> > My parents were always busy and exhausted.
> So are modern parents, and all indications are they are more exhausted.
"Exhausted", meaning drained of mental energy, might be true.
Parents of today are (on average) absolutely not more exhausted in the physical sense, because of the ongoing reduction in frictional effort that technology provides.
Planning a family outing in the 1800s: Wife arises early to kill and pluck a chicken...
Mid 1900s: Wife bakes a chicken bought at the supermarket.
Late 1900s: Family picks up cooked chicken from fast food chain.
2026: Wife picks up cooked chicken from her own porch.