The Invisible Mental Load: Why Working Moms Feel So Overwhelmed | With Paige Connell

In this episode of MOMents, Madge Booth sits down with Paige Connell to break down the mental load of working moms — the invisible planning, organising and emotional labour that keeps households running and leaves so many women exhausted.

They unpack why the mental load is so draining, especially for ambitious, high-achieving women trying to balance career, motherhood and relationships. You’ll learn how to put language to the invisible work you carry, how to start healthier conversations about sharing responsibilities at home, and how to move toward a more equal partnership.

Paige shares practical strategies for reducing overwhelm, building trust, creating household systems that actually work, and redefining success beyond burnout. The conversation also explores how gender roles and societal expectations shape work-life balance, the unique challenges single moms face, and how we can raise children who understand fairness and shared responsibility.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding the Mental Load

02:47 Communicating the Invisible Work

04:48 Defensiveness and Gender Roles

07:08 Societal Expectations and Parenting

10:23 Trust and Control in Household Management

12:30 The Work of Parenting vs. Relationship Dynamics

14:58 Creating a System for Managing the Mental Load

17:12 Navigating Solo Parenting Challenges

19:53 Preparing the Next Generation

23:16 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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