Parents often hold themselves up to impeccable standards of parenting and not only are they idealistic, but they are also impossible. Research has found a culture of picture-perfect parenting causes more than half of Irish parents to feel like they are failing within the first year of parenthood with mothers more likely to feel this way than fathers.

The new global study, carried out by WaterWipes has found that the flawless portrayal of parenting on social media is disempowering parents. The company has launched #ThisIsParenthood, a global project to document the realities of parenting through a uniquely honest lens.

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A deceptive representation of parenting in culture and social media have led to one-fifth of parents feeling like film and TV are key contributors and two-fifths of parents feel advertising is a contributor. Similarly, two-fifths of parents believe social media adds to the pressure to be a perfect parent. More than half admit to putting on a brave face rather than being honest about their reality, also feel as though they cannot relate to the parenting images they see on social media. More pointedly, with mothers feeling this more than fathers (59% vs 48%).

Chartered psychologist and parenting expert Niamh Hannan said: “Irish parents clearly feel under huge pressure to get it right. I’d go so far to say that there is a cult of perfectionism around parenting.

According to Psychology Today, there exists a clear message as expressed by pioneer child psychologist David Winnicott. It is, to abandon all thoughts of raising the “perfect child” or being the perfect parent and do it as early as possible. He assures mothers and fathers that what they should aspire to is “good-enough parenting. Perfection is futile, but “good enough” is effective to raise decent, loving children. The elders share their trusted advice lighten up regarding our children - to relax your expectations, and assume that failure is inevitable at times. Sounds like perfect encouragement.

With the quest to become the perfect parent comes the quest to have the perfect child. Parents gripping another false perception - existing only in one’s imagination.