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If you zoom into this photo in front of that big old white thing (which is the top of an RV Camper), you’ll see our family of seven as little dots just a few moments before driving out of New York City last night. My heart is breaking for what is happening in New York where I live and around the world right now. And after two full weeks in the apartment, we made the family decision to drive out west so we can have a little more space (namely some outdoor space for the kids) for a little while. While we’ve been diligent about self-quarantining and social distancing in New York City, we want to make sure we still stay away from others during our trip (even though no one in our family has had any symptoms, you could always be asymptomatic). For this reason, we decided to rent an RV in order to avoid hotels and people and just eat and sleep in the RV on the way. Hopefully a little change of apartment scenery will be just what we need - for everyone’s physical health, for my headspace which is spiraling lately - and for our kids’ own mental health. This situation is serious everywhere and I am sending my love and prayers to you wherever you are. More on my stories. 💛 (and photo from our friend @markweinbergnyc who caught us packing up on the street outside an apartment window and texted us! Thank you so much for this photo, Weinbergs!)

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If you missed it on the blog this week, I shared the big kids triple bunkbed bedroom we recently gave a makeover! I’m sharing in hopes it can help anyone who’s looking to change up their quarantine space right now with simple changes (removable sticker wallpaper, twinkling lights, framing art your kids collaborate on while stuck inside!) And even if you’re not, maybe head on over anyway for a fun distraction from the news. Link in bio (and my stories) to the full blog post. #cityliving #citykids #nycliving #triplebunkbed #homedecor #decorinspo #home

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Nothing to see here, just a Mama hiding out in her bathroom trying to get some work done and sneaking in a little self care while she's at it (but really, a couple of candles lit in some personal space w/ the door locked was everything I didn't know I needed during the past two weeks that have felt 17 years long.)⁣
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I have been inspired through and through by the way parents everywhere are making sure life carries on calmly for their kids at home right now, with so many wonderful and informative posts shared on social from craft projects to healthy at-home snacks and meals when we're spending so much time inside together.⁣
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With parents being so intentional and trying their best, I'm confident the kids will be alright. But how are YOU doing? The events of the world, and my city being hit so hard, have been so much harder for me to take than I could have ever anticipated. Sleep isn't happening, panic is constant and tears happen a lot. I just want you to know that taking a few minutes for yourself - to try to find your calm - is important. An epsom salt bath (with candles!?!), some yoga or a workout class streamed from the internet by a sunlit window, baking something special each day, video-chatting with friends and making plans for a future date when we all can hug and hold each other again, drinking the water and taking the vitamins and breathing in and out, deeply. Stretching, dancing (even by yourself! Especially by yourself!), and screaming if necessary into a pillow or outside your window or with the entire family around the dinner table just for kicks. You have to prioritize yourself right now, too. Please don't forget it. ⁣
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A few of my internet Mama friends @lauraiz, @laurenkaysims, @meghankedmonds and @chrisellelim are sharing some great suggestions on their feeds right now as well when it comes to home essentials for themselves and their kids, so go take a look at what they have put together. And please share in the comments a way you've been treating yourself at home, and any suggestions for the rest of us ladies, too! Sending my love from my make-shift-office/private space/pretend-backyard-that-is-really-just-a-bathtub!

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Second day of virtual learning around the kitchen table. (But day 10 of city restrictions and social distancing and day 13 of having our kids home since we pulled them out of school early.) I drank a can of Diet Coke at 7:30 this morning and then I ate the last two Red Vine licorices from my now depleted emergency stash. They didn’t even taste good. And while I’m a little bit of a wreck inside today, I savored the sunshine parading brightly through our windows and said a little prayer of gratitude for the way all five of them (but especially these older three) have adapted to our new normal with resilience that’s surprised me but shouldn’t have. Thankful for what they are teaching me. We are going to get through this day. And I’m going to eat something green for lunch.

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Checking in to ask how are you doing? How are you holding up? There is so much unknown, but I believe we can still come together as an online community to help one another out, bounce ideas off each other, to give support & share the weight. ⁣⁣⁣
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How have you been sharing the news of what's happening in our neighborhoods, cities and world with your kids? I've been sharing info and educating our older kids in a pretty matter of fact way, especially since schools are closed until at least April 20th here & many shops and stores around us are closed. We've been doing daily check-ins with our older kids-- asking if they have any questions, answering them as best we can and always ending the chat on a positive note, focusing on the good in the world. Giving my younger kiddos as much physical affection as I can right now, too- since they know how to pick up on stress and have been extra clingy lately (rightfully so.)⁣⁣⁣
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I've been slow to subscribe to the idea of buckling down and doing all the workbooks and worksheets at home just yet. Yes, a day with structure is important (having a written daily schedule they can look at has helped us a lot), but we've made our focus be on each other right now, trying to find ways to bring calm and feelings of security by reading books together, dancing, snuggling up & watching a lot of movies, facetiming friends from school (and family!) and cooking and baking together, too. We're also working on 5 big deep breaths in between all the things since my older kids love to argue...a lot. ⁣⁣⁣
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We're still figuring out our new set up (like when and where do I keep writing my manuscript that is due soon when we're all in the same space 24/7! lol), but I've been appreciative of all the shared activities, free classes and ideas passed around the internet during this unknown time (linked several in stories.)⁣⁣⁣
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@lauraiz, @laurenkaysims, and @meghankedmonds are also tackling this topic today so check out their feeds and I'd love to hear more from you in the comments of what's been helpful for you & the kids during this time. Sending love...

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How are you doing? I know this week has been so intense with covid19 spreading rapidly and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has gone through an array of emotions every few minutes over the last several days. I know it’s easy for me to get anxious and start to focus (or even fixate?) on the things I havent done, things I can’t control, and things that are going wrong. I’ve been trying to be more vocal with loved ones when this happens (and usually it helps) and try my best to instead remember to focus instead on the what I HAVE done, what I CAN do, and what IS going well. And especially to focus on one actual problem (and day) at a time. That, and being present with my kids when I’m with them. They know how to ground me when I’m a stress ball. ⁣
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I’m sharing more in stories right now about a few things that have helped me this week, and also some links to helpful info (like how to talk to your kids about what’s happening, and how to help those who might not be in a position to prep supplies for possible quarantine like many of us can.) ⁣
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Thinking of those in areas where things are already quarantined and in lock down around the world. We’ll fight this together. 💛

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I love being a woman. And I love raising daughters. Thank you to the incredible village (or in this case, city) of women around me who are strong forces for good around the clock. Celebrating all of you today. Thank you for being examples for myself, my girls, and the rest of the world with your creativity, perseverance, kindness, intelligence, strength and confidence. 💕#internationalwomensday (ps- swipe for Madalena’s impromptu #girlpower pose!)

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Because if you’re in the neighborhood and pass up the avocado taco from La Esquina, my heart hurts for you. 🥑 I mean maybe that’s an exaggeration but I do feel strongly about that avocado taco 🌮 . I also appreciate lunch dates on park bench’s and toddlers who nap on the go and also weather in the 50’s. Really really appreciate this weather in the 50’s. The end. #tacos #nyc #lunchdate #laesquina

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While I was in Boston over the weekend, these three helped pack over 7,000 meals with other families and friends for @foodbank4nyc at their warehouse in the Bronx for hungry New Yorkers. Swipe for a sweet video of Samson💛 If you’re in New York City and looking for ways to teach the importance of service to your little ones, @foodbank4nyc is a great place to get involved. Without kids, too! #volunteer #FamiliesforFoodBank