Real Parenting in a Digital Age

Danielle Brooks

Welcome to Raising Happy Kids — The first episode. I'm so excited this! The podcast that cuts through the noise and gets real about what it takes to raise strong, confident, emotionally healthy kids in today’s world. We’re your hosts — I’m Danielle

Mike Donnelly

I'm Mike. Really Happy to be your co-host. This Podcast is really needed. Let’s face it, parenting isn’t exactly a highlight reel. It’s more like a bloopers reel most of the time.

Danielle Brooks

You said it right! And whether it’s navigating bedtime meltdowns or figuring out those endless lunchbox battles, we’re here to unpack the good, the messy, and everything in between.

Mike Donnelly

hummm And don’t forget the part where you spend 20 minutes cutting sandwiches into perfect little dinosaur shapes, only for the kid to say, “I don’t like it!”

Danielle Brooks

Oh, I feel that pain. But honestly, it’s moments like those that make parenting so humbling, right?

Mike Donnelly

Uh, I think “humbling” is just a nice way of saying, “exhausting.”

Danielle Brooks

True, but that’s why we’re here—to remind parents they don’t have to be perfect, just present. Perfection is such a trap, especially in this digital age where everyone seems like they’ve got it all together.

Mike Donnelly

hummm As if the Pinterest moms and TikTok dads really have spreadsheets for everything. I mean, maybe they do. But for the rest of us normal folks, it’s… trial, error, repeat. Mostly error.

Danielle Brooks

And that’s perfectly okay! Parenting, like everything else worth doing, is a learning process. So in today’s episode, we’ll dive into how to let go of perfection, focus on connection, and rediscover what really matters.

Mike Donnelly

You know, speaking of letting go of perfection, sometimes I feel like social media turns parenting into an Olympic event—who can look the best while handling the chaos?

Danielle Brooks

Oh, completely! It’s like everyone’s life is this perfectly edited highlight reel, and it can really mess with your confidence as a parent.

Mike Donnelly

Definitely. I mean, one time my kids asked why their breakfast didn’t look “Instagram-worthy.” And I’m standing there with my pancakes that—okay, yeah, maybe they were slightly burnt—and they’re asking why I didn’t make a face out of blueberries and whipped cream. Like, where did that bar even come from?

Mike Donnelly

So I told them, “Listen, pancakes should taste good—not double as abstract art.” And then I may or may not have drawn a smiley face with ketchup on the eggs to prove my point.

Danielle Brooks

Well, at least you got creative! But seriously, this comparison culture is tough. Social media makes you feel like you’re failing if your kid’s outfit doesn’t match their backpack or if their lunch isn’t some color-coded masterpiece. It’s exhausting.

Mike Donnelly

Ahhh don’t even get me started on those “day-in-the-life” videos of these super-parents who, apparently, wake up at 5 a.m., juice vegetables, do Pilates, and still have time to homeschool their kids while running a small business. Are they even real?

Danielle Brooks

I don’t think so. But the problem is, even if we know it’s not real, it still plants this seed of self-doubt. You start asking yourself if you’re doing enough—or even worse, if you’re enough.

Mike Donnelly

Yeah, like, “Am I too strict? Am I too lenient? Are the kids watching too much TV? Should I be teaching them coding?” It’s like an endless quiz you’re doomed to fail.

Danielle Brooks

Exactly. And here’s the truth most of us forget while we’re spiraling: Our kids don’t want perfect parents, they just want real ones. They need connection, not curated content.

Mike Donnelly

Well, they’re getting 100% real from me. Yesterday, my son told me I “failed” because his ham sandwich didn’t have a pick in it. A pick! I didn’t even know toothpicks had grades.

Danielle Brooks

Ohhhh my gosh that’s classic parenting—showing up, doing your best, and sometimes being school-lunch shamed. Honestly, I wish we talked more about what’s behind all this anxiety. It’s not just the routines we see, it’s the pressure to always project the perfect family, the perfect life.

Mike Donnelly

Yeah. And the irony? The more you chase that perfection, the less you actually connect with your kids. You’re too busy staging the moment to actually live it.

Danielle Brooks

Like you said, the more we chase perfection, the further we get from what really matters. Kids don’t need picture-perfect moments—they need connection, safety, structure, and love. Those basics never change, but we’re experts at overcomplicating them, aren’t we?

Mike Donnelly

Overcomplicate is right. Sometimes it feels like we forget kids don’t need Pinterest boards, you know? They need parents who can find the socks that match. Or, I mean, at least one sock. A close match is fine.

Danielle Brooks

A close match counts! But seriously, isn’t it wild how all the technology and information we have now can make those basics feel less clear? Like, we’re bombarded by advice columns and trending techniques, and you lose sight of what really anchors your relationship with your kids.

Mike Donnelly

Yeah, and that anchor isn’t—or shouldn’t be—a Wi-Fi connection. I’m learning my kids just want me to show up, not scroll up. The little things seem to matter more, like, just… being there.

Danielle Brooks

Right. And showing up isn’t the same as being perfect. It’s about being real, because kids can spot fake from a mile away. That’s what makes all those little moments—like apologizing, or making time to listen—so powerful.

Mike Donnelly

Totally. Although, to be fair, listening sometimes means you’re enduring an hour-long retelling of their Minecraft adventures. But hey, showing interest in their worlds is part of the job, right?

Danielle Brooks

Exactly. I actually know a single mom who really leaned into that when her family went through a big move. They had to rebuild everything from scratch—new school, new routines, all of it. But she made it work by focusing on one thing: connection. Every evening, she’d sit with her son, no matter how stressful her day had been, and just talk. About his day, his feelings, whatever was on his mind.

Mike Donnelly

Wow, she sounds like a rockstar. I mean, let’s be honest, when my kids start telling me about their day, half the time I get “fine” or “nothing happened.”

Danielle Brooks

Oh, that’s part of the process, Mike. Kids open up when they feel safe—and safety isn’t just about physical protection. It’s emotional too. It’s knowing you’re their safe space, no matter what.

Mike Donnelly

Yeah, but then there’s the “space to grow” part, which is hard! Like, when my daughter said she wanted to walk to school alone for the first time. Talk about a dad meltdown. I wanted to say, “Nope, I’ll drop you off till you’re 25.” But I knew giving her that independence mattered more than my nerves.

Danielle Brooks

That’s such a good example of balance—being present and supportive, while letting them spread their wings. It’s not easy, but it’s so important.

Mike Donnelly

And it feels a little ridiculous sometimes, doesn’t it? Like, you know letting go is good for them, but you’re standing there thinking, “Please don’t fall, and also don’t hate me if I hover just a little longer.”

Danielle Brooks

Oh, absolutely. But that’s it—the magic lies in the effort, not the perfection. Our kids don’t need us to have it all figured out. They just need to trust that we’re trying, flaws and all.

Mike Donnelly

And that’s good, because, well, if the job requirement was perfection, I’d have been fired a long time ago.

Mike Donnelly

Danielle, you’ve got me thinking—if perfection were the job description, I’d have been fired, no contest. But seriously, why do we still feel like we’ve got to act like we’re nailing this parenting thing 100% of the time? Isn’t the whole “perfect parent” idea just… impossible?

Danielle Brooks

Absolutely impossible. And honestly, it’s never been about perfection anyway. It’s about showing up, trying your best, and when you mess up, admitting it. That’s where the real magic happens—when we’re human with our kids.

Mike Donnelly

Okay, I have to ask—have you ever had one of those epic “parent fail” moments where you had to, you know, like, hit the reset button?

Danielle Brooks

Oh, plenty. One that stands out? One morning, I completely forgot it was my daughter’s turn to bring cupcakes for her class. She was so upset, understandably, and I felt like the worst mom in the world. But instead of spiraling, I owned up to it. I said, “Hey, I really dropped the ball, and I’m sorry. How about we make it up this weekend by baking something together?”

Mike Donnelly

Wait—so you turned a disaster into a bonding moment? That’s like ninja-level parenting. My fail moments usually end with me Googling “how to unburn toast” at 7 a.m.

Danielle Brooks

Mike, you’d be surprised how far an apology and a do-over can go with kids. What I’ve learned is that mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also huge teaching opportunities. When our kids see us owning up to our flaws, it gives them permission to make mistakes too—and more importantly, to learn from them.

Mike Donnelly

I love that. It’s like, instead of trying to fake being perfect, you just show them how to deal when, well, life isn’t perfect.

Danielle Brooks

I think one of the most powerful things we can do as parents is model imperfection. Whether it’s saying, “I was wrong” or “I overreacted, let’s try that again,” we’re teaching resilience. We’re showing them it’s okay to mess up, as long as you take responsibility and try to fix it.

Mike Donnelly

So, let’s talk practical stuff. What are your go-to moves for, you know, staying sane and “good enough” as a parent?

Danielle Brooks

Honestly, I keep it simple. First off, I celebrate the little wins. Like, if I manage to keep my cool during a meltdown or carve out five minutes to really listen to my son talk about a video game, that’s a win in my book. Small victories add up. Oh, and practicing self-compassion is huge—it’s okay to have hard days.

Mike Donnelly

Yeah, the self-compassion thing, that’s a tough one. I feel like most parents, myself included, are their own worst critics.

Danielle Brooks

For sure. But here’s what helps me: whenever that inner critic pops up, I ask myself—would I talk to a friend this way? And usually the answer is no. So I try to give myself the same grace I’d give anyone else.

Mike Donnelly

Honestly, I think more parents need to hear they’re doing okay. Like, even if dinner is microwaved chicken nuggets and the bedtime story is your kid making you read the same book for the 400th time, it’s still parenting done with love.

Danielle Brooks

Parenting isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about being present. It’s about showing your kids, day in and day out, that they matter to you. Even on the messy, chaotic, not-your-best days.

Mike Donnelly

Alright, Danielle, so what would you say is the one takeaway every parent listening needs to hear right now?

Danielle Brooks

Just this: You are enough. Stop chasing perfection. Focus on connection. Your kids don’t need you to be perfect—they need you to be real. If you show up with love, even when you stumble, you’re doing an amazing job.

Mike Donnelly

I love that Dan. And honestly, knowing I don’t have to ace this parenting gig is the most reassuring thing I’ve heard all week.

Danielle Brooks

Same here. And maybe, just maybe, letting go of perfection is the secret to enjoying parenthood a little more, too.

Mike Donnelly

Couldn’t agree more. Alright, I think that’s all we’ve got for today family. Hope we did good. Thanks for listening—and remember, no parent has it all figured out, but if you’re trying, you’re doing great.

Danielle Brooks

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