Why the Parents Who Cope Best Expect Their Plans to Fall Apart

Does it seem like everyone else got the parenting manual except you? When real life didn’t match your expectations, you can feel exhausted, behind, or guilty. Instead of telling you to plan better, reframe what’s actually happening: parenting is inherently unpredictable. Stop treating every pivot as a personal shortcoming and start building the kind of flexibility that lowers anxiety, reduces burnout, and makes parenting feel survivable again.