Why Parenting Feels Harder Than Ever (and It’s Not Just Your Imagination)
“Why Parenting Feels Harder Than Ever (and It’s Not Just Your Imagination)”
Parents today love to ask: “Was it always this hard?” Short answer: no, you’re not imagining things. Long answer: modern parenting is basically Olympic-level mental gymnastics.
Let’s start with the obvious: parental stress is sky-high. A recent Pew survey found 66% of parents say parenting is harder now than it was 20 years ago (Pew Research Center, 2023). Why? Technology, social media, school pressures, safety fears — take your pick.
Moms and dads are dealing with their own mental health struggles on top of raising kids. One study showed about 1 in 4 parents experience significant anxiety or depression symptoms (CDC, 2022). And parental mental health isn’t just about you — it spills over into kids’ emotional well-being. Research shows children of stressed parents are more likely to develop anxiety, emotional regulation issues, and even behavioral problems (Yap et al., 2014).
Add in the constant “perfect parent” culture online, and it’s no wonder so many moms and dads feel inadequate. Social media highlights reels make you think you’re failing if you didn’t pack organic lunches or have family game night every Tuesday. But perfectionism in parenting is directly linked to higher parental burnout (Mikolajczak et al., 2018). So yeah, the pressure cooker is real.
Here’s the reframe: kids don’t need perfection. They need attunement — you noticing them, caring, and recovering from inevitable mistakes. Studies show warm, supportive parenting (even with screw-ups) predicts healthier adolescent outcomes far more than “flawless” parenting ever could (Collins & Laursen, 2004).
So how do you keep your mental health intact while raising small humans?
First, drop the myth that parenting is all joy. It’s also exhaustion, boredom, worry, and repetition. Naming that truth frees you.
Second, protect your own mental space. Therapy, walks, journaling, or 15 minutes locked in the bathroom if that’s all you get.
Third, model imperfection. When you admit mistakes and repair with your kids, you teach resilience — not failure.
Parenting in 2025 is a storm of expectations. But your worth isn’t measured by how well you juggle chaos. It’s measured by your presence, your effort, and your ability to keep showing up. You don’t need to be the “perfect parent.” You just need to be a human parent.
References
Pew Research Center. (2023). Parenting in America: Today vs. 20 years ago.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Parent mental health statistics.
Yap, M. et al. (2014). Parenting strategies and adolescent depression and anxiety. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Mikolajczak, M. et al. (2018). Parental burnout: Risk factors and consequences. Frontiers in Psychology.
Collins, W., & Laursen, B. (2004). Parent–child relationships during adolescence. Handbook of Adolescent Psychology.
