Vanessa Raphaely is a South African author and editor. She began her career on London’s Fleet Street before returning to South Africa. There, she became the multi-award-winning editor of Cosmopolitan and ran Associated Media. After 20 years, she left to launch The Village, a community for parents.
Raphaely is the author of the novel Plus One (2018) and several children’s books. In 2024, she co-authored We Were Perfect Parents Until We Had Children with Karin Schimke.
The book draws on the wisdom shared by members of The Village, a popular South African Facebook group for parents of tweens, teens, and young adults. It addresses the challenges of parenting, such as meltdowns, anxiety, and disappointment. The authors offer practical life lessons and insights gathered from real parents.
Raphaely writes, “I straighten her little tiara every morning — I lift her chin and remind her that she is meant for greater things than playground bullies.” Another reflection in the book states, “Everything shines in its own time. There is no timetable for life. Timetables are for classrooms, not for people.”
We Were Perfect Parents Until We Had Children aims to help families find joy and strength despite the daily struggles they face.
Photo credit: IG @vanessa_raphaely
