The Comparison Trap, Why Measuring Against Other Parents Increases Anxiety

Robyn unpacks how comparing yourself to other parents fuels anxiety and keeps you from focusing on what your child truly needs.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explores the harmful cycle of comparison in parenting. She explains how measuring yourself against other parents can increase anxiety, fuel guilt, and distract you from tuning into your own child’s needs. Instead of bringing clarity, comparison often leaves parents feeling inadequate and children feeling pressured.

Robyn reflects on her own experiences and the stories she hears from parents in her practice. She highlights the subtle ways comparison sneaks into daily life—through social media, school expectations, and conversations with other parents. She also shares strategies to help parents notice when they are slipping into comparison and gently redirect their focus back to connection and support.

By the end of this episode, you will understand why comparison is a trap that does not serve you or your child. You will feel encouraged to step away from measuring yourself against others and instead build confidence in your own parenting choices.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
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