When I started this blog many years ago, I needed to write in order to breathe. I've always been a sensitive and emotional person with more words than most people had time for. When the well of emotions got full, it had to go somewhere and spewing onto everyone around me just made matters worse. So writing became an important tool in my mental health. Since then a lot of things have changed - like, a lot - but needing to write hasn't really. The time and energy to do so has been way more limited, but the need is a constant. Whether on a blog or just in journals at home, I've continued writing in some form regardless of life circumstances.
As we're leaning into the holiday season and the ending of another year, I'm considering where I'm at and where I'm heading. I have felt behind in life for a while now. Having kids - especially 3 kids - fills up so much of your mind and time that it requires a ton of pro-active and preventative work just feel caught up. Getting ahead is just impossible in certain seasons. My baby is 2 1/2 and becoming more independent every day. With older siblings to cart him around and teach him the ropes, certain parts of life are simplifying. I'm so thankful for that. That is opening the windows a bit, allowing me to breathe a little deeper and consider where we need to adjust now.
My review season with the Homeschool Review Crew has ended for the year and I've been thinking about what I want this blog to do in the coming year. So much of my writing has gotten rushed or simply not realized because of time constrains this year and I really do not want that to continue. I'm excited for an article I wrote being published in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Winter Issue 2019. and I'm looking into doing more of that in the future. For 2020, Mr. Butler is joining me on the blog to share his perspective and projects as a husband, engineer, and homeschool dad. I have wanted to to include him for a while, but life. We are a very health-conscious family and I hope to include more of our approach to staying well through a colorful, intentional diet, active lifestyle and high-quality supplements. As my 9, 6 and 2 year old continue their journey at Butler Academy (homeschooling), we will continue sharing curriculum ideas and home education perspectives.
And finally, though it might sound like a buzzword, this next year we're going to talk more open and freely about mental health. There is a very real crisis in our culture where the innocent literally get caught in the crossfire of the neglected mental states of those on the fringe. There is also the rest of us who struggle with anxiety, depression and isolation but feel like we shouldn't so nothing is said. We are the norm and this suffering is becoming common. If I'm going to be writing anyway, I might as well address what most of us are thinking, right? :)
