These Are the Most Stressful Places to Bring Kids, According to Parents
Your entire world changes when you become a parent. And not the least of which is your social life.
The weekend calendar will soon transform from date nights, dinner parties and happy hours to doctor appointments, first birthday parties and playdates. For many, there’s a struggle to find a happy medium over when to include the kids in a fun outing, and when it may be more hassle-free to leave them home.
In a recent Care.com survey, moms and dads weighed in on the most stressful places to bring kids, and the results are pretty interesting. Work came in as the No. 1 most stressful environment to bring their kids, with an overwhelming 80 percent of parents in agreeance. And, according to the stats, mothers find it more stressful than fathers.
Other locales causing parents grief are upscale restaurants, sports bars and adult friends’ birthday parties. Again, mothers found these situations more stressful than fathers. Nail-biting situations for dads, moreso than moms, include the pool, church, arcade, library and beach.
Most Stressful Places to Bring Kids
These are the 10 places parents worry about the most when kids are in tow, according to the Care.com results.
- Work
- Upscale restaurant
- Sports bar
- Adult friend’s birthday party
- Airplane
- Dinner party
- Child’s birthday party (without an invite)
- Wedding
- Doctor appointment (not their own)
- Nail salon
Click here to see the full list.
The survey also turns the “terrible twos” myth upside down. The majority of parents with adult kids agree ages of 0 to 4 were the most stressful, and 29 percent say age 3 was the most difficult time for them. The brunt of it, however, was the teenage years, according to 30 percent of parents.
As stressful as it can be, the perks of parenting easily outweigh any of the obstacles new parents face. Before you and your partner welcome a new bundle into your life, make sure you prep your relationship for baby’s arrival.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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