This was quite the year.
Our year started with a bang with some teenage drama. Kids not making the best decisions and us waking up on January 1st to some unsettling stuff to deal with. I looked at Konrad and said, "really, this is how we are starting the year???"
A few days later I was told I was a horrible parent/person in some of the most hurtful ways. I was a mess for weeks. Things were said to me that I won't forget, but luckily I've forgiven so the sting isn't as bad anymore.
My girls were struggling with anxiety and depression. Konrad was tired of living in Washington. I gave in and said we could move to Arizona and that we could get a dog. I was so tired of being the "no" person all the time. I felt like if everyone was "falling apart" anyways, apparently my way of doing things wasn't working. Why not change it up. Say yes for a change.
I remember sitting at lunch in February with some friends. 1 going through a divorce, 1 had a spouse going through a major life change, and me feeling like I was the worst mom in the world. As you can guess there was a lot of venting while we were eating. So grateful for the support of those ladies and the many others who stood by my side while I dealt with all that.
In February the girls enjoyed a trip to Texas with my parents. Konrad and I went to Palm Springs.
Then comes March and schools are closed, including preschool. Stores are emptying of food and toilet paper and cleaning products.
Life slowed down a ton. Sports were cancelled, Kimber came home from college, we starting adjusting to not leaving our house very often, except for walks in our neighborhood. We did so many fun family things. Art lessons on you-tube, puzzles, games, chalk art, double dutch, etc.
The girls and Konrad convinced me (apparently I wasn't ready to fully embrace being the "yes mom" yet) to drive to Arizona and quarantine there. So. Glad. We. Did. What is better for the soul than sunshine and so much fresh air.
We then had 2 weeks in Texas. Yay for time with the Kenyon's!
The Kenyon's came for a month in the summer which kept us entertained and busy.
We got a dog on August 28th.
As summer past and we were still wearing masks, couldn't eat in restaurants, stores not open to full capacity, schools not opening, we realized this may not go away for a long time.
Kimber's college classes were all online. She struggled academically this last semester. It was hard. She learned some things and will hopefully apply it this coming semester. She has a new therapist who seems to be a really good fit. Hoping she can build her confidence up and be her strong powerful self regardless of her relationship status. She was nannying for 2 months, but is now a barista and a hostess.
Sam's running start college classes were all online. She is nannying full time. She "came out" and has been supported by most (if not all) those around her. She seems to be thriving (but she doesn't really talk much, so she could be tricking me...it's happened before!). Her therapist is helping her navigate her anxiety.
Allison, who always thought she wanted to do online school, is just wanting to be back in the classroom. We are working on a system to help her stay up to date on assignments...when she turns them in she rocks it. She started club volleyball, took driver's ed, tutors Elijah, and wants to spend time with her friends and/or be at Target at all times :) She wants to start taking piano again.
Camryn is doing well. She misses in person school. She has an amazing teacher this year and I am so BUMMED that she doesn't have her in person b/c I can imagine how awesome it would be. She isn't doing anything outside of school, maybe next month. She always wants someone to "do stuff" with....whether that is play a game, watch a movie, create art. She is almost always on the hoverboard or her rollerblades.
This year also brought a crazy presidential election and the Black Live Matter movement. People were more divided than ever and it was hard to watch. People fighting over covid related topics as well.
If I've learned one thing this year it's that the best thing we can do is be kind.
Be kind when people make stupid decisions. Be kind when people aren't kind to you. Be kind to people who believe differently than you. Be kind to people who make decisions you wouldn't. Be kind to EVERYONE because you never know what they are going through. If everyone was kind, think of what the world would be like...let's make our goal of 2021 to be kind!
Peace out 2020. It was a crazy year and hard at times, but when I look back my family really had a great year. I think we are all closer to each other, we can talk about hard things, we made so many fun memories, and we all learned about ourselves and grew in ways we couldn't have if 2020 wasn't 2020!
