Why Is Being a Parent So Hard—And How Can I Find Help?

By Jordan Davison, the Heybrook

Becoming a parent changes everything. The love is deep and real—but so is the exhaustion, uncertainty, and pressure. One moment you’re rocking your baby with wonder, and the next, you’re questioning everything you’re doing.

If parenting feels hard, you’re not imagining it. It is hard. And you are not failing. You're human.

Why Parenting Feels So Overwhelming

Parenting today comes with a perfect storm of challenges:

• Lack of community: Many of us are raising children far from family or friends. The support systems that helped previous generations just aren’t as available.

• Information overload: There’s no shortage of parenting advice—online, in books, from strangers at the grocery store. But all that input can leave you more confused than confident.

• Unrealistic expectations: Social media often shows us the highlight reel, not the real life. It can feel like everyone else has it figured out when you're barely making it through the day.

• Constant responsibility: You're always "on." There’s no clocking out. No instruction manual. No guaranteed breaks.

And on top of that—you care deeply. That love and desire to do right by your child can make even small decisions feel overwhelming.

What Help Actually Looks Like
Getting help doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re smart enough to know you shouldn’t do this alone.
Here’s what real, accessible support can look like:

1. Parenting Support Groups
Talking to other parents who get it can ease the mental load. Whether it’s a group for new parents, parents of toddlers, or a general gathering space, these circles are about solidarity, not judgment.
At places like The Heybrook, weekly support groups are offered for parents from pregnancy through toddlerhood, giving you space to be honest, ask questions, and feel less alone.
Explore support at theheybrook.com

2. Mental Health Support
If you’re feeling anxious, irritable, down, or detached—it’s okay to seek help from a therapist or counselor. Postpartum mood changes are common, and they’re treatable. You don’t have to push through it alone.

3. Parent Education Classes
Sometimes we feel overwhelmed simply because we don’t know what’s “normal” or what to expect. Classes on newborn care, toddler behavior, or sleep can provide both tools and reassurance.

4. Online and Local Communities
Parent Facebook groups, apps like Peanut, or even Meetup.com events can connect you to others nearby. You’re not the only one looking for a friend to say, “Yep, me too.”

5. Practical Help
Help isn’t always emotional. Sometimes it’s someone holding the baby while you shower. Asking a neighbor to watch your toddler for 30 minutes. Hiring a postpartum doula. Ordering takeout. Help comes in many forms—and every little bit counts.

You Deserve Support
You were never meant to do this alone. Not mentally. Not physically. Not emotionally. No parent is equipped to hold the full weight of raising a child without help—and you don’t have to.

Finding help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of love—for your child, and for yourself.
If you’re looking for connection, understanding, and community, you’re invited to start with us. The Heybrook was built for exactly this reason: to offer real support in the early years of parenting, in a space where you can show up just as you are.

Start your journey with The Heybrook. You don’t have to do this alone.