I went to Atlanta for a founder weekend — my first time ever away from Korbin, who turns 3 next month. In this episode I share:

• How we prepared for weeks (including the $20 Christmas lights he picked out at Costco)
• The hide-and-seek gift hunt with free finds from our Buy Nothing group, plus movement cards like "roar like a lion"
• His pretend suitcase so he could "travel" too
• The FaceTime that broke my heart: "Mommy, I want you to come home now"
• Why I came home exhausted and in tears instead of refreshed — and the reframe from a friend that pulled me out of the spiral
• Gratitude for Kelton's first solo-parenting weekend (arcade, zoo, farmers market, playdate)

A note on "watering your flowers" (nasal rinsing): I'm sharing what my family does, not medical advice. If you try nasal rinsing, the FDA recommends using only distilled or sterile water, or tap water that's been boiled for 3–5 minutes and cooled to lukewarm. Plain tap or regular filtered water isn't safe for rinsing, since it can carry rare but serious germs. Talk with your doctor before starting, and check with your pediatrician before trying it with your little one.

If you're planning your first trip away from your little one, this one's for you.

Have a calm and colorful day.