The Modern Parenting Dilemma: Why Is Raising Children Today So Challenging?

Parenting has always been challenging but if you're feeling the weight of it right now, you're definitely not alone. In fact, raising children today might be harder than ever and while it's always been tough, our current climate brings its own unique set of challenges. So, why is parenting so hard today? Let's unpick it:

1. We Know Too Much

We are more aware than ever of how our own childhoods shape us as parents. We know that our behaviour can have lasting effects on our children's self-esteem, self-confidence, and mental health. We’re also well-versed in the things not to do—shouting, bribing, or excluding—but old habits die hard. We want to do better, but the pressure to be the "perfect" parent can feel overwhelming. This in turn makes us stressed, knocks our confidence and makes everything more challenging. Sometimes it’s harder to know more because we become more critical of ourselves and less satisfied with the job we are doing as parents.

2. We Work More

As parents, we juggle a lot. Not only do we manage careers, household duties and school runs, but we also feel the constant pull of needing to be the perfect caregiver. This means we’re exhausted, stressed and often struggling to find balance. It's easy to feel like there’s never enough time in the day to be everything we want to be for our kids. This then plays into our fears of already not doing enough and not feeling good enough and the cycle of shaming ourselves continues.

3. We Expect More

Gone are the days when a day at the park and a simple meal at home could suffice. Today, there’s an ever-growing list of expectations we feel we must meet: picture-perfect family outings, beautifully styled homes, social media-worthy moments, vacations that look like they came out of a magazine and wardrobes full of coordinated outfits. The pressure to keep up with these expectations can feel exhausting and, frankly, unattainable at times. In a world where we are constantly shown what everyone else is up to (thanks social media) it’s easy to feel like we aren’t doing enough or that everyone else is doing better than us. But you know that girl down the road with perfect hair? She might be tearing her hair out at the idea of helping her child with their homework tonight. Or the Mum you see on the school run who always has her stuff together? She might be lonely and wishing she had the social life you do. Ultimately we don’t really know what any other family is going through and we must keep this in mind when we feel bombarded with pressure.

4. The World Feels Heavier

Raising children today comes with the added weight of a constantly changing world. The rise of technology, social media and global issues can leave us feeling like we’re navigating a complex maze just to ensure our children are growing up healthy, happy and safe. We’re constantly questioning if we’re doing enough or if we’re failing them somehow. If this is you, read point number 1 again.

In Conclusion

Parenting has always been a tough gig. But in today’s world, where expectations are high, pressures are endless and information is overwhelming, it can feel particularly challenging. If you’re struggling, remember—you’re not alone. You're doing your best in a world that often demands too much. And that, in itself, is more than enough. If you are feeling alone and like you need someone just to listen...come and say hi over at https://www.instagram.com/everydayehc/

 

Hang in there. You’re doing so much better than you think you are!

 

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