Dog-earred Pages | 2020

Reading has always been a favorite escape and relaxing activing for me. I enjoy cuddling up on the couch, sinking into the pillows, and giving myself the time to simply get caught up in a story or dive into a new topic and learn something new. It's one of the ways I practice "self-care," doing something completely for myself! Here are my top picks from this year that allowed me to reflect, imagine, and broaden my mind. 

Fiction
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Non-Fiction

Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King Jr.

Memoir/Re-Read
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

Parenting
How to Talk so Little Kids will Listen by Lindsay Hunt

Honorable Mention
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

My reading list had been growing sparse, but thankfully Goodreads just published their 2020 Choice Awards! Here are some that I found intriguing with high reviews, plus others I found down the rabbit hole. Let me know if you want to read along!

More words, more pages,

- SJW

New Walls

Undoubtedly, 2020 will forever be marked by a global pandemic, the fight for racial justice, and political turmoil approaching a divisive election. For our family, it will be known as the year of the house hunt! A daunting and exhaustive one at that. From April to August we were in the thick of it, constantly refreshing Redfin and touring houses on the regular. Each house we saw led to new discussions on space, location, walkability, price, yard, schools, and house quality. Most of the time I felt like Goldilocks, wondering if I was being too picky or if we'd ever find a home with the spaces to meet our family's needs with the style I preferred.  

Early on I made a "House Wish List" separated out into four categories: The Basics, Lifestyle, Perks, and Style & Charm that helped me sort and prioritize all the factors floating around in my head. It's certainly a privilege to have the means to afford a home in Seattle in the first place, not to mention the luxury to add on nitty-gritty choices such as yard accessibility, bedroom layout, proximity to a park, and whether or not you're on a busy street. We haven't lost sight of that and if anything, it makes us even more appreciative of the house we found and purchased.

I still believe that we could have made most all of the houses we toured work for our family. A house is simply a building after all - it provides the structural support for rooms and protection from the elements, a literal roof over your head. And no doubt, I do love the specific rooms, spaces, and layout of this particular house: the designated playroom adjacent to the yard, the spacious living/dining room with a fireplace, the breakfast nook, the spacious master bedroom with a deck, and the basement designated for guests. The best thing about a house is making it a home. I keep thinking of all the meals we'll share, birthdays we'll celebrate, books we'll read, games we'll play, parties we'll host, and all the pictures we'll take. It will be so special welcoming our two newest family members into this home. Their home. :) 

Bring on the memory-making,

- SJW

Coronavirus Catastrophe Part 3 | The World at Small

I keep thinking how odd this time must be for recent graduates, sixteen year olds who just got their driver's licence but can't venture to the mall or the movies, the seniors without a prom, and even elementary schoolers who will all have a gap semester in their schooling. Fortunately for our family, a one-and-a-half year old doesn't really know the difference. NLW is still learning, growing, and developing at a rapid speed as if it didn't matter that restaurants, playgrounds, zoos, and museums are all closed. Regardless of pandemic circumstances, toddler life is both monotonous and exhilerating.

That said, I think I'll look back fondly on these just-the-two-of-us days consisting of meandering walks, park explorations, neighborhood drives, and snacks on benches. The daily sightings and confident proclamations of "airplane" "doggie" "bird" "baby" "squirrel" and "kitty" keep me on my toes. You just never know when you'll have the chance to explain the differences between crows, pigeons, sparrows, and hummingbirds :)

Hoping things re-open soon,

- SJW

Coronavirus Catastrophe Part 2 | The World at Medium

Even if you're not in the direct path of a tornado, you're bound to observe the darkening skies and sense the wind whipping around you as it passes by. While grateful we haven't had any symptoms or hospital visits, the coronavirus has certainly shaken things up for our family. Small spaces, two tired parents, and a curious toddler make for some interesting days. There's been hit and miss communication along the way but overall we've been able to adjust, extend grace, and pick up each other's slack in energy levels. 

We've entered a new normal this spring that has resulted in some new rhythms: 

Syncopation 1: NLW dropping down to one nap. While not tied directly to the virus, the timing with quarantine was not ideal. Oh how I've mourned the loss of that second nap break in the day!

Syncopation 2: No nanny care. With the stay at home orders, we deemed it best to press pause on additional childcare for now. I'm excited for playdates, social outings, and other kid interactions to resume. 

Syncopation 3: I was laid off from my job in early April, which actually made syncopation 2 a bit easier to manage. Working an administrative job and caring for a child simultaneously was challenging! I feel for all the parents that are still jumping back and forth between emails, conference calls, and their children's needs, be it fixing lunch, reviewing science lessons, or changing diapers. 

Syncopation 4: Mr. Fleece has been working remotely for nearly three months now with varying degrees of motivation and productivity. With a tiny rathole of a workspace and a toddler to greet him anytime he emerges for a break, it's not been super conducive to focusing and knocking out large projects. 

Syncopation 5: Mid-day naps for me! These are a welcome treat and often necessary when NLW starts our day before 6am. I've stopped worrying about being productive during his nap...letting dishes pile up has never felt so good :) 

Syncopation 6: House-hunting and neighborhood-scouting. Glued to Redfin, we've been on the lookout for a new house to call home. We would welcome more space, an actual office for Mr. Fleece, and the ability to host family when they're able to visit again. At this point we've narrowed down what's important to us, toured 20 houses or so, and placed and lost two offers. We may end up renting for a year or two to see what happens to the market, but in the meantime, NLW and I enjoy walking around new-to-us parks and streets each morning to see which neighborhoods might be a good fit for commuting, walkability, and proximity to playgrounds and activities. 

Jamming out to new tunes, 

- SJW

Coronavirus Catastrophe Part 1 | The World at Large

It's quite strange to be living through the coronavirus catastrophe, a monumental moment that will be captured and analyzed by historians for years to come. Are these monotonous mask-filled days similar to those experienced by families and workers during the Great Depression and war times? Will future generations grasp the pervasiveness of the virus, the evolving social changes, and the ever-present uncertainty that reigns each day?

The constant uptick in new cases, unemployment filings, and untimely deaths has been staggaring and alarming. Just this week the U.S. surpassed 100,000 dead, a heartbreaking finality for so many. This communal suffering already feels overwhelming, but when layered upon the looming backdrop of economic upheaval, it's even more unnerving. As the coronavirus persists as a constant health risk, the economic un-doing feels like it's lurking just around the corner, ready to devastate.

Nervous trips to the grocery store, closed playgrounds, empty streets, and zoom calls set the daily mood and a barage of unusual phrases rule the airwaves: social distancing, flattening the curve, self-quarantine, unprecedented times, contact tracing, stay home stay healthy...pandemic. It feels like we pressed pause and we're none too sure of when we'll all get back to our reguarly scheduled programming. It's an unpleasant waiting game and all the while, potential happy hours, date nights, and summer vacations slip by.

Unsurpisingly, even amidst these depressing factors, there's still beauty and joy to be found and appreciated everyday. From spring flowers, toddler laughs, and home-cooked dinners to simple walks, unscheduled evenings, and the opportunity to greet neighbors - I'm a firm believer that compassion, kindness, generosity, bravery, optimism, and humor will prevail.

Admiring and thanking all our essential workers, 

- SJW