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By Rich Simon It seems astonishing that even just two or three decades ago, parents not only pretty much knew what was expected of them to turn their offspring into civilized adults, but they could actually count on society to back them up. Even more astounding, kids seemed to understand this, too. Even if they rebelled against, yelled about, or sullenly resented how “unfair” adults were, they seemed to acknowledge adult authority and realize that they would just have to wait until they turned 18 to get for themselves the keys to the kingdom of grown-up independence. | In Consultation: The Motherhood Marathon |
The Motherhood MarathonAcknowledging the challenge of modern childrearingBy Rick Hanson Q: I have clients who have been overwhelmed by motherhood. How can I help them with the challenges of raising a family today? A: Three in four women will have a child, and most will say it's the most fulfilling thing they've ever done—and the most demanding. Motherhood isn't, in itself, a psychological or medical problem. But the challenges inherent in childbearing and childrearing can lead to clinical consequences, with studies showing that mothers are more likely to have: - depressive moods - more stress than fathers or women not raising children - frequent conflicts with their partner - lower marital satisfaction - health ailments ranging from fatigue and intensified PMS to nutritional deficits, type-II diabetes, thyroid disease, and autoimmune illnesses. Parenthood affects men, too, but unless there's an adoption, women face unique physiological demands, and they typically do most of the childrearing and housework. The effects are exacerbated by the fast pace, chronic stress, and diminished social support of modern life, which are at odds with the hunter-gatherer template to which family-making is adapted.
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