Different parent loses her head (5)
I believe the answer is:
other
'different' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'parent loses her head' is the wordplay.
'parent' becomes 'mother' (type of parent).
'loses her head' means to remove the first letter.
'mother' with its initial letter taken away is 'OTHER'.
(Other definitions for other that I've seen before include "Throe (anag)" , "Distinct" , "Alternative - unrelated" , "Remaining" , "Very unusual" .)