Notes By Kae

Hi everyone,

I know it’s been a while since I last checked in, and I wanted to start by saying thank you for your patience with me. Life has had me moving through a lot behind the scenes, and I needed a moment to catch my breath before I could sit down and write again.

One of the biggest updates I’ve been meaning to share is about my daughter and her new school. She’s been doing so well. Honestly, I don’t think I fully realized how much was missing from her previous school’s curriculum until I saw the difference firsthand. In such a short amount of time, I’ve watched her grow, learn, and adjust in ways that make me feel incredibly confident in the choice of school I made in a moment’s notice. As a mom, that kind of reassurance means everything.

Now, let’s talk about lunches—because whew. If I’m being honest, I probably only get it right about 4 out of 10 times. It’s been a struggle finding that balance of what she’ll actually eat, what travels well, and what I can realistically keep up with day-to-day. The good thing is her school provides snacks, and we also have the option to send our own for both the morning and afternoon. So lately, I’ve been leaning into that a bit more to make sure she’s still getting what she needs, even on the days lunch doesn’t go as planned. We’re figuring it out, one day at a time.

Another reason I’ve been quiet… is something a little heavier.

I recently had to put my dog down. He had been with me for almost nine years, and losing him has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to process in a long time. Truthfully, I was struggling even before it happened, knowing it was coming—and afterward, it’s been a mix of grief, quiet moments, and trying to adjust to a new normal without him.

I also have my other dog, his partner, and I can see that she feels the shift too. So I’ve been showing up for her in a different way, making sure she’s okay while navigating my own emotions.

I’m in a better place than I was, but I’m still taking things day by day. There are moments where it hits me out of nowhere, and I find myself missing him deeply. It’s even harder when my daughter asks about him—I’m still figuring out how to explain something like that in a way she can understand.

Through all of this, I’ve realized that sometimes stepping back is necessary. But I do miss writing, and I miss connecting with you all.

So this is me saying—I’m coming back. Maybe not all at once, maybe not perfectly, but consistently and with intention.

Thank you for being here, even in the quiet moments.

—Kae