Welcome to the Life at 9,318’ blog, where I share reflections on parenting, mountain living, community, and the questions that matter most. Here you’ll find long-form essays, stories from small-town life, and thoughtful insights on family, camp, and growing up in the high country.
Interested in parent resources?
Recent Reflections
What Are They Missing Out On? Maybe Not What We Think.
They think they’re missing out at home.
But what might they miss if they don’t go?
In a world shaped by constant connection and comparison, kids feel the pressure to be everywhere at once. This post explores FOMO, the idea of JOMO, and why summer camp offers something increasingly rare: the chance to be fully present, build real confidence, and experience life without the noise.
Letting Go
Yesterday, we took Phen to Steamboat Mountain School. We moved him in, joined the family orientation activities, and navigated pushing our very reluctant and fearful 14-year-old into a new world. He was scared, overwhelmed, and homesick before he even unpacked. Which meant that none of us—myself, Steve, or Hawkins—could fall apart. We had to be steady, even while our own hearts were breaking.