Latest news with #Groskopf
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Type C parenting is taking over TikTok and what it says about parenting today
If you've 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, you might just be a Type C parent. The term, popularized by TikTok creator Ashleigh Surratt, is resonating with millions of parents online. Her viral video capturing the chaotic-yet-capable nature of this parenting personality has racked up over 4.5 million views, with other creators jumping in to share their own "Type C" moments. One mom confessed she was already planning her 3-month-old's first birthday party, while another showed off her well-stocked first aid kit, right before admitting she was too tired to make the bed. It's content that feels incredibly real for modern parents trying to balance it all, without pretending to have it all together. Most of us are familiar with the classic Type A and Type B personality types. Type A is highly organized, structured and punctual. Type B tends to be more relaxed, spontaneous and flexible. Type C parents? They're a mashup of both, often juggling the intensity of Type A energy with the messy realities of everyday life. "Being a Type C mom is the worst because in your soul you're Type A but life never lets you get there," one commenter joked. Marriage and family therapist Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC, told "Good Morning America" this parenting style is intentional, not accidental. "You're choosing to loosen up in certain areas -- maybe the house isn't spotless, maybe dinner's frozen -- because you've realized that connection matters more than control," Groskopf said. "You still care. You're still showing up, just in a way that actually works for your real life." Tara Clark, podcast host and creator of Modern Mom Probs on Instagram, told "GMA" the Type C trend resonates deeply with her. "I can proudly say that I am a Type C because it's a more realistic approach and allows us to be human," she said. "No parent is perfect. No child is perfect. Being Type C allows for that flexibility. Of course, we have high standards but not at the cost of our child's mental health or our own." 'Maycember' is real: Here's how parents are surviving the chaos Clark added that she's experienced both ends of the spectrum. "When my son was a toddler, I was a total helicopter mom," she said. "Over time, I realized that it wasn't sustainable or healthy for either of us. Now, I am more laid-back in my approach and prioritize empowering my child. My favorite motto is 'step back, so they can step in.' It really strengthened our relationship and improved my confidence as a parent." She admitted she still experiences moments of uncertainty. "I've always had a strong handle on my son's schedule and commitments, but I definitely feel like I'm winging it when it comes to puberty, the tween dynamic, and that middle school life," she said. It's easy to confuse a laid-back parenting approach with being overwhelmed or checked out, but Groskopf said there's a critical difference. "This comes down to one thing," she said. "Are you letting go on purpose, or because you're out of fuel?" She continued, "Type C parenting is about choosing what matters and letting the rest be good enough. Burnout, on the other hand, is when you're so emotionally and physically depleted that even the basics feel impossible. You're not lowering the bar for peace, you're barely keeping your head above water." The simplest way to tell? "Can you still show up emotionally? If you're still connecting and responding with care, even when it's messy, that's Type C," Groskopf said. "If you feel numb or like you're disappearing, that's burnout." Groskopf said the magic of Type C parenting lies in balancing consistency with compassion. "Structure tells kids, 'You're safe. I've got you.' Emotional flexibility tells them, 'You're allowed to be human.' When you blend both, kids learn they don't have to be perfect to be loved, and that builds real trust." Too much structure without empathy can lead to shame or anxiety. Too much flexibility without predictability can create confusion. "The balance teaches kids that the world can be unpredictable and still safe," Groskopf said. "You're not raising a robot. You're raising a human who knows how to adapt, feel and stay connected, because they saw you do it." Feeling like you're stuck between who you want to be and who you actually are as a parent? That's normal. And according to Groskopf, it's something to honor, not fight. "If you're someone who thrives on order and control, parenting can feel like constant failure," she said. "But you're not failing, you're in a new season that requires different tools." Her advice? Grieve the fantasy of what you thought parenting would look like. "Letting go of that fantasy doesn't mean you're giving up," she said. "It means you're making space for what's real in the moment." That doesn't mean giving up your strengths. "Your Type A side doesn't have to disappear," she said. "Let it help where it helps, making systems, solving problems, but don't let it run the whole show. Blend it with compassion and flexibility." Type C parenting isn't a failure or a fallback, it's often the most balanced approach of all. It's about creating safety without rigidity, showing up without burning out, and giving your kids (and yourself) room to be real. As Groskopf put it, "Think of it as a mix of intentional structure and emotional flexibility, which, by the way, is basically the holy grail of good-enough parenting." So if your laundry is still in the dryer, your kid's bedtime is nonnegotiable, and you're surviving on snacks and grace? Congratulations. You might just be a Type C parent, and you're doing better than you think. Why Type C parenting is taking over TikTok and what it says about parenting today originally appeared on
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bridesmaid Applauded for Outburst at Bachelorette That Got Wedding Canceled
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What was supposed to be a celebratory bachelorette party turned into the breaking point of a years-long toxic relationship—and now the internet is rallying behind the woman who spoke up. In a viral Reddit post, a 27-year-old woman shared how her outburst at her best friend's bachelorette party led to the wedding being called off—and possibly saved her friend from an emotionally abusive marriage. Since the post was published, it has already received 37,000 upvotes. Newsweek spoke to marriage and family Therapist and professional clinical counselor, Cheryl Groskopf, about the situation and whether or not the poster did, indeed, save the day by "ruining" it. Two friends argue in a kitchen. Two friends argue in a kitchen. shironosov/Getty Images The poster, who's been best friends with the bride-to-be for years, described her growing concerns about her friend's fiancé. "Honestly, he is a walking red flag," she wrote. "He is super controlling, jealous and always checking her location. Once, he called her nine times while we were just shopping at Target." Her friend always brushed off the behavior, saying her partner acted that way because he "cares so much." But at the bachelorette party, things escalated. He reportedly texted, FaceTimed and accused her of "acting single," disrupting what should've been a carefree night. She left the table multiple times, crying and apologizing to him. After the fourth interruption, her best friend finally snapped. "When she came back, I said loud enough for the whole table to hear, 'You are not marrying a husband, you are signing up for a lifetime of being babysat by a jealous man-child,'" the poster wrote. Her friend then ran out in tears. But that night, the bride's mom actually called the woman to thank her. "Apparently, they have all been worried... but did not know how to stop the wedding," she wrote. Her friend's parents then told her they would not pay for the wedding if she went ahead. Now, the former-bride has blocked her ex-fiancé, moved out of their shared apartment and returned to her parents' home. She also blocked her best friend—for now. Reddit comments came in with strong support: "No good deed goes unpunished," one person wrote. "You did the right thing. She was going to be in for a lifetime of misery. But that doesn't mean she is going to like you for it." "If your friendship with her is true, she'll realize you did the right thing," another shared. "You were right. She was signing up for years of abuse." An Expert Opinion Groskopf told Newsweek the behavior described in the post fits a pattern she often sees in controlling relationships. "Controlling or emotionally abusive relationships don't always start loud and obvious," Groskopf explained. "Often, they look like constant 'check-ins' that are really surveillance. Like in this post—FaceTiming repeatedly, needing proof she's 'not acting single,' that's not love. That's fear and control dressed up as concern." She added, "If someone's whole life starts shrinking around their partner's needs, that's a red flag. The nervous system literally stays in a state of survival—walking on eggshells, trying not to 'cause' another outburst." While Groskopf doesn't recommend public confrontations as the first step, she acknowledged that "sometimes honesty cuts through the fog." As for what to do now that the ex-bride has gone no-contact with her former best friend, Groskopf recommended gentleness and patience. "Don't force the door open," she said. "Leave it cracked with warmth and zero pressure." Newsweek reached out to u/FrostGlistenss for comment via Reddit.
