The struggles of working parents in 2025

In today’s fast-paced world, balancing work and home life seems to be a significant challenge for many modern families. Many parents find themselves juggling full-time jobs while striving to provide their children with the best home care. This balancing act often requires solutions to limit the impacts of these challenges. 

Working Parent Struggles

Working parents often struggle with finding appropriate childcare. Long hours and fluctuations in job demands adds difficulty to parenthood when it comes to finding childcare solutions. These ever-increasing work demands then sees us parents missing out on important milestones in our children’s lives which often leads to guilt and stress from not being able to spend quality time with our children. 

The increasing costs of childcare then adds a financial burden to families resulting in parents having to make difficult decisions such as cutting spending on other household expenses or alternative childcare arrangements that may not always be ideal.  

The Role of Grandparents

As discussed in this article from iNews, one of the growing trends in modern-day parenting is the role of grandparents. For some families there is no choice but to ask for help from grandparents and whilst this can work well for some families, for others it can add pressure and strain relationships. For those families that are fortunate enough to still have their grandparents around and want to involve them in childcare, they can certainly provide a loving and familiar environment for children when parents are at work however you should bear in mind the workload on older people and what they're actually comfortable to do, they have afterall, earned their retirement. 

Managed properly it can be a beneficial arrangement for all involved, however care must be taken to not over-depend on elderly relatives. That said, grandparents often experience a renewed sense of purpose and joy from being actively involved in their grandchildren’s lives. Communication here is key!

Finding a Balance between Work and Parenting 

Flexible work arrangements, i.e. remote work, hybrid work and part-time schedules can be another way to create a better work-life balance. We understand that this isn’t possible for all parents, but employers that allow for flexibility with work can play a crucial role in supporting working parents. 

Employers that also have family-friendly workplace policies can make a significant difference in helping parents navigate their parenting and work responsibilities. For example, parental leave and onsite children can make all the difference in finding a balance; it is always beneficial to take advantage of these policies if they are available to you. 

Other Practical Solutions for Working Parents

There are other practical solutions that can be adopted in modern families to limit the impacts of this challenge. 

• Community Childcare – Parents can explore neighbourhood childcare cooperatives, where families take turns caring for each other's children, reducing costs and creating a supportive community.
• Time Management Strategies – Using tools such as shared family calendars, meal prepping, and structured routines can help reduce stress and make daily life more manageable for working parents.
• Professional Childcare Alternatives – Exploring part-time childcare, after-school activities, or hiring a trusted child-minder can help balance the burden of childcare while ensuring children receive the care they need.

Balancing needs a positive approach... 

Whilst balancing work and parenting has become a modern reality, by taking a positive approach, parents can find solutions that work best in their situation.  This could be through leveraging flexible work arrangements, community childcare options, and family support. With the right strategies in place, working parents can create a sustainable and fulfilling balance between their professional and personal lives.