This first conversation is with my friend Lisa. She lives in Colorado and has three kids, ages 9, 5, and 2.

In this episode, she shares what life was like before kids, what inspired her to homeschool, and a little bit about what it actually looks for their family in the day-to-day. All episodes in this first season follow a similar framework; essentially people’s starting stories, and where they find themselves now in the journey.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was early on, when Lisa was talking about rediscovering some of the rhythms from before kids, with kids. Rejoining the rock climbing gym, going skiing with her eldest, including kids in travel…

It was reminding me of a conversation I had with another friend about “regaining our pink,” which was inspired by something her therapist told her: that flamingos, after they give birth, literally lose their pink hue. Both parents get drained of energy and nutrients while feeding their chicks, putting everything into the crop milk and as a result, not having as much for themselves. When the chicks are no longer dependent, the parents regain their pink.

Ever since my friend told me this, I’ve been reflecting on what “regaining my pink” would mean for me, while also trying to release any feelings I have about admitting that I lost some pink to begin with. I’m not a fan of the messaging surrounding the idea that mothers “let themselves go” or “lose themselves” in having kids, and I can see how “losing pink” could easily become another version of that story. But what strikes me is the neutrality of it for the flamingos. It isn’t framed as failure or self-sacrifice. There’s no psychological shaming, it’s literally just a biological shift- for both parents. One could argue the same is true for humans, just in more complex ways. The shifts are real, but the meaning we attach to them is not.

I digress 😅 This isn’t exactly what Lisa was talking about, but her joy in rediscovering pieces of herself from “the before times” and being able to share those pieces with her kids made me go: Ah! Pink! Regained and integrated.

And beyond that, her honesty about how it all unfolds, especially with a toddler in the mix, is refreshing and I certainly found it relatable. Flying by the seat of our pants can be a superpower - it keeps us responsive! And open!

Resources for some things that came up >

The Good and the Beautiful - what Lisa’s currently using for math and language arts

Also, we didn’t talk about this but Lisa made an app for homeschooling parents! It is close to being live, and I will update this post when it is with the link (check back within the month.) Here’s what she says about it: “I created this app because I wanted one simple place to plan our learning, manage our family calendar, and support our rhythm without overcomplicating it. From organizing curriculum and tracking lessons and attendance, to logging reading, travel, and real-world experiences, this app helps capture both the planned and organic learning that happens every day. It was born from a desire for less chaos and more clarity, so families can stay organized, present, and confident.“

Yay Lisa! 👏

Listen above, on Spotify, and/or watch this conversation on YouTube.

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