My year of 100 Family Dinners: Week 33 | August 24 – September 1 Dinner Count: 2 (Dinner #79 and #80)

After a whirlwind few weeks, this one began quietly: a rare, slow Sunday before life picked back up again. I made the kids sit down for dinner with me. No phones, no rushing, just food and conversation. It was exactly what we needed a pause from the constant motion. The kids slept in, caught their breath, and we re-connected over something simple.

By Monday, we were back to football practice and school routines. My son’s schedule keeps us constantly moving, which means I get bonus time with my daughter, time I treasure. Some days that looks like watching a show together, grabbing Starbucks, or wandering a thrift store. It doesn’t matter what we do; what matters is being together.

The Power of Autonomy

This week reminded me just how important autonomy is for kids. My daughter is at the age where she wants to make her own choices: what to wear, what to do after school, how to spend her time. Letting her have that independence isn’t always easy, but it’s essential.

In The Self-Driven Child, William Stixrud PhD and Ned Johnson explain that giving kids a sense of control over their own lives improves motivation, mental health, and resilience. When children feel they have ownership, they engage more deeply, perform better academically, and experience less anxiety. As they put it, autonomy fuels responsibility, it teaches kids to make choices, learn from them, and grow.

I try to remember that as a parent: giving space doesn’t mean stepping away; it means stepping beside them as they figure it out.

Our Annual 504 Plan Meeing: Advocacy in Action

This was also my daughter’s 504 meeting week. Even though her meetings are smooth, I always prepare carefully. I review last year’s paperwork, check her grades, and make notes about what worked and what didn’t. I show up with my binder of data, questions, and my small but mighty strategy: a colored pen. I sign everything in pink or purple so I can always tell which copy is the original. It’s silly, but it helps keep my advocacy organized.

Football Friday & Family Weekend Marathon

Friday brought a long-distance football game: four hours each way across winding Arizona highways. It was Labor Day weekend, which meant traffic and endless stretches of two-lane road. Still, I secretly love those drives. They’re my little pockets of peace: time to listen to music, catch up on podcasts, and talk with friends.

The game itself was fantastic: Friday night lights, good friends in the stands, and that small-town joy that only high-school football brings. We rolled back home at 2 a.m., exhausted but happy.

The next morning, I was up again before sunrise to catch a flight to California for a cousin’s wedding. My mom picked me up, and we drove three hours through California to the ceremony. I’ll admit this trip was wrapped in a little guilt. Family expectations can be heavy, especially post-divorce.

It was my first time seeing that side of the family since my life changed. Some relatives were kind and supportive; others, not so much. I realized how differently people view divorce depending on their beliefs and experiences. For me, it’s been a year of learning: learning to speak my truth without oversharing, learning that I don’t owe anyone details, and learning that healing looks different for everyone.

The wedding was beautiful but emotionally draining. After another late-night drive, I finally crashed. Sunday was spent resting, sipping coffee with my "oldest friend" , and time with my mom. Those little reconnections mean everything.

Co-Parenting & Peace

This week was also the first time both kids spent a full weekend with their dad. I did not have a weekend to myself I traveled and drove and smiled through the exhaustion. Monday was my queit day. When he dropped them off earlier than planned, I wasn’t upset; I was just reminded of how unpredictable co-parenting can be. I was able to have dinner with the kids and spend a few lovely hours together before bed time.

Research shows that co-parenting harmony has a profound impact on children’s well-being. Studies from the Journal of Family Psychology and the American Psychological Association have found that kids whose parents maintain respectful, low-conflict communication experience less anxiety, fewer behavioral issues, and better academic adjustment after divorce. Peaceful co-parenting isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

The Heart of This Week

It was a long, full week of football games, flights, family dynamics, and two precious dinners together on Labor Day. But through the chaos, I keep seeing the same truth: connection comes in many forms.

Sometimes it’s a quiet meal at home, sometimes a four-hour drive with music blaring, and sometimes it’s learning to hold peace when everything around you shifts. Life after divorce can be messy, but it can also be beautiful, full of growth, laughter, and small victories that remind us we’re doing okay.