contact - Kylee Broughton

In the past year, these two have spent an unhealth

In the past year, these two have spent an unhealthy share of pandemic time together. They're one another's classmate, confidant, roommate, biggest cheerleader & biggest annoyance.

They slam doors & giggle like crazy.
They point out one another's faults & need one another.
They lived together in the same room, until one moved out...
...yet the solo living didn't last for too long before someone sort of just showed back up in the shared room.

No announcement, no discussion. Just returning to her default: her sister.

Sometimes you just need to feel at home. And sometimes home is the person whose breathing annoys you & whose potential lack of breath is more than you can bear.

::

I hesitate to put labels on them because we all know that labels shape us, they stick to us and sometimes they feel heavy. Who needs to carry the burdens of the previous generation beyond what we already are given? So, we grow up trying to un-stick labels while figuring out just who we really are.

They are funny & brilliant.
They could improve their manners & find the spoons.
They are thoughtful & creative and messy and disorganized.
They are particular & not.
They are strong & they are stoic.
They are leaders & followers.
They are night owls & early birds.
They are talkative & thoughtful.
They are resilient & empathetic.
They are risk takers & space makers.
They are comics & they are novels.
They are fancy & they are minimal.

They are just as they should be —all of these things.

And so we make space for one another.

We get to let them know that being all of these things is 100% ok. You don't have to lock into one way... you get to try on different thoughts & feelings & roles & haircuts & music tastes & nail polish & ideas until you find the ones that resonate.

The ones that feel like you.

So, a big no to the labeling one as "the funny one" & the "serious one" or the "goofy one" & the "brilliant one."

They are both all of the things & it's so cool (& confusing & frustrating & amazing) that I get to witness them change & grow & shed & gain as needed.

It's the best thing about life, no? That we can make our own way, then give our kids grace as they make theirs.

XO,
Ky

#girlmom

I wear these necklaces around my neck, but the peo

I wear these necklaces around my neck, but the people? They live in my heart.

The shortest of the three was given to me by a young, long-haired Craig, long before an engagement ring was anywhere in sight. 1998? 1999?

The third necklace was given to me about 12 years ago. A simple, silver disk with Lila Ross engraved on it. The necklace was named for my summer solstice baby, born on Father’s Day — the one who made me a mama.

A year and a half later, her sister showed up and she deserved a charm all her own, hence the engraved rectangle for Vivienne — the little sprite who completed our family.

The middle necklace was a gift from my baby sister after our Mom died. It’s the handwriting of our Mom taken from a card or a note she had given my sister. It’s simple: Love, Mom. It’s a reminder. A touch point. A hug.

This chained silver trifecta of love combines all of my people, my story.

And I’m so thankful.

For the Mom who gave me life and taught me that I could really do anything.

For the man who let me in and changed my path.

For the girls who were borrowed to me to love and nurture.

::

Accessories make the outfit.
People make the person…

Xo,
Ky

#mothersday

Sigh. Just some pics of the beautiful flowers fr

Sigh.

Just some pics of the beautiful flowers from my first husband in honor of how I’m slaying motherhood.

And by “slaying” I mean barely hanging on and spending the majority of my time asking them to please CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN and put away the food melting on the counter in my yelly-loud-mom voice while simultaneously praying I’m not giving them big T trauma just by being my kid.

I hope we all come out of this alive.

Hugs to you all.

I hope everyone is holding up.

Xo,
Ky

#wykyk #moreflowerpics #mothersday

The pandemic has not brought out the best in me.

The pandemic has not brought out the best in me.

I haven't baked bread, I've eaten it.

I haven't organized or purged, I've collected and been messy.

I haven't become notably calmer or learned how to do a yoga handstand.

I haven't spent all of this time wisely, carefully crafting and cultivating relationships with my people, instead... I've sometimes isolated to remain sane and I've yelled so loud I'm certain my neighbors could hear and felt as if THEY were being scolded.

Our reaction to our situations may not always be what we had originally planned. And that's ok.

It's like when you've been looking forward to a certain thing happening -- a date, a trip, a party, something -- and it happens and you're THERE and it's! supposed! to! be! great!... but you're just sort of... underwhelmed. And then you're annoyed that this THING that you were EXPECTING to be SO AMAZING is underwhelming and you're disappointed and have all of these feels because our expectations didn't match reality.

Here's your reminder that all of this is ok.

It's ok to feel whatever you're feeling.
It's ok to just get by.
It's ok to go inward.
It's ok to reach out.
It's ok to be sad.
It's ok to feel your feelings.

Mother's Day is always a complicated day for me. Some years I am ON TOP OF THE WORLD and I'm able to feel the love from my girls and it's just beautiful.

Some years, the wound of grief breaks open and seeing moms and daughters on Instagram, or on TV, or in real life actually feels like salt on my bleeding heart. I just want to hug my Mom and hear her say my name.

And that's ok.

So, friends. Be mindful this year at Mother's Day. Look out for one another. Not everyone had an amazing mama. Instead, some of our dearest friends have experienced trauma, neglect and just big, complicated feelings about a relationship that was supposed to be something it wasn't.

And you? Whatever you're feeling, it's ok. Our reaction to our situations may not always be what we had originally planned. And that's ok.

XO,
Ky

#itsokaynottobeokay #itscomplicated #griefsupport #griefwaves #traumarecovery #feelyourfeelings #bigSigh#loveOneAnother #holdspace #mothersday #motherlessdaughters #expatlife

Well. That was a nice change of scenery for 48 hou

Well. That was a nice change of scenery for 48 hours. Back home now.

I hope you feel even the briefest moment of sunshine today, literal and figurative.

Xo,
Ky

Today is Dia de los Niños. (Children’s Day.) I

Today is Dia de los Niños. (Children’s Day.)

It's a holiday that began in 1925 in Mexico and is apparently widely-celebrated throughout Latin countries.

(The U.S. is like, "No. Thanks. We won't be celebrating that. We’re too busy giving participation trophies to everyone.” 😂)

The inspiration was to promote literacy for all children of all backgrounds, but I wasn't aware of this until today when I googled it.

For the past 10+ years we've been acknowledging this day, I have been buying them small gifts. Legos when they were small, body scrubs and lip gloss today.

Apparently I was supposed to have been buying them books this whole time?

I'm always behind the curve.

Next year.

Another thing: When does a child age out of Dia de los Niños? How long do I have to keep this going?

And, as a general rule,I think my kids are taking full advantage of their bi-cultural upbringing to the point of exploiting it. We celebrate ALL of the holidays: Mexican and American.

I mean, I get it.

Anywho...

Feliz Dia de los Niños!

Xo,
Ky

#DiaDeLosNinos #BilingualKids #ExpatLife #LilaPickle #ViviCake #GirlMom #lifeinmexico

Copyright © 2021 Kylee Broughton · Theme Development by Bellano Web Studio

Copyright © 2021 · Kylee Broughton on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in