It is a far bigger job than we had ever imagined.
Parents find themselves stretched to the limit of their stamina.
On top of this there are many societal challenges. For one, the work of parenting is not recognized as work. Economically, parenting occupies almost the same niche as a hobby. Parenting is done largely without preparation, someone to learn from, or resource to call upon when the work becomes overwhelming. There is an unspoken myth that a parent ought to be able to do it all herself.