Dr. Aditi Nerurkar

So the Surgeon General snapshot paints a bleak picture. It shows that parents are struggling and quite badly. In this snapshot of data, 50% of parents, almost 50% of parents say that they are overwhelmed with stress on most days. 65% of parents are lonely. 77% of single parents are lonely. And we know that from prior data, 75% of parents have parenting burnout.

So the Surgeon General snapshot paints a bleak picture. It shows that parents are struggling and quite badly. In this snapshot of data, 50% of parents, almost 50% of parents say that they are overwhelmed with stress on most days. 65% of parents are lonely. 77% of single parents are lonely. And we know that from prior data, 75% of parents have parenting burnout.

And I think that based on all of this data, my hunch is actually that this data, as shocking as it may seem, is actually underreported for all of the reasons you and I have talked about. Feeling a sense of guilt or shame, feeling like, oh, I can do it all. I'm not stressed. This is just what parenting is. And so people aren't coming forward and actually sharing that, yes, in fact, I am stressed.

And I think that based on all of this data, my hunch is actually that this data, as shocking as it may seem, is actually underreported for all of the reasons you and I have talked about. Feeling a sense of guilt or shame, feeling like, oh, I can do it all. I'm not stressed. This is just what parenting is. And so people aren't coming forward and actually sharing that, yes, in fact, I am stressed.

And I think that based on all of this data, my hunch is actually that this data, as shocking as it may seem, is actually underreported for all of the reasons you and I have talked about. Feeling a sense of guilt or shame, feeling like, oh, I can do it all. I'm not stressed. This is just what parenting is. And so people aren't coming forward and actually sharing that, yes, in fact, I am stressed.

I'm surprised that it's only 50 percent of parents because I'm a parent and I know all of the science and I'm still stressed simply because we need a cultural shift. When we're talking about parenting stress, of course, we need a cultural shift. We need better policies, child care, parental leave, all of these things.

I'm surprised that it's only 50 percent of parents because I'm a parent and I know all of the science and I'm still stressed simply because we need a cultural shift. When we're talking about parenting stress, of course, we need a cultural shift. We need better policies, child care, parental leave, all of these things.

I'm surprised that it's only 50 percent of parents because I'm a parent and I know all of the science and I'm still stressed simply because we need a cultural shift. When we're talking about parenting stress, of course, we need a cultural shift. We need better policies, child care, parental leave, all of these things.

And while people are working on that, we also need a cognitive shift within ourselves to think about parenting. And the Surgeon General says it beautifully, parenting is sacred work. And another phrase which I loved in his report was that, simply put, caregivers need care too. And so my solutions are more on the individual basis while the cultural shift is happening.

And while people are working on that, we also need a cognitive shift within ourselves to think about parenting. And the Surgeon General says it beautifully, parenting is sacred work. And another phrase which I loved in his report was that, simply put, caregivers need care too. And so my solutions are more on the individual basis while the cultural shift is happening.

And while people are working on that, we also need a cognitive shift within ourselves to think about parenting. And the Surgeon General says it beautifully, parenting is sacred work. And another phrase which I loved in his report was that, simply put, caregivers need care too. And so my solutions are more on the individual basis while the cultural shift is happening.

There's more conversation about childcare and parental leave than ever. But what can we do while these policies are being worked out? We can think about what we can do in our own lives. And we lead with parenting ourselves. We are so good as parents on setting boundaries and limits for our children when it comes to bedtime or screen time or what they eat or how much they socialize.

There's more conversation about childcare and parental leave than ever. But what can we do while these policies are being worked out? We can think about what we can do in our own lives. And we lead with parenting ourselves. We are so good as parents on setting boundaries and limits for our children when it comes to bedtime or screen time or what they eat or how much they socialize.

There's more conversation about childcare and parental leave than ever. But what can we do while these policies are being worked out? We can think about what we can do in our own lives. And we lead with parenting ourselves. We are so good as parents on setting boundaries and limits for our children when it comes to bedtime or screen time or what they eat or how much they socialize.

We are fantastic with creating all sorts of guidelines for our children. And yet we don't do that for ourselves. We tell our kids to go to bed at eight o'clock or seven o'clock because they need a good night's rest. Their brain and their body needs to develop. Yes, an adult's brain is not developing in the same way as a child's. But due to this concept of neuroplasticity,

We are fantastic with creating all sorts of guidelines for our children. And yet we don't do that for ourselves. We tell our kids to go to bed at eight o'clock or seven o'clock because they need a good night's rest. Their brain and their body needs to develop. Yes, an adult's brain is not developing in the same way as a child's. But due to this concept of neuroplasticity,

We are fantastic with creating all sorts of guidelines for our children. And yet we don't do that for ourselves. We tell our kids to go to bed at eight o'clock or seven o'clock because they need a good night's rest. Their brain and their body needs to develop. Yes, an adult's brain is not developing in the same way as a child's. But due to this concept of neuroplasticity,

It's this idea that your brain, it's not a grab bag. It's not like, oh, the brain I have at birth is a brain I've had for life. It is constantly evolving and changing based on external stimuli. So when you do prioritize your sleep or connection or do movement, or when you do all of these things, which might bring an eye roll from parents, you are actively changing your brain.

It's this idea that your brain, it's not a grab bag. It's not like, oh, the brain I have at birth is a brain I've had for life. It is constantly evolving and changing based on external stimuli. So when you do prioritize your sleep or connection or do movement, or when you do all of these things, which might bring an eye roll from parents, you are actively changing your brain.

It's this idea that your brain, it's not a grab bag. It's not like, oh, the brain I have at birth is a brain I've had for life. It is constantly evolving and changing based on external stimuli. So when you do prioritize your sleep or connection or do movement, or when you do all of these things, which might bring an eye roll from parents, you are actively changing your brain.