What is Type C parenting? Everything you need to know about the parenting trend

Parenting is no cakewalk. Every day is a new challenge. Though there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to parenting, it is crucial to find a balance that works for both parent and child. So, are you the good cop or the bad cop in parenting? Type A and type B parenting styles may work for some, but they’re certainly not for everyone. That’s where a new parenting style - Type C is taking the internet by storm. Here is everything you need to know about Type C parenting, which has TikTok gushing about.

Type C parenting grabbed eyeballs Ashleigh Surratt, a mom of three, posted a humorous video depicting how chaotic-yet-capable Type C parenting moment. Have you ever found your kid's favorite shirt in the dryer, rinsed a single fork for dinner, or scheduled nap time like your life depended on it while forgetting where your debit card is? Well, you might just be a Type C parent! The video exploded with over 4 million views, and many creators shared their own Type C moments. These videos spoke about parents feeling the pressure to be perfect while embracing their imperfections, making Type C a modern version of parenting.

Think of type C parents as the best of both worlds. They blend the structure of Type A (organized, punctual) and the flexibility of Type B (relaxed, spontaneous). There is discipline, but there isn’t the baggage of perfection. They strive for order but adapt when life intervenes. Speaking about how she coined the term, Surratt, in a video shared on Instagram,said, “I have a confession to make. The type C mom is not real, I made it up. I just figured that if type A are the moms who have the labeled bins and the beautiful snacky packs, and type B are the moms who let their kids play in the splash pad in their clothes, and maybe forgot their shoes, and their cars are wrecked. Then maybe A+ B = C.”

She further spoke about how she thought about this ‘strange anomaly’, but it received a great response from parents across the globe. “I coined the term type C mom. She's the one with the planners and the pile of laundry. She's the one with the organized shoe bucket, but you can never find socks, whatever. She's the combination of really type A at some things and really type B at other things,” she said.

Type C parenting mirrors the realities of modern life, where balance is tough. People are embracing this style of parenting for its flexibility without abandoning standards. This parenting combines structure with emotional flexibility. While structure reassures kids, flexibility teaches them it’s OK to be human. The influencer added, "If you resonate with this content, you're not a bad mom. You're not a mess. You're not failing. You're actually in really, really great company. And I think a strength of ours is we've learned to hold what's important and kind of let go of the things that don't matter."