💬 Parenting Out Loud: The Hardest Part No One Warns You About
Which part of parenting has challenged you in ways you didn’t see coming?
Before becoming a parent, you might have expected sleepless nights, temper tantrums, and endless laundry. But what about the things no one warned you about—the challenges that took you by surprise? Maybe it’s the guilt of making tough decisions, the ache of watching them struggle, or the unexpected moments of loneliness.
What’s been the biggest ‘I was NOT prepared for this’ moment in your parenting journey?
💬 Share your story in the comments. Whether it’s something you’re still navigating or something you’ve made peace with, your experience might be exactly what another parent needs to hear today.
📌 I’ll share mine in a pinned comment to kick things off—feel free to relate, push back, or tell me I’m being dramatic.
What’s surprised me most about parenting is how completely it’s swallowed my solitude. I knew it would take time and energy, but I didn’t expect how little space would be left just to exist—to sit in my own thoughts without being needed. As someone who recharges in silence, I’ve been caught off guard by how much I crave it. It’s not just the hours spent actively parenting; it’s the constant hum of responsibility, the feeling that even when I’m alone, I’m never really off the clock.
My friend Todd Kashdan recently wrote a powerful piece on the emotions tied to craving kid-free solitude, and it hit me deep—https://toddkashdan.substack.com/p/the-tender-solitude-of-parenthood.
I'll choose to make this light.
It’s 2 a.m., and I’m feeling like a top dad doing my share—baby wakes up, I do the whole routine: nappy change, bottle. Nailed it.
Then… that sound. A deep, ominous rumble. Fine. I change her again, back to feeding her.
And then I feel it. Warm. Spreading. On my arm and my hand, my PJ's.
I forgot to put a new nappy on.🤦
No nappy. Just free-range poop.
Next thing I know, it’s 2:30 a.m., and we’re both having a bath, while I question every life choice that led me here.