When the COVID-19 pandemic initially began to affect the United States, it was difficult for many to determine how long it would last. Some were hopeful that the pandemic would be quelled quickly and that the initial shutdowns that heavily affected families — particularly those that included school closures — would be short-term. Months later, it is clear that not only is the pandemic not over, but it’s likely not even close to being over, with some experts projecting that the fall and winter of 2020 will be the worst wave yet. This obviously affects everyone, as people lose their jobs and deal with social distancing and in some cases working from home. In the midst of a tumultuous era, many have questions about how they will maintain their livelihoods as well as what they will do in the future. But perhaps parents have been most affected for a number of different reasons. Parents naturally have more people to worry about than those without children do. Though it’s natural to worry about extended family, parents of underage children always have individuals directly dependent on them. Millennial parents are younger, with many of them having children who are quite young as well. And of course, the younger the children, the more parents have to be concerned about.
As millennial parents — as well as millennials who are not yet parents but were planning on becoming parents before the pandemic — deal with this influx of stress and unforeseen obstacles, the aftereffects are still unfolding. Parents and families in general may be affected by this pandemic for decades to come. With that being said, let’s look into some of the issues millennial parents are dealing with due to the pandemic, and what those considering becoming parents must keep in mind when making plans.
1. Changing Plans
While a number of parents may have been planning on moving, returning to school, or making changes to better their families, the pandemic has forced many to shelve those plans in favor of sheltering in place or conserving money. A number of complex decisions must be put aside as parents focus on simply keeping their families afloat. For those who were planning on expanding their families or starting their families in the first place, this pandemic has called into question when they will move forward with having children at all. Right now, many hospitals are hotbeds for the virus. Many laboring mothers are unable to have their partners with them when they give birth. Furthermore, lots of parents or parents-to-be feel that now is a dangerous time to have a baby, as infants are vulnerable to the virus’s symptoms. Those who are finding it difficult to stay financially afloat are furthermore being forced to reconsider expanding their families. Right now, it’s estimated that about one-third of families spend at least 20% of their household income on child care. This means that adding a new child to your family or having a first child could have a serious effect on your household budget.
2. Marital Relationships
Become a parent always places some degree of stress on a marriage, but it can also greatly boost the intimacy of your marriage, and it gives spouses something that binds them together forever. Right now, however, many parents are being forced to worry about how they will pay for their next meal, or for that matter, the bills that will maintain their households. Furthermore, they’re being forced to stay home together, which, of course, is not a bad thing in appropriate measures. But when people who normally would be leading more individualized lives, working and socializing separately, are forced to live together constantly — it can lead to some issues over time. As stressed parents stand the risk of lashing out at each other during quarantine, divorce certainly looms as a risk. After all, somewhere between 40% and 50% of all American marriages end in divorce. On the other hand, some spouses can take this opportunity to spend more time together and ultimately grow closer together. It’s advisable for parents to pay attention to their relationships with each other, not just their relationships with their children. This may mean trying couples’ therapy, too.
3. Work Struggles
It’s incredibly important to remember that right now, millennial parents are facing an unprecedented job crisis. Those who are able to maintain their jobs are probably be forced to work from home and may very well have had their pay or hours cut. A number of mothers, in particular, have been forced to weigh the benefits of working against the benefits of staying home, due to school and child care being taken away as options. Though some families are more capable of functioning without steady work than others, ultimately it can be incredibly difficult for many to adjust to this pandemic and provide not only for themselves but for their children as well.
4. School
Different states are approaching the pandemic in regards to school systems in different ways. Some have children attending public school as they normally would; others have children attending hybrid programs. More still are requiring that children attend virtual school. While it’s difficult for parents to ensure that their children are supervised and attend school properly while also going to work and working from home, it’s also difficult for them to pay for child care right now.
Currently, millennial parents and parents-to-be are considering issues that many never thought they’d have to deal with. With the average American currently having around $38,000 in debt aside from their mortgages, many are financially strained and desperate. It’s important for parents to do their best to remain hopeful while also making practical long-term decisions.
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