By Stephanie Lord-Darby
Ok, let’s pause for a moment. Breathe.
We read this week’s Parenting Today survey—10,049 parents speaking their truth. And here’s what we need you to hear:
As parents, and not just as GymbaROO-trained teachers, but as human beings in the trenches with you—we get it.
The demands of today’s economy. The relentless saturation of information. The crushing pressure to perform as the most perfect version of yourself, every single day.
Is it 2026? Aren’t mothers meant to be standing on top of the world right now? We were promised equality at home, thriving communities, and genuine engagement. And yet, here we stand in a time when parenting has become one of the most isolating periods in modern history.
Alarmingly, journalist Clare Rowe published in The Herald Sun just this week that “modern motherhood has become one of the least appealing marketing campaigns in history.”
Is that surprising? Maybe. But here is my truth: I am a Mum, and I love it. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. It’s relentless at times. But I would not trade it for anything.
Still, I know not every mother feels this way right now—and that is not your fault.
Nearly 60% of Australian parents are experiencing psychological distress, with flow-on effects to their children. That’s not just a headline—it’s the finding from Parenting Today, Australia’s largest national parenting survey released just this month.
That statistic should make us pause. Most importantly, it means that if you are struggling, you are not broken. You are not failing. You are simply human.
We often hear “it takes a village”—but in today’s world, the traditional village can feel like a mirage among apartment towers and busy lives. Program-based communities may be the modern answer to the psychological challenges parents face.
A 2024 meta-analysis of 162 parenting programs found that group-based programs—like GymbaROO—uniquely reduce parental depression. Individual support helps with stress. But the community connection of a group? That helps heal a mother’s mind.
That’s why we wanted to pause and offer something different—
Not another list of what you’re doing wrong. Not another quote about how hard it is. Instead, let’s celebrate what you ARE doing right. And what your children will always be grateful for.
How does bringing a child to GymbaROO support and reassure parents and caregivers?
One of the most reassuring parts of GymbaROO is the sense of community it provides. Parenthood can feel overwhelming, so having a supportive space to connect, share, and feel less alone is invaluable. GymbaROO gives families the chance to meet others, build social connections, and learn about their child’s development in a warm, accessible way.
– Sienna Southen, Paediatric OT Therapy4Life
How does bringing a child to GymbaROO support and reassure parents and caregivers?
“GymbaROO helps parents and caregivers understand how children learn and develop through movement, play, music, and sensory experiences. These are the building blocks for future learning. I know early childhood is critical for brain development. Experiences that promote coordination, body awareness, language, and connection help children develop independence and confidence – having a community for the parent alongside this, priceless.”
– Emma Ellsmore, School Readiness Specialist Leap Street
“Co-Regulation is the greatest tool you can give a child through their early years. By providing a space where you, as a parent, can learn alongside your child, growing, learning and supporting each other, this is what the parent and child’s nervous system needs.
– Stephanie Lord-Darby, Education Program Coordinator GymbaROO
What would I love you to know? You are already doing so much “right” simply by choosing GymbaROO.
By participating in an activity like GymbaROO, you are showing up. And showing up is everything. Choosing GymbaROO shows that parents are already prioritising their child’s development, connection and the family’s wellbeing during the years that matter most.
– Emma
Every movement counts, and simply creating time for play, connection and learning is something to be proud of.
– Sienna
So, to the mother reading this who feels like she is falling short: Stop.
You walked through the door. You are asking questions. You are trying. That is not failure. That is fierce, quiet, powerful love.
And that is exactly what your child will thank you for.
With you, always,
The mothers of GymbaROO
ABC News: Wade, C. (2026). Calls to better support struggling parents as national survey reveals increasing psychological distress. ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-21/parents-struggling-with-psychological-distress-survey-finds/106700358
Meta-analysis (group-based programs reduce parental depression): Mathijs, L., et al. (2024). Group-based versus individual parenting programs: A meta-analysis of effects on parents. Journal of Family Psychology, 38(8), 1109–1118. DOI: 10.1037/fam0001273
Peer support review: Shah, P. et al. (2024). Peer support interventions for perinatal mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. (Full citation available)
Parenting Research Centre: Parenting Today. Available at: https://www.parentingrc.org.au/tools/parenting-today/
Herald Sun: Rowe, C. (2026). Modern motherhood: The least appealing marketing campaign in history. The Herald Sun. (Print edition)