Wow, what an October our family has had! It feels like the month flew by in a whirlwind of emotions, milestones, and more than a few sleepless nights.
Let’s start with something that hits close to home: mental health. It’s real, it’s important, and it doesn’t always come with easy answers. I’m so proud of my oldest for recognizing that she needed help and being brave enough to ask for it. That takes courage. We’ve found a wonderful psychologist who’s been working closely with her, and while the road isn’t always smooth, I can already see progress. Watching her take steps toward healing reminds me that it’s okay not to be okay, and that reaching out for support is one of the strongest things we can do.
As if that weren’t enough, the flu and croup decided to make their rounds through our house. The sound of that deep, barking cough from the little ones can make any parent’s heart ache. There’s nothing quite like lying in bed listening to every breath, hoping they sleep peacefully while trying to sneak in a few moments of rest yourself.
But even through the tough stuff, there’s always some good news. We found our oldest an apartment, a big step toward independence! It’s bittersweet watching your child grow up and start their next chapter, but I couldn’t be prouder of her.
And speaking of milestones, our littlest decided to start walking, out of the blue! One day, she was crawling, and the next she was off and running (literally). I joke that my new weight loss program is my kids, because keeping up with them is a full-body workout!
Despite the chaos, we still made time for some Halloween fun. The kids had a blast trick-or-treating this year. Our littlest didn’t really understand what was going on, but was thrilled with the sucker she got from a friend of ours. I love that so many communities now offer indoor trick-or-treat events; they’re perfect when the weather turns chilly. Still, there’s something so special about the traditional door-to-door “Trick or treat!” that never gets old.
Now that Halloween is behind us, it’s time to shift gears. Thanksgiving planning has officially begun, and you can bet I’m already making mental notes for Christmas shopping (because let’s be honest, December always sneaks up faster than we expect!).
Through all the ups and downs, October reminded me of what really matters: family, love, resilience, and the ability to find joy even in the chaos. Because that’s real life, and around here, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
