Why parents struggle so much in the world’s richest country

In America, your kids are your problem. Raising a family in the world’s richest country can mean forgoing paid maternity leave (a guarantee in most countries around the world), reckoning with the onslaught of gun violence, and paying steep costs for child care. “America is a land of incredible opportunity, but it’s not a great place to raise kids,” Stephanie H. Murray writes. 

This climate may also explain the American parenting style, notable for its intensity and restrictiveness. As school shootings and economic inequality become more prevalent across the nation, safety and success become less certain. “There’s no opting out of these stressors; they’re part of the job,” Murray explains. But she still can’t shake the feeling that her country doesn’t have her family’s back.

Today’s newsletter brings you stories about parenting in America.

• “Why Parents Struggle So Much in the World’s Richest Country,” by Stephanie H. Murray. Raising kids shouldn’t be this hard.
• “The U.S. Leaves Parents on Their Own for a Reason,” by Kendra Hurley. America’s lack of family support rests on a false assumption: that providing help discourages parents from taking responsibility for their children. (From 2022)
• “No Parent Should Have to Live Like This,” by Clint Smith. “I spent last week mourning those murdered in Buffalo. I will spend this week mourning children murdered at school.” (From 2022)
• “The Danger of Shortchanging Parents,” by Stephanie H. Murray. A country that does not publicly fund national defense won’t have much of it. A society that doesn’t support parents will have fewer children. (From 2021)
• “Parenting Looks Nothing Like What the Experts Say,” by Hillary Frank. Parenting is as high stakes as it gets, but other people’s advice doesn’t always work for us. (From 2019)

— Stephanie Bai, associate editor