WELCOME INTO THE

GRAY WIDE OPEN

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I never thought Robert and I would homeschool our children. Props to those whose plan it has been but this was an unexpected COVID-19 pivot. No one was more surprised than I was when I learned we could not only homeschool
but actually enjoy it.
Mind blown. 
 
Blown Minds Open the Mind Further, Apparently

So after a few weeks of being a full-time mom for the first time ever, I sold my stake in my company, stored my ballgowns, and got dirty (literally) in the creek in our backyard with our kids all spring. I was where I needed to be.

There was beauty and family harmony. There was discord and there were tantrums. And I learned for myself, finally, the important balance of perfection with imperfection, joy with sadness, and most importantly, unconditional love. Realizations as this have happened over eons, I know, but now it was happening to me with my people, and it clicked. What a breath of fresh air! I felt good. Really good. I was plugged in.

So as COVID-19 progressed and we sheltered in place spring and summer, we made a plan. To keep our children excited about learning, to expand their minds, and to deepen our family bond, we were heading out West for the fall.

I’m optimistic about what’s ahead and I welcome you to join me and my squad
Into The Gray Wide Open…

LEARNING TO FLY

We are creatures of habit. In the past, I’ve chosen to visit places in my free time that bring me comfort and make me feel safe. Visiting these places feels like coming home.

This trip is not that. What I’m doing here is about expanding. Learning. Possibly more about myself and our family than the places we visit. Our new classrooms are these unfamiliar places. Uneasiness is expected along the way as we adapt. Growth is what I’m seeking.

What follows in these chronicles are my observations: what I see, do and feel in this new territory….

KINGS HIGHWAY

“When the time gets right, I’m gonna pick you up
And take you far way from trouble, my love
Under a big old sky, out in a field of green
There’s gotta be something left for us to believe.”
-Tom Petty, Kings Highway


Last week, we went to a dude ranch…

INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN

I had imagined this post to be the crown jewel of the Chronicles. I mean, Into The Great Wide Open is the title track of the Tom Petty album that inspired our Chronicles’ name for goodness sakes! (In case you haven’t noticed, our post titles follow Tom Petty’s Into The Great Wide Open album’s song titles in order.)

But last week was hard….

TWO GUNSLINGERS

“I’m taking control of my life,
I’m taking control of my life, right now”

The Gray School officially registered as a homeschool in North Carolina…. 

THE DARK OF THE SUN

It was a busy, fun week. No time for prose I’m afraid. This week will mostly be narration via captions. Suits me fine though. I can’t seem to decode what Petty’s The Dark of the Sun, the fifth track on Into the Great Wide Open, is all about (feel free to comment with ideas!). So here are this week’s Chronicles…

ALL OR NOTHIN’

Over the last two weeks the four of us have learned to ease into giving a little bit more with each other: A little more grace, a little more humility, a little more forgiveness….

ALL THE WRONG REASONS

In the small fishing town on Ennis, MT we enjoyed the most social days we’ve had since the beginning of the pandemic…. 

BUILT TO LAST

Clary gave me (Robert) a chance to post about Wyoming, so I thought I’d write a bit about our mindset and why we were able to pivot quickly towards this Western adventure…. 

YOU AND I WILL MEET AGAIN

The pace of our adventure accelerated through Utah. And it really accelerated when Clary was the driver…. 

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean so soon after climbing in Glacier National Park and hiking in the desert punctuated how incredible this trip has been….