I grew up in rural Michigan in the 80s and 90s and spent nearly 10 years in the foster care system there. My experience inspired me to pursue a career seeking justice for children in foster care. I graduated from college in Kalamazoo, MI in 2005 with a degree in History and Philosophy and worked for the State Court Administrative Office in the Child Welfare Services division for a year after college (I wrote Addressing the Educational Needs of Children in Foster Care). I was appointed in 2005 by Governor Jennifer Granholm as a youth representative to the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice. I also served as a youth board member for the National Association of Council for Children. In 2006 I was set to enter law school at Loyola University Chicago having been awarded one of their prestigious ChildLaw fellowships.
In late 2006 my life changed dramatically. I became the mother to a beautiful teeny tiny 32 weeker and became a full-time stay-at-home mom. Instead of spending late nights studying in a law library I spent the next two years changing diapers and drenched in breastmilk (which is just as glamourous as it sounds.) I absolutely love being a mother and cannot imagine anything more important.
I spent the next five years as a stay at home mom to one amazing little boy and a very lazy ginger cat. We had a beautiful tiny one bedroom apartment in Charlotte, NC until the summer of 2012 when our lives were turned upside down.
Despite that horrible experience we've continued on our simple living journey. We spent a year carfree and still love public transit! We are also clean eating vegetarians. I'm still unschooling my son and we've recently purchased a vintage trailer to renovate and roadschool in.
I have an Etsy shop The Simple Boxcar, full of one of a kind handmade items. And I'm opening a new store Upcycled Yarns (on twitter @UpcycledYarns) for upcycled yarn, upcycled products and vintage knitting/crocheting patterns!
If you'd like to advertise on my blog just drop me a line. I am especially interested in partnering with other small business owners or reviewing products that are useful for homeschoolers (unschooled and traditional) and RV living. If you have a blog we may be able to do an ad swap!
You can contact me through twitter @AniKnits, or by email at thesimpleboxcar@gmail.com
Namaste,
Ani
