When I was in high school, my friend’s dad said, “If you give a busy person something to do, it gets done.” Little did I know I was setting the tone for a lifetime of stepping forward when no one else would.
I’ve learned again and again: she who steps forward often steps in it.
Sometimes that’s step-parenting older kids who think they’ve got it all figured out. Sometimes it’s managing colleagues who communicate entirely in lowercase. Sometimes it’s being the daughter who handles all the family logistics because someone has to. None of it came with a manual. Most of it is absurd. All of it requires showing up anyway.
This newsletter is about navigating relationships and responsibilities that defy the typical playbook — and finding the humor in it. Because if you’re dealing with people and situations nobody prepared you for, you might as well laugh.
Here, you’ll find essays and reflections on:
The invisible labor of being the default adult in families, workplaces, and friend groups
The absurdity of modern life — from generational workplace dynamics to blended family chaos
The emotional complexity of showing up for relationships and roles you didn’t necessarily expect to have
The skills that translate across it all: diplomacy, emotional regulation, and an operations mindset
This space is for:
Anyone who’s ever been told “you’ve got this” when you have it but don’t necessarily want it
Stepmoms, managers, caregivers, and reluctant fixers who keep getting handed things because they’re “organized” or “better at” whatever the task at hand is
People navigating the unscripted parts of adulthood with humor instead of a breakdown
Learn more about who I am and why I started this space in these posts:
Find me elsewhere on the internet as @okaydoak and feel free to send any feedback, comments or questions to steppinginit@substack.com.
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