Spring Coffee Gathering: A Seasonal Meet-Up for Brews

Hey there!

Honestly, my mood is a bit off this week. Seems like a perfect time to share some thoughts for everyone to see!

I’m here for a couple of reasons:

1. Recently, I’ve noticed that the small conversations in my life have been particularly uplifting. Typically, I’m unaware that I need these connections, but after talking to someone – even if it’s just a brief text or a quick chat in the driveway – things start to come together again and I feel more like myself.
2. I’ve been feeling a bit stagnant lately, both in food choices and in life overall. I’m attributing it to the weather – is that acceptable? I’ve been in this soft funk, and one of the best ways I know to navigate through that is to just be open about it. It’s okay to feel a little lost. I’ve been down this road before. The sun will shine once more!

So, let’s create a virtual side chat today! Imagine you’re passing by my house, we stop to say hello, I’m giving your dog some love, asking about your kids and if you have any travel plans for spring break, and suddenly we’re diving into discussions about anxiety and Severance!

It feels like a coffee date.

Sick Kids, Anxious Mom.

This week on Instagram, I mentioned our kids have been unwell, and it has really impacted my nerves. When they’re struggling, I become extremely anxious.

The illnesses have been quite common: your typical coughs, fevers, ear infections, and sleepless nights. Yet, my nervous system reacts as though at any moment I might need to call for emergency help. Which, to be fair, I just might! You never know, and I truly mean this; it’s a challenge for me.

That constant vigilance, combined with my own illness and spending half the night in my daughter’s small twin bed all week, has left me feeling quite drained lately.

What really surprised me was how many of you reached out this week to say you relate to this too.

Not only dealing with sick kids at home, but also the accompanying anxiety. I’ve heard this from both close friends and online acquaintances. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve gathered from you:

• You feel anxious when your little ones cry but can’t articulate what’s wrong.
• You grapple with uncertainty – is my child okay? Should we visit the clinic? The ER? What action should we take?
• You might not have kids, but you experience high anxiety when it comes to your pets, who also can’t express their discomfort.
• Your children are adults but you still feel that same anxiety when they get sick in their 20s or 30s, because once a mother, always a mother.
• You are in the medical field – I’ve heard this from several people! – and your days are spent with sick kids, yet you still feel anxiety regarding your own children’s health. (Honestly, this is a bit of a bubble-burster for me, as I’d rather view you all as invincible heroes who fear nothing and have all the answers!)

In my case, I know that some of my personal worries are exacerbated by previous medical traumas – instances where everything seemed fine and then it wasn’t at all. I understand many of you share similar experiences too.

Is this a downer? It might be! Welcome to my thoughts this March!

Perhaps I’ll check back when I discover how to avoid getting the nervous jitters when the thermometer reads “103.5” or while battling my instincts during those midnight coughing fits. Or… maybe this is a journey I’ll navigate throughout my life. If you’ve found the answer, feel free to share.

It truly warmed my heart to hear from so many of you this week; it made me feel less isolated, and just less unusual. Thank you.

What I’ve Been Cooking

Since January, I’ve been making these chicken bowls nearly every week because I adore that cilantro pesto on top.

Additionally, I have prepared a large batch of berry muffins and carrot cake cupcakes (coming soon – I want to perfect them), cottage cheese pizzas, this sweet potato soup numerous times, and plenty of buffalo chicken burgers.

But Also, Kind Of In a Cooking Rut.

Meh. This is likely a common phase, even for those who enjoy cooking.

I’m not short on ideas or enthusiasm; I have so many fun things in mind to try and countless recipe concepts swirling around in my head.

I think I’m just running low on the time, space, and energy needed to bring them to life successfully.

The usual life obligations – laundry, school, doctor visits, work, news, making sure to consume enough protein and lift weights, etc. – have felt a bit more overwhelming in the past 2-3 months. There isn’t a neat and peaceful block of time in my day to create a lovely dinner just how I’d like it, or perhaps I’m just fatigued and struggling to carve out that time.

What I genuinely appreciate about this rut, and that slight feeling of being stuck, is that I sense a new SOS series brewing! I’m not just being optimistic – I genuinely enjoy when my real-life experiences inspire me to find solutions to challenges that I believe we all face at times. And that’s the path I’m currently exploring.

SOS recipes are my staple. My favorites. My very relatable ones. I’ve been in a bit of a rut, but it’s guiding me in a promising direction and I’m excited for what’s ahead. I anticipate unveiling this new collection around April / May! Stay tuned.

The Small Joy Of TV

You guys, I’m really enjoying TV at the moment. Especially when paired with just-two-huge-cookies cookie.

Our daughters are in a phase where bedtime is quite regular; we don’t have evening sports, activities, or events. Bjork and I nearly always share an hour of TV at the end of the day, and lounging on the couch, in my pajamas, at 9pm, ready to watch a show together is genuinely one of my happiest places to be.

I have a personal guideline that prevents me from watching intense or graphic shows – see the earlier discussion about anxiety – so my favorite series tread the line between intriguing, engaging, and slightly thrilling, without being overly violent or disturbing enough to keep me awake at night.

Current favorites, ranked from critically acclaimed to most endearing and cheesy:

• Severance
• Survivor
• Amazing Race
• Occasional Bachelor

Honestly, Severance might be among the best television I’ve ever experienced. It’s clever, intricate, and subtly eerie in a remarkable way. And so visually stunning! The cinematography! I could chat about this series for ages. (EDIT: since I wrote this a few days ago, I watched the Season 2 finale of Severance which includes one graphic scene! but I still adore the show.)

Thank goodness for entertaining television and its creators. It’s been one of my small joys lately.

Solvi Says

I typically include a Sage-says in these coffee date updates, but this month I have a genuinely touching lesson from my daughter Solvi. She wants us to remember:

The way you are is perfect as it is.

Feeling overwhelmed? Struggling? Thinking you could be doing better? (ME!)

Here’s the truth – those who love you are so grateful to have you in their lives. The way you are is precisely what they appreciate. Your pets, children, parents, partners, and friends. They’re not focused on your areas needing improvement – they’re wrapped up in how much they love your laughter, how excited they are to play at the park with you, and the warmth they feel when they hug you. They cherish you just as you are right now.

Be kind to yourself. Being human is challenging. You’re doing wonderfully.

Thanks For Being Here.

If you’re here, you’re likely receiving our emails or following along on Instagram or just stopping by occasionally. Thank you – your genuine, human presence in this little corner of the internet brings me joy.

I hope you feel cherished today!

And if you’re an anxious mom when your kids fall ill… ME, TOO! Xo