If May Feels Like Too Much, You're Not Alone

Plus, my new favorite recipe!

May 01, 2026

Hi Friends-

I can’t believe we’re already in May! For those of you with kids, this month is a lot. It’s why it’s earned the nickname “Maycember”, referring to the chaotic, high-stress end of the school year, rivaling December in busyness. 

End of school year banquets (don’t forget to bring a covered dish), field trips (did you volunteer?), sports playoffs, prom, band recitals, graduations, projects, teacher gifts, exams/finals, summer camp sign-ups, summer vacation plans, award ceremonies, etc…

That stressed me out just typing it. 😅

Adding to our end-of-school chaos, my daughter Caroline, who is a senior, sprained her ankle during track practice last week. No parent wants their kids' high school athletic career to end on an injury. So, we’re doing what we can to get her healthy, praying she’ll be able to compete in districts for track & field. She’s navigating her crutches like a champ and is trying to keep her spirits up. But, not gonna lie, there have been a few tears.

Sometimes life just hands us lemons though, right? And we have the opportunity to grow in discomfort. 

Here she is last weekend competing at DECA, crutches and all. 😘 

In other news, I wrapped up my month-long podcast series on the Enneagram this week with my guest, Ian Morgan Cron, who is an expert on the Enneagram, as well as an author. If you haven’t listened to the series, binge them now. And remember to share them with your loved ones. 

LISTEN HERE: 


Learning my Enneagram number (I’m an 8, The Challenger) has been one of the greatest tools for personal reflection and growth, plus understanding my friends and family on a deeper level. 

As parents, we often lose ourselves in our family and lose sight of who we are. Kris, a podcast listener, sent me this quote, which will probably resonate with a lot of you. She writes, “Now that my youngest is in her first year of college, I feel I need to find myself again. Everything I did was for my kids. I wonder who I am.”

Also, congrats to Julie, Danielle, Kris, LeAnna and Kimberly for winning a copy of Ian’s book, “The Road Back To You”. We’re giving away 5 more copies of his book this week. Keep reading to find out how. 

I know I’ve mentioned several times that I’m moving this newsletter to Substack, with the goal of creating more community, but the transition is taking longer than expected. 

Until next time, friends!
Paula xo

FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. Giveaway: Ian Morgan Cron’s Book!!!

We’ve given away 5 copies, already. And, we’re giving away another 5! DM me on Instagram your mailing address for a copy of “The Road Back To You”. Also, don’t forget to take Ian’s Enneagram Assessment and use the code PAULA for 15% off . Ian recommends the best way to determine your type is by reading a book about it, taking an assessment and doing a workshop.

2. What We’re Watching 👀

You know that my husband and I love to unwind at night by watching a show. It’s our thing. For over a year, he’s been begging me to start watching Parks and Recreation with him. I finally listened to John and only wish I’d have done so sooner. It’s the perfect end-of-night show, as the episodes are hilarious and 25-minutes long. Plus, Amy Poehler is BRILLIANT. If you liked “The Office”, you’ll love Parks and Rec. They were created by the same people!

3. My New FAVORITE Recipe!

My daughter sent a text last week and all it said was “MARRY ME CHICKEN”. I responded, asking her to explain because I had no idea what she was talking about. Apparently, it’s a recipe so good, it could inspire a marriage proposal, thus the name. Anyway, I decided to put my big girl pants on and go the extra mile in the kitchen. Wowzers. Everyone has asked for this recipe to be in the dinner rotation. There are plenty of recipes out there, but this is the one I used. 

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

What The Enneagram Reveals About Your Marriage And Parenting

You’re not fighting about what you think you’re fighting about.

When it comes to Enneagram types, there are no bad pairings, but there are patterns that quietly wear relationships down.

What if the tension in your marriage isn’t personal? What if it’s predictable?

Using the Enneagram as a parenting tool can help…or hurt.

When do you introduce it? How do you use it without labeling your kids too early?

We’re going there because the Enneagram isn’t about putting people in boxes. It’s about seeing what’s actually driving them.

Your Biggest Enneagram Questions - Answered

Let’s answer the questions everyone asks about the Enneagram:

Can your type change? Why do your results keep changing? What if you relate to more than one type?

We’re wrapping up our month-long series with Enneagram expert and author Ian Morgan Cron by getting clear on what actually matters about the Enneagram.

This isn’t about traits. It’s about motivation: why you do what you do.

We get into mistypes, bad tests, and why you can’t outsource this to a quiz and call it done.

There’s no “best” type, but there is a healthiest version of you, and the Enneagram can help you get there.

Join the Conversation!

If you’ve made it this far, I invite you to join (or start) the conversation in our comments section. What would you like to share? - Paula

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