What If This Is It?

Nobody tells you this part about being a parent.

That every boundary you set comes with a quiet, gnawing guilt.

Needing space. Wanting quiet. Asking not to be touched for five minutes.

And immediately wondering if you’ll regret it forever.

Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do.

And in this episode of Different, Not Broken, I talk about the constant tug-of-war between your needs as a human and your guilt as a parent.

Because even when your kids are healthy, safe, loved, and thriving, it can still feel like you’re failing someone all the time.

Usually yourself. Sometimes them.

Often both.

I get into overstimulation, sensory overload, and why tiny, almost invisible things can feel completely unbearable when your fuse is already short.

And I talk about that thought parents torture themselves with over and over again.

What if this is the last time?

This is a conversation for parents who love their kids deeply and still sometimes need room to breathe.

Useful stuff

Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo

My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/

Timestamped summary

00:00 The chaos nobody prepares you for

01:00 When your fuse feels dangerously short

03:03 Overstimulation and sensory overload

06:20 The tiny thing that breaks you

10:45 “What if this is the last time?”

14:50 The moment I knew I’d done something right

27:30 Recording while being a parent