I’ve been looking for the words to summarize the impact 2021 had on me. The year that I never expected nor could have ever fathomed would exist. The year both my heart and my responsibilities doubled in size. The year my little family of four became a big family of six.
The highlight reel of this year shows a beautiful thriving family filled with picnics in the park and walks on the beach. But in between was just as many messy parts, enough to fill an entire book. And perhaps I will someday. But the visions in my mind from 2021 that I will take with me is Liam’s smile as he fed his new baby brother a bottle for the first time. So proud of himself and so acutely aware of his role as eldest child. How Bear, always running, never walking would pump his arms as fast as he could to catch up with Liam no matter what Liam was doing for the fear of missing out is strong in this one. And the everyday snuggles in the rocking chair with not one but two babies sitting on my lap. Olive always reaching to touch Ziggy‘s hair and Ziggy always smiling in her direction, for nothing makes him happier than seeing her there.
We’ve been learning as a family how to coexist as a large wolf pack trapped in a small den in the middle of a global pandemic, never knowing if school will be canceled today or if daddy will be going back to work in the office tomorrow. Taking it one day at a time, making mistakes along the way, and wondering how much longer it will be cute to smile nervously and use the “first time parent” excuse.
I took a step back (but not a complete step away) from my job as a speech pathologist this year. My long days spent explaining about the physiological components of a hyolaryngeal excursion and it’s effects on dysphasia and then going home and trying to explain that you can’t stick a Lego up your brother’s nose, was weighing on me and most days I simply didn’t have the energy to do both. So I chose the latter and in doing so I stumbled upon an area of social media influencing and content creation that I have grown to really enjoy and that allows me to work at my own pace, my own hours, while being home with the babies. Will continues to be working from home due to the Covid rates in South Carolina and despite what he may tell you, we both have enjoyed having each other around during the day!
As for 2022, my goal is the same as every other year: just continue to survive. For will and i to continue to raise these four children to become kind, thoughtful, compassionate little humans. To wake up every morning and say the only prayer I will ever need to say: Thank you. Thank you Lord for another day!
Wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous new year! Thank you for being here!
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