Reconnecting, Slowing Down, and Embracing the Beauty of Family

After taking a much-needed pause to welcome our sweet new little boy into the world, I am so excited to be back and reconnecting with all of you! As many of you know, I work from home and absolutely love my job—it is a blessing to our family and gives me another identity beyond being a mom and wife. But with our little man arriving in early October, maternity leave meant stepping away from work and, in many ways, stepping into something even deeper—learning to embrace the sacred slowness of this season.

I had grand plans for my leave. We were going to catch up on field trips, get ahead in our curriculum, write countless blogs, expand our Discovery Labs section, create new jewelry, and teach more hands-on skills like sewing. I wanted to do it all. But what I hadn’t accounted for was how much this tiny boy would need me—to be fully present, to slow down, and to cherish these fleeting moments.

From the moment he was born, our family dynamic shifted in the most beautiful way. My two girls became completely enamored with their baby brother, always wanting to be by his side, always eager to help. Their world became wrapped around his, and even their evening activities took a back seat because they didn’t want to leave him. That was my first sign that life was naturally slowing down for us, that this season was inviting us to step into something different.

Homeschooling also took on a new rhythm. My plans of structured lessons and elaborate learning adventures gave way to something more organic and heart-centered. The girls wanted to learn with their baby brother beside them, adjusting their focus to include him in our days. I had forgotten how fragile newborns are, how often they need to nurse, how unpredictable their sleep can be. Our usual outings and field trips had to wait, and with flu season kicking off, I became even more cautious about our time spent outside the home. Instead, our days became filled with learning in new ways—through cooking together, sharing responsibilities, deepening our faith, and simply being present with one another.

One of the greatest blessings of this season was having my husband home. As an active-duty military family, he is gone more often than not, but with baby boy’s arrival, he was able to take paternity leave—just as long, if not longer, than mine (crazy, right?). It was a gift beyond measure, allowing us to fully embrace this transition as a family of five. Without outside distractions, without rushing to keep up with commitments, we found ourselves in a space where we could truly reconnect. My now middle child stepped into her new role as a big sister, my oldest learned to balance life with two younger siblings, and as a family, we deepened our bond in ways I hadn’t even realized we needed.

We took a step back from screens, from social media, from the constant pull of the outside world, and instead, we leaned into each other. We prayed together, we laughed together, we learned together. Our homeschool transformed during this time—not just in academics but in something much richer. We built upon the values that matter most to us, focusing on relationships, faith, and the beautiful, messy journey of growing as a family.

And to make it all even more special, we got to experience a historic snowstorm here in NOLA—something so rare and magical that it felt like nature itself was celebrating this new chapter with us. Watching the snow blanket our home, seeing the kids' faces light up as they played in it, and soaking in the beauty of such an unexpected gift made our season of slowing down even more meaningful.

And now, here we are—two weeks back from my maternity leave, finding our rhythm once again. I’m back to work, we’re back into our school subjects, but things feel different in the best way possible. We are closer, more connected, more in tune with what truly matters. And as we move forward, I’m excited to share that we are embracing a new approach—project-based learning! But more on that in the next blog.

For now, I just want to say thank you for being here, for allowing me to share this journey with you. If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, to reconnect, to realign with what matters most—take this as your sign. Sometimes, the greatest lessons we teach our children aren’t in books or lesson plans, but in the way we live, love, and embrace the season we’re in.

Here’s to this next chapter—together.