You Are Not Alone: The importance of parenting communities

     The overwhelming demands of parenting have always been difficult to manage: add in two years of COVID into the mix, and now you have a recipe for extreme burn out. This leads to the exacerbation of feeling inadequate, which is emphasized by the unrealistic expectations both society and we place upon ourselves: Are my kids behind? Why do my kids act this way? Why can’t I be a “better” mom? Will I be judged for asking for help? Parenting is criticized so harshly, especially the parenting of Moms, who are the target of embarrassing memes, impossible standards, and harsh critics. Now more than ever, we need to find our network. 

     Take a mental snapshot of your team: who are the people you can rely on for non-judgemental answers to parenting questions? If you don’t have any, community mom groups like Long Beach Moms and parenting coaches like Core4Parenting are great resources to lean on for support. We have been there: some of us have given birth with COVID restrictions, have kids who’ve lost a year of schooling, or have tried balancing remote school and work under one roof. We know the milestones, can swap embarrassing stories, and answer questions about useful parenting techniques. 

     Having a parenting community is so important during these really difficult times. We all know the saying that there is no manual that comes with raising children, and there’s definitely no map for raising kids during a pandemic. We should stop judging ourselves and our fellow parents on a perceived lack of knowledge of parenting styles or someone’s inability to reach our level of expectations. We are all struggling to maneuver in this unprecedented time, and leaning into your community of mamas can help you find relief and feel a little less alone.