Have you ever felt like your husband doesn’t respect your work or individual deadlines as he expects you to respect his? Have you been asked to reschedule one of your work appointments to look after the kids because he also has one? A tough pill to swallow: how are you contributing to this situation for yourself? In this episode, I discuss the default parent trap that many high-achieving women find themselves in. I share personal experiences and conversations with friends to highlight the challenges faced by default parents. In this podcast I explore the impact of being a default parent on motherhood and marriages, emphasizing the need for communication and self-care. I encourage listeners to reflect on their motivations and expectations and offer actionable steps to break free from the default parent role. Listen out as I introduce <a href= "https://veronicacisneros.org/empowerx">Empower X</a>, a membership community for high-achieving women seeking personal and professional growth. Click the above link for more information.

Have you ever felt like your husband doesn’t respect your work or individual deadlines as he expects you to respect his? Have you been asked to reschedule one of your work appointments to look after the kids because he also has one? A tough pill to swallow: how are you contributing to this situation for yourself? In this episode, I discuss the default parent trap that many high-achieving women find themselves in. I share personal experiences and conversations with friends to highlight the challenges faced by default parents. In this podcast I explore the impact of being a default parent on motherhood and marriages, emphasizing the need for communication and self-care. I encourage listeners to reflect on their motivations and expectations and offer actionable steps to break free from the default parent role. Listen out as I introduce Empower X, a membership community for high-achieving women seeking personal and professional growth. Click the above link for more information.

Have you ever felt like your husband doesn’t respect your work or individual deadlines as he expects you to respect his? Have you been asked to reschedule one of your work appointments to look after the kids because he also has one? A tough pill to swallow: how are you contributing to this situation for yourself? In this episode, I discuss the default parent trap that many high-achieving women find themselves in. I share personal experiences and conversations with friends to highlight the challenges faced by default parents. In this podcast I explore the impact of being a default parent on motherhood and marriages, emphasizing the need for communication and self-care. I encourage listeners to reflect on their motivations and expectations and offer actionable steps to break free from the default parent role. Listen out as I introduce&nbsp;<a href="https://veronicacisneros.org/empowerx" rel="noopener noreferrer">Empower X</a>, a membership community for high-achieving women seeking personal and professional growth. Click the above link for more information.

High-Achieving Women and the Default Parent Trap | EU 212

You’re exhausted.
Not just physically. Emotionally. You’re running a household, keeping up with your career, holding the family calendar together, and still somehow managing the grocery list. You’re the default parent, the peacekeeper, the one who never stops, even when you should be resting. And somewhere in between the laundry and the late-night emails, you’ve lost the version of yourself that wasn’t running on fumes.

I’m Veronica Cisneros, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, wife, and mom of three. I know what it’s like to feel disconnected from your spouse, stuck in silent power struggles over household chores, and torn between excelling in your career and actually enjoying your family. I’ve been the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the one trying to “hold it all together” while anxiety worked overtime behind the scenes.

On Empowered and Unapologetic, we’re ditching the guilt and having the conversations no one’s having at the PTA meeting. Here, you’ll get real talk and therapist-backed strategies on:

• Navigating marriage when it feels more like a business partnership than a relationship.
• Breaking the cycle of over-functioning and learning to rest without guilt.
• Sharing the mental and physical load at home—without another chore chart that no one uses.
• Shutting down power-pleasing patterns that leave you drained and resentful.
• Managing the anxiety that comes from constantly being “on.”

If you’re tired of looking like you have it all together while feeling like you’re falling apart, you’re in the right place. This is your space to breathe, laugh, and rebuild connection, without having to compromise yourself in the process.

Let’s do this together.

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Education

Self-Improvement

You’re exhausted. Not just physically. Emotionally. You’re running a household, keeping up with your career, holding the family calendar together, and still somehow managing the grocery list. You’re the default parent, the peacekeeper, the one who never stops, even when you should be resting. And somewhere in between the laundry and the late-night emails, you’ve lost the version of yourself that wasn’t running on fumes. I’m Veronica Cisneros, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, wife, and mom of three. I know what it’s like to feel disconnected from your spouse, stuck in silent power struggles over household chores, and torn between excelling in your career and actually enjoying your family. I’ve been the people-pleaser, the overachiever, the one trying to “hold it all together” while anxiety worked overtime behind the scenes. On Empowered and Unapologetic, we’re ditching the guilt and having the conversations no one’s having at the PTA meeting. Here, you’ll get real talk and therapist-backed strategies on: • Navigating marriage when it feels more like a business partnership than a relationship. • Breaking the cycle of over-functioning and learning to rest without guilt. • Sharing the mental and physical load at home—without another chore chart that no one uses. • Shutting down power-pleasing patterns that leave you drained and resentful. • Managing the anxiety that comes from constantly being “on.” If you’re tired of looking like you have it all together while feeling like you’re falling apart, you’re in the right place. This is your space to breathe, laugh, and rebuild connection, without having to compromise yourself in the process. Let’s do this together.

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High-Achieving Women and the Default Parent Trap | EU 212

High-Achieving Women and the Default Parent Trap | EU 212

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