Sashes and Safety

Life behind the crown isn’t all gowns, sashes, and sparkle. It’s real life, and mine is usually equal parts chaos and grace. I’m a mom of two and a proud linewife. Things in our home are never perfect. Most days feel like a balancing act where I’m holding my breath and hoping nothing drops.

This year has brought a big shift. For the first time, I’m not heading back to school to teach. Instead, I’m going back to school to learn. Starting college again at this stage in life feels different. It’s a strange adjustment not driving to Nocatee every morning with my giant cup of coffee in hand, ready to step into my classroom.

Adding to the change, I made the decision to homeschool my sixth grader this year. It wasn’t easy, but I had reservations about sending him to public middle school, and I knew my heart wouldn’t rest if I didn’t take this step. So now my daily rhythm looks a little different: coffee first, packing my daughter’s lunch and bringing her to school, then coming home to check over my son’s schoolwork and dive into my own college assignments.

Somewhere in between, I carve out moments of joy like hanging out with our pig, who has a bigger personality than you’d think. Those little pauses remind me that even in the middle of the mess, life is good.

Behind the crown, my life is far from picture perfect, but it’s mine. It is a blend of motherhood, marriage, education, advocacy, and a whole lot of caffeine. At the end of the day, the crown doesn’t hide the chaos. It reminds me that it is possible to carry it all with purpose and heart.