THROWBACK to Episode 9: How Many Tabs Do You Have Open
*Originally aired October 25, 2023*
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-how-many-tabs-do-you-have-open/id1677891195?i=1000632528146
The hardest part of parenting isn’t always the hands-on work, it’s the nonstop thinking. That running list in your head of meals, sizes, appointments, routines, and future milestones can make you feel like you’re “on” every hour of the day, even when you finally sit down.
We get honest about what “default parent” really means in everyday life. For us, it shows up as the invisible load and mental load: making the pediatrician appointments, tracking the calendar, planning dinners, and managing the constant background scan of what the kids will need next. We also talk about how this pressure collides with real human limits like stress, anxiety, disrupted sleep, health flare-ups, and the perfectionism that makes you feel like you should be able to power through.
Along the way, we share real examples that will sound familiar if you’re in the thick of motherhood and co-parenting: the weekly dread of meal planning, the urge to take tasks back because you’re not sure they’ll get done, and the small mindset shifts that help, like letting go of control in low-stakes areas. We also reflect on how “no excuses” culture can be toxic when life moves in seasons, and why sustainable self-care has to fit the season you’re actually in.
Listen, then tell us how you define “default parent” in your home, and what’s helped you lighten the load.
If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more parents can find us.
