So, the Surgeon General has declared parental stress an urgent public health issue. Shocking, right? Better not parent indoors or in lifts or on airplanes. Wait. Huh?
While the report does a decent job of highlighting the stressors modern parents face...I think the real culprits are: The erosion of empathy and connection, and our obsession with individuality. These factors in my humble soapbox opinion have created a perfect storm of stressors that make parenting feel like an extreme sport. Sorry RedBull...you've got nothing on modern parenting.
Here are those factors in succinct davin-esk paragraphs. Coz who has time to read these days?
The Rise of Individualism
You. Or is it me? Individuality. The modern world loves to celebrate it, often at the expense of communal support and empathy. Back in the day, child-rearing was a team effort. Remember the village? No; I can't either.
Extended families and close-knit communities provided a robust support network. Fast...