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.
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Recent Reflections
When Your Child Leaves Home for Opportunity: The Resilience Parents Build Too
Watching my son ski into a crowd of teammates cheering him on reminded me of something every parent hopes for when a child leaves home: acceptance. A reflection on resilience, parenting, and the complicated beauty of letting our kids grow.
Homesick, Part Two: When It’s Your Child, Not You
A personal reflection on homesickness at camp—from expert to parent—and what it teaches us about trust, growth, and letting go.
Homesick and Happy (A Camp Story)
A personal reflection on homesickness at summer camp- from a former camper, camp director, and parent learning to let go.
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.