Welcoming Loved Ones from Mexico
This month, our home was filled with laughter, stories, and the comforting aroma of shared meals as six of my partner’s family members from Mexico came to visit. Having extended time together felt like a gift—one that reminded us of the joy of slowing down, reconnecting, and creating new memories across generations. At Dovetail Learning, we often talk about the “both/and.” We were BOTH thrilled to have his family here, AND exhausted from entertaining, driving, and being out of our normal quiet routine.
Cooking and eating together became the heart of our days. From big breakfasts that filled our bellies and our table, to dinners that brought everyone around the stove, food was both the celebration and the glue that kept us gathered. Hosting meant balancing pots on the stove and conversations in the kitchen, but the reward was in seeing smiles and hearing laughter echo around the house. My parents joined us for our tamale-making party, so I did my best to bridge the language gap and get the masa on the husks properly. Guess what? The tamales were BOTH imperfect AND delicious.
Of course, any visit of this size comes with its challenges. Sharing space—especially bathrooms—required patience and flexibility. Privacy was a little harder to come by, and finding quiet moments took some creativity. Whose towel is this? What did I do with my jacket? All the things that make daily routines challenging are magnified by having 9 people in a house instead of 3. And having 8-9 people drive places together also meant juggling with cars… but we sorted it out. We borrowed a 7-seater, and I sacrificially stayed home one day (cue Nurturing Myself slides). Still, these small inconveniences were far outweighed by the joy of being under one roof, telling stories late into the night, and waking up to familiar faces just outside our room.
In the end, the visit was a reminder that family—whether near or far—is worth every bit of juggling. The togetherness, the warmth, and the love made the house feel full in the best possible way.
How do you celebrate family time—or chosen family time—and make sure to find beauty even during the challenges?
With Resilience,
Emily and the Dovetail Team