Modern moms carry an unfair share of the invisible load—the mental and emotional labour of taking care of the house and raising the kids. The problem is widespread—and breaking out of the pattern can be tough. But with the right approach, we can learn how to share the mental load at home in a fair and intentional way. 
I sat down with Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home for a two-part discussion on the way gender norms shape the distribution of labour in the home. In part 1, we discussed the impact of that imbalance. Today, we dive into ways we unintentionally reinforce gender norms and how to break away from them.  
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ArFukU 
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128: Unpacking Gender Norms Part 2: How to Share the Mental Load with Gender Expert Kate Mangino, Ph.D.

We often enter motherhood envisioning joy, nurturing, peace, and love. But the reality can blindside us. Nobody tells us about Mom Rage, overstimulation, intrusive thoughts, or other mental health struggles. Unfortunately, when we seek help, we might face a lack of support, a system that doesn’t put moms first, and a world that turns a blind eye to the challenges of motherhood. We’re here to change that. We believe that moms deserve access to community, support, and mental health literacy. If you’re struggling with motherhood, you’re not alone–and you’re not failing. On The Momwell Podcast, host and psychotherapist Erica Djossa teaches strategies to help you cope with the psychological and emotional load of motherhood and prioritize your mental health and wellbeing. Erica shares the best kept secrets of the therapy world and interviews other professionals (psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, fertility specialists, lactation consultants, and more!) who provide their expertise to empower you on your motherhood journey.

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Maintaining friendships or making new friends as a mom, takes skills, intention, and deliberation. The adjustment to motherhood changes us—and it makes sense that our friendships, along with our values, priorities, and other relationships, might change too. That doesn’t mean we have to leave our old friendships behind, and it doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to make new ones. 
Today, I’m joined by Danielle Bayard Jackson, founder of Friend Forward and author of Fighting for our Friendships to discuss why friendship is vital for moms and what we can do to maintain friendships and form new connections.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43ZC4T2
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221: How to Maintain Friendships (and Make Friends) as a Mom with Danielle Bayard Jackson, Author

We don’t have to accept stress as our default state of being. When we can learn how stress shows up in our bodies, what our triggers are, and how to break away from the stress cycle we are trapped in, we can improve our well-being and show up the way we want for our children and for ourselves. 
Today, I’m joined by Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, to discuss how our society sets moms up to be stressed, why it leads to burnout, and how moms can break out of the stress cycle.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3JbP5iQ
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220: How Stressed Moms Can Cope with Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout

Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations. 
As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the concept of cleaning differently, learn to overcome our anxiety around cleaning, and develop simple tips for keeping the house functioning without getting overwhelmed. 
Today, I’m joined by KC Davis, author of How to Keep House While Drowning, known as Domestic Blisters on TikTok and founder of Struggle Care, to discuss reframing our thinking about “the mess” and tips for cleaning with kids.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49mxrTY 
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219: From the Vault: Why Does a Messy House Give Me Anxiety? with KC Davis, Licensed Professional Therapist and Author

The invisible load of motherhood isn’t easy to see, define, or explain. We feel the weight of it, but we often assume that we are just failing or that our partner is the problem. But when we learn to let go of the beliefs that create this “Mother Load,” we can take the steps to release and redistribute the mental and emotional labor in our homes. 
That’s why I wrote the book Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More. Today, I’m joined by my literary agent, Carly Watters, to reflect on our book journey and discuss how moms can let go of the labor they are drowning in.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Tvlfuw
Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com 
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218: Breaking Away from the Invisible Load of Motherhood with Carly Watters, Literary Agent

When partners take an active role in the invisible load, everyone benefits. It reduces pressure and overwhelm on moms, and it empowers partners to make decisions and parent with confidence. 
Today, I’m joined by Zach Watson, creator of Real Zach Think Share and invisible labor educator for men, to unpack why partners need to help carry the invisible load and how they can start.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49ZNKr6 
Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com 
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Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter 
Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop 
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128: Unpacking Gender Norms Part 2: How to Share the Mental Load with Gender Expert Kate Mangino, Ph.D.

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