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God parents us all
Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor’s Christian Science Perspective column September 24, 2024
When I heard about the US Surgeon General’s recent advisory on the stresses parents are facing, it piqued my interest (see Ali Martin, “Parent stress is a national health issue: Asking for help is a strong first step,” September 5, 2024). I found myself agreeing at first with the idea that being a parent can be a threat to one’s mental health and well-being; it can be a tough, thankless job!
And as the “papa” of three wonderful young children whom I dearly love, I do feel that there is a large gap between the experiences of parents and peers who don’t have children. Our personal lives are so different that I often feel misunderstood by non-parents. Maybe this kind of proclamation could help close that gap and lessen the external pressure put on parents.
But even if it did, do I really want to attach that label to myself: a father struggling with my mental health and well-being?
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