In this shorter, more casual holiday episode, Lara shares a cozy midlife New Year’s mindset—lower expectations, more peace, and zero pressure to “eventize” the night. After a full house at Christmas (family, kids, and pets included), she reflects on how her relationship with holidays has shifted in midlife: less chasing the perfect moment, more grace for quiet, comfy celebrations (but still with something bubbly).

Lara also answers listener questions—starting with why she’s back on the dating apps. A “let’s go fishing” girls’ weekend outside Charleston turns into a humorous experiment in boundaries when she runs into a familiar character from earlier episodes: the infamous “werewolf” guy. This time, Lara shows up differently—more self-assured, clearer on what she won’t tolerate, and uninterested in educating grown men who want to turn a romantic relationship into a mommy-son dynamic.

The heart of the episode is Lara’s long-awaited Christmas parade story: a tense public confrontation sparked simply by her standing—and dancing with her young daughter—while waiting for the parade to arrive. What begins as petty entitlement escalates into a triggering moment tied to body-image sensitivity, feeling “othered,” and the deeper wound of middle-school bullying. Lara unpacks how her reaction, her mom’s discomfort (especially with her using the F-word in public), and her therapist’s validation helped her connect past and present—and ultimately claim a new boundary: she’s done sitting down and shutting up.

She closes with encouragement for listeners to do New Year’s their own way, plus a quick podcast update: The Midlife Mess Podcast is now on Facebook, and she invites everyone to follow, share, and leave reviews as the show heads into 2026.