What do working parents want? It seems like a simple enough question and there are many standard answers. Flexible working. Part time hours. A supportive employer.The truth is, though, there isn’t one fixed answer. Every family is different, and the support needed for one isn’t the same for another.At Ambition, we do our best to support the working parents in our midst but that’s not always easy. With such a wide range of circumstances it can be difficult to know what is most helpful, what we do know is that working parents are crying out for support.Parenting in the modern world is tough, working and parenting…well at times that can feel impossible.The struggle for working parentsThose who’ve experienced being a working parent understand there are many contradictions.School days are typically 9-3 vs a 9-5 working day.13 weeks school holidays vs 25 days annual leave.£1000s on nursery fees vs capped salaries.Parenting like you don’t work vs working like you don’t have children.The old-school way of working is to leave your family at the door (figuratively, not literally!) and focus on the job in hand, but what if you’re so stressed that it impacts your concentration at work?The Modern Families Index 2025 found that for 80% of parents surveyed, that’s their reality.Being a working parent can be like walking a constant tightrope. It’s the ultimate balancing act that can leave some feeling unsupported, lost and even struggling.One in three employees don’t feel that their workplace supports their needs, and over half think their employer could do more. We talk about creating inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces where we can bring our whole selves to work, so what more can employers do to support working parents to enable them to be honest about their struggles and set them up for success at home and at work?Working parents in numbersWhen the topic of supporting parents comes up in conversation it’s easy to dismiss it as not impacting that many people, or being a pe