Since moving to Florida, we instituted the tradition of road trips to the Smoky Mountains each fall. A week or two in the mountains gives my soul the autumn weather it craves, unavailable in always-sunny Florida. It’s a 14-hour drive, which we usually break up into two chunks on the way there, and do in one, long-ass, straight shot on the way back.
When the girls were babies, I kept a notebook for each of them, and I’d write down memories and funny stories. Each year, on their birthday, I’d write them a flowery love note. This lasted approximately 2 years. Then, I started keeping a note on my phone with their best quotes. It was a way to not only track their growth, but also a reminder to me as their mom that little humans can be just as wise (if not wiser) than adults. I present to you, Alice Jane, in her own words:
©2023 · Laura Onstot