Angel at school, tornado at home? Welcome to the Jekyll and Hyde effect of parenting. Here’s why it happens, what it really means, and how to survive the after-school meltdowns without losing your cool.

Cold tea. Bathroom audiences. Conversations hijacked by stick stories. Toddler life is noisy, clingy, and often makes you wonder if you’ll ever eat a hot meal again. Here’s why it’s normal, why it feels so intense, and how to survive with a shred of sanity (and maybe a biscuit in hiding).