Week 18: Finding Togetherness in the May-tember

May 11–17 Dinners 56 & 57

This week was packed with the fullness of May: Mother’s Day, school banquets, dance recitals, and the kind of schedule that makes your calendar start to sweat. But even in the busiest of times, we managed to sit down for two family dinners and they were worth every second. 🌟

Mother’s Day: Quiet WinsI chose to stay home this year instead of buying into the pressure of doing something extravagant. A quiet meal at home with my kids felt right. It reminded me that simple doesn’t mean less special. In fact, it often means more. Just being together: no fancy plans, no big gestures. Time together.

Celebrating School Success‘Tis the season of school banquets and year-end recognition. We were all over town celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of the school year. And while it made family dinner trickier to schedule, I welcomed the busyness because it meant my kids were being celebrated for their dedication and growth.

A Night for Me (and a Lesson for Them)In the middle of all the chaos, I had the chance to attend the Arizona Ballet. It wasn’t at the most convenient time, but I went anyway. I want my kids to see that self-care doesn’t get paused just because life is busy. I arranged a sitter for my daughter, who even helped get her to her dance dress rehearsal. I made it home in time for a quiet dinner, just the two of us, before heading to her recital. She danced beautifully, and I was filled with pride watching her perform with our adopted grandfather sitting beside me. That evening reminded me that joy comes from showing up both for myself and for my kids.

Dinner #56 & #57This week’s dinners were simple: a Mother's Day meal at home and a classic Taco Tuesday. Nothing fancy. Just moments to sit, slow down, and connect. In a week filled with celebrations and chaos, we still made time for each other and that’s the whole point. 🩰🌮🫶

Busy seasons will come. There will be banquets and recitals and nights when cereal seems like a reasonable dinner option. But making the time, even just twice a week, to sit and share a meal grounds your family in connection. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. You don’t need a picture-perfect table or a full schedule of home-cooked meals. You just need to show up.

Keep going, one dinner at a time.🍽️💕