Hi, I’m Amanda, and I’m so glad you’re here.
Starting this blog feels a little exciting, a little terrifying, and honestly, a little strange. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what to say first. Should I make it polished? Inspirational? Funny? Should I pretend I have everything figured out?
Absolutely not.
That would not be honest.
The truth is, I’m a mom, a teacher, a foster mom, an advocate, and a woman doing her best to keep up with a life that is often beautiful, exhausting, hilarious, heartbreaking, and completely unpredictable.
I’m a biological mom of four and a foster mom to two siblings. I’ve worked in early childhood education for more than 20 years, so children and families have always been at the center of my world. But parenting a child with significant disabilities has taught me things no classroom, textbook, or training ever could.
It has changed the way I see milestones, progress, communication, independence, and success.
It has taught me to celebrate the things other people might overlook. A new skill. A moment of connection. A peaceful outing. A good day. Sometimes, the victories are tiny—but they are still victories, and they deserve to be celebrated.
It has also taught me that love and grief can exist at the same time.
You can be deeply grateful for your child and still grieve the life you imagined. You can be proud, overwhelmed, hopeful, angry, exhausted, and completely in love—all in the same day. Sometimes all before breakfast.
That is the heart of Extraordinary Ordinary.
This blog is a place to talk about the real parts of parenting and caregiving. The joyful parts, the difficult parts, the funny parts, and the moments that make me wonder how this became our normal.
There will be stories about disability, foster care, advocacy, education, family life, and the everyday chaos that comes with loving children fiercely. There will be honest reflections, practical lessons, and probably a few moments where I say, “What the hell are we doing?”
Because life is not always inspirational.
Sometimes it is messy.
Sometimes it is loud.
Sometimes it is lonely.
And sometimes, right in the middle of an ordinary day, something extraordinary happens.
That is what I want to notice here.
Not perfection. Not a highlight reel. Just real life—the kind that stretches you, surprises you, breaks your heart, makes you laugh, and teaches you more than you ever expected to learn.
So, welcome.
I’m Amanda, and this is our extraordinary ordinary life.
I’m glad you’re here.
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