Hi, I’m Karen!
My favorite childhood story was about turn-of-the-century efficiency experts. I loved Cheaper by the Dozen — not because I wanted more siblings, but because the parents optimized everything. While the book described children mortified by their father’s efficiency methods, I was in my bedroom trying to replicate them. I’ve always been that person: the one who sees what needs to happen and steps forward to make it work.
The problem? When you step forward, you often step in it.
If you’re managing chaos you didn’t create — blended families, workplace dysfunction, family logistics — or you’ve ever been told “you’ve got this” when you have it but don’t necessarily want it, you’ll find solidarity here. I write about the absurdly specific mess (mean swim moms, hot dog surprise) with frameworks for when there’s no good answer, just less-bad options. Often wry, often right.
Free subscribers get:
Essays every Tuesday about workplace drama, family drama, or the latest mess of the moment
Permission to laugh at the absurdity while you manage it
About me:
I’m a stepmom to three adults, spent 20 years managing teams through dysfunction, and coordinate family chaos across seven decades. I live outside Philadelphia with my husband and two toy poodles with differing levels of function. For advisory work, visit: okaydoak.com.
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 comments or questions to steppinginit@substack.com. Community guidelines & commenting policy are linked in Publisher Terms below.
