You're Hearing About It First...

Plus, our family favorites!

January 22, 2026

Hi Friends-

It’s been a wild start to 2026 over here. We’re preparing for Snowmageddon here in South Carolina, a major winter storm is headed our way over the weekend. We haven’t had snow in a few years, so we’re hoping everyone stays safe and that we can get some sledding snow out of it.

Also, my Christmas Tree is STILL UP. At this point, I’m not sure when we’ll be taking it down. My 18-year-old daughter remarked just yesterday that she still loves looking at the lights. All that to say, we’re not starting the year adhering to anyone’s expectations, we’re doing what’s best for us :) 

Speaking of, I hope you’ll consider joining John and me in our Connectivity Challenge! We did this at the beginning of 2025 and really enjoyed how much relationship growth we experienced. 

If you want to join, there are three components: Physical, Spiritual and Mental/Emotional. 

PHYSICAL: We do something active together at least once/week. It can be working out, taking a walk, etc. No devices allowed! 

SPIRITUAL: At the end of each night, while in bed, we pray together. 

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL: Every day, we ask one another this question: “How can I best support you today?” And on Sundays, we sit down and go over our entire week’s schedule, including kids activities. Who takes the kids to their activities? What meals do we want and who will grocery shop and cook? Believe it or not, this is the most important aspect of the challenge for me, because we’re not only communicating, we’re sharing the load. 

We’d love for you to join us! We’re aiming for 90 days, but you can try it for 30 days, whatever works for you. But, I promise you’re going to grow closer in a lot of different areas. (Drop a comment in the comment section if you’re going to give it a try! There’s no sign-up sheet or anything formal.)

Speaking of relational growth…John and I just recorded our February Podcast Series with THE Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages and you’re hearing about this first! He has a new book out called The Love Language That Matters Most (stay tuned for a giveaway of this coming up, soon!) and we had SUCH a great time asking our burning questions about the love languages, plus how the book has transformed all our relationships, including those with friends and family. Also, because we had to go there, is every man’s love language physical touch/sex? Wait ‘til you hear what Dr Chapman says. (Here’s a photo of us recording earlier this week!)

Recording our podcast series with Dr Gary Chapman

All that to say, we gave our older two phones when they went to middle school. But, we’re not doing that with our youngest. We know too much, now. The science is pretty clear on how tech and social media are robbing our children of their childhoods. Having this conversation with our youngest went as you probably imagined. We told Landon that we knew it wasn’t fair, but that we know too much now and can no longer ignore the research and science. I’ll encourage you in this: just because you did things one way with your older child doesn’t mean you can’t do things differently with your younger children. 

Cheers to growing and learning in 2026!

-Paula xo 

FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. Some Recent Books I’m Loving!

I’m trying to engage more in tangible things, like books. Some of my recent faves are The Housemaid (I’ve heard the movie is amazing and will be seeing it soon) and Word Power Made Easy. One is pure entertainment, the other is to engage my brain :)

2. The BEST High Protein Alfredo Sauce

We love fettuccine alfredo in our house, especially the version with heavy whipping cream, butter and parmesan cheese. But we decided to give a high-protein version of the sauce a try and I have to say, we LOVED it. Note: We skipped the cabbage portion of this recipe because cabbage is not pasta LOL. We just used the recipe for the sauce. It’s a new staple in our house! TRY IT HERE

3. Our Favorite Family Shows and Movies!

A couple of shows/movies we’re watching right now as a family: The Beast Games Season 2. My kids are obsessed! And, surprisingly, the F1 movie with Brad Pitt about Formula One racing was a great family flick. I’m gearing up to watch Netflix’s People We Meet On Vacation because my girlfriends have all loved it, but can’t vouch for whether it’s a family flick or not.

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

PERIMENOPAUSE: When The Real Change Begins

January is our “greatest hits” month—and this conversation with Dr. Jen Ashton and Aarti Sequeira remains one of the most shared and talked-about episodes of 2025.

Perimenopause is messy, misunderstood, and wildly under-discussed—even though it can last a decade or more and affect nearly every system in the body. I’ve been going through it for 12 years…and counting!

In this episode, we get real about what perimenopause actually looks like in real life: brain fog, sleep disruption, rage, hormone chaos, and that unsettling feeling of “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Dr. Jen explains why the most significant changes happen during perimenopause—not after menopause—and why women deserve better information, better research, and better care. We also explore why this season can be both destabilizing and deeply empowering. It’s not about fear. It’s about reclaiming agency in a phase of life that too often goes unexplained.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal?” or “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”—this conversation is for you.

The Teen Mental Health Crisis: What Technology Is Really Doing To Our Kids

The teen mental health crisis can no longer be ignored. Anxiety, depression, attention issues, and suicidal ideation are rising—and the science is increasingly clear about the role screens are playing in reshaping our kids’ brains.

As we continue to revisit our most talked-about conversations from 2025, this remains one of the most shared and downloaded.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sissy Goff, therapist and Executive Director of Daystar Counseling, and Niro Feliciano, cognitive psychotherapist, wife, and mom of four. Together, we break down how technology and algorithms hijack neurochemistry, create unhealthy dopamine cycles, and impact attention, sleep, and emotional regulation.

We also talk about what parents can do—how to set healthy boundaries, what warning signs to watch for, and why there is real reason for hope.

I also share why I’m choosing not to give my youngest a phone—and why just because you did it with one child doesn’t mean you have to do it again.

This is an empowering, practical conversation for anyone raising kids in a world that never logs off.

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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