (and One Way it Benefits Parents, Too)

    “Mimi,” Channing’s complaining tone rang out, “Raeleigh yelled at me.” “I only yelled because he was being annoying!” Raeleigh chimed in from the other room. It wasn’t even 10 a.m., and we’d already had multiple variations of this same argument at least three times. Clearly, it was time for a reset. Sibling squabbles like this…

  • The Difference Between Canceling and Choosing Rest

    When you live with chronic illness, disability, or even just the daily realities of parenting, plans don’t always unfold the way you imagine. Sometimes, life forces you to cancel. Other times, you make the choice to rest. On the surface they can look the same: you’re not showing up. But the meaning and the weight…

  • 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. Here’s how the outdoors supports mental health, especially for neurodivergent families like mine. What Does It Mean to…

  • The Calm That Comes After the First 20 Minutes Outside

    Some days, everything feels too loud. The toddler’s crying. My joints ache. I’ve already hit my sensory limit by noon, and we haven’t even left the house. I want to cancel the whole day — just crawl into bed and try again tomorrow. But I’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 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…

  • 🌿 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…