Why Type C parenting is taking over TikTok and what it says about parenting today
If you're surviving on snacks and grace, you might just be a Type C parent.
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.
What is a Type C parent, exactly?
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."
Why so many parents identify with it
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."
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.
Type C vs. burnout: What's the difference?
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."
Why structure and emotional flexibility work
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."
What to do with that 'Type A in a Type C World' tension
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.
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