“Simply the thing that I am shall make me live.”

— William Shakespeare

Mama

Mama, Wife, Teacher

Mindful Parenting, Mindfulness in Education

Mothering in a tiny house is rich with opportunities to grow. Because we are crammed into such a small physical space, we have a microscope on our relationships. Patience and peace, please! Sometimes, there is no room for those. The practice is making room.

I am mama to Brother – age 6 and Sister – age 8, teacher to 25 1st – 7th graders. I am married to my match.–We share an authentic love that has helped me to become vulnerable. I am practicing voluntary simplicity, mindfulness in parenting and mindfulness in education.

I will write about our family mishaps and the lessons we learn from living so close together. I will also share insights and tips on getting out of debt, downsizing, living frugally and sustainably, mindfulness, and my take on voluntary simplicity.

Papa

Papa is the most DIY man I’ve ever met. In my 14 years knowing him, I’ve only seen him hire a plumber once. In this time, he has remodeled our 100-year-old house, fathered two brilliant children, dreamed up a restaurant concept with me, turned an old fast-food restaurant building into a lovely casual-dining restaurant, was a critically acclaimed chef-owner, built a tiny house, built a shed, worked as a handyman, tile man, glass block man and a chef. He has talents he doesn’t even know about. He’s the kind of guy who gets things done. I lovingly call him “The Latvian”, because I remember visiting the Coral Castle in Homestead, FL where the tour guides explain how no one ever saw Latvian Ed Leedskalnin carve and erect the 1,100 tons of coral rock. See, Papa is a first-generation American–half Latvian and half German. I can only attribute his mysterious way of accomplishing a stone walking path in the time it takes me to go to the grocery store to his Latvian/German heritage. He amazes me, inspires me and through example reminds me that I can always do more.

–Mama

Papa Builds the Tiny House

This man can do anything!

The Kids

Paddling for PeaceThey share a loft consisting of a floor space of 8′ x 11′ with 3 feet of headroom. They know how to climb the secret ladder in seconds. They argue and work it out. They love each other. They hate each other. They are the best brother and sister in the world and the worst brother and sister in the world. They frolic in the woods and by the creek. They have five visiting dog friends, and their favorite toy is a dog leash and collar, which they use to catch the roaming dogs and play dog whisperers. They will dazzle you with their videos of life in tiny land.

"Many people go fishing all their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after." -Thoreau Learn More