A year ago, I accidentally stopped writing.
Nothing started it. The pandemic hadn’t officially shut down our lives yet. But I just stopped. Somehow I felt like I ran out of words to say. Which is weird, as this blog had been a part of my life for almost fourteen years.
How does something some vital to your life just stop?
Well, clearly, there are logical reasons behind it. Like I literally ran out of time. Between job searching, freelance jobs, reading, binge watching TV shows, raising tiny humans, trying to be a good wife/human/friend/daughter/sister and the occasional sleep – this blog fell to the bottom of the list.
Admittedly it makes me incredibly sad, but also – it makes sense.
So I’m not stepping back into this blog to say I’m back to writing on it again. Instead, I’m signing on to pretty much sign off again. To give Pretty Sandy Feet a proper farewell.
This little blog brought so much joy to my life and it still does. Looking back on past posts (even some of the cringeworthy ones), and the community I created and felt. That is truly what this blog brought the most. It connected me to so many wonderful people and truly made me feel less alone. Who’d a thought I’d join bloggers in Las Vegas or go to conferences solely about blogging or that I’d still message with people who have kids my kids’s age who I’ve never met but truly adore and feel like I really know them.
This blog has been there through my first real job to getting engaged to the ups and downs of marriage and adulthood and the struggles of becoming parents and ultimately the adventures that came with parenthood.
I owe this space a lot. I owe you, whoever is reading this, a lot. I don’t think I’d be the person I am today without this space.
The blogging world has morphed so much over the years and although my writing won’t be here I’m still around.
So come on over, say hi somewhere.
And thanks for joining.
Love,
Katelin
If there is one thing that motherhood has taught me, it’s keeping my expectations in check. Sometimes I think I know exactly what my kids want or will like and I am just so far off it’s almost laughable.
For Riley’s birthday last week we took him to Disneyland and California Adventure. I was absolutely sure it was going to blow his little mind. We didn’t tell him anything about it. I would have bet money that he was going to get so excited when he saw Spider-Man or Captain America or Mickey or literally anyone.
I. WAS. WRONG.
I mean, he cared. He thought it was cool. But it was nothing like I remember being as a kid. He was barely phased. And I, admittedly, was upset. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because I see all these other kids go bananas over meeting Anna and Elsa or whatever other fictional person they like, and my kid was just like “meh.”
Now, I will say, Riley was also a bit sick and pretty exhausted. He literally coughed the entire day we were at Disney so I know he was tired. And not his regular self. But still.
I have to admit that I was a bit bummed.
Instead of a placated shock and awe and an attitude that basically tolerated me, I was hoping for more. But as the day wore on, I kept reminding myself that I was not my child. And he was not me. Matt even told me that as a kid, he didn’t really care. I, on the other hand, still have a book of autographs that all the characters signed for me.
Kids are different. People are different. And this trip was a great reminder. I have no idea how my kids will react in certain situations. I mean, I think Rhys, would go crazy. But then again, I have no idea. Clearly.
Basically what I’m saying is that, parenthood always comes with a learning curve. And a balance on expectations.
And also a great reminder that even if my kids don’t care about stuff, I can always act a fool and pose for photos, because that’s just what I do.
