

This Is Not What I Was Expecting
Parent Alliance
If you've ever looked around at other parents and wondered, "How is everyone else making this look easy?" you're in the right place.
We're a group of (mostly) moms who get together every other week to talk honestly about what parenting is really like. Not the polished version. The real version.
Maybe you're trying to figure out bedtime, screen time, homework, sibling conflicts, or how your child can somehow be starving and refuse every food in the house at the same time. Maybe you're carrying the endless mental load of parenting, the forms, the calendars, the school emails, the appointments, and all the things you're afraid you'll forget.
And maybe on top of all that, you're parenting a kiddo with behavioral challenges, anxiety, or other needs that people don't always understand. Which means you're not just parenting, you're also keeping track of medication refills, IEP meetings, therapy appointments, insurance headaches, and everything else that comes with advocating for your child.
That's why we're here.
We share our stories, what we've learned, what we're still learning, and the things other parents don't always talk about out loud. We laugh together, vent about broken systems, celebrate the smallest victories, and remind each other that we're not alone.
Because parenting isn't always what we expected. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can hear is, "Me too."
So pull up a chair. You're among people who get it. You belong here.
- 20 episodes
- fortnightly
- Avg 35 min
- English
#113Thursday · 27 min
#107October 22 · 51 minLiving With Adult Kids: Boundaries, Money, and Letting Go
#109October 11 · 43 minThe Friendships you Lose and the One You Find
#112September 24 · 37 minWhen to Step Back and Let Your Teen Figure It Out
#111September 3 · 34 minWhen Your Kid Is Melting Down and You’re About to Lose It Too
#110August 20 · 31 minHow To Speak Up For Your Child Without Feeling Like That Parent
#108July 9 · 49 minWhat's for Dinner? Why This One Question Feels So Overwhelming
#106June 4 · 47 minThe Parenting Badges We Wish Existed
#105May 21 · 28 minWhen Your Family Doesn't Understand Your Child's Struggles
#104May 7 · 49 minYour Child Was Excluded by Another Parent… Now What?
#103April 23 · 41 minWhat If Your Kids Don't Remember The Things You Feel Guilty About?

#101March 26 · 32 minThe High Cost of Being a Good Parent Right Now
#100March 14 · 33 minWhen Your Life Is a Dumpster Fire But You Still Have to Be a Mom
#99February 26 · 11 minWhy is parenting my teen harder than I expected?
#98February 12 · 28 minThe IEP Says They’re Fine — But Real Life Is Telling a Different Story
#97January 29 · 36 minWhen Everyone's Needs Are Urgent and Yours Are Always Last
#96January 15 · 29 minExtended School Year: What Parents Should Be Thinking About Now
#95Dec 31, 2025 · 30 minParenting Is Problem-Solving Until You’re Allowed to Sleep
#94Dec 18, 2025 · 36 minGrab a Pen. We're Taking a Break