DadTalk

Are We Real Parents?

Netmums, one of the biggest social network sites for mums have named 2011 the year of the Real Parenting Revolution and we here at DadTalk are only too happy to support them.

Netmums, one of the biggest social network sites for mums have named 2011 the year of the Real Parenting Revolution and we here at DadTalk are only too happy to support them.

The aim of the Real Parenting Campaign is to make this a year when mums and dads across the country breathe a huge sigh of relief as the expectation of being a ‘perfect parent’ is finally lifted from our shoulders.

It’s time to feel good about ourselves for simply being 'good enough'.

Netmums say that from listening to their members they know parents are fed-up with being judged and feeling a pressure to be ‘perfect’. We all know that being a parent, whilst being one of the most rewarding jobs in the world – can also be the hardest. 

A recent survey on Netmums showed that as parents we often compare ourselves to other and find ourselves coming up short. Almost 40% of Netmums users thought their friends did a better job of being a mum and 38% wished they could be better mothers. Almost half compare themselves to mums they don’t even know ie those at the school or nursery gates that seem, at a glance, to have it all under control.

It also revealed that some try to hide their perceived inadequacies by lying to friends and family about how they are coping. Figures revealed that we as parents fib about how much television we let our children watch, the kind of food we feed them and the amount of time we spend playing with our children. By doing so we are perpetuating the myth of the ‘perfect parent’.

Siobhan Freegard, co-founder of Netmums, said: “The research found that mums really do want to talk honestly with each other about the issues they all face but that many don’t because of this culture of ‘keeping up parenting’. But by telling white lies to our mum friends so as not to ‘lose face’; we are perpetuating the ‘perfect’ myth, which in turn leads to more guilt and more lies.

“No one is born knowing how to be a parent – we get along the best we can and it’s often the support of other parents that gets us through the tough times. Parents need to be more honest with each other and come clean about the reality of being a 21st century parent.”

DadTalk whole heartedly applauds this initiative and calls on all our dads to join in by realising that as dads we don’t need to have it all together or know all the answers.  Our own Matt Buttery says "Strong family is at the very heart of a strong society. Although families come in all sorts of shapes and size, at their very core families should be a place where every individual is loved and accepted just as they are. The Real Parenting Revolution is about being honest about the highs, the lows and the funny moments of family life, and that at various times every family need help, support and love from others. We're proud to endorse this campaign for authentic parenting."

This campaign is being backed by psychologists, politicians and parenting experts, including David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Kate Garroway, Oliver James and many more.

Visit the Netmums Page or why not support the campaign on Facebook