Resolutions, meet reality
plan to forget the plan
Written by . Edited by .
Welcome to a new year of WLAM! We are so glad you’re here.
Ah, January, the month of best intentions. A fresh start! New year, new you! But it never goes that way, does it?
The promise of a fresh start once January hits is particularly problematic because something will inevitably tarnish that fresh feeling, making it easy to feel defeated. The deck is stacked against us as moms during this month in particular, thanks to winter weather, prevalent illness, disregulated kids, and total exhaustion following the holidays.
Here’s a list of a few unexpected delights Lisa and I have experienced in the early days of 2025:
Stomach bug(s).
Replacement tires.
Weird water leaks.
Snow/cold weather school delays and closures.
Head lice outbreak.
Our 2 hour WLAM 2025 inspirational planning block turned into a 15 minute FaceTime call because we were both squeezed for time, mental capacity and childcare. But never fear, we did what moms always do and made it work within extremely constrained circumstances. We laughed a lot and we made some plans and we kept things moving. Alas, our fantasy 3-day writing retreat at a luxury hotel will have to wait for a different season of our lives.
If nothing else, these chaotic weeks have renewed our commitment to embrace the good and the bad with as much humor as we can because we know that waiting for a utopian, peaceful, steady state is a fool’s errand, in motherhood and in life.
The devastating events in California have made me tune into a sense of dark gratitude along the way. I imagine that if my home were to burn down tomorrow, I might long for something as annoying as combing lice out of my daughter’s hair in her bathroom at 9pm.
We hope you’re entering the new year with whatever vibes you need. If that fresh start feeling has you motivated, we salute you. If you’re ready for a long winter’s nap, we hope you get the rest you crave. What’s most important is that you get to choose and then prioritize what you need.
For me, it feels best to view January as a reset rather than a new start. It’s like I am putting the house back together after a big party (I literally kind of am) and that takes a ton of energy. I am figuring out how to return to the routines that feel good and moving slowly when I can. This month is basically a practice swing for the rest of the year and there’s really no rush to get anywhere fast because life will probably continue to feel like a shit show much of the time.
So wherever you are this month or throughout the year, we hope these weekly newsletters help you see things a little clearer, feel a little lighter, and remind you that you’re never alone.
P.S. WLAM is now on Instagram - follow @workinglike_amother and please share with a friend!
SO GOOD. This is exactly what we need at the fresh start of the year -- one of meeting ourselves where we are, soaking in the natural surge of energy of January if it's there, or recycling it into acceptance if it isn't (because sometimes ease takes more energy than we think). Thank you!