Pop singer Chappell Roan stirred controversy last week with blunt comments about parenthood that many saw as dismissive and hurtful—particularly toward young mothers. Speaking on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, Roan shared her thoughts on how drastically her life differs from that of her hometown friends who have settled down and started families.

“A lot of them are married with children, and they have their own houses,” Roan said. “And to me, I’m like, I don’t know when that’s going to happen for me. I don’t know when that’s realistic—if ever.”

But what really struck a nerve was what she said next.

“All of my friends who have kids are in hell,” she claimed. “I don’t know anyone; I actually don’t know anyone who’s happy and has children at this age.”

She went on to say that none of her friends with kids under age five seem joyful or rested, remarking, “I have not met anyone who’s happy, anyone who has light in their eyes, anyone who’s slept.”

Though some fans defended the 27-year-old singer’s perspective, many took to social media to call her out for what they saw as a sweeping and unfair judgment of motherhood—and the women who choose it.

One user on X wrote, “Motherhood is hard, not miserable. We don’t hate our kids. We’re just tired. That doesn’t mean our lives are ‘hell.'”

Another noted the tone of Roan’s comments toward her friends, saying, “She basically insulted every mother she knows on a public platform. That’s not honesty—that’s disloyalty.”

Some fans tried to put her remarks in context, pointing out that Roan is still young and possibly unprepared to understand the complexities of parenthood. “Have you noticed the maturity level of the majority of the people her age?” one wrote. “They can barely take care of themselves. They don’t need to be having babies just yet.”

Still, others believed Roan’s brutal honesty could spark helpful conversations. One user wrote, “More people should be talking about the downsides of parenting. You should be sure before you bring a child into the world.”

From a Christian perspective, Roan’s comments reflect a growing cultural divide between a self-centered view of fulfillment and the sacrificial beauty of parenthood. In Scripture, children are called a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), not a burden or a punishment. While parenting is undeniably difficult—emotionally, spiritually, and physically—it’s also one of the most profound expressions of love and selflessness a person can experience.

Too often, modern culture paints motherhood as a trap or a prison when, in reality, it can be a high calling, deeply rewarding and refining. Yes, sleep is lost. Yes, the sacrifices are many. But in Christ, those sacrifices often become the soil where deep joy and purpose grow.

Roan joked about wondering why her parents had kids, noting her mom had her at 23. But for many believers, the answer is simple: life is a gift from God, and raising children is one of the greatest ways we participate in His creative and redemptive work.

Rather than mocking or pitying moms for their tired eyes and busy lives, maybe we should be celebrating them—encouraging them, praying for them, and holding them up as everyday heroes.

In a culture that increasingly equates freedom with self-indulgence and labels self-sacrifice as “hell,” it’s more important than ever for Christians to speak up—not in condemnation, but in compassion. Parenthood isn’t for everyone, and not everyone is called to it. But when embraced in faith and love, raising children isn’t something to be mocked. It’s something to be honored.

As one commenter put it best: “Motherhood is not hell. It’s holy.”