I felt a trickle of salty anxiety slip down my shoulder blades as Logan eased our home into a ten-minute parking space. I’d either get this done or I wouldn’t, no point in drawing it out, so I leaped from the truck repeating the directions in my head the whole way. Alone in an electronics store in Argentina, I managed to explain my urgent need for a new hard drive for a 12-year-old Dell, entirely in Spanish.
My husband raised his eyebrows in question, I nodded casually and held up our technological lifeline as if I did this sort of thing all the time. “That was impressive,” he said. Every day on the PanAm was filled with monumental victories just like this (Exhibit A). 
Our victories look a little different today and it’s sometimes hard to recognize them. We almost never need a GPS. Our vehicle no longer doubles as our living room. And our party cups are now filled with imaginary tea which makes our toddlers nearly as giddy as the mezcal we once poured.
Nine loads of heaping laundry and two dozen rounds of nose-to-the-wall do not feel impressive. It’s hard to believe their little minds are absorbing any of the things we want them to in these sometimes torturous daily routines. Along with the circadian trials, there is the constant, mandatory concession that we are imperfect. Every angry moment, every too busy to stop what we’re doing minute, every frustrated flash, these parental blunders will haunt their tender hearts as well.
Typically on RanchNotes, this is where I’d wrap it all up with a tidy little moral or at least an attempt at a humorous bright side. Here’s the truth, this stage of life is hard. We flattered ourselves thinking the PanAm was any kind of battle to be conquered. The challenges ahead of us are incomprehensible and the rewards even further beyond those unknowns. All we can do is grab onto those golden souls who lift us up, who see the laundry, the struggle, and the moments we’re not proud of but make us feel impressive anyway. Hang on tight to these people and learn from them. Do your own lifting at every possible turn, be who you needed when you struggled, and know, to be impressed, is the most impressive of all.
Yoga 
I am impressed with you every day!❤️❤️❤️
Your ability to express yourself and develop a story are impressive. I enjoyed it.
Teaching selfish tiny humans to be kind, have self-control, and eventually contribute to society vs surviving and conquering a foreign adventure. These are both impressive feats carried out by two intentional, fun, committed people. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of your current journey. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful read! Hugs. Connie M.
Parenting is the most emotional journey you will ever go on. It’s insane how you can feel every imaginable emotion in a short period of time. So many great moments but I love sneaking down to my 18 year olds room as he sleeps just to look at his peaceful face. He moves out in a week and that emotion is feels unbearable.