Parenting Is Toughest in These States, Finds a New Survey — and for Reasons You May Not Expect
February 19, 2026
I always wonder if everyone else has cracked some secret code to raising capable, well-adjusted kids without feeling constantly unsure. I will admit, I parent reluctantly, constantly asking myself, “Am I doing this right?” And now, as if lacking confidence were not enough to make me — and plenty of others — question our parenting skills, it turns out that where we live may also shape that feeling.
A new nationwide survey from the Institute for Family Studies looked at nearly 24,000 parents across the U.S. — covering more than 40,000 children including 2,600 teens) — and found a complex picture. The organization created state-by-state “maps” of American parenting to understand two things: how kids are doing and how parents are feeling.
