I feel like there are some milestones that have come my way where I think "oh my WORD I never thought this day would come".... like having all three kids with me at school or changing my LAST diaper, getting rid of our crib when we moved, etc. This week it hit me that for the first time SEVEN YEARS I wouldn't have a kid in PreK or Kinder next year and it feels like an end of an era.
I try not to get too emotional about how quickly time is passing, but y'all... it is FLYING! I truly love the stage that we're in right now as a family (I've dubbed it our "sweet spot" where everyone is pretty independent but we haven't hit teen years yet) but it sometimes takes my breath away just how grown up they're all getting. I had one of those moments this weekend when I saw G in a cap and gown and realized that the next kid in a cap and gown would be Luke graduating high school!
I'm going to try my absolute best to SAVOR the next several years because I have a feeling it will be sooner rather than later that I'm saying I won't have a kid in elementary school or middle school or high school ever again.
This realization and this sort of urgency to be as absolutely present as possible is the reason that I'm going to be switching my blog format to Monday/Wednesday/Friday starting next week. I'm not sure if this is going to be a forever change - blogging is absolutely a creative outlet for me that I LOVE - but for NOW I feel like it's the best route to go for my family.
As always, I appreciate all of the support and readership y'all have given me over the past 11+ years of blogging. I'm convinced that I have the SWEETEST readers out there and am FOREVER grateful for all of you!!!
Happy Tuesday, friends!
It's FLYING!!! Friend, it's flying!! Love you!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely understand...I've always been amazed that you have been able to find the time to post everyday! Thank you for taking your readers along for the (fast-moving) fun! My son is graduating Kindergarten this week and this photo made me tear up :).
ReplyDeleteWe'll still be here reading! Enjoy this sweet spot, my oldest graduates this year. Goes so fast..
ReplyDeleteWelcome to M, W, F world! Everybody will still be popping over her to read! Love you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious picture and yes, do whatever it takes to savor this time!! I shut down our family blog and am getting off FB at the end of the month for some of the same reasons. We only get one ride ; )
ReplyDeleteJust don't quit blogging altogether! You are a highlight of my day.
ReplyDeleteShe looks so grown up!!
ReplyDeleteAw, congrats on this new chapter, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to reading your blog! I love that you’re take more time for your family!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading your blog. Love the content and your family is so precious! Glad you’re doing what’s best for you!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking from this Mom who has her second and last graduating high school on June 6, savor the moments with your adorable family. My bright spot is that both kids will be in college together at the University of Tennessee! We live in Thousand Oaks, CA.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Knoxville, TN! They will love it!
DeleteI understand! When I read the story on Instagram I was hoping you weren't giving it up. I always enjoy reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! Love your blog and IG and am excited you're giving yourself more time with your cuties.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you’re still blogging! Take the time, make the memories. I keep saying I’m in mourning for the loss of my son’s childhood. He’s 13. Enjoy the days.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I LOVE reading your blog. I love the ideas and experiences you share. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. As a mom of teens, I can verify that the years fly by. Sometimes I don't have time to read blogs everyday, so the lighter schedule will be great for my reading! :)
ReplyDeleteYou will never regret the time spent with your family. I was having lunch with one of my adult sons (hint: your age:), who has six children ages 11 down to 1, and he asked me what my favorite ages were when raising his siblings and I told him the elementary years! All the stages have something wonderful about them but something about having them all over the potty training stage and not yet to the teenage years was most definitely the "sweet spot" for me. That said, I am so grateful that you plan to continue blogging and sharing your sweet family with us. Thank you, Andrea! xoxo
ReplyDeleteMy youngest just graduated from 5th grade this morning and I was a MESS! Then Ben (my hubby) pointed out that in 7 years we would be empty nesters. I told him he could quit talking!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog and will miss reading everyday but I totally get it too! The years fly by and as a working mom it is so important to savor every moment you can.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing all these years. Yes to present and intentional parenting!!! I'll just have to binge once a week on the blog.Looking forward to all your summer activities and trips!
ReplyDeleteWhew!!!!! I just clicked over from IG and thought you were announcing that you were done blogging altogether! So relieved and yes, of course- do what is best for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteI just can’t believe how fast kindergarten went!!! Our girls are almost first graders!! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
ReplyDeleteI am just glad that you are going to continue to blog at all! I was afraid that you were stopping when I first started reading the post today.
ReplyDeleteOh no I felt soooo sad reading that! I love your blog! But I'm happy for you and prioritizing being with your people! <3
ReplyDeleteIt goes by SO FAST! My oldest just graduated high school last Friday and I've been a MESS. We have less than three months until she moves out. Definitely enjoy this time with your kids!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're going down to a few days a week...I have no idea how you do everyday. I'm a teacher and mom and could never do that. Your blog is wonderful and blogging a few times a week will make it all the more wonderful! Enjoy those sweet kids!
ReplyDeleteThumbs up. I will miss your everyday posts though!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is my favorite and I got so sad for a minute thinking you were ending it all together!! I’m so happy you’ll still be around and have so much respect for you For cutting back in order to savor your time with your kiddos. As a fellow teacher, I have no idea how you have time to blog at all!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and your sweet family!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE your blog, so PLEASE don't every quit on us! However, I see what you mean about being ever present each day and devoted to what is right in front of us. I fully support you and your decision....but please don't ever quit! :-) Happy [almost] summer!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, enjoy every moment. Love your blog and will continue to follow,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely will miss your Tuesday/Thursday posts. But will look extra forward to MWF's. Thank you for sharing your life and ideas with us.
ReplyDeleteLove your blogs! As a teacher and a mother...
ReplyDeleteYou are going to LOVE the M,W,F format! I was doing 5 days for quite a while and it was killing me. 3 days is so much more manageable. YAY for you!!! XOXO
ReplyDeletewww.coasttocoast2.com