Parents with younger kids in particular are often in a very specific place where they have no one to really share their experiences with. After all, you don’t really discuss the ups and, God forbid, downs of parenting with your actual kids. Your childless friends simply don’t get it either.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that parents then use the anonymity of the internet to share their feelings. This isn’t even limited to negative emotions either. Indeed, these sorts of posts might just be another side-effect of what some researchers call “parental loneliness.” One US survey found that over 66% of parents do report feeling isolated by the demands of raising kids.
Similarly, unlike a “normal” job, many parents report burnout at times. This is perhaps one reason why “it takes a village,” because the adults need a break too. You can’t exactly “quit” parenting, so folks vent online and seek advice. After all, you can’t exactly get a Masters degree in parenting, so asking for advice on the internet is a good start.
