Midwest Mimi

  • 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.

  • 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…

  • The Life I’m Writing Into Existence

    I don’t have the money to build the life I want yet… so I’m writing it first. This is the story of how I’m creating a safer, slower, more intentional life for my family—starting with imagination and turning it into something real.

  • 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 Guilt Comes Before the Rest

    I woke up already feeling behind. The guilt came before the rest, whispering that if I stopped I was failing my family. But living with chronic illness and parenting a neurodivergent child has taught me something different. Guilt is not a verdict. It is a signal that capacity has been reached, and rest is what…

  • The World Looks Purple To Me

    A journey from innocence, to hustling for survival, to rebuilding life after chronic illness. Motherhood, queerness, and the purple lens that reveals what is worth fighting for.

  • 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…

  • The Real Heart of Midwest Mimi

    This blog started as a place for accessible nature reviews and homeschooling resources. But it’s become something bigger: a story about resilience, family, and belonging, with nature, books, and art still at the heart. From Accessible Nature and Homeschooling to Something Bigger When I first started Midwest Mimi, my focus was clear. I wanted to…

  • 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…

  • What My Toddler Taught Me About Slowing Down in Nature

    When my toddler and I head outside, it’s rarely about covering ground. We’re not hiking trails or racking up miles. For us, it’s usually the walk to the beach, wandering through a grassy field, or time spent playing at the park. These little adventures are where I’ve learned the most about slowing down. Toddlers Notice…

  • 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…

  • 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 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…

  • 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 doesn’t judge, correct, or explain — 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…