Kristin Wright

My first Article went "Live" today, and I and excited to share with all of you. I would also love to hear your thoughts on Resolutions! Did you make any? How are they going? You are about to hear all about my thoughts on the subject....

The "REAL" Real Housewife of Rose Creek, Kristin Wright

I have barely begun scaling the towering mountains of discarded wrapping paper when I find myself thanking God for one very specific Christmas miracle: my husband finally has a clear, defined holiday duty—Christmas morning assembly—and I am blissfully uninvolved.
I settle onto the floor amid crumpled tissue paper and an abandoned roll of tape we somehow failed to grab during cleanup. I sip my now-lukewarm coffee and scroll my phone, only to be immediately ambushed by New Year’s resolution trends. Eat cleaner. Move more. Be better. Do more. Be less tired while doing all of it.

As I pause and look around at the chaos that is my family during the holidays, I’m reminded of the conversations I’ve been blessed to share with my ninety-seven-year-old grandmother over the last few years. It has been—mostly—my pleasure to have her move from Colorado to Oklahoma for her final years.
Grandma is the very definition of the “Greatest Generation.” She immigrated to America as a child from Czechoslovakia. Her family was allowed entry because her father—my great-great-grandfather—was secretly helping the Allies during World War II and was on the verge of being discovered by the N***s. They fled quickly. In the rush, her mother was forced to leave behind two infant children with relatives.
When my grandmother speaks of her mother, she speaks of strength—quiet, resolute, unimaginable strength. And while my grandmother herself is famously tough, she is also deeply loving and endlessly wise.
During a recent visit—right after an impassioned lecture on how Depends have now become “bikini cut” and are therefore no longer an acceptable undergarment choice—she once again shared the simple perspective of her generation.

Despite raising seven children (yes, seven), she looks at my motherhood and seems genuinely troubled by how rushed, complicated, and frenetic my life appears. Honestly, it wasn’t until she pointed it out that I realized it myself. Somewhere along the way, families may have gotten smaller, but we’ve layered on so much additional life that we now operate as if we’re raising seven—or more—children anyway.
At least, that’s what my grandmother would tell you.
With the advent of cell phones—and their twin evil, social media—we are now tethered to our jobs, our obligations, and one another twenty-four hours a day. Today’s parents participate in extracurriculars at a level her generation would have laughed at outright. Travel teams. Competitive leagues. Constant practices. Endless schedules.

She scoffs when I describe our calendar.
Her children, she tells me, participated only in school-sanctioned sports, with practices held during school hours. Anything beyond that was simply too much. There were no private lessons, no elite teams, no running from activity to activity. What resulted was a predictable rhythm: family dinner every night and Sunday Mass without exception.

Their lives revolved around two things—and it worked.
According to a Columbia University study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), “teens who share five or more family meals per week are significantly more likely to earn higher grades and demonstrate stronger communication skills. The study also found that these teens were less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking or drinking.”
Source: Columbia University, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA). April 2025.

Beyond academics, family dinners provide a safe space for children to express themselves, learn family values, and develop emotional security. In an era dominated by screens and schedules, the research reinforces something surprisingly simple: eating together matters.
So what does this mean for us?
I’m not suggesting we all immediately quit everything and streamline our lives to the absolute shock and horror of our beloved little darlings. But at a time of year when we pause to reflect—when we search for meaningful resolutions that actually stick—may I suggest we consider something radical?
Family dinner.

No apps. No uniforms. No carpool lines. Just a table, a meal, and the people who matter most. The same people you will someday discuss your preferred style and cut of Adult Diapers in the future. It might be the most “real” and meaningful resolution of all.

Rose Creek Living Rose Creek Country Club Stroll Rose Creek

Hello Rose Creek! “Stroll” Rose Creek wants you for our FEBRUARY issue!!!

Does anyone have any January or December travels? Maybe a new pup from Santa? Perhaps an awesome Super Bowl recipe to share?

Please reach out! [email protected]

This could be you featured next month!!!

It’s been a really long wonderful break for us and tomorrow it’s back to the routine. I’m sad to let go of cozy slow mornings and twinkly Christmas movie nights. However it’s the work we do throughout the rest of the year that makes those sweet slow December moments so precious. Keeping the memories close and jumping back into the routine with new found joy.
What’s your favorite part of Christmas break? Do you like the routine and regularity? There is good to be found in both-blessings in all of it! Find it and focus. Much love!!