Who to Turn to When Things Get Hard as a Parent

Let me be the first to say it: parenting is hard. Not sometimes. Not just in the early years. Not just during tantrums or teenage moods. It’s hard in ways that catch you off guard — like when you’re exhausted but still needed, or when you feel like you’re giving everything and still wondering if it’s enough.

There have been moments when I felt completely stuck. Overwhelmed. Alone in a room full of little voices. And in those moments, what helped most wasn’t another parenting book or “top 10 hacks” list. It was knowing who I could turn to.

So if you’re in a season that feels heavier than usual, here are the people I’ve learned to lean on — and how they’ve helped me keep going.

1. A Fellow Parent Who Gets It

Sometimes, the best support isn’t someone who fixes the problem — it’s someone who says, “Me too.” I have one or two friends who are deep in the same trenches I’m in. We text during nap time. We vent without judgment. We celebrate the little wins, like finally folding the laundry or surviving Target with a toddler.

That connection — where I don’t have to explain why I’m worn down or emotionally fried — has been a lifeline. If you don’t have that yet, try striking up a conversation at pickup or playgroup. Real connection often starts with a simple, “This stage is no joke, huh?”

2. A Trusted Older Parent

There’s something deeply comforting about talking to someone who’s been through it — someone who remembers the toddler years, the school transitions, the heartbreaks of parenting. They’re often the ones who remind me, “This part doesn’t last forever. And you’re doing better than you think.”

It might be a grandparent, a neighbor, or someone from your community. I didn’t always think to reach out, but when I did, I realized just how much wisdom (and reassurance) they had to offer.

3. Your Partner (If You Have One)

Parenting can create friction — especially when you’re both tired and running on fumes. But I’ve learned that when I bring my vulnerability to the table, not blame or expectations, it opens the door for real support.

Instead of, “You never help with bedtime,” I try to say, “I’m really struggling today. Can we tag team tonight?” That small shift has helped us become more of a team, even on the hardest days.

4. A Therapist or Counselor

There was a stretch when I felt like parenting was exposing every insecurity I had — about control, failure, even self-worth. Talking to a professional gave me tools I didn’t even know I needed. And it gave me permission to say, “I love my kids, and I still feel completely overwhelmed.”

You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes just having a safe space to unpack your thoughts is exactly what brings the clarity and strength you need.

5. Your Own Voice — the Kinder One

This one took the longest to learn. But over time, I’ve started listening to the version of myself that says, “You’re doing your best,” instead of the one whispering, “You should be doing more.”

When things get hard, I try to pause. Breathe. Ask myself: What would I tell a friend going through this? And then — here’s the hard part — I try to tell it to myself.

There’s no badge for going it alone. The real strength in parenting comes from knowing when to reach out — and letting someone else hold the weight with you, even just for a minute.

So if today is hard? You’re not failing. You’re just human. And you don’t have to carry it alone.