The State of Moms and Dads in America (2022)

This article is written by Mike P. Taylor and was originally published at the Dad Well Done. It is republished here with permission.

Parenting in America has drastically changed in the last few generations. From technology booms to gender role shifts, America is an entirely different world for parents today than it was for any generation before.

So where does that leave the state of parenting today? Well, a lot has changed and is continuing to change, but some of the changes might surprise you. Take a look at the following statistics.

Here are some themes you’ll see in the infographic and data below:

• Moms and dads value parenting very much the same
• Dads are more emotionally engaged in parenting than you might think
• Dads are hard on themselves (rightfully or not) and see themselves as not doing all that they should as a dad
• Moms struggle to balance expectations as they devote more time to childcare and housework while also being active in the workplace

Parenting Statistics:

• 7% of dads and 28% of moms stay at home full-time
• 57% of dads and 58% of moms say that parenting is extremely important to their identity
• 54% of dads and 52% of moms report that parenting is rewarding all of the time
• 46% of dads and 41% of moms said they find parenting enjoyable all of the time
• 52% of dads and 60% of moms find it challenging to balance work and family life
• 29% of dads and 37 % of moms always feel rushed
• 63% of dads feel like they spend too little time with their kids (35% for moms)
• 39% of dads and 51% of moms think they are doing a “very good job” raising their children
• 4% of households with children 18 or under are led by single dads, 22% are led by single moms
• 40% of dads and 17% of moms would like to be more involved but they say their spouse interferes with their involvement
• 40% of all households with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family (up from 11% in 1960); 60% include fathers who are the sole or primary source of income. (Additional source)
• 23% mothers and 16% of fathers in two-parent families are better educated than their spouses
• Dads put in an average of 10 hours a week and moms spend an average of 18 hours per week on household chores
• Dads spend an average of 8 hours per week and moms spend an average of 14 hours per week on childcare
• Dads spend an average of 30 hours per week and moms spend an average of 27 hours per week on leisure
• 46% of moms and 45% of dads say they feel judged all the time or nearly all the time.

Mike P. Taylor is the primary contributing writer for the Faith vertical at Dad Well Done. He's a husband, father of 4, and author who helps bring genuine faith back into modern culture.