So good, Krista. I relate to so much of this as an eldest child. I think there are a lot of similarities from the Midwest to the west, except it's casseroles here, of course. 🤣 And barre! I LOVE barre. I've been doing it for 13 ish years! What studio are you going to?
As an oldest Midwestern child married to another oldest Midwestern child who are now raising TWO of our very own oldest Midwestern children (*ahem*, twins), well...this hits.
Thanks for putting pen to paper on this subject Krista! I’m learning this lesson right along side you! Last year I asked myself what did 8 year old Sarah love to do? And now I play soccer every Tuesday night and SMILE.
Yes, Sarah! I was *just* telling a friend about that question the other day--of looking back at our younger selves and being like...what DID/DO I even love? The thought of you playing soccer every week and finding so much joy in that makes me so happy. I'm really glad you shared this.
This is one I want to share with everyone, and print out to hang in my dressing closet as a daily reminder! Midwesterner that hasn't been able to shed her Catholic guilt here, and so grateful to you for writing these words!
This was a delight through and through. I am also an eldest daughter (though not from the Midwest) and so much of what you said resonated. It’s like why pursue joy when you can work yourself to the brink of exhaustion?! My kids have been teaching me so much in this area, too. And hallelujah for Amazon crop tops and stretched out stomachs 🙌
As a soon to be mama, one of my biggest hopes is that I would be an example of the JOY of the Lord for my family. Choosing joy for joy's sake can be a hard habit to form because it feels selfish and unproductive sometimes, but I have to agree with you - I feel a little closer to my Creator when I do. Thanks for sharing your words, Amanda!
Love this so much. To delight and joy. And oh my I was laughing at the billboards!! I know exactly what you mean! Had them in Ohio and now Missouri. I’m Midwest through and through.
Fellow midwestern eldest daughter here nodding along to every single word. I had a full blown identity crisis before school started because I truly believed that if I really loved my kids I would homeschool them instead of shipping them off to the absolutely dreamy Montessori school that I spent hours and hours and hours and hours praying/ruminating/making pro and con lists about.
Hahahahaaa Krista, you KNOW I've done the exact same thing but in reverse!! Here's to forgetting and then remembering (and then forgetting again and remembering again) that we get to be whole and healthy people, too!
So good, Krista. I relate to so much of this as an eldest child. I think there are a lot of similarities from the Midwest to the west, except it's casseroles here, of course. 🤣 And barre! I LOVE barre. I've been doing it for 13 ish years! What studio are you going to?
Fun Stacy!! I can respect a good casserole 😂👌🏼I go to Barre 3!
That’s what I do online! I started with Pure Barre, back when I lived in a city. 😜
Ahhh no way!! I love that we do the same thing! Someday if we’re ever in the same city let’s do it together!
Yes!! I've only been to b3 in studio a couple of times, but I enjoyed it!!
As an oldest Midwestern child married to another oldest Midwestern child who are now raising TWO of our very own oldest Midwestern children (*ahem*, twins), well...this hits.
Solidarity my friend. That is a looot of first born energy in one household. 😂
Thanks for putting pen to paper on this subject Krista! I’m learning this lesson right along side you! Last year I asked myself what did 8 year old Sarah love to do? And now I play soccer every Tuesday night and SMILE.
Yes, Sarah! I was *just* telling a friend about that question the other day--of looking back at our younger selves and being like...what DID/DO I even love? The thought of you playing soccer every week and finding so much joy in that makes me so happy. I'm really glad you shared this.
I just love this, Krista.
Thanks, Molly!
This is one I want to share with everyone, and print out to hang in my dressing closet as a daily reminder! Midwesterner that hasn't been able to shed her Catholic guilt here, and so grateful to you for writing these words!
Mallory, I'm so grateful these words could be even the tiniest bit healing and encouraging for you. Thank you for sharing this with me!
This was a delight through and through. I am also an eldest daughter (though not from the Midwest) and so much of what you said resonated. It’s like why pursue joy when you can work yourself to the brink of exhaustion?! My kids have been teaching me so much in this area, too. And hallelujah for Amazon crop tops and stretched out stomachs 🙌
Megan, exactly! 😂 May joy not be an afterthought for us in this season!
As a soon to be mama, one of my biggest hopes is that I would be an example of the JOY of the Lord for my family. Choosing joy for joy's sake can be a hard habit to form because it feels selfish and unproductive sometimes, but I have to agree with you - I feel a little closer to my Creator when I do. Thanks for sharing your words, Amanda!
So much yes to all of this! The billboards and barre, scary ancestors and gel pens - I loved every word.
I know you get it! 🩷 Thank you for reading, friend.
As someone prone to productivity and optimizing *everything*, I very much resonated with this. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad, Amanda—thank you for reading.
This is gorgeous and I love the invitation to play and do things out of joy. Kids are so good at it but we so easily forget it as adults!
Absolutely! Most of the time I’m pretty sure my kids are teaching me more than I’m teaching them.
My oldest child, Enneagram 1 heart resonated hard, Krista! I’m learning the same lesson, that it’s okay to do stuff just for the joy of it 🧡
Bec, we can learn this together!
Love this, thinking about joy for its own sake. Eldest daughter raises in the Midwest here 🙋🏻♀️
Woohoooo! Maybe we should start a club.
So love this. I'm going to read it over and over again
That is so very kind—thank you for reading! 🩷
Love this so much. To delight and joy. And oh my I was laughing at the billboards!! I know exactly what you mean! Had them in Ohio and now Missouri. I’m Midwest through and through.
Haha, they are something else aren’t they? I love that we have this in common, Kim!
So good! Relating as another oldest child over here haha
It’s a blessing and a curse 😂
Fellow midwestern eldest daughter here nodding along to every single word. I had a full blown identity crisis before school started because I truly believed that if I really loved my kids I would homeschool them instead of shipping them off to the absolutely dreamy Montessori school that I spent hours and hours and hours and hours praying/ruminating/making pro and con lists about.
Hahahahaaa Krista, you KNOW I've done the exact same thing but in reverse!! Here's to forgetting and then remembering (and then forgetting again and remembering again) that we get to be whole and healthy people, too!