As everything’s new and likely unfamiliar, first-time moms and dads are often extra cautious about anything related to their little ones. For instance, a new parent might worry too much about every sound a baby makes, fearing it’s a sign of distress. However, it’s natural for kids to make noises.
Data from the American Time Use Survey, 2021, revealed that in households with kids under 6 years of age, mothers spent 7.5 hours of their waking hours with them. Caring for and helping the little ones accounted for the largest share of mothers' time. On the other hand, fathers spent 5.3 hours per day with the children.
According to a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mead Johnson Nutrition, in the first year, mothers spend approximately 1,400 hours stressing about their newborn’s health. Parents often spend countless hours researching and comparing which baby products to buy. While it’s important to do your due diligence, you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself.
From sleepless nights to constant diaper changes, caring for a child requires a lot of time and energy. But that doesn’t mean that people should completely ignore their own physical and mental health. Parents sometimes get so busy that they don’t find the time to go out and socialize.
A national survey, which included 1,005 parents, published by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, showed that nearly 4 in 5 parents wish to form a bond with other parents outside of work and home. However, many of them were hesitant to express their feelings of isolation and loneliness, as they didn’t want others to think that they didn’t care about their children.
Raising a kid is a full-time job, and like any other job, you are bound to burn out if you exert yourself too much. Kacey Cardwell, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Atlanta, said, “When parents are feeling lonely and isolated, that tells me their adult needs aren’t being met because they’re pouring what they can into their child. That’s a recipe for burnout.”
While burnout is commonly associated with high-pressure jobs, the newest research has identified it in other areas of life as well. For instance, parental burnout is a prevalent issue across the world.
Candice Roquemore Bonner, PsyD, a clinical psychology resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, points out, “Parental burnout is the result of too much stress and the absence of resources to cope with it. You will burn out only if there is an imbalance between stress and resources.”
Feeling less about yourself or ashamed that you are not doing a great job like before can be a symptom of parental burnout. People need to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to parenting. So, they shouldn’t feel pressured if sometimes they aren’t able to do it all.
For instance, there are days when you will be able to clean and cook a fresh meal for everyone. But there will be days when you are busy and need to order food and let the house be messy.
