PlanetParent was born from a need to make parenting easier, providing a safe space for parents to express themselves and share their trials and tribulations with others.

Parenting Is Hard

No one really comes out and just says it. You often hear that “it’s all worth it in the end,” implying that it’s not always smooth sailing, but rarely do people acknowledge how hard it really is. Parenting is a journey full of phases: teething, toddlers, tweens, teenagers, and beyond. Each phase brings its own challenges.

Yes, it is “fulfilling,” but there are also days where you feel inadequate or overwhelmed. Your teenager’s moodiness may leave you questioning everything, or your toddler’s illness might bring you to tears as you try to comfort them. The juggling act of work, family, and mental health can feel impossible at times, leaving you worried about the future.

Then there are the days when your child throws a tantrum that makes you envy their ability to completely lose control, without worrying about being judged. As parents, the fear of being judged often looms large, but it’s important to remember: no one is in your shoes, living your journey.

What Does This Have to Do with PlanetParent?

I grew up wanting a large family (influenced, perhaps, by too many episodes of The Waltons). I planned to be the perfect mom with an amazing family, but reality has been far from the ideal I imagined.

Mental health was not something we talked about in my childhood. We were expected to get over things quickly. My parents loved me, but they didn’t concern themselves with my mental well-being. As a mother, I wanted to do things differently. I married someone who shared my values, and we aimed to raise our children mindfully. But things didn’t quite go as planned.

Reality Hits

At 34, I was pregnant and believed I had it all figured out. I had a stressful job, but I thought I could handle everything—career, motherhood, sanity. I made my lists, found a day-mother for my daughter, and prepared for everything to be perfectly organised. But nothing went to plan.

I love my child endlessly, but do I always like them? No. Do I keep trying to be a better parent? Yes. Do I make mistakes? Absolutely. And so, here we are.

PlanetParent: Making Parenting Easier

This site was created to make parenting easier. No matter the age of your children, there are always new challenges, and I want PlanetParent to be a space for those of us who feel like we’ve landed on an alien planet, unsure of what comes next.

In today's world, parents are often isolated from one another, unable to share their experiences. PlanetParent is here to bring parents together—a tribe where we can share our stories, support systems, and learn from each other. Parenting isn’t always neat or perfect, but it’s real.

Adapt or Die

Seventeen years into my parenting journey, I’ve realised the importance of support. We no longer gather around campfires to share stories, but we need to support each other in new ways. A sense of humour has been my key to survival, and PlanetParent is where we can share our authentic stories.

Whether you have a parenting journey that didn’t go as planned, or everything worked out, we want to hear from you. Visit PlanetParent today to share your story.

So, here I am with my immunocompromised, bi-polar, autistic, ADHD, LGBTQ+, part-atheist, part-menopausal family, doing our thing. We’re anything but typical, but we’re surviving. And if you’re willing to share your ups and downs, buckle up—because it’s liftoff, destination unknown.

NPC (Non-Player Character)

“NPC” stands for Non-Player Character, used metaphorically to describe someone perceived as lacking independent thought or following trends blindly.

PS: Should your story have worked out as planned, we want to learn from you too! Visit PlanetParent today.

Press Release Submitted By:

PlanetParent
Website: planetparent.co.za

Total Words: 707

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