I used to think motherhood would look a certain way.

A little follow-up to my Thursday stream. This wasn’t the plan. But it’s better. My stepdad sent me a photo of my son in full toddler tornado mode — with a tiny man bun I was clearly more excited about than he was. It reminded me how hard I used to chase the idea of “perfect parenting.” Milestones, matching outfits, the whole fantasy. Spoiler: None of that happened. What did happen? Something better. Once I let go of the expectations, I found joy in the real stuff: unexpected wins, messy moments, and memories that don’t look like Instagram — but mean everything. This week’s Substack is about freedom from expectations — and how releasing the “shoulds” makes space for peace, laughter, and the life you’re actually living. Read the full post here: [Insert Substack link]https://missshannanpaul.substack.com/p/this-wasnt-in-the-brochure And if you’ve let go of something that gave you peace, drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear your story.