b'STATE OF CHILD DISCIPLESHIP REPORT 24Who Is the Millennial Parent? Cultural issues abound: Social Media, technology and anxietytop the list.Considering the data on mental health and technology as it relates to our children, the condition of parents is not altogether surprising. They areParents were asked: What cultural issues are most concerning to you as a exhausted, overwhelmed and alone. parent? Please pick your top three.The majority of todays preteen kids are being raised by millennials, those69% %66bornbetween1981and1996. 7 Theintensedesireofthesemillennial parents to invest in their kids and create homes that are very child-centric52%leaves them with little time for anything else. 8Not only has the average time a parent spends at work increased over the past two decades but so has their time providing primary childcare. 9Thats not all; 23% of U.S.28%adults are considered the sandwich generation, 10providing care for their%33senior parent(s) and raising children at the same time. Simply put, in the%11current culture, many parents have NO free time to seek the community and SocialTechnology Anxiety Loneliness Depression Otherrelationships they desperately need; more than 65% of parents have mediaindicated they feel alone despite the chaotic schedules they keep. 11Respondents could choose multiple options.Looking more closely into the source of their loneliness we see parentssacrificing their own well-being seemingly out of care for their children.But the data raises the question: Is anyone winning? Todays parents are anxiousbut not about their childs future. Parents believe parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, and manyEven though parents have plenty to lose sleep over, they arent worried of them say social media and smartphones are to blame. 12But thats not theabout their childs future. In fact, the majority of respondents wereonly thing theyre concerned about. Over 75% are somewhat worried oroptimistic or very optimistic about their childs future. extremely worried their child will struggle 13with anxiety or depression, and sadly 74% say that the possibility of school shootings is a significantParents are overwhelmed, anxious and worried, but theyre optimistic cause of stress. 14These national statistics mirrored those we gathered, clearlyabout the future?!? In many ways, it tracks. By investing so much in their showingnotonlyareparentsandchurchesalignedbutChristianandchildrens activities and talents now, parents may feel they are preparing non-Christian parents alike are concerned about many of the same issues. their kids for success and fulfillment down the road. Combine that with the nature of a childs formative yearswhen we tend to be most concerned about their impulsive choices, bullying and bad influencesmany parents may be of the mind that, If we can just get them through high school or college or in a certain career, it will be smooth sailing from there. But hurt and turmoil come to our kids sooner or later. The scholarship doesnt come or the talent we linked to livelihood dissolves into disappointment. In those seasons of life, our children, whether young or grown, will recognize their need for a true north.21'