Parenting roles and family relationships are influenced by social, cultural, and historical factors. Parents share many of the same goals across cultures but differ in how they approach meeting them. Some cultures place a strong emphasis on family and group identity. Others value individuality and independence. Childrearing attitudes and recommendations hae changed over the years, as have the roles of men and women. Mothers and fathers often are challenged with balancing multiple roles while promoting the optimal development of their children. Articles and books containing conflicting information and advice that can be confusing for both parents and children. Parents who are in nuclear families have lost the modeling and influence of the extended family in their learning and practicing for the parental role. Any number of family configurations can be found, from the traditional married man and woman with the man as the major breadwinner to blended families through divorce and remarriage, to single mothers with children. Families living in poverty face significant parenting challenges and barriers. As hospital stays shorten, families are geographically spread out, and economic factors force women into employement after short maternity leaves, educational needs for new parents have burgeoned. The lactation consultant is in a unique position to both assist with breastfeeding and to offer valuable support to new families.
