Navigating the rollercoaster of parenting is both exhilarating and heartbreaking, a challenge that philosophy - and The School of Life - can help you tackle with a calmer mind.

Society's messaging around parenting places enormous pressure on both the obligation of parenting and the assumption that parenthood will be the most beautiful experience of our lives.

The truth is, being a parent is one of the most taxing and sometimes depressing roles we ever undertake.

Being a parent has been placed on such a high pedestal that complaining or admitting the inherent difficulties it entails feels like admitting you are a bad person.

If we don't immediately feel like natural caregivers we suffer unbearable guilt and shame. We hide our shortcomings and problems from our loved ones.

But if we can't lay all our vulnerabilities and insecurities on the table, we aren't able to process and grow.

It's time we all admitted that being a parent can be our greatest joy, but also our deepest sorrow.