The lives of mothers are often overwhelming, and that’s an understatement. Being a mom is arguably one of life’s toughest jobs, as it requires an emotional and physical presence from morning to night, while parenting, teaching, bonding with others, and tending to chores. everyday tasks such as meal preparation or cleaning. On top of this workload, many mothers also have to juggle full-time work commitments, which makes managing the mental pressure even more difficult.
Unfortunately, there is one aspect that often goes unnoticed when talking about the demands on a mother: her mental load. In this article, we’ll examine the impact of pressure on mothers’ daily well-being, while exploring practical strategies they can adopt to manage their stress levels more effectively.
Discover the unsuspected aspect of the mental load of women!
Recently, Doctolib revealed that in 2022, an impressive 85% of nominations initiated on the platform were made by women. This staggering stat is yet another testament to the mental burden that weighs overwhelmingly on women’s shoulders – something that’s been suspected for some time now, but the numbers are still telling and the platform is determined to create a fairer distribution. between men and women.
This mental burden doesn’t just affect child-rearing, but every aspect of a woman’s life, as an episode of Renée Reina’s podcast “The Mom Room” demonstrated. In this episode, she interviewed Ashurina Ream, a clinical psychologist, who shed light on an unsuspected aspect of the mental burden women face: the ongoing research into parenting and child development.
A burden that leads married life to nothingness.
The invisible mental burden that mothers carry is increasingly recognized, particularly as they engage in parenting research and actively prepare to be parents, even during pregnancy. Listening to parenting podcasts, consuming content from parent accounts, and gathering tools to help them deal with common scenarios involving their children, like tantrums or bedtime issues , mothers carry an invisible burden of knowledge – being the only ones who take the initiative to learn essential skills and strategies to be the best parent possible.
Not only do they have to go through this arduous process of researching, understanding and gaining the necessary knowledge, but they must then pass this information on to their partner – an extra layer of work on top of the already immense precedent set by the mental load. .
“It’s always me who has to do everything!” », the warning sign not to be underestimated!
It is not uncommon for mothers to feel the burden of having to do everything in a household, especially when family members are unaware of the amount of work involved in daily chores. While this feeling may seem harmless on the surface, it may be indicative of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Mothers are often responsible for a large number of tasks, from preparing shopping lists to keeping track of appointments and daily schedules. This type of management is essential to the proper functioning of a family, but it is frequently overlooked and taken for granted. These administrative burdens are further increased when mothers take on additional roles, such as working outside or caring for children.
The demands placed on mothers can lead to an increased sense of stress and exhaustion, which can have serious consequences on their physical and mental health, as well as married life. Without support and understanding from a spouse or partner, these responsibilities can become overwhelming and mothers can begin to feel like they are carrying more than their fair share on their own.
How to put an end to this mental load?
Establish a schedule for the household.
This way, everyone in the family will know what tasks need to be done and when, which will help distribute responsibilities. In addition, it is important for families to communicate with each other about their needs and expectations and to work together to find mutually beneficial solutions. For example, rather than waiting for mom to do all the cooking, parents can take turns preparing meals, while kids can help serve or set the table.
Create a “ToDo list” board.
Another way to distribute work more evenly is to create “chore charts” or “to do lists” where each family member is assigned specific tasks that they are responsible for completing. Parents should also try to encourage their children by praising them for their efforts and setting realistic expectations for how long a given activity will take. Giving children and spouses the opportunity to complete tasks independently (without supervision) can also help reduce the stress of always having someone watching over them.
Have time for yourself!
Finally, it is important that mothers (and fathers too!) release themselves from their responsibilities to take care of themselves, physically and mentally. Scheduling regular breaks throughout the day can be incredibly beneficial in allowing them to take care of themselves without sacrificing other commitments or feeling guilty for stepping away from family duties. Setting limits and saying “no” are important skills that all mothers should learn. If something doesn’t fit your schedule, don’t feel pressured or forced to do it if it’s too much of a strain!
