The perfect parent myth

The perfect parent myth tells us that good parents never make mistakes, always follow the latest advice, and dedicate every moment to their child's success. But these impossible standards only create stress and self-doubt.

Where does the pressure to be perfect come from?

• Social media only shows the highlight reel, not the daily struggles
• Cultural and religious beliefs can set rigid expectations of what "good parenting" should look like
• Western social norms place most of the parenting burden on individuals instead of shared community support
• Information overload floods parents with conflicting advice, making it feel impossible to "get it right"
• Achievement pressure pushes parents to micromanage, fearing their child’s success depends entirely on them

High standards are admirable, but perfection isn’t the goal—connection, learning, and growing together is.