Ever feel like your mind is juggling 3,000 tabs? That's the invisible load. It's the mental to-do list that never ends — remembering birthdays, planning meals, booking dentist appointments, managing tantrums, school runs, and oh, keeping the house in one piece.
Because no one sees it. It's not as tangible as washing dishes or changing nappies. It's the unseen emotional labour that mothers carry every. single. day.
While physical tasks can be divided, the mental load usually stays on your plate — the planning, anticipating, and emotional caretaking. It's draining in a way that leaves you mentally fried by noon.
You're emotionally running on empty. Little things feel huge. Crying randomly? Yep, that's a red flag.
You walk into a room and forget why. You miss appointments, even with reminders. Your brain feels like it's buffering.
Feeling like you're never doing enough — not for your kids, your partner, your job, or yourself. Welcome to the guilt spiral.
Mumsnet is buzzing with threads from exhausted mums asking, "Is it just me?" Spoiler: It's not.