About Us

Lotus of the Lakes | The Middle Ground of Parenting

The Lotus, The Lakes,
and the Laundry.

A manifesto for the “Middle Ground” of parenting. Tracking the chaos of a blended family, reclaiming culture in Coon Rapids, and finding the humor in sleep deprivation.

Hi. We’re Jacob and Ashwini. We live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and we currently have about 10,000 unanswered questions about parenting.

Welcome to Our Digital Basecamp

Lotus of the Lakes is where we document the messy, funny, and often confusing reality of raising a blended family in Minnesota. We aren’t “Instagram Perfect” parents. We don’t have a beige living room (well, not for long, anyway). We are “Is that chocolate or poop on my sleeve?” parents.

We believe in “Edutainment”—because if you aren’t learning and laughing, you’re just crying over spilled milk. And let’s be honest, we do plenty of that too. This site is our test trial. We are tracking our children’s growth, our own sanity, and the products that actually help us survive the day-to-day.

THE DAD
👨‍💼

Jacob Zwack

The Executive Jokester

I’m the Chief Fun Officer and the guy trying to turn “Dad Jokes” into a respectable currency. My parenting style is 50% strategy, 50% “winging it,” and 100% coffee-fueled.

By Day: Licensed MN Realtor

I help families find homes big enough to contain their chaos. I’m a licensed agent with The Minnesota Real Estate Team (RENE, C2EX, SRS, ABR). Search MN Listings at mnbyjz.com →

By Night: Web Builder

I build the internet for small businesses at buildmybizweb.com and test my stand-up material at theexecutivejokester.com.

THE MOM
🧘‍♀️

Ashwini

Curator of Curry & Chaos

Ashwini is the heart (and brains) of this operation. As an Indian adoptee raised in the Midwest, she brings a perspective you won’t find on every other blog.

The Mirror Effect

“When I look at Zara, I wonder if the joy I feel is what my birth parents felt. It makes me grateful for every moment I get to witness.”

Current Mission:

Reclaiming roots in real-time. Introducing Zara to Indian music, movies, and yes—finding an Indian version of Rapunzel.

Superpower: Product Research Kryptonite: Spicy Food

The Board of Directors

🎨

Athena (9)

The Assistant Manager

Currently in that sweet spot between playing with dolls and asking for a smartphone. The creative soul of the house.

👑

Zara (2)

The CEO

She runs the schedule, decides when we sleep, and audits the diaper budget daily. Loves her “Brown Dolly” more than us.

Unfiltered: The “Mom” Interview

We sat down with Ashwini to get the real story.

Q: What is the one piece of parenting advice you absolutely hate?

“‘Enjoy every moment.’ Even though I know it comes from the heart, it’s just so generic. I enjoy the moments naturally, so it’s frustrating when people constantly remind me to do it, as if I’m failing if I’m not smiling while cleaning up a blowout.”

Q: If the house was on fire (God forbid), what’s the one item you grab for Zara?

“Her Brown Dolly we got at the dollar store. It cost one dollar, but she kisses it goodnight every single night. It’s irreplaceable.”

Q: Describe Jacob as a household appliance.

“A Coffee Grinder. I couldn’t think of a logical reason why… I just said it for fun. But maybe because he’s loud in the morning and essential for energy?”

Why “Lotus of the Lakes”?

The Lotus represents Ashwini’s roots—blooming beautifully even in muddy water. The Lakes are our home. Together, they represent our mission: to blend our worlds, track our growth, and offer you the solutions that actually saved our butts.

Full Transparency: We use affiliate links on this site to pay for diapers. If you buy something through our suggestions, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for funding the chaos.