Economist and author Emily Oster is renowned for her thoughtful and straightforward discussion of parenting. In one of her pieces, she used a direct yet sympathetic tone to convey the realities of everyday parenthood.

Oster uses her own experiences to illustrate how unexpected conflicts can arise between the demands of work and family. She stresses that although it may seem ideal to provide your kids with imaginative and affectionate activities like baking cupcakes every day, this level of work is frequently unachievable given the weariness and stress that accompany a full workday.

Her words capture a larger reality of parenting: striking a balance between being there and giving care while also being aware of one's own limitations. There are only so many hours in a day, so it's like trying to keep a garden blooming without ignoring the weeds.

Emily Oster urges readers to look past romanticized ideas of fatherhood and motherhood and acknowledge that each parent is making the most of their available resources. Her viewpoint normalizes the difficulty and serves as a reminder that it's acceptable to be a flawed parent, which is frequently more practical than aiming for perfection.