There’s a version of parenting most people don’t talk about.
It doesn’t involve craft kits, gentle voices, or planned teachable moments. It’s not something you’d record for family videos. It’s the one that happens when you’re too tired to be the parent you thought you would be.
You’re getting through the day, but everything feels heavier than it should. You’re making decisions on autopilot. You’re responding with silence, because finding words feels like a task.
Your child still needs you. And that’s the part that stings a bit. Not because you don’t care, but because you do.
This version of parenting asks a different kind of effort. One that doesn’t rely on energy. One that works even when you’re flat.
Here are a few things that help.
Lower the bar
Not permanently. Just for now. Some days will not match your ideals. Trying to meet yesterday’s standard with today’s energy is a fast way to lose your footing. Choose something simpler. A meal. A kind tone. A door closed gently. Let that be enough.
Choose one thing and do it slowly
When everything feels like too much, don’t do everything. Pick one thing. Sit beside your child. Say less. Stay close. You don’t have to fix the moment. Just be there for it.
Don’t perform
You don’t need to smile through it. You don’t need to say all the right things. Your child isn’t looking for polish. They’re looking for presence. And even quiet presence registers.
Tell the truth
You can say, “I’m tired. I’m here.” You can say, “I’m going to sit with you, but I might not talk much.” Your child won’t interpret that as failure. They’ll understand it as safety.
Tired parenting can still be connected parenting. Not flashy. Not full of strategies. But real.
If you want something to lean on in these moments, the course Making Sense of Anxious Children offers a clear way of understanding what’s going on beneath the behaviour. Not to fix things quickly, but to help you find your footing when you’re not at your best.
You can explore it at huddlewisdom.com
EPISODE 140: https://www.huddlewisdom.com/podcasts/the-huddle-wisdom-podcast/episodes/2149037515
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