Life has been life-ing. The children have been children-ing, and grad school has definitely been grad school-ing. Between homeschooling, assignments, my internship, advocacy, and everything else that comes with being a wife and momma, I have plenty going on.
Somewhere in all of that, I’m almost five weeks into eating no meat, and honestly, I’m loving it! I’ve lost five pounds so far and have a lot of energy. I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy this change, but I feel good, and that makes it easier to keep going.
Yesterday, I visited Midlands Center in Columbia, a state-run residential setting for people with disabilities. The tour connected with what we’ve been studying in grad school about institutionalization, and I had a long list of questions.
Imagine that. Me, with questions.
The residential director spent two hours talking with me and showing me two of the five houses. She told me that 117 people live there. We discussed daily life, support, choices, and whether residents have opportunities to move into the community. At one point, she said my questions had caught her off guard.
The director seemed caring and passionate about her work. I appreciated the time she gave me and her willingness to answer so many questions. Still, parts of the visit weighed on me.
The women’s house I toured looked very dirty to me, and its appearance reminded me of an institution from the 1980s. Some women asked for things like room decorations and a swing set. Those requests stayed with me. They wanted ways to make their surroundings feel more personal and have something enjoyable to do.
I had never visited a residential setting like that before. Reading about institutions in class gives you one perspective. Going inside, meeting people, and hearing what they want brings a different kind of understanding.
One of the hardest parts came during our conversation about leaving. From what the director shared, many residents may remain there because they lack family involvement or support outside the facility. I kept thinking about what that means for someone’s choices. If the support to live somewhere else never comes, how much choice does that person have?
I thought about the people I met all night.
I’m still processing the visit. I left grateful for the director’s openness and concerned about what I saw. People deserve clean, comfortable homes, opportunities to enjoy their lives, and support that gives them meaningful choices about their futures. That stayed on my mind long after we left Columbia.
Grad school itself is going great. My fieldwork project has hit a little hiccup, and I’m hoping we can work it out next week. I care about this project, so the uncertainty has been frustrating. For now, I’m working through it and praying the next steps come together.
My internship has been wonderful, too! I’m working toward a certification in Trauma-Informed Care with a focus on supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Next month, I’m also getting certified in Mental Health First Aid.
I’m grateful for these opportunities to keep learning and grow as an advocate. Getting some certifications under my belt feels good, especially when I can use what I learn in the work I already care so much about.
And my girls? They’re awesome.
Madelyn is starting to love math and she has earned A’s on her math tests two weeks in a row! That is BIG. IYKYK. Watching her build confidence makes this homeschooling momma happy. She’s also loving horseback riding and I love seeing her find things she enjoys.
Maggie just finished her fall softball season, her first season playing 10U! We’ve spent plenty of time at the ball field and I’m proud of her for taking on that next level. I sure do love watching my girl play.
Tonight, we have a fall festival. Tomorrow, we’re heading to the pumpkin patch. Then comes all the candy next week because apparently our schedule needed a little more sugar.
Fall is my favorite and I’m ready to enjoy it with my family. I have schoolwork to finish and a fieldwork problem to sort out but this weekend also holds pumpkins, costumes, and time with my girls.
Life has been a lot lately. I’m grateful we get these moments together.
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