ou made it to the final episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series, and that says something meaningful about who you are as a partner and a parent.
You’ve shown up with intention, reflection, honesty, and a desire to make this season lighter for everyone in your home, including yourself.

In today’s wrap-up, we look back on everything you’ve covered:
• Home + hosting• Family logistics• Event schedules• Emotional labor• Your own sanity + capacity• Travel prep• Gift logistics• Shared planning• Mixed emotions

And most importantly, you now have the language, tools, and clarity to share the load instead of silently carrying it alone.

In this episode, we talk about:
• The patterns couples fall into during early parenthood• Why awareness is the first step toward change• How to keep using these tools through the whole year• What “teamwork” actually looks like in real life• How to protect your relationship from default-parent burnout• Why you didn’t do anything wrong — you were just doing too much

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough
Use the brain dump, holiday categories, emotional prompts, and weekly planning tools to support your conversations and protect your connection this season:
https://www.postpartumtogether.com/mental-load-braindump-holiday

You deserve a holiday that feels connected, not chaotic.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Today we’re talking about something almost every new parent experiences during the holidays, but few couples actually prepare for: Mixed emotions.

Because December isn’t just joy and magic.
It’s overstimulation, nostalgia, grief, pressure, expectations, family dynamics, exhaustion, and the ache of wanting the holidays to feel a certain way… while navigating a very tender season of parenthood.

And partners don’t always feel the same way at the same time.

In this episode, we unpack:
• Why mixed emotions are normal (and expected) in early parenthood• How emotional load is just as real as logistical load• What happens when couples don’t talk about what they’re feeling• How to avoid “emotion mismatch resentment”• The “Name + Ask” Method for emotional clarity• What emotional support looks like in real, practical ways• How to honor both partners’ internal experiences — even when they’re different

This is one of the most human, heartfelt conversations of the series, and it’s designed to help couples feel safer, softer, and more connected during a season that often feels emotionally overwhelming.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough
Use the emotional labor prompts, boundary-setting questions, holiday expectations mapping, and weekly planning sheets to support these conversations:
https://www.postpartumtogether.com/mental-load-braindump-holiday

Mixed emotions aren’t the problem.
Silence is.
You deserve emotional support this season and so does your partner.

Today we’re breaking down one of the most powerful tools for reducing resentment, confusion, and emotional overload during the holidays: the Holiday Huddle.

A Holiday Huddle is a simple 10-minute weekly check-in that helps couples stay aligned during December — before the stress, assumptions, and misunderstandings hit.
Because most holiday conflicts aren’t about what happened.
They’re about not talking ahead of time.

In this episode, we walk you through the exact Holiday Huddle process we teach inside the Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough, including:
• Step-by-step questions for a weekly check-in
• How to avoid the “default parent” dynamic
• Why assumptions create 80% of holiday tension
• How to set realistic expectations for your bandwidth
• How to divide responsibilities using Lead + Support roles
• How to identify what needs to come off your plate this week
• How to plan for emotional load, not just logistics

This is the tool that keeps couples grounded, connected, and prepared — so you’re not running on last-minute panic or silent resentment.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough
It includes the full Holiday Huddle script, weekly planning pages, and the category breakdowns you’ll want beside you.
https://www.postpartumtogether.com/mental-load-braindump-holiday

Ten minutes.
Once a week.
Total game changer.

Today we’re digging into one of the biggest (underestimated) parts of the holiday mental load: Gift logistics and all the special extras that come with December.

Because gifts aren’t just gifts.
They’re:• Lists• Budgets• Shipping timelines• Teacher gifts• Stockings• Matching pajamas• “Who already bought what?”• “What’s developmentally appropriate?”• “Did we go overboard or not enough?”

And most of that invisible planning ends up sitting in one partner’s brain until it leads to resentment and overwhelm.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why gift logistics hit new parents so hard• The emotional labor behind “making it special”• How to prevent the default-parent dynamic with gifts• The 3 Gift Lanes Method (Mandatory, Optional, Special Extras)• How to divide holiday gifting in a way that feels fair• How to avoid overspending, duplication, and burnout• The difference between meaningful traditions and pressure-based traditions

This episode takes the weight off the “Chief Gift Officer” role many parents fall into — and helps couples build a gift plan that feels clearer, calmer, and actually joyful.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide
It includes the full gift logistics category list, lane assignments, planning prompts, and a place to organize the entire holiday load together:
https://www.postpartumtogether.com/mental-load-braindump-holiday

Gifts don’t have to drain you. When you share the load, they get a whole lot lighter.

Welcome to Day 6 of our 10-Day Holiday Mental Load Series for new and expecting parents.
Today we’re digging into a part of the season that becomes shockingly heavy once you have a baby: holiday safety and travel prep.

Because holiday travel is no longer “grab your bag and go.”
It’s car seats, sleep setups, feeding supplies, backup outfits, weather checks, medicine bags, chargers, toys, kid snacks, emergency layers, nap windows, and the logistics of navigating several hours in a car or airport with a very small human who has zero interest in travel efficiency.

And usually, one partner is carrying all of this in their head.

In this episode, we break down:
• Why holiday travel becomes a full-on mental load for new parents
• The invisible planning that creates resentment if it’s not shared
• How to avoid the default-parent dynamic on travel days
• The “Travel Non-Negotiables List” (the 5–7 things every parent needs)
• How to divide travel responsibilities fairly so one person isn’t drowning
• What to do when plans go sideways (because they always do)

This episode is all about lowering the pressure, creating clarity, and stepping into travel as a team — not hoping one person magically remembers everything.

Your step-by-step guide for:
✔ Travel prep
✔ Holiday scheduling
✔ Emotional labor
✔ Gift logistics
✔ Weekly Holiday Huddles
✔ A full holiday brain dump
✔ Dividing tasks without resentment

👉 Download it here:
https://www.postpartumtogether.com/mental-load-braindump-holiday

When you plan together, travel becomes calmer — and so does the rest of the season.

We’ll break down the emotional + logistical weight behind gift giving and how to share it fairly.

Subscribe so you don’t miss it.

NEXT EPISODE: Day 7 — Gift Logistics + Special Extras

Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that almost no one prioritizes, but absolutely every new parent needs: your own capacity, needs, and sanity.
Because when you’re navigating the holidays with a baby, even the “simple” things can feel overwhelming. Lights, noise, disrupted routines, pressure to be everywhere, overstimulation, emotional labor, family dynamics… it all compounds fast.

Most new parents end up pushing their own needs to the bottom of the list, which leads to burnout, resentment, and that “I’m holding everything together by a thread” feeling.
When you’re running on empty, nobody gets the best version of you—least of all you.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why self-preservation is essential during the holidays
• How new parents become overstimulated and emotionally depleted
• The “Non-Negotiable + Bailout Plan” tool to protect your bandwidth
• How to communicate your needs without guilt
• How to prevent emotional overload before it spills into conflict
• Why your sanity is a major part of your family’s holiday wellbeing

This episode is part of our 10-day series helping couples replace holiday overwhelm with connection, clarity, and teamwork—especially during the busiest season of early parenthood.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide
This companion tool includes a full holiday brain dump, Self + Sanity prompts, emotional labor mapping, and the weekly Holiday Huddle template to help you protect your capacity this season:
Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship

Your needs matter. Your bandwidth matters. And your sanity is worth protecting...especially in December.

Episode 4 of 10: Emotional Labor + Holiday Expectations (Holiday Mental Load Series)

Today we’re talking about the invisible part of the holiday mental load that hits new and expecting parents the hardest: emotional labor and expectations.
This is the stuff no one sees ,but absolutely everyone feels.

Because when you’re the parent managing the vibe of the room, the tension between relatives, your own overstimulation, your baby’s needs, and everyone’s expectations… the holidays can feel more like emotional gymnastics than family fun.

In this episode, we dive into:
• Why emotional labor skyrockets during the holidays
• How one partner often ends up managing everyone’s feelings
• The pressure to “make it magical” when you’re exhausted
• How family expectations create hidden stress
• The “Emotional Non-Negotiables” tool to protect your bandwidth
• What to say when you’re trying to set boundaries without creating conflict
• How couples can show up for each other emotionally—not just logistically

This episode is part of our 10-day series helping couples replace holiday overwhelm with connection, clarity, and teamwork.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide
Inside you’ll find emotional labor prompts, boundary-setting questions, holiday expectations mapping, and your weekly Holiday Huddle worksheet:
Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship

Your emotional wellbeing matters, and the holidays feel lighter when you both understand the load you're carrying.

Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than anything else: the nonstop event schedule and the endless seasonal to-do list.

Because once you have a baby, every outing suddenly comes with extra logistics, emotional load, nap timing stress, overstimulation concerns, and a very real question:
“Is this even worth it for our family right now?”

In this episode, we break down:
• Why holiday events feel overwhelming with a baby
• How couples accidentally overschedule themselves
• The “Memory Pressure” that leads to doing things you don’t even want to do
• How to decide what’s meaningful vs. what’s performative
• The three-bucket system (Must Do / Could Do / Doesn’t Matter This Year)
• How to prevent resentment by planning together
• Why your values—not social pressure—should shape your December calendar

This episode is part of our 10-day series designed to help couples replace holiday tension with teamwork, clarity, and connection.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guideYour full holiday brain dump, event-planning prompts, category breakdowns, and weekly Holiday Huddle worksheet are inside:
Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship

Let’s make this season lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what actually matters to your family.

Today we’re unpacking the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than wrapping paper and sugar crashes: logistics and family coordination.

Because once you become a parent, December is no longer just a month—it’s an entire operation. Travel planning, nap windows, meal timing, driving routes, RSVPs, “who’s hosting what,” and navigating multiple sides of the family… it adds up quickly. And usually, one partner ends up carrying the whole thing mentally.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why holiday logistics overwhelm new and expecting parents
• The hidden emotional load behind timing, planning, and travel
• How to stop being the “default calendar keeper”
• The weekly Holiday Huddle that prevents resentment
• How to divide logistics realistically instead of snapping at each other
• Why clarity—not perfection—is what makes December smoother

This episode is part of our 10-day series designed to help couples replace tension with teamwork during the busiest season of early parenthood.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide
Your holiday brain dump, category breakdowns, and weekly planning template are waiting for you:
Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship

Let’s make December feel more manageable and more connected.

Welcome to the first episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series—created for new and expecting parents who are overwhelmed by the mental load of December.

Today we’re breaking down the invisible work behind holiday home prep and hosting from the decorating, cleaning, planning, meal prep, to the emotional labor that usually falls on one partner.

In this episode, we’ll cover:
• Why home + hosting becomes such a heavy mental load
• How the “default holiday parent” dynamic forms
• The Lead + Support strategy for dividing hosting tasks
• How to set a “Good Enough Holiday Home” standard
• How to prevent resentment and miscommunication before they hit

This series is designed to help you feel more supported, more aligned, and more like a team through the busiest season of early parenthood.

Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough—the brain dump guide, category breakdown, and weekly Holiday Huddle prompts we reference in every episode:
Click here to download the Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship