Moms Are Carrying It All: How Can We Lighten the Load?

Ever feel like your brain is constantly running a family command center while juggling a million invisible tasks? You're not alone. This eye-opening exploration of the mental load that mothers carry reveals the startling reality behind those never-ending to-do lists and midnight worries.

Moms Take on 70% of 'Mental Load' for Household Tasks:

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-30/moms-take-on-70-of-mental-load-for-household-tasks-study#google_vignette

Support the show

Follow us!

Instagram: instagram.com/hangryparentpodcast

TikTok: tiktok.com/@hangryparentpodcast

Episode Transcript

Demetrius (00:00):
Hey there.
I know you've got a millionthings on your plate Things like
work, kids, your home, yourrelationships.
You know it can feel likeyou're juggling everything all
at once, and you know, for somany moms it's not just a
feeling, it's everyday reality.
That's why today we're divinginto something that you know
hits close to home the hiddenweight moms carry.

(00:22):
And the more important questionhow can you start to lighten
that load?
This comes from US News.
A recent study published in theJournal of Marriage and Family
revealed something a lot of momsalready know all too well Women
are carrying most of the mentalweight when it comes to running
the household.
Now we're talking about all thethinking and planning it takes
to keep family life runningsmoothly, like scheduling

(00:44):
appointments or organizingevents, managing chores.
You know things like that?
According to the study, momshandle 71% of these tasks, and
it's not just about the choresthemselves.
It's about carrying theresponsibility of remembering
and planning every little thing.
It's no wonder that this canlead to stress, burnout and even

(01:06):
impact careers.
Speaking of careers, workingmoms are twice as likely as dads
to consider cutting back onwork hours or even leaving their
jobs completely because of this.
And then there's the genderdivide.
79% of household cleaning andchild care is handled by moms,
while dads are more focused onthe finances and home repairs.

(01:29):
It's a setup that often leavesmoms feeling isolated and
overwhelmed.
Now, not to throw dads underthe bus, though, because repairs
and finances are also extremelyimportant things to focus on,
and single moms and dads showincredible strength by carrying
the full mental load ofparenting on their own.
Single dads in particular oftenrise to this challenge with

(01:51):
consistency and care.
So how can you start to lightenthis mental load?
Experts like suggest thatsharing the mental load more
fairly is a crucial first step.
Honest conversations aboutresponsibilities can really go a
long way in easing the pressure.
And, on a larger scale,governments and employers can

(02:14):
help by offering well-paid,gender-neutral parental leave
and supportive work policies.
If you want to learn moreinformation about this topic,
the link is in the descriptionof this episode.
And hey, if you've been feelingthis weight yourself, just know
you're not alone.
It's a tough spot to be in, butchange is possible, and if this
topic hit home, share it with afriend or your partner.

(02:36):
Sometimes, just a realconversation is the first step
to real change.
So thanks for tuning in to justa bite-sized portion of the
Hangry Parent Podcast.
Stay strong, keep theconversation going and I'll
catch you next time.