From Our Corner of the World: Honoring the Whole, Not Just the Pieces (Issue#2)

This month, I’ve been thinking deeply about parenting. Aaron and I are standing on the edge of two family milestones: both of our daughters are graduating. Ruth is finishing kindergarten, beginning her educational journey, while Ava is closing out thirteen years of schooling before heading off to college. Standing between these two bookends has me reflecting on what it really means to be a parent, and how our community—both good and bad—influence our children’s next steps in life.

Mother’s Day was what spurred these thoughts. As I received my annual gifts and sweet texts from family and friends, I found myself reflecting on how I wouldn’t be the mother I am today without the support of my husband and family. On this journey of raising our daughters, it has never just been me; it has taken our entire community.

This realization reminded me of a beautiful tradition in South Korea. Every year on May 8th, instead of splitting celebrations between May and June, they observe Parents’ Day (Eobeoinal, 어버이날). A day dedicated to honor parents and elderly family members together, merging gratitude for both mother and father into a single celebration that recognizes their collective sacrifices, nurturing, and lifelong commitment.

It feels like in our society, we love to celebrate the individual pieces: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day. But what I have realized, when it comes to raising children, it’s the whole body that makes things run, not just a single part. Why not celebrate the entirety of what it takes to raise a human? As someone who grew up in a divorced home, it is never lost on me how deeply we are shaped by our family structures. Even though I wasn’t raised by my father, that absence still profoundly impacted the adult I became; that side of the equation doesn’t deserve any less consideration when reflecting on what made me, me.

It makes me wonder: what would it look like if we celebrated the whole village instead of just the individual pieces?

What are your thoughts?

• Ava: Between prom and closing the final chapters of high school, Ava is stepping into a exciting, and admittedly scary time of her life. As she prepares for her next big milestone, she’s facing those natural feelings of uncertainty about whether she’s ready for what’s next. We are cheering her on every single step of the way.
• Ruth: Ruth is most excited to see family in June and finally take our big trip to all the places we’ve been reading about. We are intentionally priming her brain for this journey, turning it into a hands-on experience back in time rather than just a vacation. Her summer reading challenges are already in full swing using the reading list from Texas Library Association  2026 2×2 Reading List  as our guide—so far, every book has been a 5/5 for her! She is currently participating in summer reading challenges with our local library, Barnes & Noble, and Black Students Rock & Read for a chance to win a $1,000 college scholarship.
• Michelle: Over the past year, I’ve become a huge proponent of early literacy and foundational reading, which led me to organize and manage a pilot library program for the kindergarten class to fill a critical gap in lower-level book access at Ruth’s school. Now that the school year is closing out, the program was such a success that they have decided to continue the library for the incoming first graders!
• Aaron: Camping, biking, and more camping have been top of mind for Aaron lately. He’s been deep in research, gathering all the gear and information we need to ensure we have a truly camptastic summer and fall. If you’re interested in exploring the beauty of Northern Nevada and California this season, let us know, we’d love to have you join us on the trail!

• On My Shelf: I’ve been heavily focusing on how we acquire knowledge and build true expertise. This past month, I rotated through Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, and the classic How to Read a Book.
• Deep Thoughts: Reading Peak and Make It Stick together has me thinking deeply about “deliberate practice” and how the brain actually retains information long-term. It’s completely reframed how I’m designing our homeschool rhythm for Ruth and how I’m approaching my own studying this fall. It’s a powerful reminder that real learning isn’t about passive reading; it’s about active, focused effort.
• Ruth’s Favorites: Ruth has a wonderful appreciation for humorous stories right now. Her absolute favorites this month have been Mistaco! by Eliza Kinkz and POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme. She has also been devouring “The Questioneers” series, following the adventures of Ada Twist, Scientist, Rosie Revere, Engineer, and Iggy Peck, Architect. They have been a huge hit and are beautifully fueling her curiosity!

This month’s “Kitchen Tale” isn’t actually a brand-new recipe, but rather a beloved family tradition: Homemade Pizza.

About a year ago, we noticed we were ordering pizza takeout almost every Friday. Having made homemade pizza a few times for family and friends in the past, we thought, Why not just make our own instead of ordering out? We quickly figured out that in the time it takes to place an order and wait for it to be delivered, we can easily toss and bake our own.

Beyond saving time, it has transformed our Fridays into an entire family affair. Everyone has a part: from prepping the dough and toppings to setting the table and just talking about our week. It’s a small, intentional shift that brings us all closer together.

What dish brings your entire family together?

The maps are officially out! Hotels and activities have been finalized for a massive international adventure this June. We are a party of five traveling to London, Paris, and then on to Spain to explore Granada, Málaga, and Barcelona. And because we are traveling with a very distinct group of people, we are fully prepared for a mix of deep culture and ultimate survival. Our roster includes:

• The Historian (Me, ready to read every single museum placard).
• Newby Travelers – Two Teenagers (Whose data plans will be thoroughly tested).
• The Six-Year-Old (The true wild card of the group).
• The Uncle (Who is blissfully just along for the ride).

Even though these are well-traveled corners of the world, every journey is unique—and with a crew like ours, there is no telling what unexpected adventures or hilarious hiccups we will get into along the way. Stay tuned for the itinerary updates!

Next month, we will be coming to you from across the pond! Issue #3 will be packed with stories from the road, complete with our biggest European moments, photos from our travels, and an honest look at what we would do differently next time.

With love,

Michelle, Aaron, Ava, and Ruth