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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
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The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

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Browsing Category

Parenting

What Long-Term Family Travel in Europe Was *Really* Like

Long-term family travel sounds like an extended vacation, but our 110 days in Europe included plenty of ordinary life alongside the adventures.

There were extraordinary adventures (so many of them!!)… but there were also groceries,…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Parenting
  • Aug, 18, 2026
  • 19 Comments

Tween and Teen Allowance and Income: Our System for Giving, Saving, and Fun Money

A few weeks ago, in a Happy Things Friday post, I mentioned wanting to come up with a more robust savings plan for Belle.

She’s been babysitting fairly frequently, and while I love that she’s…

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  • Money, Budget, Parenting
  • Aug, 06, 2026
  • 30 Comments

Visiting Vienna Crime Museum + Haus des Meeres (Vienna Aquarium) with Kids

Last Friday, I opted to divide and conquer with the day’s activities. There’s something special (AND EASIER!) about taking one child at a time. You can give them your full attention and lean into…

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  • Parenting, Euro Adventure, Travel, Vienna
  • Apr, 04, 2026
  • 14 Comments

Hey, At Least It’s In Europe?

In the lead-up to our trip, I told Joy that I knew something unpleasant and unexpected was inevitable. (This isn’t so much a vacation as real life on another continent—and annoying things happen in…

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  • Euro Adventure, Parenting
  • Mar, 17, 2026
  • 44 Comments

Visiting Dachau Memorial from Munich with Kids: What to Expect + Practical Tips

Content warning: I’m going to discuss our visit to the memorial site of the Dachau concentration camp. I won’t be sharing images of the violence that occurred there (and we didn’t take any), but…

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  • Travel, Euro Adventure, Munich, Parenting
  • Mar, 16, 2026
  • 26 Comments

Schooling Without School: Help Me Pull Together a European Learning Plan!!

Today is all about crowd-sourcing. I need your help!

Two weeks from now, WE WILL BE IN EUROPE, which means the kids won’t be in traditional school for literal months! (Though with all the snow…

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  • Parenting, Travel
  • Feb, 23, 2026
  • 79 Comments

Who’s the Dentist in Your Family?

A few weeks ago, Lisa texted a group chat about one of her sons losing a tooth, and how she helped with the final extraction process.

Kae immediately replied that tooth removal grosses her out….

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  • Parenting, Personality Insights, Random
  • Feb, 16, 2026
  • 28 Comments
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