Parenting Is Hard. The Advice Is Confusing. What’s the Real Solution?

Parenting: A Life-Diminishing Factor?

I couldn’t believe it when a colleague told me that research suggests parenting is one of the most stressful roles an adult can take on. It made me pause—how could something so deeply meaningful also be so exhausting? But then I looked around: parents today are juggling work, life, guiding kids through social pressures, dealing with screen time addiction, and somehow squeezing in time to teach them resilience, discipline, and self-regulation.

And then there’s the smartphone dilemma. Should you give your child a phone, knowing it opens them up to cyberbullying, social media pressures, and potential addiction? Or do you withhold it, risking their social isolation and exclusion from peer groups? These are the kinds of impossible decisions that parents today have to make—on top of everything else.

Between work, family obligations, school, extracurricular, PTA politics, puberty, first relationships, college applications, first jobs—it’s an endless barrage of emotional and behavioral challenges (or learning opportunities, depending on your perspective). It’s no wonder many parents feel like they are barely holding it together.

According to a 2023 American Psychological Association (APA) report, over 70% of parents say they are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of raising children, and nearly half report feeling completely burned out. A separate survey by curaJOY found that 9 out of 10 adults wish their parents had been more aware of emotional wellness when they were growing up. This underscores the lasting effects of childhood emotional neglect and how a lack of parental understanding can shape a child’s long-term well-being.

When parents are overwhelmed and lack adequate support, they struggle to recognize or address their child’s emotional health needs—perpetuating a cycle where social and emotional needs are left unspoken or untreated.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, put it best:

“In modern society, parenting is often portrayed as a less important, less valued pursuit. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Yet, despite its importance, 48% of parents report feeling completely overwhelmed. They aren’t just struggling to keep up—they’re drowning in the noise of conflicting advice, overwhelming expectations, and little systemic support.

Parenting isn’t just an individual responsibility—it directly shapes a child’s development. Parents are their children’s first and most influential role models, shaping how they navigate relationships, handle emotions, and build resilience. Research in child psychology confirms that co-regulation—the process where children learn to manage their emotions by interacting with calm, supportive caregivers—is essential for developing strong social-emotional skills.

But when parents are stressed, exhausted, or unsupported, their ability to provide this emotional stability is compromised, making behavioral challenges more likely. curaJOY’s research found that more than half of respondents believe they would have benefited from therapy as children but never received it, often because their parents didn’t know where to turn, lacked awareness of mental health resources, or were struggling with their own emotional burdens.

The Gap in Parent Training and Behavioral Health Support

Research confirms that parent involvement in behavioral health interventions leads to significantly better outcomes for children.

• A meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that parent training programs improved behavioral outcomes in children by up to 40%.
• A 2023 study from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reported that children whose parents received structured behavioral training showed higher emotional resilience and lower rates of anxiety and depression compared to those whose parents did not participate in such programs.

Yet, most parents never receive any formal training on how to support their child’s emotional development.

The data from curaJOY’s research further emphasizes this gap–Many parents struggle to find effective resources, with over half turning to short-form online content like YouTube, TikTok, and Google for parenting advice. But short-form content doesn’t provide the depth and guidance parents need—and for those who don’t use online resources at all, the barriers to finding the right help can feel overwhelming.

Why Aren’t More Parents Receiving Support?

Despite the clear need for behavioral health and parenting education, many parents struggle to access the right resources. curaJOY’s Parenting Resources Survey revealed several key barriers:

• Lack of awareness – Many parents don’t know what to look for or where to start.
• Time constraints – Work, caregiving, and financial pressures leave little room for structured training.
• Cost concerns – Parents ranked affordability and customization as the most important factors when choosing a parenting resource, yet many traditional programs are expensive and rigid.
• Preference for in-person support – Some parents feel that digital resources lack the depth and interaction they need.

As a result, most parents aren’t receiving the parent training they need to effectively support their child’s emotional development.

A Smarter Way to Support Parents: AI-Powered Guidance That Works in Real Life

curaJOY is proud to have Dr. Geetika Agarwal presenting at the Shaping AI Summit 2025. Dr. Agarwal is an inspiring mother, professor, and clinician with extensive experience in behavioral health across both clinical and educational settings. With a unique perspective gained from working with international populations, she brings invaluable insight into how AI can bridge gaps in parent training and behavioral health support worldwide.

Parenting is hard, and parents are busier than ever. How do we get parents the support they need—without adding to their stress? curaJOY is bridging this gap by integrating clinician-supervised AI into behavioral health support—empowering parents with real-time, evidence-based guidance that fits into their daily lives.

• Accessible: On-demand, mobile-friendly tools allow parents to get support anytime, anywhere—without long waitlists or rigid schedules.
• Actionable: AI-powered guidance translates behavioral science into clear, step-by-step strategies parents can use daily.
• Continuous: AI adapts in real time, helping parents track progress and adjust their approach based on their child’s evolving needs.
• Scalable: By leveraging technology, curaJOY’s approach extends the reach of clinicians, making expert guidance available to more families.

The problem isn’t a lack of tools—it’s too many conflicting methods, overwhelming information, and no clear path forward. Parents today are bombarded with expert opinions, parenting styles, and digital distractions, all while struggling to find the time to actually apply what works.

That’s why curaJOY is bringing behavioral health support directly to them—on their phones, in their daily routines, and in a small chunks throughout the day when they most need it.