Welcome, welcome! Can you take this 30-second poll?
I want to know when you want to see Parenting in Hard Mode in your inbox.
Welcome! Formerly Raising Gen Alpha, this newsletter has been renamed Parenting in Hard Mode (read about why here). We’re a community and safe space for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and differently-abled parents who are raising Gen Alpha kids (born 2010-2024) and nurturing social justice-minded families—all while taking care of our mental health. Allies welcome, too. Please subscribe to connect with fellow parents through empathy and compassion. Let’s build our virtual village together.
First of all, I want to say a big WELCOME to all of the new subscribers who have decided to join this virtual village since the relaunch of this newsletter under the new name, Parenting in Hard Mode—and those who found us through someone in your network sharing Where Are the Princess Shirts for Boys?
I’m so honored that you’re here, and I can’t wait to share all that I’m working on in the coming weeks and months.
Since we’ve got more folks here who are interested in reading stories for and about BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent parents who are raising Gen Alpha kids and nurturing social justice-minded families, I wanted to do a quick check-in on what your preferences are for receiving this content in your inbox (or on the Substack app, if that’s where you’re reading).
Please take a few seconds to answer these 3 questions—or at least the first 2!
What day of the week do you prefer to read newsletters?
If you’re curious about who will be sending these newsletters, my brief bio is that I’m a journalist, editor, and bisexual Latina mom with ADHD whose work centers on intersectional identity and its impacts on parenting and mental health. I’ve been published in over 50 national media outlets—including 100+ essays in Parents, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, and more. And if you’re really curious, you can check out my portfolio site that I haven’t updated since 2021 cause who has the time?
What time of the day do you usually read newsletters?
And if you’re wondering how my son’s birthday shirt situation turned out from the post Where Are the Princess Shirts for Boys?, then below is an update!
Another update to this story is that, as I was driving us to his birthday party, he very sweetly said, “Thank you for my birthday shirt, mommy. I love it.” I wanted to cry tears of joy because this was completely unprompted. He doesn’t even know the whole story behind the shirt, just that I got/made it for him. So sweet!
How often will you read a newsletter you enjoy?
Thanks for being here, thanks to all of the new folks, and thanks to everyone who’s been here a while. I hope that answering some of the questions above will help us get into a good rhythm with writing, reading, commenting, interacting with, and growing this virtual village that we all so desperately need right now.
Are these specific topics or questions you have about parenting as a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or neurodivergent person that you’d like me and our community to tackle? Email me at irinagonzalez@substack.com or comment below!
Abrazos,
Your friendly neighborhood bisexual Latina mom with ADHD raising a Gen Alpha kid
yes I can! Done :)