Survey Reveals Generational Gaps In Parenting Struggles And Styles

Parenting young children is full of joy and laughter — but also frequent self-doubt. A new survey finds that moms and dads feel like “bad” parents three times a week on average, adding up to 156 times a year.

The survey of 2,000 U.S. parents with children under 12, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Celebree School, explored the challenges parents face and how parenting styles differ across generations. Nearly half of Gen X (48%) and millennial parents (46%) said parenting has been more demanding than expected, compared to just 36% of Gen Z parents.

Despite reporting that their kids make them laugh around 12 times a day, respondents said they need a break from parenting duties twice a week. Parents cited signs that its time to step back, including feeling “unnecessarily angry” or crying from stress.

Financial pressures topped the list of parenting struggles (42%), followed by lack of personal time or self-care (34%) and balancing work and family (34%). Managing outside parenting advice (16%) and keeping up with developmental milestones (13%) were also frequent stressors. Forty-five percent of parents admitted they face two situations a week they have no idea how to handle.

Generational differences emerged in how openly parents share these struggles. Among parents of young children, 41% keep their struggles to themselves, with Gen Z parents most likely to keep frustrations private (47%), and millennials most likely to share them openly (25%). Many parents who do open up feel judged — most often by their own parents (24%), partners (23%) or friends (15%) — and 60% said feeling judged has discouraged them from seeking help again.

Many parents (39%) said theyd feel inadequate if they had to ask for advice about educating or communicating with their child. Nevertheless, respondents acknowledged they need to ask for help when theyre feeling overwhelmed and frustrated (33%), theyve tried everything they could on their own (27%) and when its recommended by a professional, like a doctor or teacher (12%).

“As the study shows, parents today are not only juggling daily responsibilities — theyre growing and learning right alongside their children,” said Kristen Miller, director of education at Celebree School. “While its natural to feel overwhelmed at times, its important to remember that parenthood is also filled with beautiful, rewarding moments. No one should have to navigate it alone — leaning on community and support can turn challenges into shared growth and joy.”

Half of parents surveyed reported an imbalance in sharing parenting duties with their partner, with 41% saying they take on more responsibilities. Gen Z parents and moms were most likely to report this imbalance (45%), compared to older generations and dads.

“Parenting takes a village — its never meant to be done alone,” Miller said. “We hope conversations around the real struggles of parenting become more open, less stigmatized, and that families feel empowered to ask for help. As we grow in communities across the country, our goal is to be part of that village — offering guidance, support, and a safe space during one of the most rewarding and challenging stages of life.”