In August 2024, then U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a powerful advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents: “Parents Under Pressure” shed light on a growing crisis and sparked a wave of recognition among caregivers, educators, and family advocates alike.
The advisory wasn’t just about mental health in a broad sense—it was a direct acknowledgment of the intense, unsustainable pressure many caregivers face as they try to balance work, parenting, relationships, and their own well-being.
At SHIFT Work + Play, this message hit home.
We’ve always known that parenting isn’t meant to be done in isolation. And yet, for many modern parents—especially those with young children—the reality is long days without support, work that spills into nap times and bedtimes, and a constant juggling act that leaves little room for rest or connection. It’s not just exhausting. It’s lonely.
The Surgeon General’s advisory didn’t offer a quick fix. But it did call for community-based solutions—and that’s exactly where SHIFT comes in.
We created SHIFT Work + Play to be a different kind of space:
- A place where parents can focus on the work they need to get done
- A place where kids are cared for, safe and engaged in active play just a few steps away
- A place where connection happens—through casual chats in the kitchen, playroom drop-offs, and member events that remind us we’re not alone
We believe that supporting families means more than offering flexible schedules or parenting advice. It means designing physical spaces, policies, and programs that actually work for the way families live and work today.
Whether it’s our staffed play sessions, parenting support groups, or our lending library stocked with resources for work and play—we’re committed to easing the mental load for working parents.
The Surgeon General’s warning was a wake-up call. But for us, it was also a validation of what we see every day: Parents don’t need to “hustle harder.” They need systems of support. They need options. They need community.
It’s been almost a year since Dr. Murthy issued his stark warning, and the challenges parents face haven’t disappeared. Instead, we’ve seen story after story reflect the truth behind his statement—about the mental health challenges facing both children and adults, the rising costs of child care, the burnout among educators, and the impossible choices families make every day just to get by. Many parents are navigating their work lives, their home lives, and the weight of national news that too often feels like a constant hum of stress without adequate supports in place.
But what has grown, we hope, are the conversations about what families actually need: practical support, real options, and spaces where they are truly seen.
That’s what SHIFT is here for.
If you’ve been feeling the weight of doing it all—we see you. You don’t have to do it alone.
Come work. Come play. Come SHIFT.