Let’s be honest: most parents don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “I can’t wait to lose my sh!t and scream at my kids today!” But then… shoes don’t magically go on feet, snack wrappers are left on the floor like confetti, and your toddler is asking for water for the fifteenth time after you put them to bed. Suddenly, you’re yelling. Again.

Ah, the age of two. That magical time when your child transforms from an adorable, babbling toddler into a pint-sized lawyer who negotiates bedtime like it’s a high-stakes courtroom battle. Welcome to the Terrible Twos, and let’s keep it so real — sometimes, it feels like there’s nothing terrific about them.

Parenting after a separation or divorce can feel overwhelming. On top of managing your own emotions, you’re now faced with figuring out how to raise your children with someone you no longer share a household — or maybe even a decent relationship — with. For many families, this means exploring two main approaches: co-parenting and parallel parenting.

If you’ve ever heard the term “gentle parenting,” you might have rolled your eyes a little. “Oh, so you just let your kid do whatever they want?” That’s the most common misconception — and it’s far from the truth. Let’s get real: gentle parenting isn’t permissive parenting. It’s not about spoiling your kids, letting them run the show, or pretending consequences don’t exist. Instead, it’s about being firm, consistent, and authoritative — while also being empathetic and respectful. (Because yes, even children are deserving of respect).

Death is one of the hardest topics for anyone to face — especially when it comes to explaining it to our children. You want to be honest, but you also want to protect them. You want to answer their questions, but sometimes even you don’t have all the answers. Here’s the good news: talking to children about death is possible, and doing it in a thoughtful, supportive way can help them process their feelings and feel safe.

Let’s be honest—setting boundaries with family can feel impossible. Coworkers? Doable. Friends? Easier. But family? That’s where the guilt creeps in. That’s where you hear the “but we’re family” line. And that’s when you feel torn between protecting your own peace and not wanting to upset the people you love. Here’s the truth, though: boundaries aren’t walls meant to completely block people out (though sometimes, they can be). They’re doors that we can open and close as we see fit. They’re a way of saying, “This is how I can stay connected to you in a healthy way, without losing myself in the process.”

If you’re reading this, chances are you know exactly what “default parent” means — because you are one. You’re the one who gets the phone call from school when the kid is sick. The one who knows which stuffed animal absolutely must be in bed at night or all hell breaks loose. The one who remembers when the dentist appointments are, who actually notices the milk is running low, and who knows the difference between the “blue cup” and the “other blue cup.” Sound familiar? Yeah. That’s default parent life.