American moms are struggling.
I wish this was just an opinion, but it really is a matter of statistical fact.
USA Today breaks it all down.
- The number of moms in the workforce has skyrocketed since 1975
- Moms spend more time on childcare each week than they did in 1965
- Child care costs are $12k-$25k per child
- About half of all grandparents live at least 5 hours away
- Social media is causing moms to feel depressed, discouraged, and incompetent
Justin Worsham of The Dad Podcast thinks these can all be chalked up to change.
"The biggest reasons moms in America struggle is because today’s mom is still in a cultural transition. They are transitioning from a role of childcare and homemaking to a role of working professional. Guys are doing more, but evolution doesn’t happen over night. Our society is evolving into one where it is less about the gender role and more about your strengths. In this article it cites a study where same sex couples have roles that are based on income. So the “breadwinner” will have less responsibilities when it comes to childcare. The other reason why I think American moms struggle is because they are worried about their child’s happiness instead of focusing on what values they want their kid to have. European parents are more concerned about instilling the values they feel are important, which leads to less comparison. It isn’t so much about success or doing it right, but more about making sure the kid gets the concept. Happiness is something people chase, but honesty, work ethic, and loyalty are things that can be taught and defined."
To hear more of Justin's take on the struggles of American moms and other parenting topics, you can check out all of his stuff at The Dad Podcast.