15
2012
Competition: What are your biggest challenges?
An article by 
A few weeks ago Chelle attended a focus group where 6 parents discussed what challenges they have as a parent. Although Chelle received payment for her attendance all content is her own.
I sat in a room with a Kirsten from research company The Idea Architects and 5 other parents bloggers. It was quite natural that we all felt comfortable – many of us knowing each other by some means even if never have actually talked to each other or met before.
Before the session we were given questions to think about. All of us chose the same one….
What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing parents nowadays?
The question could be answered by a paragraph or a photograph. Here is mine
What challenges you?
It was quite interesting to find that we all think of similar things as well as considering what future our children have in regards to what is happening in the world right now. Mine involved money, time (it’s the clock on the phone) as well as distractions. Do I spend enough time with my daughter? Am I working too much and neglecting her? Do we have enough money? Can we pay the bills on time?
I am sure we all face many similar challenges but I would love to see yours!
To win a £25 voucher to spend at either Amazon or Infinity Foods in Brighton please leave a comment below and email your photo to brightonmums@gmail.com to go in a gallery on our facebook page.
The Winner will be announced on 1st August 2012 and emailed within 3 days of the closing date.
Chelle was compensated with a payment for her time attending and contributing to the focus group. However all thoughts are her own.
3 Comments + Add Comment
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As my eldest gets bigger I find the most challenging thing is to say “yes” as much as possible, as opposed to, “in a minute” or “not right now” or “maybe later…” I suppose it’s tied up with work and money and time, too, but I’d love my children to look back at their childhood and remember the things we did rather than being told (either overtly or subconsciously) that they are second priority to work or worse, housework! Some days I realise I’ve pretty much only said “no” to my child’s requests to play (I’m a wahm – sometimes without childcare) and it makes me so sad. Recognising that makes me actively aware of the need to say “yes” and “let’s go!” and “I’d love to” instead of fobbing him off to meet my quota of hours. I won’t regret the work I didn’t do, but I will always regret the time I’ve missed out on playing with my kids.
To me and from working with hundreds of new and expectant parents i think you can sum this up in one word. GUILT or trying to avoid it. Everything we do as parents seems to be judged, everyone has an opinion and will try labeling your child (recent blog on website about this!) parents need good non judgemental advice that allows them to parent in way that suits their beliefs.
If i could make one wish for new parents, it would be that everyone lets them get on with learning to be a parent in way they choose and keep their opinions to themselves
Dean – http://www.thenatalcompany.co.uk
The biggest challenge is to balance science with instinct, discipline with freedom, playtime with working time. Today’s parents have so much on their shoulders, unlike our parents generations who had much simpler duties and far less parenting gurus to follow. We live in isolation from families, trying to do our best but never being good enough. We are told what to feed our babies, how to bring them up, and if they end up rioting and looting its going to be our fault. Meanwhile our parents aunts and cousins are all telling us completely different things. Mustve been much simpler when there was only one older woman to listen to! We also have to control our emotions so much more, we can’t lash out and smack our kids when they’re naughty, we have to find ways to react calmly and positively every time. My parents still smacked me as a teenager! Its definitely more complicated now. We were looking at old childhood photos recently and there we were 4 or 5 years old playing in the back garden with broken mirrors, wire fencing, dirty and muddy and wild. Now my kids get to go to the park but it doesn’t compare to the freedom and adventures we’d have as kids. So maybe the question should be, what are the biggest challenges our kids will face?