Parenting is never easy—but when you’re doing it differently, it can feel downright impossible. Add running a business to the mix, and suddenly you’re juggling tantrums, staff call-outs, and the never-ending pile of laundry. In the thick of it, love often feels lost in the chaos, and it’s hard to know if you’re even doing it right. But every so often, a small gesture—a hug, a scribbled love note—reminds you why you keep going. This poem is for every parent who’s ever felt unseen, overwhelmed, or unsure, yet still burns with the fierce desire to give their children the very best. If you’ve ever wondered if your “different way” is worth it, read on. You’re not alone.
Parenting Outside the Lines
It’s hard to stand out, to walk a different way,
When every day feels like a battle, the world in disarray.
Regulating emotions, sweeping up the mess,
Tidying chaos, cleaning—though it’s never quite success.
A cry for “Hungry!” or siblings at war,
The hours stretch long, the minutes feel raw.
Add to this tangle a business to run,
Staff calling in sick, deadlines undone.
Products need listing, the website’s a chore,
Worries about money, the future unsure.
A slave to the children, a slave to the work,
No time to breathe, no time to lurk.
Yet deep in your core, a fire burns bright—
To offer your children the very best life.
No one else could do it, at least not the same,
Though half the time you wonder if you’re enough.
Love feels unrequited, lost in the fray,
Years pass in a blur, just making it through the day.
But then comes a shift—a hug, a small note,
A heart-shaped card, a hand to hold close.
The tide turns gently, the love starts to show,
You realise those tough days were worth every blow.
They said you’d miss the years, the chaos, the cries,
But you’re still in the thick, and nothing feels missed.
Home education, together each day,
No network to lean on, no break on the way.
Perhaps you miss only when someone is gone,
But as long as you’re here, you’re growing along.
Through all the mess and the love unreturned,
You’re raising a family, a fire that’s sustained.
So here’s to the parents who walk their own road,
Whose love is relentless, whose hearts overflow.
You may not feel perfect, but you’re more than enough—
For your children, your world, and the life that is tough.
And when the tide shifts and the love starts to show,
You’ll know every struggle was worth letting go.
Gentle Parent 