Michigan native Kristin Tennant found herself in Champaign-Urbana after her former husband landed a job here. After their divorce, she built a life anew with her two young daughters in tow. A deep thinker who isn’t afraid to tell anyone her opinions, Kristin confidently spills her words — and challenges her readers — at her blog, Halfway to Normal. By day, she is a freelance copywriter with clients all over the Midwest and the nation.
See why we think Kristin is a Chambana mom to know. Next Monday, please visit Halfway to Normal, when Kristin interviews chambanamoms.com co-founders Amy and Laura as part of her love list project (see below).
Q: Why did you name your blog Halfway to Normal?
A: I came up with the name because one of my closest friends lives in Farmer City—I used to tease her that she lives halfway to Normal (from Champaign-Urbana). Then I started thinking about it as a metaphor for my own life, and for so many of the messages I want to convey through my writing.
My blog covers a number of topics—parenting and marriage, politics and faith, and nebulous concepts like “community” and “happiness”—but if there’s one red thread that runs through it all, it’s the idea that there is no “normal” or right way to be a family, build a vocation, practice your religion, or live your life. There is only the way that’s right for you—that fits who you really are, not who others expect you to be. From my perspective, making a life in a Halfway to Normal place is much more interesting, fulfilling and real.
Q: Why did you start the love list project and how has it impacted your life since?
A: I first heard about the love list concept last summer. I was in Portland to participate in a reading of a book I have an essay published in (Ask Me About My Divorce: Women Open Up About Moving On), and met one of the other writers. Julie’s essay is about how she started making a love list after her divorce, when she was trying to reconstruct her life. She wanted to construct it around the things she loved most.
Several months later, when my life was spinning slightly out of control, I realized I needed to “take back my life.” That phrase stuck with me, even though I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen. Suddenly the love list idea popped back into my head. I knew I needed to pay attention to the things in my life that made me feel most like me—most energized, content, and at home in my own skin. I’m an extrovert, so I thought it would be fun to encourage others to keep love lists with me, and to share them on Twitter, Facebook and my blog.
It’s not like having a love list has completely changed my life, but I do feel much more in touch with who I am, what I’m thankful for and what makes me happy. I know that it is crucial for me to make time in my life for those things.
Q: You are happily remarried, but divorce remains a primary topic on your blog—why?
A: There are two reasons, really. One is personal: Going through a divorce was the most difficult thing I’ve ever endured, and it changed me in many many ways. It might be a messy experience that I’d rather walk away from and forget, but I can’t, because it shaped me into who I am today, and what my life is. The second reason I write about divorce is because I felt so alone and misunderstood as my marriage was breaking up and I was having issues at my church. I want to let others know that they are not alone, and to give them some hope through my story.
Q: What strategies have you used to make your blended family successful?
A: Our blended family includes my two daughters and my husband’s daughter, plus we are good friends with my husband’s ex-wife and her partner, and we have solid relationships with my ex-husband and his wife. It’s rather complicated but it works amazingly well. I wish I had some magic strategies to share, though! My husband had a great relationship with his ex-wife before he and I even met, so that really set the tone for all of the various relationships, which spills over onto the kids, and how they feel about the whole situation. Sometimes I think we just got really lucky—for instance, our three daughters are very similar in age and temperament, and they all get along. Other times, though, I think we’re able to do what we do only by the grace of God—that He thought our strange family might paint a beautiful little picture of forgiveness, redemption and hope.
Q: You describe yourself as a liberal social justice Christian. What does Easter mean to you?
A: Easter is a time for me to focus on what Jesus, and therefore my faith, is ultimately all about. It’s a time when I ask “What did Jesus die for?” Love. Love for others, not himself. Love that looks like compassion, not judgment. Many churches and many Christians fall sadly short of this, in my estimation (but I have a way of getting myself into trouble when I say things like that!).
Do you know a chambana mom or dad to know? We love nominations! Send your ideas to editor@chambanamoms.com.