In this episode, we’re revisiting some thoughts from episode one while diving deeper into the very real struggles of maternity leave.

Do moms actually get enough time off? Well… that depends on where you live. We’re unpacking the differences between maternity and paternity leave in the U.S. versus other countries, and how those policies (or lack thereof) impact families during such a tender (and let’s be honest, totally chaotic) time.

We also talk about the mental and emotional toll on new moms—from sleep deprivation and the invisible workload to those quiet “WTF am I doing?” moments that no one prepares you for.

Plus, we hear one mom’s gut-wrenching experience navigating the broken system just to get a little more leave while battling postpartum depression. Spoiler: it shouldn’t be this hard.

We keep it real, and sometimes that includes a few colorful words—because parenting doesn’t always come wrapped in a bow.