Navigating Life with One Tween in the House

Hey there! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but it’s a new year, and it’s time to get back into it. A lot has changed in our lives over the past five months—the biggest being that we are no longer fostering full-time. We went from having eight kids in our home to just one, and let me tell you, that is a big game-changer. Now, we’re only providing respite care and emergency placements as needed.

As we transition into this new season, I’ve noticed a lot of life changes. The biggest? For the first time in years, we only have one child in our home all the time—our tween daughter, Abi.

Over the years, Kate and I built routines that helped us wind down after busy days with a house full of kids. We had our time after 7 PM—special dinners after the kids went to bed, late-night Sonic ice cream runs, snuggling up for a movie with popcorn. It was our way to reconnect and recharge.

But now, things are different. Abi is almost 11, and most nights, she’s our only kid at home. The challenge? Finding ways to engage with her in meaningful ways throughout the evening.

We’re both working full-time, and let’s be honest—we’re not exactly spring chickens anymore. By 7 PM, we’re ready to crash, but she’s got a 9 PM bedtime. How do we make these extra hours together count? How do we make sure she feels included without turning her into a third wheel?

If you’ve been in this situation, we’d love to hear from you! How do you connect with your only child in the evenings? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we’re figuring this out as we go!