It All Started with a School Project…
Our house has been full of giggles, flour, and Julia Child impressions lately- and it’s all thanks to my fourth grader’s Wax Museum project.
If you haven’t heard of it, the Wax Museum is a yearly social studies tradition where students choose a historical figure, dress up like them, and deliver a short speech “in character” to classmates and parents. It’s part research, part performance, and completely adorable.
While we were brainstorming women she could portray, we flipped through one of our favorite bedtime books, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, and landed on Julia Child. Something about her stood out.
Discovering Julia Child: A Rebel Girl Icon
My daughter wasn’t familiar with Julia at first, but the moment I showed her a clip from The French Chef, she was all in. Julia’s towering height, quirky voice, and joyful presence made her instantly lovable. My daughter couldn’t stop laughing and couldn’t wait to learn more.
We ended up reading about Julia’s life, watching old shows together, and eventually cooking one of her classic recipes side by side. It became a whole family affair.
From Bedtime Book to Family Movie Night
To cap it off, we watched Julie & Julia together. I’d seen it before, but this time- watching it through the lens of motherhood, midlife, and entrepreneurship- it hit me differently.
Julia didn’t even begin cooking until her late 30s. She didn’t publish her famous cookbook until she was almost 50. And she didn’t do it because someone told her to, she did it because it lit her up.
There’s a scene where, after eight years of hard work, her cookbook is rejected. Julia sits on the couch in quiet devastation while her husband Paul supports her, gently and lovingly. My husband and I looked at each other in that moment with total recognition. We’ve lived versions of that scene.
Starting my business after 40 wasn’t part of the original plan. And even once I knew what I wanted, the path was anything but smooth. I’ve faced long stretches of doubt, rejection, and the deep temptation to just… stop.
But like Julia, I’ve kept going.
What We Made: Poulet à la Crème (Chicken in Cream Sauce)
We chose one of Julia’s coziest comfort meals: Poulet à la Crème, which is French for chicken simmered with butter, shallots, white wine, and finished with a swirl of cream. It was rich, satisfying, and surprisingly easy to make.
Since I eat gluten-free to support my Hashimoto’s, we made a few simple swaps:
- Used gluten-free flour for the roux (or you can skip thickening entirely- still delicious!)
- Served it over gluten-free penne, which we cooked in bone broth for extra flavor and gut-friendly nutrients (my new favorite way to make noods). I’m sure there are other pairings that would’ve suited the meal better, but we were already feeling a little over our heads with following one recipe.
We paired it with a quick green salad and called it dinner. No photos (we were too busy enjoying it) but trust me, it was a hit with the whole family.
What I’m Taking Away
This whole experience—the cooking, the movie, the project—reminded me of some big truths:
- You’re never too old and it’s never too late. Julia found her path well into her 40s.
- Progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it hurts. But it’s still moving.
- Support matters. Having someone believe in you changes everything.
And maybe the biggest reminder came via Spotify from a line in Vienna by Billy Joel that’s been echoing in my head ever since:
“You can get what you want, or you can just get old.”
I meeeannn, right?!?!
The time will pass no matter what. So you might as well go after what lights you up.
Whether you’re launching something new, rediscovering an old passion, or just figuring out who you are now… I hope this is the reminder you need:
You’re not behind. You’re right on time. And like Julia, your story is far from over.
xx,
Kelly