Not all parents are ready or prepared . Preparation for parenthood is mixed. One-third of births are not planned. About two-thirds of parents do not attend a class or discussion groups about parenting. Financial stress on families is also an issue .
Government programs lend a vital helping hand .
According to the Commonwealth Fund, the portrait of today's parents revealed in this survey is one of parents awed by responsibility, wishing passionately that their children will grow up to be happy, healthy, productive citizens, but struggling under the enormous responsibility and often missing opportunities to assure good outcomes for their children. This group argues that much more could be done to support parents in fulfilling their most important responsibility. The Commonwealth Fund. Reprinted with permission from the Commonwealth Fund, a New York City based national foundation that supports independent research on health and social issues. Continue to the next article.