The Power of 'Me Too' in Parenting Conversations

"I feel like such a failure as a mom," my friend Sarah whispered over coffee, tears threatening to spill. My first instinct was to reassure her, to list all the ways she was amazing, to fix her feelings. Instead, I took a breath and said, "Me too. I felt that way just yesterday." The relief that washed over her face taught me something profound about the healing power of shared experience.

Why We Rush to Fix Instead of Validate

When another parent shares their struggles, our impulse is often to minimize their pain ("You're being too hard on yourself"), offer solutions ("Have you tried..."), or redirect to positives ("But look at all you do right"). These responses, while well-intentioned, can make parents feel dismissed or misunderstood rather than truly seen and supported.

The Magic of 'Me Too'

"Me too" is powerful because it says: "You're not alone. You're not broken. Your experience is valid and shared." It creates connection instead of distance, normalizes struggle instead of pathologizing it, and reminds us that difficult feelings are part of the universal human (and parenting) experience, not signs of personal failure.

When to Share Your Story

After offering "me too," sometimes sharing a brief, similar experience can deepen connection—but the key is keeping the focus on them, not hijacking their story with yours. A simple "I remember feeling that exact way when..." followed by returning attention to their experience works better than launching into your own detailed saga.

Building a Culture of Honesty

When we respond to parenting struggles with "me too" instead of advice or minimization, we create a culture where honesty is safe, where struggles are normalized, and where parents can find the connection they need to keep going. We remind each other that none of us are doing this perfectly, and that's perfectly okay.

The next time a parent shares their struggles with you, resist the urge to fix, minimize, or redirect. Instead, offer the gift of shared humanity. Sometimes the most healing thing we can say to another struggling parent is simply: "Me too. You're not alone in this."

Explore more about building meaningful connections in "Unexpected Gifts of Parenting"—where shared struggles become bridges to community.