The Steady Home

Introduction to a new series within Resilient Mental State.

Hi, I’m Mary Kate Shepard. I’m Kyle’s wife and the mother to our four incredible children.

With some[times relentless] encouragement from Kyle and other friends, I’ve humbly accepted a little corner of his account to provide reflections on what resilience looks like when practiced in our day-to-day.

So I’d love to present: The Steady Home.

What it is:

• A front seat to the working conversations that happen in our home.

• A place of kinship for parents in a similar life stage. I’d like this to feel like a proverbial hot cup of coffee at a friend’s kitchen table, where you feel seen.

What it isn’t:

• A soapbox: The Steady Home is something we practice, fail at, and continue to aspire toward. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I’m a mom of young children going through it all in real time. My wisdom extends as far as I’ve gotten in this parenting journey.

• A prescriptive how-to: Your family culture is different. Take what is useful, leave what is not. And please, share your own wisdom with me!

My first time writing in public was for an interview series with my now dear friend Erin Miller. Her questions challenged me to explore my soul and the why behind my actions as a wife and mother. I have continued reflecting and writing on concepts that arose from this conversation which has ignited a spark in myself to take the leap and start The Steady Home.

• How Values Take Root in the Rituals of Daily Life

• Identity, Intuition & the Inner Life of Parenting

• Legacy, Love & the Long Vision of Parenting

You’ll likely see me sporadically in the next few months as I find an organic rhythm around writing and contributing. Rather than maintain a regular interval, I’m hoping to pop in as things feel relevant and worthy of sharing.

More to come, hopefully soon!