Are You Overwhelmed By Modern Parenting?

Let’s be real: Parenting in the age of Google is a wild ride. We’re constantly bombarded with ways to discipline our kids, which parenting style is superior, toddler-friendly recipes we should be making, and experts telling us about no-screen policies if we don’t want to ruin our children forever.

Then there’s social media. Influencers make it look effortless—all while whipping their ponytails over their shoulder and sipping on their Stanley cup. And we’re over here, just grateful to get the kids out the door for school in the morning, right?

The expectation to live up to perfect parenting standards is exhausting, to say the least. 

If you feel the same, you’re not alone. 

Luckily, this isn’t another guide designed to pile on the pressure. Instead, we’re here to simplify the parenting journey, normalise “good enough” parenting, and rediscover what truly matters: raising happy, healthy, well-rounded humans without the guilt and drama.

So, are we losing sight of what really matters in parenting by trying to follow all the rules and trends? We think not—let’s dive in.

Why Modern Parenting Feels Overwhelming 

Modern parenting can feel like an uphill battle, a constant stream of conflicting advice and unrealistic expectations. It’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re falling short.

Let’s take a closer look at three things that often overwhelm parents:

1. Social media

One of the biggest culprits (and sources of pressure) is social media. 

Parenting influencers, with perfectly curated lives displayed on their YouTube channels, make raising kids look easy as pie. They paint a picture that feels unattainable for most of us. Like, who doesn’t want to use a sponsored log cabin escape over a long weekend? 

But we forget that these polished posts and superbly synced reels are one-dimensional snippets of their lives and hide the messiness of everyday living and tantrum-filled chaos. The constant exposure can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy that make us question our own parenting abilities. 

2. Contradictory trends

If social media isn’t enough, there’s a dizzying amount of conflicting trends. 

On one hand, you have gentle parenting, emphasising empathy, respect, and healthy boundary setting. On the other hand, you have helicopter parenting where parents “hover” over their kids, shielding them from any perceived hardships. It’s difficult to decide which is the best course of action.

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to parenting. Every family is different, and trying to fit into some sort of box isn’t going to work. We need to do what’s right for us and our kids; what works for Family A might not be the best for Family B. End of story.

Which other parenting approaches have you come across lately?

3. Guilt and fear of “failing” our children

No doubt, the constant onslaught of information and contradictory advice creates a breeding ground for anxiety and fear. Parents often worry if they’re making the “wrong” decisions like:

• Allowing screentime,
• Letting boredom creep in, or 
• Stretching their means so the kids can go to private school for a “better” education.

Plus, questions that further add to our stress and guilt may include:

• “Do I need to rotate my toddler’s toys, or they’ll be bored forever?” 
• “Should my kid know how to use scissors by age three?” 
• “Do my children have enough extracurricular activities?”

The truth is…

Parenting success doesn’t come from following a particular set of rules, trends or living up to the standards of others. What’s important is building a loving and supportive relationship with our kids and navigating the complexities of parenthood with grace. 

Go easy on yourself. 

Trust your gut.  

And remember, there’s no such thing as a “perfect parent”.

“Good Enough” Parenting 

Modern parenting often feels like an endless pursuit of perfection. But what if that’s not the end goal? What if being a good enough parent is actually better for you and your child?

The concept of “good enough” parenting was first coined by British paediatrician and psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott in the 1950s. It suggests parents don’t need to strive to be “perfect” but should rather focus on what truly matters: showing love, setting boundaries, and being present. 

It’s not about following every trend, avoiding every mistake or meeting unrealistic expectations. 

Think of it as being a good enough friend. You don’t have to be at your bestie’s side 24/7; you need to be consistent and supportive—someone they can rely on. 

The same goes for kids. They don’t need a perfect parent; they need a present one.

Why this approach works:

• Love and boundaries: Children thrive when they feel safe, loved and understood. Providing a supportive environment where kids know the rules is far more beneficial than micromanaging their every move. 
• Mistakes are normal: No one is perfect; the sooner kids realise this, the stronger they’ll become. If you’ve forgotten to make them lunch, lost your temper, or allowed too much screentime, it gives children a chance to learn resilience, empathy and forgiveness. Because, let’s face it, no child has ever complained in therapy about that time they watched too much Dinosaur Train, right?
• Balancing act: While staying informed is great, overthinking it isn’t. Instead of obsessing over the perfect approach, focus on what works for you, your kids, and your family. As the saying goes, “If there were one right way to parent, we’d all be doing it by now.”

So, next time that awful guilty feeling pops up, be kind to yourself. Remember, you’re doing the best you can with what you have, and that’s good enough!

Parent Tip: Simplifying Parenting 

Parenting can feel like a walk in the park—Jurassic Park, that is.

But don’t worry; we have a few stress-free strategies to help you simplify the journey and keep those pesky guilt-induced predators at bay:

• Filter out the noise: You don’t need to read every single parenting newsletter that pops up in your inbox, nor do you have to follow every influencer on social media. Take a break from the constant influx of information. Unsubscribe, unfollow, and mute the mums’ WhatsApp group. Drown out the noise and focus on what genuinely resonates with you and your family’s values.
• Trust your instincts: The fact is, you know your kids better than anyone else. They’ve spent their entire life with you. You know their unique personality, their favourite food, and their strengths and weaknesses. Trust your gut. If something feels off—it probably is— don’t force it. 
• Focus on connection: Ditch scripted activities and hone in on building proper connections with your children. Play board games, have a dance party in the living room, play football in the garden or simply sit down and have a conversation. These moments are what kids cherish; laughter and good times are far more valuable than any perfectly curated activity. 
• Set realistic goals: Instead of striving for unattainable goals (or “parental gold stars”), focus on raising kind, curious, resilient kids. Encourage their interests, support their hobbies, and teach them what it means to be a good person with empathy, compassion, and kindness.
• Kids don’t need perfection: Kids don’t need you to be perfect, they need a loving, supportive, present parent. Focus on creating a safe and nurturing environment where they feel loved and accepted no matter what.
• Normalise mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of life, whether we like it or not. But, by owning our blunders, we teach kids that it’s okay to make errors and that nobody is perfect. It shows we are, well, human! Parents should apologise when they’ve done wrong to reinforce this behaviour. Remember, little eyes are always watching…

The Conversation Continues

Parenting in the modern world can feel like a wild ride, a never-ending stream of information, and the constant pressure to be perfect. Couple that with the influence of social media and conflicting opinions and you’re bound to feel frazzled and overwhelmed by pangs of guilt.

But, parenting isn’t about ticking boxes or meeting every modern trend. We’re not supposed to live up to some mythical “perfect parent” status. 

Parenting is about the real, uncurated, messy, beautiful, and often chaotic journey of raising kind, compassionate, and resilient little humans.

By filtering out the noise and focusing on what truly matters, like love, boundaries, and connection, we can all enjoy the parenting ride. This doesn’t mean there won’t be speedbumps along the way; it’s about navigating the journey with grace.

We quite liked this quote, taken from someone on Pinterest: “Being a parent is tough. But just remember that in your child’s eyes, nobody does it better than you!”

So, next time you find yourself down in the dumps, wondering if you’ve ruined your offspring’s childhood because you didn’t rearrange a play date: Take a deep breath, relax and remember you are good enough.

We’d love to hear what you think…