My husband, Jared, and I are in an interesting stage of our parenting journey. Our daughter, who is almost 4, will be going to preschool soon, but for now, she spends almost every day with us at home. She has a rather introverted temperament, so most of the…

Raising children is like building a house. For those of us who manage chronic illness and other disorders, our floor plans may look a little different, but at the end of the day, we all want our loved ones to be strong and sturdy, and ready to face life’s…

Last week I hit a significant personal milestone. In order to keep myself mobile and healthy, I ride a recumbent indoor bike — a lot! I used to ride over 100 miles a week. Riding my bike has kept me and my joints healthy. It’s also helped…

My husband, Jared, and I are quiet, introverted people. We’re both averse to noisy crowds and overstimulating activities. Our idea of a good time is immersing ourselves in hobbies or getting away to a weekend nature retreat. Although my Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is ENFP, a personality classification that stands…

To say my youngest son, Caeleb, is excited to start his second year at the University of New Mexico is an understatement. He lived at home during his freshman year, but next month, he’ll move into a dormitory. He can’t wait to spread his wings and live on his own(ish).

Recently, I opened an email from a company inviting me to share my insights regarding bleeding disorders and how my family handles the struggles of chronic illness. Before my sons were born, I think I would’ve hit the delete button without giving a similar invitation a second thought. But…

One of my favorite educational philosophers is Ruby Payne. Payne focuses on the unwritten rules of social classes and how various groups respond to and receive information. Payne suggests that the ways we communicate our needs depend largely on our environments. In other words, we are a product of…

Yesterday, I went through the pictures on my iPhone. I started with the most recent, moving backward, my heart beating faster with each swipe. By the time I had viewed two years’ worth, anxiety had me in its grasp. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and I stopped looking…

My oldest son, Julian, recently approached me and asked, “Dad, can you play this song for me on the piano? I have to post a singing audition tonight.” Panic filled my body. I responded, “Oh, Julian, this song has too many fast chord changes.” He walked away, trying to find…

It isn’t that I can’t be alone. I am an introvert. As such, I can self-entertain for hours. I like spending time with my own company. I find many ways to occupy my time. Hobbies abound — I write, knit, research genealogy, geocache, record podcasts,…