The Handbook You Write Yourself

A new beginning for Mom Life Handbook & an invitation to do less.

We’ve all been there: thinking about doing something new for ourselves, only to find the planning is more exhausting than the doing.

Whether it’s a new routine, a workout class, or a ceramics hobby, the questions are the same. Do I really have time for this? Will it be worth it?

The problem isn’t trying the new thing. It’s trying to cram it into an already packed life without making space first. That requires a mental bandwidth most of us simply don't have. And there’s nothing worse than draining your already depleted energy, especially when you feel the ripple effect of guilt it sends through your family.

So, we think about the new thing, and we never actually do it. For the last six weeks, that’s where I’ve been. 🥵 This post is that first, small step for me—and my hope is that in sharing my process, it gives you the nudge to start your own.

So, Why Are We Here?

I say this because I know I’m not the only mom caught in this loop, but it often feels like a personal failing. It’s not. It’s just the reality of modern mom life.

And it’s why this Substack exists.

The last thing you need is another podcast to download or another blog to check. And honestly, the last thing I need is another one to manage. So I’m simplifying. I’m gently pressing pause on the podcast and other offers to pour all my energy into this one simple, beautiful space. The support you need should be reliable, and this is me making that promise.

How This Space Works

So, I’ve landed us here. Substack feels like the perfect home for Mom Life Handbook. Everything will be in one place, guaranteed to land in your inbox. No algorithms, no extra apps. Just a direct line. We can even have a real dialogue in the comments and chat.

A quick note on how this will work: For all of July, every single post will be free for everyone. My goal is for you to get a real feel for this new space without any pressure. After that, I’ll introduce a paid subscription for those who want to go deeper with extra posts and community features. But for now, everything is for you.

My favorite part? I get to bring you along in my own experience of mom life, in real time. I’m tired of the overly polished, one-sided, and mostly unhelpful content out there. This is the space for the honest side of motherhood—the place where we can go a little deeper without it feeling overwhelming.

In my next post, I’ll share more about how this will all work. For now, consider this our starting point. Neither of us has it all figured out, but I'm here sharing my notes.

Hopefully, we both end up feeling a little freer. 💕

P.S. A quick housekeeping note to make sure you don't miss future posts: please drag this email into your primary inbox. This tells your email provider that you actually want to see this, helping it land in the right place moving forward.