This really resonates with me, especially your thoughts on controlling what's within our grasp. I've found peace in focusing on what I can influence rather than getting lost in the overwhelming bigger picture. Your family's story of adaptation and growth around the new baby perfectly exemplifies this - meeting change with grace and openness. I love how you're choosing to "fix your world," starting with Thanksgiving. That's exactly where meaningful change begins. Wishing you and your expanding family a beautiful Thanksgiving filled with those perfectly chopped Waldorf salad pieces and new traditions in the making.
Strong spines and soft hearts, beautiful words and beautiful post. I am so heartbroken for you all in the US and I think of you all a lot. I look forward to strong spines and soft hearts turning around our crazy world. (BTW Michelle, when my sister had the first grandchild it was such a joy, I was a sobbing wreck when I met my nephew for the first time. Now I have ,and adore, 6 nieces and nephews. I wish you and your family the same joy)
Thank you Jane. It’s a hard time here in the US right now but at least we’ve got our friends and family to get us through. I’m sure I’ll sob as soon as I meet this new little Davis. Thanks for the well wishes 😭❤️
This part really struck me: “But every extra year we get together, we get another chance to change.” It’s so hopeful. I have a complicated family, and complicated feelings about holidays, but I appreciate the hope and possibilities in this idea, and am going to take this sentiment into the coming days with me. Thank you 🩵
😭 i love this and i love this opportunity for you tough exterior nut davis’s. new life sometimes does cause that renaissance within a family and i think you all deserve it. you all deeply care. the baby will give new language to that.
Michelle, my two siblings and I are in our mid-to-late 30s, and my big sister is pregnant with the very first Shetron baby. We are not a baby family, either. We are all beside ourselves with excitement, but we are also scared. No one knows quite how to behave or how best to support my sister, who was always slightly trickier to reach and to read. My mom and I are planning a baby shower and it’s like we’ve never planned a single gathering in our lives! It’s comical how bad we are at it. Anyway, I’ve never heard this dynamic described before reading your essay, and I just want to thank you for naming something I’ve been feeling but not really understanding 🖤
Yes! It’s so funny because it is such a hard feeling to name. We just aren’t a baby family even though we’re all so excited and happy. Change is scary! Congrats on the newest Shetron. We’ll all get it together soon lol
Thank you for this. We have limited time with our peeps and that should be enough to choose to stay. ❤️ I look forward to all your writing and recipes!
This really resonates with me, especially your thoughts on controlling what's within our grasp. I've found peace in focusing on what I can influence rather than getting lost in the overwhelming bigger picture. Your family's story of adaptation and growth around the new baby perfectly exemplifies this - meeting change with grace and openness. I love how you're choosing to "fix your world," starting with Thanksgiving. That's exactly where meaningful change begins. Wishing you and your expanding family a beautiful Thanksgiving filled with those perfectly chopped Waldorf salad pieces and new traditions in the making.
Strong spines and soft hearts, beautiful words and beautiful post. I am so heartbroken for you all in the US and I think of you all a lot. I look forward to strong spines and soft hearts turning around our crazy world. (BTW Michelle, when my sister had the first grandchild it was such a joy, I was a sobbing wreck when I met my nephew for the first time. Now I have ,and adore, 6 nieces and nephews. I wish you and your family the same joy)
Thank you Jane. It’s a hard time here in the US right now but at least we’ve got our friends and family to get us through. I’m sure I’ll sob as soon as I meet this new little Davis. Thanks for the well wishes 😭❤️
This part really struck me: “But every extra year we get together, we get another chance to change.” It’s so hopeful. I have a complicated family, and complicated feelings about holidays, but I appreciate the hope and possibilities in this idea, and am going to take this sentiment into the coming days with me. Thank you 🩵
My pleasure. I hope you’re met with the same sentiment over the holidays 💜
😭 i love this and i love this opportunity for you tough exterior nut davis’s. new life sometimes does cause that renaissance within a family and i think you all deserve it. you all deeply care. the baby will give new language to that.
😭😭😭
Michelle, my two siblings and I are in our mid-to-late 30s, and my big sister is pregnant with the very first Shetron baby. We are not a baby family, either. We are all beside ourselves with excitement, but we are also scared. No one knows quite how to behave or how best to support my sister, who was always slightly trickier to reach and to read. My mom and I are planning a baby shower and it’s like we’ve never planned a single gathering in our lives! It’s comical how bad we are at it. Anyway, I’ve never heard this dynamic described before reading your essay, and I just want to thank you for naming something I’ve been feeling but not really understanding 🖤
Yes! It’s so funny because it is such a hard feeling to name. We just aren’t a baby family even though we’re all so excited and happy. Change is scary! Congrats on the newest Shetron. We’ll all get it together soon lol
Well put!! I think this is the year for gratitude for what we do and still and might have — wherever I our lives gratitude can take root.
Yes! It’s time to take stock and work for the better future we want, odds be damned.
Thank you for this. We have limited time with our peeps and that should be enough to choose to stay. ❤️ I look forward to all your writing and recipes!
Thank you❤️ Nothing is forever, good and bad. Might as well try our hardest to change for the better!
Such beautiful words ❤️
Thank you Jo!
I hope you enjoy your family to the utmost! My wife and I will be dining with our murder of crows, and loving it!
That is my dream!! One day the crows will listen to me damnit lol
This was such a beautiful piece from top to bottom. It was exactly what I needed in this moment. Thank you <3
Thank you so much. Here’s to changing for the better 🥂
This!---->>"My mom will still be worried about something. That's her job." Hard same. Thanks as always for sharing with heart.
Thank you so much 💜
This is probably my favorite essay you’ve ever written, and I’m a longtime fan. Thank you so much, it was just what I needed.
That means a lot. Thank you so much 💜
Your first paragraph perfectly summarizes how I, and so many others, are feeling. Thanks for the motivation.
It’s crazy out there but we’ve still got to do what we can, even if that just means cooking dinner right now. I’m so glad it resonated with you.
A beautiful essay! Thank you.
Thank you 💜