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(Thank you to my friend Liz at Two Maids a Milking who was traveling on the first flight leg with me for photographing me…from the floor of the airport.)
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Simply put, I live there and not because I have to or not because I had nowhere else to go.
But we recognized and decided together the best place for our family was on the prairie, in the center of North America, far from the corporate rat race. We jumped off the corporate wheel. Thankfully, my employer agreed to take the jump with us, letting me keep me job and work from home on the prairie. It results in my work mom travel which I do as fast as I can and otherwise spend my days at home on the prairie.
It is tranquil. It is peaceful.
The other relatively unknown secrets about the center of North America on North Dakota prairie?
We have the lowest unemployment in the nation, a flush of money in our state budget…as in over $1 billion surplus of money with a booming energy, agriculture and manufacturing economy.
It is good for business and good for families.
My work mom travel trade off is that my husband gets to work alongside his dad in a family owned business on the prairie every day.
There is more control of our future and the ability to impact change than there would have ever been on the corporate wheel, no matter how high my husband would have climbed.
Another huge reward for living in the center of North America on the prairie is the safe and unique environment it is to raise our kids.
The community cares.
Last Thursday night our son fell hard while running the hurdles at a track meet in a nearby town. There were scrapes, bruises and blood. The next day I had seven people ask me between the gas station and the grocery store how he was doing. His ego was squashed. His confidence shaken but our son was just fine. The community cared enough to ask. It would not be that way at a gas station or a grocery store in the suburbs or in the city because the patrons wouldn’t know our son. They would not have known about the track meet.
It keeps me grounded and loving the prairie when I see how much the people of the prairie care for community, for our family and for our business.
Despite my work mom travel, puddle jumping flights on a Friday night, trekking 100 miles across prairie highway and country roads, there is no place I would rather be heading than to the center of North America to the North Dakota prairie. Late tonight, my husband will be waiting up for me to arrive safely home. I will sneak into my kids’ rooms and give them tight hugs while they are fast asleep. They’ll awake me early with endless energy and I will feel work mom peace on the prairie.
Where do you head to find tranquility and peace?
I would love to be sitting atop a mountain overlooking Crested Butte, CO, but since that isn’t going to happen, I love being out here in the sun room. The girls keep drifting in as it gets closer to bedtime. Love the country for the same reasons as you, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, even if I do long for Chinese take-out every now and then! 😉
I would love to be sitting atop a mountain overlooking Crested Butte, CO, but since that isn’t going to happen, I love being out here in the sun room. The girls keep drifting in as it gets closer to bedtime. Love the country for the same reasons as you, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, even if I do long for Chinese take-out every now and then! 😉
Great post. Love small town hospitality. I prefer being home for peace and tranquility. Probably with an alcoholic beverage and my laptop, movie, or book.
Great post. Love small town hospitality. I prefer being home for peace and tranquility. Probably with an alcoholic beverage and my laptop, movie, or book.
Katie, I’m sharing this with Jeff tomorrow as he’s already in bed tonight (where I should be too, but I’m online instead). Your love of place and work and family show through in your post and in your full and energizing life. God bless your employer for cooperating. God bless you for having the courage to pursue these loves…
Katie, I’m sharing this with Jeff tomorrow as he’s already in bed tonight (where I should be too, but I’m online instead). Your love of place and work and family show through in your post and in your full and energizing life. God bless your employer for cooperating. God bless you for having the courage to pursue these loves…
that’s really sweet. enjoy your weekend with your kids and hubby. and happy, happy mother’s day…
That’s great that you are able to balance both so well and live where you want!
I’m like you, living in the city was who I thought I was, until I moved to the country. Where I live I’ve found that same peace in myself and a new love for the life that surrounds me. I love waving at my neighbors when they go past on a tractor, and buying their produce at the farm stands. It all gives me the energy to return each day to that ‘rate race!’
Enjoy your weekend!!
My favorite place growing up on the farm was a big rock nestled in a clump of trees in the pasture overlooking the coulee on my mom and dad’s farm. What an awesome place. I figured out a lot on that rock. I love our home and our yard and puttering in our flower and vegetable gardens, but that rock will always be my favorite place in the world.