Parenting without the pressure.
Hi there,
You’ve probably seen the news: parents are more stressed than ever. The Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently shared that nearly half of parents feel overwhelmed every day. That’s compared to just 25% of non-parents. And with rising concerns about financial pressures, childcare costs, school safety, screen time, social media, and the growing mental health crisis in kids and teens, it's no wonder we're feeling it.
Internal pressure.
We recognize many factors causing parental stress. And we would like to point out one that hasn’t been mentioned often but it’s as real: our internal pressure. Whether you're a working parent or not, the amount of energy and thought we now pour into raising our kids is unlike anything previous generations experienced. We are hyper-aware of our influence on our kids. It’s not like when our parents were raising us—there wasn’t this massive wave of self-reflection and child psychology resources. As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss."
But here we are. Even if we tried to shut it all out, it’s nearly impossible to escape the internal and external pressures of being an “ideal parent.” And it’s not just about managing our kids’ behavior anymore. We’re also constantly monitoring our own. It’s overwhelming.
Lighten it up.
The question is: what do we do about it right now to unload? We can’t change everything around us overnight, but we can change how we approach parenting so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
1. You don’t need to be perfect. Just ‘good enough’
There’s a classic idea from pediatrician and psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott about the “good enough mother” - which we’ll call here “good enough parent”. It’s simple: you don’t need to be perfect, just good enough. Early on, we respond to our baby’s every need, but as they grow, it’s okay to let them experience a little frustration while developing autonomy. This helps them learn to cope. Mistakes will happen—and that’s okay. Learn to repair things when they do. Showing your child how to handle setbacks is more important than avoiding them altogether.
2. Prioritize connection
Your child doesn’t need endless elaborate Pinterest activities or perfectly organized days. What they need is your genuine presence. Spend a small amount of quality time each day connecting - put the phone away and really listen to them, see them - be present. Even 15 minutes has a huge impact on your relationship.
3. Lean more into your community
Parenting wasn’t meant to be done alone. Allow your kids to spend more time connecting with your extended family, friends, or community, and make time for you to nurture your relationships as well. Accept help when it’s offered, let your kids play with others, and give yourself some guilt-free time to recharge. It’s a win for you and your child.
4. Decompress with your kid
Sometimes we need to set aside all the 'shoulds' and 'should nots' of parenting and just be with our kids. Find fun hobbies together and common interests to connect over, so you can both explore life together and build memories while you decompress from your worries and responsibilities.
Parenting today is tough, but by focusing on connection and letting go of perfection, you can ease the stress. Take a breath—you’re doing great.
With love,
Lily and Eduardo
SUBSCRIBE
Click HERE to receive our FREE bi-weekly newsletter.
Our newsletter brings practical tools, information, and inspiring ideas that will enable you to deepen your connection with your kids and add a bit of magic to your family moments.
We'll also keep you updated on new products and promotions.