A Letter To the Parents in a Hard Season

To the Parents in a Hard Season,

If you’re reading this with tired eyes and a heavy heart—this post is for you. Parenting is beautiful, yes. But it’s also exhausting, overwhelming, and at times, incredibly lonely—especially in the harder seasons.

Here’s some lessons and gentle advice I’ve clung to when things felt like too much:

1. Just survive today. That’s enough.
There will be days when it feels like all you’ve done is keep everyone alive—and that is an accomplishment. Survival mode isn’t a failure; it’s a response to overwhelm and burnout. Let go of the pressure to thrive or “do it all.” Besides, no one can function their best while navigating sleep deprivation. Today, breathing, feeding, soothing, and just making it to bedtime is more than enough.

2. Give yourself so much grace.
Don’t make things harder on yourself by being critical and judgmental during this time. This isn’t the time for your most motivated and productive self. This is the time to be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can with what you have. Give yourself permission to not have all the answers. No one actually knows what they are doing. Rest when you can. Let go of guilt. Grace softens the hard edges of this season.

3. This is a season. It won’t always feel like this.
It’s easy to forget that hard moments are temporary when you’re in the thick of them. But just like every season changes, this one will too. There will be laughter and joy again. Lightness. More sleep. More ease. Hold on to the truth that you won’t always feel this stretched thin.

4. Trust your gut over anyone else’s advice.
Everyone will have opinions on how you should parent—but your intuition is your superpower. Don’t take someone else’s unsolicited advice as a sign that you’re doing something wrong. You know your child, your family, and your values better than anyone. Take in what’s helpful and leave the rest. Set a boundary where you need to (and remember if someone responds poorly to your boundary, that’s a sign your boundary was overdue). Your instincts are valid. You’re the expert on your life.

5. Pay attention to how people make you feel during this time.
Hard seasons are revealing. Some people will show up with empathy and support. Others might criticize, compare, or quietly disappear. Protect your peace. Keep the ones who feel safe and supportive. Let go of the ones who drain you—you don’t owe anyone access to your most vulnerable moments.

Whatever season you’re in—I hope you remember you’re not alone, and you are doing better than you think. You are showing up, loving hard, and giving your all. That matters more than anything.

Sending you all my love!!!!! We got this.