Once upon a time the fabtastic Julie surprised Roni & me with a picture.
We were about to record a podcast and giving the hashtag a final skim on social media when we discovered the image.
Neither of us could believe it.
Julie captured us so perfectly and it was such a lovely surprise it infused at least this half of our duo with fresh excitement.
Excitement about recording the episode and about the #wycwyc movement in general.
Β
my glasses! my skull-emblazoned dress!
Each time I looked at the image I smiled as she’d completely captured my raw excitement for this entire endeavor.
The fun I’d had with the process, the joy I felt at having a *name* for how Id lost weight and maintained, the crazy childlike manner in which I now attempt to drag everyone into our WICKWICK tribe.
I loved her artwork so much I (asked permission &) had it transferred to canvas so I could have in my home.
not staged. my #wycwyc moment is I drank only HALF the can!
Fast forward a few weeks.
I felt tired (work, solo-parenting, book marketing, podcasting, life’ing) & immediately knew who to reach out to.
Julie.
“I need a break. I wanna take book release day off from the blog.Β Could I hire you to draw for me instead?”
She agreed, asked for details, and soon this appeared in my in-box:
And I grinned as wide as I had with her first drawing.
She’d nailed it.
- The book release tomorrow is important.
- My work deadlines are important.
- The interviews I have this week are important.
Kids don’t care about
logisticswhat else is important–they just know who still shows up.
And, if you’re my Tornado of a kid, you don’t care about the hectic of WICKWICK! you just know who *still* shows up.
And plays.
Even if exhausted.
Even if it means you work after she’s asleep.
Even if (toting some Mommy Merlot and) struggling to keep up.
Even if even if even if.
Writing our book reminded me of what I already knew, yet it was a needed reminder.
Doing what I can when I can, getting back up tomorrow & trying again really is enough.
And yep.
As per Julie’s drawing, a loudly shouted WICKWICK! never hurt either as a way to remind my sluggish-self:
I got this.
We’ve all got this.
By virtue of the fact we’ve gotten back up to try again.
<3
I love that kids don’t care about anything but that we show up…they can shut the world and the to do list at so much better than we can…though I’m striving to shut out more and just show up for them more
Really true.
I like how your daughter, Carla, seems to be excited about your book but still wants it to be play and focus on her.
That’s how childhood should be.
Fantastic picture.
Ahhhhh this is so exciting!!! I am so happy for you! I am going to email you in the next few days, I LOVE it!!!! I could hear your voice in the words…..well, your blogging voice I guess……someday I will match it up to the real thing π Must read must read!
i say you come to austin to visit! Carla, where will you be releasing this? can i come see you? pleeeeeeeeeease
Your posts always speak to me, Carla.
I focus so much on work and career and I think I may regret that some day.
I love that you have a cartoonist to go to in times of need! Amazing.
Good luck tomorrow!!! It’s going to be a day of basking in awesomeness…
Admitting that you are tired makes you human – which is exactly what your readers and followers need to constantly remember. That is why WYCWYC has so much positive power and influence. It isn’t about being someone you aren’t overnight. It’s about taking small, attainable, realistic steps in every hour of your day to make improvements. It’s the little victories in life that can make people like my mom feel that they have time to improve and focus on themselves.
I laughed at the picture as I resemble that often except clutching coffee.
These are the days, Mama.
You got this.
LOVE the cartoons! Why do I feel like I KNOW what your voice sounds like? Oh wait, I do, from vidoes haha! Excited for you!
So excited for you Carla! Wishing you much success with your book.
SO excited for you. I don’t think I’ve even taken the opportunity yet to tell you that I adore the book every bit as much as I’ve always adored the concept and the movement. You two have hit the nail on the head with the healthiest mindset there is and I’m so so so happy for you both!
you’re awesome
That artwork is AMAZING!
WICKWICK
No matter how much we love what we do….we still get tired too. π
I love WICKWICK.
I love that picture!!
WICKWICK is awesome. Just sayin’. I’m new to your blog, and had no idea you wrote a book!! So very exciting!!
Clapping and cheering and wickwicking with you!
I really like that you are human. That you aren’t perfect all the time.
as always another great life lesson!!! no one cares about our deadlines (not just kids) they just care if we find a way to show up…yup I needed that reminder today
Congrats on the launch – AND on priorities! π
Love the pictures! Best of luck!!!
I actually bought your book and it’s on my table right now but I am finishing up another one before I start it. I hate having two books going at one time haha.
Congratulations on living what you preach and on reaching release day!
I’ve never been called Fabtastic before but I sure do like it! I’m loving the book and I hope this week doesn’t overwhelm you!!
Good luck and CONGRATS! for tomorrow. Sometimes, with kids, I think showing up and being there and playing when we’re exhausted means even more to them.
I get it!!! It is very exciting but yes crazy tiring!!!!
You’re an amazing inspiration and hard working MOM! NAP TIME boo, NAP TIME!
The whole wick wick concept is REALLY coming in handy for me these days… although even as a manatra in my head it’s WYC WYC, my brain is funny that way. π
Adorable drawings btw!
I LOVE the cartoons! You could do an entire blog post in graphic art and not have to say a word– I am in awe of such creative and talented people. I just bought my son a graphic history book. It tells the entire story of the Donner party in graphic art. He said he can’t think of a better way to learn history… I agree with him. I am so excited about your book- it’s the best, but I can’t imagine how much work it is for you. Get some rest love. hugs.
Exactly what Woody Allen said a long time agoβ¦.
Way to go rockstar!!! And I swear, you have the COOLEST kid.
You got this! Even if you feel you don’t. Just keep wycwycing along.
Love Julie! I wish I would do something special enough to inspire her to draw me π
Such exciting time. So happy for you.
Oh man, I’m with you and I’m wickwickwicking away. It’s not pretty all the time but I’ve got this and you most definitely have got this. I’m so excited for you!!
I hope today goes swimmingly! #wycwyc
I love these cartoons, and there’s no wonder that you decided to get them put on canvas. Apart from the fact that many of us love cartoons from when we were kids, they are such a great way to capture the personality of people. Cartoons can do this, with some humour, and communicate so much at the same time.