Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Humans love to classify ourselves into categories. We’re eager to identify with our zodiac sign, take the Myers-Briggs personality test as a team-building exercise at work, and proudly proclaim our introvert or extrovert status. Why shouldn’t we apply those same practices to our parenting?
For instance, you’ve heard of Type A folks, who never met a planner and a schedule they didn’t like. You’ve heard of Type B people, who are more likely to go with the flow.
Now welcome the “Type C” Mom, a concept popularized by social media creator Ashleigh Surratt, who has posted a handful of cheeky videos about life as a Type C parent.
In Surratt’s videos, we see that toys are painstakingly organized into specific categories, but the breakfast dishes are still on the table and it’s the middle of the afternoon. Mom is vacuuming—but she’s vacuuming around a pile of toys, pushing them aside instead of picking them all up. For many parents, these videos are completely relatable—you try to do your best keeping the kids on a schedule and the house clean, but life (and toddlers!) happen, and you have to roll with it the best way you know how.
Sound familiar? Here’s what to know about the Type C mom, and who could benefit from this parenting technique.
What is a Type C Mom?
A Type C mom is a fusion of the classic hyper-organized Type A who always sticks to her well thought out schedule, and the more laid-back, go-with-the-flow, often-disorganized Type B (while we might sometimes use “mom” here as that’s the common parlance on social media, these traits can apply to any parent, regardless of gender).
And often, the boundaries between these types of parenting styles are malleable. If you grew up in a Type A family, your approach to life may have become more flexible after welcoming kids.
“I often see ‘Type C’ traits in moms who were once classic Type A—organized, detail-oriented, used to having a plan—but who’ve been softened by the realities (and chaos) of motherhood,” says Lisa Franks, LCSW. “These are the moms who love a color-coded calendar but have learned not to beat themselves up when the day goes off-script.”
One benefit to both parents and kids of going “off-script” once in a while means that both parties will have less anxiety about making mistakes or needing (and asking) for a break—and might even feel more comfortable asking for help, or just being more emotionally vulnerable with each other in general, which can lead to stronger parent-child relationship.
Why Are Parents Drawn to the Type C Parenting Style?
Franks notes that she also sees this parenting style appear in parents who grew up in “overly rigid” households and want a “more balanced, emotionally attuned approach” now that they have kids of their own.
“Many are working moms, neurodivergent moms, or moms healing from perfectionism, have intentionally let go of certain pressures while still craving consistency for their children,” Franks explains.
Those who gravitate toward a Type C approach, where nap time is non-negotiable but making the bed doesn’t always happen every morning, have “high standards and realistic expectations,” says marriage and family therapist Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC. “These are usually parents who value structure, because they know it’s important for a child to learn emotional regulation, but also understand that perfection is not healthy.”
Whereas the timelines, schedules, and organization of Type A parenting can feel overwhelming and hard to stick to and the laissez-faire attitude of Type B parents can add chaos to an already busy household, Type C parenting feels “real and sustainable,” says Franks.
“It gives kids both the security of structure and the warmth of flexibility. A Type C mom might have a bedtime routine with lullabies and stories, but she’s not afraid to let her kids crawl into bed with her after a tough day. This style teaches children that being human is okay, that love and connection matter more than perfection.”
There is also unscheduled free time and time for play baked into the Type C families day, which can help both kids and parents feel less stressed and more emotionally close, leaving space to potentially strengthen their bond by simply talking to each other, or doing something relaxed like watching a movie.
It’s not that Type and Type B parents are bad—everyone is trying their best—but they their approach might cause problems that Type C parents have an easier time avoiding. Rather than trying to navigate life with messy and forgetful parent or being shuttled off to yet another activity as might happen in the other two types of families.
How Else Are Type C Parents Different from Type A and B?
Both Type A and Type B characteristics show up in a Type C parent. According to Groskopf, Type A traits show up when it comes to boundaries, routines, and household rules.
“Bedtime is 8 p.m. You bring your lunch to school. We have a chore chart,” she says.
Meanwhile, Type B appears in “the reality” of life with young kids.
“You’re going to bed at 8 p.m. in your inside-out pajama pants because the laundry’s still in the dryer. And we’re all still going to be okay.”
That balance between regimented scheduling and leaving room for spontaneity and understanding that kids need more than just routines but also time for play and relaxation, can actually be beneficial for families. It might sometimes feel like chaos reigns at home—but in fact, more than likely Type C parents are doing a really good job raising their kids. So if this is your parenting style, you deserve to give yourself a pat on the back.
“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,” Groskopf says. “Not perfect, not laissez-faire—just good enough to raise healthy, self-trusting humans.”
Read the original article on Parents
