May Rock n’ Roll Keep You Young in 2026

I rarely get writer’s block, but on New Year’s Eve, as I reflected on the past year, I felt stuck. To be honest, 2025 felt harder and more difficult than 2024 for me, as both a daughter of aging parents and a mother of two sons, ages 13 and 11. There were fewer “mommy and me” moments, and certainly no holiday renditions of “12 Days of Christmas” that I could share on my Instagram stories (because my older son thinks that’s “cringe”).

So as I started thinking about my annual New Year’s post, I wondered, what could I say that would resonate with the rock n’ roll parents who read Rockmommy? How on Earth could I say something inspiring when I felt so “blah” during the holidays, navigating complex family dynamics and my own midlife crisis?

The answer came when I finally quieted my mind.

Rock n’ roll.

I don’t know if I discovered creative life so much as it saved me. From the moment I picked up my first guitar as a college freshman at University of Maryland, even before pursuing a career as a journalist (and arts writer), the rock n’ roll path I chose continually brought me more and more happiness. It is, essentially, what keeps me young. This year alone, I accomplished some major rockstar feats:

• I played shows that 20-year-old me would have died to play (including a huge state event, Hartbeat Fest, with my band, and CTGB Night, alongside members of Guster, Talking Heads, and others.
• Nearly 100K readers enjoyed Rockmommy interviews, gear reviews, and news dispatches from this little blog I started when I became a mom in 2012. We interviewed some incredible artists (and parents) this year, including Liz Longley, Scott Hoying of The Pentatonix, and Ana Popovic.
• My all-parent punk band band Trashing Violet put out two singles — “Strike Gold” and “Glow”
• I spent months recording a tribute to my mother, “Shalimar,” which dropped in December and may be the song I am most proud of;
• My kids are happy, healthy, and figuring out who they are and what they love (even if it has nothing to do with rock n’ roll … yet). I took my oldest son to see Kendrick Lamar in May, which was awesome, and my youngest son to Summer Slam.
• My family enjoyed an amazing trip to London and Paris in April, which had so many rock n’ roll moments from Abbey Road to the Montmartre district.

When I’m in the moment, singing and playing my guitar, I forget how old I am. I feel 16, actually, in a way I never felt when I was actually 16. Jamming with so many incredible musicians over the last 12 months in concert halls and backyards was a constant reminder of that — and I am so grateful for it.

So here’s to an awesome 2026! May rock n’ roll keep you young, and keep you inspired even on the toughest days. And stay tuned — we have a ton of incredible content and interviews planned this year on Rockmommy.