Whew—what a week it’s been! Between my garden, school, work, family birthdays, and PolyFamily (yes, we need to talk about Episode 4), life is moving fast. So here’s a quick catch-up on everything going on in my world:
🌶 Garden Update
Let’s start with the garden. Honestly, it’s struggling a bit. I think it just got too hot, too fast here in South Carolina, and a few things aren’t thriving the way I’d hoped. That said—I’ve managed to harvest 25 jalapeños (which is a win!) and I’m keeping a close eye on what might be my one big tomato and a handful of cherry tomatoes. It’s not a total loss, but patience might be key here. I’m still watering and nurturing everything because… hey, maybe the garden just needs a little grace like we all do.
🎓 Back to School
Big news on the academic front: I’ve officially started back to school, working toward my Doctorate! It feels overwhelming at times, but as the saying goes, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. Every paper, every assignment, every discussion post gets me one step closer. I got this.
🏡 Life & Family
Work and business are keeping me as busy as ever—but I enjoy it. There’s always something to do, and that’s how I like it. My parents are coming into town this weekend for a visit, which I’m really looking forward to. Hopefully we’ll squeeze in a beach trip while they’re here (salt air and waves sound like heaven right now). First, though… I really need to clean the house!
This week has been full of birthdays too—our eldest son turned 17 yesterday! He requested Captain D’s (because why not?) and had cake, ice cream, and presents. He didn’t want to do anything big, but maybe he’ll change his mind before the weekend. Also, today is my sister Amanda’s birthday—so happy birthday to her! 🎉
I’m trying to knock out all the research, cleaning, and projects this week because I’m taking next week off! 🙌 And now for the TV portion of the blog…
📺 PolyFamily – Episode 4 Recap & Thoughts
This week’s episode of PolyFamily brought up some real feelings—so let’s break it down.
Taya opened the episode by sharing that she’s craving a deeper connection with a woman. Cue Hamilton’s “Satisfied”—it instantly echoed that feeling of emotional longing. Later, the family visited Santa (whose eyes were genuinely kind), and spoke openly about their polyamorous lifestyle with others at the event. People were respectful and curious, and one attendee—who’s a stepparent—related to the love they feel for the children in their care.
As a stepparent myself, that hit home. You absolutely love those kids like your own. But this lifestyle dynamic? It’s about the children, and no matter where you stand on polyamory, we can all agree that the kids deserve love, safety, and consistency. You can support the kids wholeheartedly and still question or disagree with the adults’ choices.
The couples also met with an attorney to explore third-parent adoption, which would require one biological parent to surrender their rights—a tough and emotional road, with no legal precedent in the U.S. The attorney mentioned it would likely require a legislative change. It reminded me a lot of Sister Wives and their early legal challenges.
Later, they drew names to decide who would go on a one-on-one date, and Tyler got to take Taya on a romantic overnight trip. But before that, Taya had a flirty conversation with her friend Lex—and I couldn’t help but wonder: emotional cheating? The line feels blurry, and it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the family reacts (or if they’re already aware and okay with it?).
On their date, Taya shared her insecurities about her postpartum body—which was so real and vulnerable. But the moment that stuck with me most was when she admitted her only real connection with Tyler is through intimacy. That raised a red flag. Relationships need more than just physical closeness to thrive—they need emotional connection, communication, and mutual respect.
And speaking of respect—Alysia deserves more. She’s clearly set boundaries about not wanting to hear details about other couples’ intimacy, yet those boundaries keep getting crossed. She seems like the fourth wheel in a relationship orbiting around Taya. Whether it’s poor editing or actual dynamics, I genuinely feel for her. She deserves love, romance, and to have her voice honored.
🎉 Wrapping It Up
So, that’s the week in a nutshell: gardening struggles, doctoral progress, birthdays, beach plans, and PolyFamily drama. Life feels full—and a little chaotic—but also filled with purpose.
If you’re juggling multiple things this week too, remember: one bite at a time.
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