Researchers found that parents of kids, between 12 to 14 years old, fared the worst when it came to parenting.
Parents of teens were the most stressed and/or depressed, while mothers of infants even had better overall well-being.
The hypothesis: taking care of infants and toddlers is physically exhausting, but when the needs you have to meet adjust from being solely physical to being mental and emotional, it really begins to take a toll.
The reasons why middle school is the ultimate struggle: your hormones are raging from puberty, you’re beginning to become aware of social status, your concept of “self” is beginning to form, and the pressure to perform at school (both academically and otherwise) begins to intensify, and of course, you’re experiencing your first bouts of independence. And without an equal measure of discretion, it can lead to some unwise choices. “Moms are essentially the ‘first responders’ to the children’s distress, and now they must figure out how best to offer comfort and reassurance, as the old ways — hugs, loving words, and bedtime stories — no longer work”.Essentially, this means that middle school is the most difficult time for parents because they’re most challenged to respond to their children’s real-life problems.
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