Living With Kids: Meg Zaletel

Meg Zaletel lives in Anchorage, Alaska. Hers is a lovely, lovely story, and I found myself re-reading sections of this interview more than once. There’s a lot to take in, from wild paint colors and Alaskan decor to a wonderful philosophy on decorating with Zelda in mind from the very beginning. I know it will make your day better. I’m pleased to introduce to you this lovely family! Enjoy the tour.

Hello from Alaska! Here’s the story of our house. My husband, Zach, and I were comfortably renting and not really looking to buy, but he went to an estate sale at this house and later we learned it was for sale. We stomped through many feet of snow to peek in all of the windows to get a closer look, and learned that the house was really perfect for us.

Our home purchase was quick; only about two months after we made an inquiry. This was my first home purchase and it was a very smooth and easy experience. By the end of our first night in our home I had the living room, bedroom, and kitchen all set up. Of course, the purchase of a home together often leads to other things. Within six months my husband and I were getting married after many years together and having our wedding reception in the backyard. Really, there’s no better house warming than that!

The house is pre-earthquake (the big 1964 Alaska earthquake) which is old for Anchorage. Alaska is a young state that had to rebuild after that catastrophic event. Coming from the midwest where we were used to older homes and buildings, having a home with some history was important to us. The house also backs up to a lovely creek and our street dead ends into the trail system, which we learned attracts quite the variety of wildlife. We’ve seen bald eagles flying overhead, have moose munching the bushes in our yard, and bears checking out what’s in our backyard along the creek.

As we started to remodel the house and make it our home, we found lots of memories of the prior family, like old height charts and notes on the walls under the wallpaper once we removed it. At the time we weren’t planning on a family, but now that we have a daughter, Zelda, it’s great to know that a family was raised here and we’re doing that again in the same home.

When we pull up to this house, we know we are home.

We love Alaska. The natural beauty is indescribable. Also we’ve both been very fortunate to get to travel around the state to see places that a lot of people never get to visit. Anchorage is a nice city that values the outdoors. There is an extensive trail system and lots of green space within the city. As professionals – Zach’s a chemical engineer and I’m an attorney – Alaska has provided us both with great opportunities to advance our careers and make impacts in our respective fields.

Raising our daughter in Anchorage is also wonderful. Anchorage is a very diverse town with lots of different types of families, and has been very accepting and welcoming to our family. We have been very fortunate to build a family of friends in Anchorage that have been supportive and welcoming of our daughter. Since our families are still in the lower 48, it’s nice that our Alaska family has lots of kids! We have had lots of support locally as we started our family.

Zelda is adopted. When I met my husband, the plan was not to have children. After watching our friends have kids and seeing my husband around their children, it’s fair to say he was baby crazy! We talked it over again. I never had a desire to be pregnant, so adoption made sense for us.

In all, our adoption process took about nine months. It was a pretty smooth process as adoptions go. And I can’t speak highly enough of our family situation. We have an open adoption where we met our birth family a little over a month before Zelda was born. Our birth mom summed it up wonderfully during that very first meeting: we are all just an extended family. We were fortunate to get to go to some of the last prenatal doctor’s appointments with our birth mom, and we were in the delivery room when Zelda was born. As time has passed we continue to keep in contact with our birth family, including using Skype to video chat, and in-person visits.

Zelda will never have a shortage of family between Zach’s family and mine, our Alaska family, and our birth family. I love that Zelda will grow up knowing not only that she’s well loved, but that families can be constructed in all sorts of ways by any group of people that love each other.

Ideally, I always think I’d love an ultra modern and sleek house. But in reality, I’m glad I don’t have that. As I look around our home it’s certainly eclectic and versatile, but meaningful. I like to rearrange, and most of our decor works in any room. Often my husband will go to work with the furniture in one location and come home to a completely different arrangement, or go to find something only to learn it now lives somewhere else in the house. If he goes out of town for work, there’s a 50/50 chance the wall colors in a room may have changed!

My husband and I both like mid-century furnishings, and we’ve been lucky to find a few pieces here in Anchorage. Since we moved up with only a few pieces of furniture – my husband’s grandparents’ dressers, a bookcase he built, and a small hutch – we mainly get what we can find secondhand. So far Craigslist, thrift stores, and estate sales have been good to us. We have been able to maintain a fairly open and light environment through secondhand acquisitions. Also we’ve inherited some items from both our grandparents, which we feel should be out and used as they would want. We also try to incorporate some Alaskan art as well; we have a few pieces which we cherish as living here in Alaska has comprised most of our life together.

When Zelda first joined our family, the only space that truly reflected her addition to our family was her room. But quickly that didn’t feel right even when she was only tiny baby. I quickly added baskets of books, a bouncy chair, and pictures went up within the first month. Since then we haven’t looked back. I consciously decorate with her in mind. I want to create an accessible, fun, and colorful home for her.

When she’s older, she’ll either think she had a really fun house or that I had terrible taste…or a little of both!

We have items for her to play with in every room of the house, except our bedroom which I try to keep for us. We keep items within Zelda’s reach and make sure we have items that are sized just for her, like a chair in the living room or her crib-turned-desk in our family room. We’ve found that by making each room accessible to her she unexpectedly does things – like set the table or help pick up books or toys – imitating what we do without any explicit instruction.

The same goes for plants. With Alaska’s long winters, we have a lot of plants in the house to help make it bearable. Zelda has her own plant in her kitchen that she takes care of. Giving her a plant of her own has taught her to be gentle with the rest of the house plants.

Since we live some distance from extended family, we also keep a picture wall of family and friends so that Zelda can see her family all the time. Before a family member comes to visit or we go to visit, I try to make sure that their picture is there and up to date to help her be comfortable as it may have been months since she last saw them.

I never travelled much outside of seeing family when I was a kid. Zach travelled more. Once we were in Alaska and it takes as much time to get back to the midwest as it does to Europe or Taiwan…well, it just doesn’t seem like an onerous process anymore. If you have to fly ten hours to get some place and it costs hundreds of dollars, that’s just the way it is! We might as well make the most of it.

We travelled a lot before Zelda was born and that hasn’t stopped since. We had to fly with her when she was only two weeks old to bring her home to Alaska. Those were her first two flights. By now I think she’s had about 40 different flights under her belt. She went to France for her first birthday, Hawaii this past fall, and recently we went to Belize. Of course there’s been many trips to the lower 48 as well.

Our family is conspicuous when we are out and about and it’s been interesting to see how people react to us in different locations and in different cultures. So far, I think our experiences have been positive. I am learning that other cultures are certainly more blunt than others on personal matters. While I am always taken aback at first, I appreciate the honesty and sincerity of people’s interest in how our family came to be.

Our favorite room to hang as a family is probably Zelda’s room. It’s so much fun. It’s colorful, full of toys, which I find we enjoying playing with as much as she does, and gets the best light in the house.  Zelda switched from a crib to a bed fairly early, just after turning one, and that’s really opened her space up to more play. Also having her in a bed is cozy, whether it’s tickle attacks or snuggling in and reading books with her.

What we fill our home with should have meaning, but nothing in our home is more sacred than the people we share it with. While we’d be disappointed if Grandma’s cookie jar broke, it’s ok. We used it and appreciated it until it broke. And while it can’t be replaced per se, we can find something else to hold the chocolate bars (which is what we use our cookie jar for!). Mom or dad or daughter or guest who broke it can’t be replaced and are much more important.

Also home should be fun. It’s ok to paint the walls or kitchen cabinets crazy colors, or keep repainting them until we find what works for us. The process of building our home and finding items to put in it should be fun and reflect who we are as a family.

My absolute favorite part about being Zelda’s mom is getting to see her grow into a little person. It’s amazing. I was never around kids much before becoming a mom, so I find everything she does absolutely amazing and astonishing. It’s incredible how much she can communicate and she barely talks! Or that she went from her first steps to running in what seems like a matter of seconds. Wow!

What I already miss is the baby stage. Those first 12 months. Everyone said it would go by so quickly, but at the time I felt like the days were long and sometimes unending. I didn’t realize that adjusting from working full time and being so career centered to becoming a mom would be so abrupt. That coupled with feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out how to be a mom…I don’t think I took enough time to enjoy what was happening. Knowing that, I’m savoring all of it now.

I wish I had known that raising a child would be so fulfilling. I was happy before becoming a parent and I thought my life was complete with a wonderful husband and successful career, but now I can easily say I was wrong. Actually, others might have picked up on my need to nurture when we got a third dog and chickens, but I was so adverse to the idea of having kids that I’m glad we reconsidered and found what worked for us to have a family.

–-

Oh, Meg. You’ve inspired me today.

Friends, I had to laugh at how Meg described her family as “conspicuous” when they are out and about, with strangers reacting bluntly sometimes. It has happened to us, too — size wise. When it’s all 8 of us, we are a circus, a spectacle. How do you explain families that may not look like your own to your kids? I’d love to hear.

P.S. — Take a peek at all the homes in my Living With Kids series here. And if you’d like to share your own home with us, just send me a note! It’s a lot of fun…I promise!

51 thoughts on “Living With Kids: Meg Zaletel”

  1. This is one of my favorites! Their family and home is beautiful, and I LOVE that they still travel. Gives me hope. :)

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  3. What a great story and what a fun home! I loved this one. I love her idea of decorating with her child in mind. I want that for my daughter as well, to look back and think that her home was a fun, colorful place to be.

  4. As both an adult adoptee (Korean adopted by Caucasian parents) and now an adoptive mom to children outside my own race again, I am used to the curious looks and questions. I love your thoughtfulness about teaching your children about diversity. As a fellow book-lover, I think the best way is to pad their library with books about different families and adoption stories too. There are also children’s tv programs like Dinosaur Train on PBS that seamlessly weave adoption into their storylines too. If they are exposed to family diversity that way at home, seeing it in “real life” will not be such a shock for them.

  5. How I wish we could have a playdate! You’ve done a fantastic job of setting up the rooms with art and playthings for someone of Zelda’s height, which is just what I try to do for my daughter, so I’m taking notes in order to implement some of your ideas in our home, too. Thank you for sharing your happy home with us!

  6. This home is fun, colorful and full of life–which I’m sure if helpful during those dark Alaskan winter! Zelda is ADORABLE.

    And if you don’t mind me asking, where did that play kitchen come from!? It’s so lovely and my little girl would love it.

  7. My Grandma’s favourite colour was yellow and I never understood how she could incorporate it into decor. But when I saw your kitchen I thought what a beautiful, fresh, happy and yet cozy (which isn’t a word I would associate with yellow) feeling it has. It’s funny b/c we have the same kitchen cabinet curve at the top of our builder oak kitchen that we want to repaint and it’s amazing seeing yours and how much it compliments the colour vs draws attention to it. Really wonderful story and I love how you believe that items in your home should have meaning as I completely agree!

  8. I loved this line – “Mom or dad or daughter or guest who broke it can’t be replaced and are much more important – and the sentiment it conveys. It’s life in poetry.

    1. Yes! My favourite part of the whole tour (and not even really part of the “tour”) was this line. Beautiful!

    2. Yes! I remember breaking a [cheap, ugly] glass as a child and feeling so glum about it. I don’t want my kids to feel like any “thing” matters more to me than they do. Beautiful family.

  9. I, too, like the bright kitchen (redoing my own now and only looking at neutrals, so…hmmmm….). Love adoption stories – as an adopted person myself always felt I should also adopt, but…. I have four kids right now – one still not in school, so….. we’ll see. Love how families become families and every story is different :).

  10. I don’t usually read the “Living With Kids” posts, but that gorgeous picture of Meg and Zelda at the top made me stop everything and read this. Beautiful story, beautiful family.

  11. Love this one! What a wonderful, interesting fam & home! And a home that is real!!! Thanks for sharing.

  12. You really have a beautiful family home that is full of colour and character. Love the way you have made a garden bed from the big blocks and let the kids paint them. It really shows how much you allow them to get involved. Children learn so much when they are allowed to be freely creative.

  13. My first post on this website (although I am a big fan and lurk often)… this piece was beautiful. What a beautiful family and outlook on life!

  14. Great story, thanks so much for doing this series! I loved reading this one, especially how she designs each room with her daughter in mind. I’m in a new house and keeping that principle in mind as well.

  15. Great interview! You’re right, there are parts that need to be re-read. I love how she decorates with Zelda in mind and putting her things in every part of the house. I love how she has a family wall so she can see her family all the time. And decor wise, that cheerful yellow color is really pretty ! Reinforces my belief that we were right to paint our living room yellow too!

  16. Ok, two thoughts in this post that were great: that things can be replaced but that people( and relationships) cannot be.
    So true- there will generally be another cool thing (and maybe something even cooler!) but human relationships are a more delicate matter.
    Second, home should be fun.
    I feel like it took me going on 12 years to realize that that was a big goal for me.
    This mama seems to have picked up on that quickly!
    .

  17. Such a tangible, accessible Living With Kids post! I really enjoy seeing how different families live. The commonality is love, for sure. And I love Gabrielle for providing such diverse Living With Kids posts for us to appreciate. I have fallen for Zelda and this amazing family. Having children really means adjusting your design desires to fit others–to fit those you love more than yourself :) And this post shows us an amazing household, decorated beautifully, with every member of their beautiful family in mind. Bravo, Meg and Gabrielle! I sure would like to visit Alaska now and join this fun family for a play date.

  18. This is a kid dream house! It really is amazing to watch babies grow, isn’t it? My friend had an open adoption, and it sounds like a great setup. Congrats on finding something to work for you!

  19. What a lovely home! And such a wonderful approach to life and home. Thank you so much for sharing.

    And would you share where you got that adorable play kitchen? It’s the best one I’ve ever seen!

  20. Wow! Thanks for all of the generous comments about our home and family. They mean a lot to us.

    The play kitchen was a gift, but I believe the brand is Melissa and Doug and its designed to go in a corner, although we just have our pushed up against the wall.

    Again, thanks so much for your kindness. Cheers!

  21. Thank you for sharing all that you did with us… Zelda’s very own plant made my heart swell — just brilliant. A project for us this weekend. :)

  22. A lovely interview and a lovely home. My favorite are those yellow cabinets! And Zelda’s sweet face of course. Love the idea of having her own plant. Why didn’t I think of that?

  23. This home is one of my favorite aesthetically. Loving the art on the walls and all the yellow paint!

    Also an intriguing story, since my husband and I haven’t really made a decision on the having kids front. I’m wondering how old they were when Zelda came into their lives…

  24. Well, this house just makes me super happy and smiley. Who knew yellow kitchen cabinets would be so gorgeous!! I would love to know about the paired bicycle prints above the bed (Zelda’s?) in the blue room. Love those.

  25. I’ve never commented here before, but I wanted to say that this is my favorite series. I love the range of homes you showcase and knowing that what really makes a home is not the “stuff” but the people who live in it. Thank you to these families for sharing a glimpse into their sacred spaces.

  26. I too was raised in Alaska, in a diverse family much like this one. What a lucky little girl, who will surely grow up to think she lived in a really fun house :-)

  27. This is my favorite living with kids post yet – I love everything about it! It even has me thinking about moving to Alaska :) (My husband fantasizes about moving there someday) I noticed 2 different ladder bookshelves – where did those come from? I LOVE them! Thanks for sharing your home and your family, Meg.

    1. Hi Veronika (and many many other commentors) – thank you all for the kind comments! If you are averse to winter, Alaska can be a tough place to live, but if you enjoy getting outside into the snow, it’s a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

      To answer a few of the questions above –

      -I built the shelves a number of years ago based on these plans

      -The bike print/art was found on Etsy.

      -We were? are? both in our early-mid 30s.

      -Inadvertently, we are working hard to promote sales of yellow paint ;)

      Thanks all again! Z

  28. Well I just loved this interview/ tour. What a beautiful family. 7 months ago we brought home our youngest through adoption, so I’m a little bit of a sucker for adoption stories!

  29. Please tell me where you got that blanket on your bed, I love the colors.
    I loved hearing that you are open to questions because it opens people up
    to possibilities. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed seeing your beautiful home.

  30. Meg and Zach,

    You have inspired me with all of the color in your house. I am here in Anchorage too. I find the lack of bright colors in the winter to be a little sad for me. Thank you for sharing your home and your family with us. They are both beautiful.

    Be well,
    Liv

    P.S. I have a two year old if you would ever be interesting in getting together for a play date.

  31. Ah, I love this family! I’m nowhere close to having kids, but I’ve always thought of adopting if I was blessed enough to do so. I love Zelda’s name! I’m a geeky gamer so I immediately think of the legendary game(s). What was your inspiration?

    1. The inspiration for Zelda’s name is that we wanted three Zs in it since my husband was always a little sad that he only had two. I’ve always liked the name Zelda as a Z girl’s name and we both love the video game as well. That said, we get a lot “hey like Zelda Fitzgerald.” Either way, we don’t mind the comparison.

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  33. Wow! Meg! Please do a follow up on her and her family! Since this interview she was elected to the Anchorage Assembly, was named Person of the Year last year by the Anchorage Press, and faced a (defeated) recall petition for her strong stance on Covid protections for Anchorage. She is amazing and I loved this insight on her home and family. Signed a former Anchorage resident.

  34. I really enjoy your blog post on living with kids. It’s very sweet and interesting to read. As a mom of three, I know the struggles that you go through. I also love that you have such a nice story to tell about your house. I’m so glad you’re a part of this blogging community and your story is inspiring.

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