Structure, structure, structure. That’s the name of the game in our house today.
Last night, after an inspiring talk with my brother about the daily routines he’s established for my 18-year-old twin nephews and 14-year-old niece, I realized—he’s onto something. So onto something that even he’s surprised himself.
“Jack,” he said (he calls me Jack), “You know me. The fact that I’m this stable and responsible—something’s not right.”
And yet I disagree. Even though this is the same guy who had close to a hundred jobs in a handful of years, I’ve always seen that strength, that character, and drive in him. He’s pulled himself out of a dark hole, and now he’s not just seeing the light—he’s running toward it. I couldn’t be prouder. And, honestly, I’m inspired.
When I hung up the phone, I thought about how the structure had changed his kids’ wellbeing. I wanted that too. Because let’s be real—homeschooling and working from home can easily tip into unstructured chaos. There’s plenty of downtime, which often means Evelyn playing with her dollhouse or, more recently, her Legos. I value that kind of play deeply. But I’ve noticed how unstructured time starts to seep in and spread—until we’re each off in our own corners, disconnected.
Today felt different. From the start, we laid out the plan for the day—and then we followed it. Evelyn helped empty the dishwasher, filled the water bottles, set the table, and made her bed. We played kickball outside, built sandcastles, and sat side by side at the dining room table, working on math and reading. We played a board game.
At the end of the day, she looked up at me and said, “I was a big kid today, wasn’t I?”
Her words stopped me in my tracks. That sense of accomplishment, that pride—structure gave her that. And I always want her to feel that way.
Now here’s where it gets messy: I’m craving sweets. Big time. Donuts, ice cream, preferably a Dairy Queen Blizzard. I want them to flip it upside down, like the commercial, to prove it’s thick and frosty. That first bite? Nothing compares. Dang, cravings suck.
But instead, I think I’ll take myself to bed and dodge the temptation. I spoke too quickly, two of the super squishy mini powdered donuts did the trick.
Night night! Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 