The U.S. Surgeon General [recently released a report](https://www.salon.com/2024/08/29/american-parents-are-so-stressed-out-its-now-a-public-health/) titled [Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/parents-under-pressure.pdf). Initially, I felt a wave of relief — finally, an official acknowledgment of the immense stress parents face daily. But as I reflected further, a familiar frustration surfaced. We, as parents, have known this for years. Now, one of the very systems responsible for exacerbating this stress has formally recognized it. But what comes next?
Reflecting on this, the weight of these systemic shortcomings is undeniable. In countries like Sweden and Denmark, where parents are supported with generous parental leave and accessible childcare, parents face far fewer stressors. By contrast, here in the U.S., where, [according to the American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/infographics/infographic-parents-other-adults), 41 percent of parents are too overwhelmed daily to function, we are told to simply “figure it out.” Many parents are working full-time jobs, battling financial insecurity, and trying to be present for their children, all while lacking the fundamental support they need.
Your bodies, your choice. People with kids, who primarily reside in suburbs and who by and large vote conservative, have voted themselves individual tax breaks for decades while ignoring the basic pressures that keep childcare unaffordable. People without kids pay more in taxes and get less than zero help from the government, so I’m not sure why we should help them now.
Also, over 10 billion people have been parents. We know that because of basic math paired with population data. They managed, these new parents can manage too. If the stress is too much, perhaps you should examine the society you’ve helped create to understand why.
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The U.S. Surgeon General [recently released a report](https://www.salon.com/2024/08/29/american-parents-are-so-stressed-out-its-now-a-public-health/) titled [Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/parents-under-pressure.pdf). Initially, I felt a wave of relief — finally, an official acknowledgment of the immense stress parents face daily. But as I reflected further, a familiar frustration surfaced. We, as parents, have known this for years. Now, one of the very systems responsible for exacerbating this stress has formally recognized it. But what comes next?
For years, parents have battled a lack of support from both federal and state governments. We live in a country without universal childcare or guaranteed paid family leave, where mental health care remains expensive and inadequately covered. The reality of [postpartum depression](https://www.salon.com/2023/08/06/in-a-first-fda-approves-fast-acting-postpartum-depression-pill/) is often dismissed despite its prevalence, while affordable, accessible care is still not readily available for many women. On top of that, we live in constant fear for our children’s safety — fears made real by the [lack of meaningful gun control laws](https://www.salon.com/2023/09/04/owners-its-time-for-us-to-stand-up-against-the-second-amendment-culture/).
Reflecting on this, the weight of these systemic shortcomings is undeniable. In countries like Sweden and Denmark, where parents are supported with generous parental leave and accessible childcare, parents face far fewer stressors. By contrast, here in the U.S., where, [according to the American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/infographics/infographic-parents-other-adults), 41 percent of parents are too overwhelmed daily to function, we are told to simply “figure it out.” Many parents are working full-time jobs, battling financial insecurity, and trying to be present for their children, all while lacking the fundamental support they need.
Read the full story by Allison Carmen here: [https://www.salon.com/2024/09/17/stress-from-parenting-is-finally-recognized-as-a-crisis-maybe-its-time-to-stop-blaming-parents/](https://www.salon.com/2024/09/17/stress-from-parenting-is-finally-recognized-as-a-crisis-maybe-its-time-to-stop-blaming-parents/)
Your bodies, your choice. People with kids, who primarily reside in suburbs and who by and large vote conservative, have voted themselves individual tax breaks for decades while ignoring the basic pressures that keep childcare unaffordable. People without kids pay more in taxes and get less than zero help from the government, so I’m not sure why we should help them now.
Also, over 10 billion people have been parents. We know that because of basic math paired with population data. They managed, these new parents can manage too. If the stress is too much, perhaps you should examine the society you’ve helped create to understand why.
All stress on parents is entirely self inflicted.