Learning to Parent the Child You Have, Not the Child You Expected

Learning to Parent the Child You Have, Not the Child You Expected

From AT Parenting Survival | Raising Kids with OCD & Anxiety by Natasha Daniels: Child Therapist, Child Anxiety and Child OCD Expert

July 7, 2026 · 52 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how to parent the child you have rather than the child you expected, addressing grief, societal pressures, and the importance of acceptance in parenting.

Every parent begins their journey with hopes and expectations. We imagine what family life will look like, what milestones our children will reach, and the experiences we’ll share together. But when anxiety, OCD, autism, ADHD, chronic illness, or other challenges change that picture, many parents find themselves quietly grieving the life they thought they’d have. In this episode, we talk about the difference between grieving and getting stuck in grief . You’ll learn why it’s okay to mourn the expectations you once held, how societal pressures and comparisons can make parenting even harder, and why clinging to artificial timelines often creates unnecessary stress for both you and your child. We’ll also explore what it means to truly parent the child in front of you, not the child you imagined. Every child needs something different, and learning when to gently push, when to pause, and how to adjust your approach can transform your relationship and help your child thrive. Ultimately, our goal isn’t to raise children who check every box or meet every milestone on someone else’s schedule. It’s to raise children who feel empowered, heard, loved, and willing to keep trying, even when…

People in this episode

Host: Natasha Daniels

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