Parenting is tough. We all know that. But now, the US Surgeon General is backing us up with real data that shows just how stressed parents really are. According to the latest report, parents are feeling the pressure more than ever, and this stress doesn’t just affect us—it has a ripple effect on our kids, our communities, and even our society as a whole.
At Sarah Wells Bags, we’re all about supporting parents, especially breastfeeding and working moms, so this report really hits home. And as I shared in my book, Go Ask Your Mothers, it’s time for employers, policymakers, and all of us to step up and make life easier for parents.
Parenting Stress by the Numbers
Let’s get real: parenting can feel overwhelming. The Surgeon General’s report shows that 33% of parents say they’ve had high levels of stress in the past month, compared to only 20% of adults without kids. Even more eye-opening? Almost half of parents (48%) say their stress is so overwhelming it’s hard to manage most days. That’s double the rate of non-parents!
In Go Ask Your Mothers, I talk about how this stress isn’t just about the day-to-day juggling act we do—financial strain, time pressures, isolation, and even worrying about our kids’ futures play a big role. And, for some parents, the Surgeon General so critically shares, things like poverty, violence, and discrimination make it even harder.
Why Supporting Parents Matters
Here’s something important to remember: raising kids is hard work. The Surgeon General points out that parenting is just as important (if not more) as any paid job when it comes to the future of our society. And it’s true! When we take care of parents, we’re taking care of our kids, our future workforce, and the health of our communities.
In Go Ask Your Mothers, I dive into why businesses and leaders need to recognize this. Supporting working parents isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have for companies that want happy, productive employees. When parents are stressed out, it affects everything from workplace performance to family dynamics. But when they’re supported? Everyone wins.
What Employers Can Do
The Surgeon General lays out some key actions for employers, and they line up directly with the advice I share in Go Ask Your Mothers. Here’s what employers can do to help:
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Create more supportive policies: Paid family leave, flexible work hours, and mental health resources should be available to all working parents. It’s not just a perk—it’s necessary to help parents manage the stress that comes with balancing work and family.
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Train managers: Employers need to train their managers to support parents. Whether it’s understanding the challenges of new parenthood or helping employees avoid burnout, good management makes all the difference.
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Make mental health care accessible: We know how important mental health is, especially for parents. Employers need to make sure that affordable, high-quality mental health care is available and easy to access for everyone.
What Policymakers Can Do
But it’s not just about the workplace. We also need our government and community leaders to step up and support parents. The Surgeon General calls for action on a national level, and here are some of the things policymakers can do:
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Establish national paid family and medical leave: No parent should have to choose between caring for their child and keeping their job. Paid leave is crucial for families to thrive.
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Invest in local communities: Parenting can feel isolating, but with better social infrastructure (think local parenting groups, community programs, and mental health resources), parents can feel more connected and supported.
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Break down barriers: We need to tackle the root causes of stress, like poverty, discrimination, and lack of affordable childcare. These are big issues, but they affect the mental health of so many parents.
It’s Time for Change
As I emphasize in Go Ask Your Mothers, supporting parents isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. When we support parents, everyone benefits. Whether through workplace policies or government programs, we need to build a world where raising kids doesn’t feel like an impossible task.
This Surgeon General’s report -- and advisory -- is a wake-up call, and it’s time we all step up to make life a little easier for parents. From businesses creating family-friendly workplaces to policymakers passing laws that actually help families, there’s a lot we can do.
What Can You Do?: Let’s keep this conversation going! How are you making changes in your workplace or community to support parents?
11 comments
My company has over the last 3 years created more supportive policies, and is trying this year to train managers… But not so much the training that is needed to support working parents. As a manager myself, I’m trying to do that for my team but I need support from my manager because I’m feeling the burnout but don’t feel supported.
Not surprised at all. We are the only nation of our kind that has ZERO paid leave. Other countries literally MANDATE paid leave sometimes both before AND after. Wonder why we are also the only country of our kind with an INCREASING maternity mortality rate? Wonder why the US’s birth rate is at an all time low? Not a coincidence. Yes there’s inflation but also the stress. Imagine needing to take sick days to look after sick kids and then needing to take more sick days because your kids got you sick, and not having sick days because you used them up after you gave birth, and now you are on LWOP so you have to pay your own insurance premiums from your savings. You can’t have it both ways. Either we MUST have affordable universal early childcare or we MUST paid family leave to have functioning families in this society. And if we want to have truly thriving families, even better if it’s both.
Yes! 100%. Before becoming a parent myself, I didn’t have much experience about what this felt like obviously. Not a lot of parents i was around ever let on how exhausting it was. I’ve watched other peoples kids all my life and it is nothing close to being a parent of course. It really is crucial to have resources, a village, and better general knowledge on some topics surrounding parenting. I’m so glad you are creating a space for parents to be advocated for. Mental health really should be as common as physical healthcare too. Having these crucial conversations and letting it be known what parents face is so important!
Again, thank you for all you are doing and can’t wait to read your book!
This Surgeon General has been proactive about mental health issues, including loneliness. Parental stress is another seemingly obvious mental health concern that deserves the attention he has brought to bear. Employers definitely can be coached and encouraged to provide more resources to parents struggling to cope with dueling pressures at home and in the workplace.
Really wish lawmakers actually took this into account in terms of parental leave and easing child care cost and accessibility.