Essential Parenting Strategies

You’re running late. Again. The toast is burnt. Someone’s crying. The dog ate the homework. I’ve been there. More times than I care to count.

You’re sitting at the table. Everyone’s got a phone in hand. Even the kid is scrolling TikTok instead of asking about your day. That silence isn’t peace.

I’m standing in the kitchen at 7:43 a.m. Coffee’s cold. Lunchboxes are half-packed. My kid just asked if socks count as pants. You know that feeling.

That sinking feeling in your stomach right before you say, “We need to talk about Mom’s care.” You know the one. The knot behind your ribs.

You’re sitting at dinner. Phones glow. Silence hangs. Someone sighs. You wonder if this is normal. It’s not. Families know they should talk more.

You’re standing in the kitchen at 7:47 a.m. Shoes are missing. Someone’s crying. Toast is burning.

You dropped a juice box. Again. The dog is barking. The toddler just drew on the wall. And someone. Probably your oldest. Is yelling about broccoli.

You’re sitting at the dinner table. Everyone’s here. But no one’s really here. I’ve watched this happen hundreds of times. Same house. Same people.

You’re sitting at the table. Someone says something. Someone else flinches. No one actually hears what was said.

You’re exhausted. Not the good tired after a hike. The kind where you stare at the fridge and forget why you opened it. I’ve been there.