Working Moms are Burned Out

Working mothers across America have had enough.

SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2023 / Between juggling parenting duties, household responsibilities, and demanding jobs, mothers are reaching their breaking point. The daily stress and pressure to be everything to everyone has pushed them into a full-blown burnout crisis.

As the New York Times reported, 79% of working moms are plagued by anxiety over having to be perfect while 71% face crippling financial strains. Fast Company concurs, stating “Working mothers across America are fed up; battling scheduling, childcare, pay gaps, and guilt…enough is enough.”

The evidence is clear. Working moms are overwhelmed, exhausted, and desperate for change.

McKinsey research reveals that working mothers are significantly more likely than fathers to handle the majority of household and parenting tasks on top of their professional workload. This lopsided division leads to working mom burnout as women sacrifice their mental health and personal needs in an impossible effort to do it all.

Compounding the problem is the pervasive expectation that mothers must be completely selfless – willing and able to meet the endless needs of their family, workplace, and community without regard for themselves. Working moms face immense pressure to excel both at home and on the job while hiding the strain beneath a veneer of perfect motherhood.

The Impact On Mental Health

This pressure cooker environment takes a severe toll on working mothers’ mental health.

According to a University of Illinois study, the more demands placed on working moms, the higher their rates of anxiety and depression. These strained mothers are significantly more likely to develop mood disorders and suffer from chronic stress that harms their overall well-being.

Working mothers are caught in a vicious cycle. The mental load of balancing competing responsibilities causes anxiety and exhaustion. This stress negatively impacts their performance and sparks more guilt over not meeting unrealistic standards, further accelerating burnout.

Without relief, working moms face a constant barrage of stress that threatens to overwhelm them entirely. This crisis disproportionately impacts single mothers, mothers of color, and low-income families who must contend with additional financial and societal challenges.

The Toll On Children

Working mothers’ burnout also harms the entire family unit. Kids suffer when their mothers are chronically stressed, anxious, or depressed.

Research shows children with burned-out parents are more prone to behavioral problems, poor academic performance, and mental health issues of their own. The American Psychological Association reports that chronic parental stress is linked to higher rates of ADHD, depression, and substance abuse among children.

But when mothers have adequate support and balance, the entire family thrives. The University of Illinois study found that mothers who don’t shoulder the full burden alone raise happier and healthier kids. Their children feel more secure and exhibit lower rates of anxiety and depression.

Clearly, supporting working mothers benefits everyone. But systemic flaws in modern parenting norms, workplace policies, and social support structures have left this indispensable group depleted and neglected.

It’s time for radical change. Working moms need and deserve a revolution.

Rethinking Working Motherhood

First and foremost, outdated societal attitudes and judgments toward working mothers must evolve. Mothers should never have to apologize for pursuing professional goals or feel guilty for getting help with caregiving.

The notion that mothers must single-handedly handle all domestic duties while climbing the corporate ladder is unhealthy and unrealistic. Families should cooperatively share age-appropriate household responsibilities so no one person bears the full weight.

Workplaces also require major reform. Paid family leave, flexible scheduling, remote work options, subsidized childcare, and other family-friendly policies must become the norm rather than the exception. No mother should have to choose between her career and her family.

But mothers alone cannot fix this broken system. Partners, families, communities, and employers all play a critical role in better supporting working parents. Shared responsibility for domestic needs coupled with societal support reduces the burden on working moms and boosts collective well-being.

A Grassroots Movement

While sweeping policy reforms are essential, working mothers need immediate solutions. Many are taking matters into their own hands through grassroots advocacy and support groups.

One inspiring example is Christa Smith, a mother of 15 who overcame burnout to empower mothers worldwide. After nearly crumbling under the weight of parenting pressures, Smith created the “Love Our Littles” program to help mothers foster healthy families.

Smith teaches moms how to strengthen emotional connections, navigate parenting challenges, and cultivate cooperation through daily habits and routines. By promoting mutual understanding, her practical advice equips mothers with tools to reduce stress and create a nurturing household environment.

With a global community of members, Smith provides the encouragement and wisdom working mothers desperately need. Her focus on motherhood as a shared journey – not a solo marathon – strikes a chord with women seeking solidarity and balance.

Christa Smith’s unique program demonstrates the collective power of mothers helping mothers. When women support each other through struggles instead of silently soldiering on alone, they build resilience against burnout. This communal approach exemplifies the widescale shift in attitudes required to better support working parents.

Working mothers are the backbone of families, workplaces, and society. When they thrive, so do their children, partners, employers, and communities. But for far too long, working moms have been breaking their backs trying to do the impossible task of single-handedly balancing it all. At the same time, Smith encourages women to stretch, grow, and become the best version of themselves, leading their family by example, rather than a “do as I say, not as I do,” approach. Smith says, “our kids will not out-lead our current level of leadership as parents.” Her approach is helping many mothers and families grow stronger and thrive through the challenges of this new era.

One thing is certain: the status quo is hurting working mothers, fracturing families, and damaging children. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Working moms need and deserve a revolution. The time for rest, support, balance, and mutual understanding is now. By lifting each other up, we can empower working mothers to nurture their families and reach their full potential.

The crisis is urgent and the moment for change is at hand. Working mothers have reached their breaking point – but this can be their turning point. Through collective action, we can spark the lasting reform needed to end the burnout epidemic and help working moms thrive.

Our families, workplaces, and society simply cannot survive otherwise. It is in everyone’s best interest to ensure working mothers get the support they need. This revolution starts now.

ABOUT:

Christa Smith, Founder of RenegadeMomy is the mother of 15 children and an entrepreneur behind the YouTube channel Keeping Up With the Smiths. With a passion for promoting peace and calm within families, Christa shares communication scripts and examples to help moms and kids create loving and harmonious relationships. Through her Love Our Littles program, she empowers parents with the tools to keep their cool and foster a harmonious environment at home. For additional information, visit YouTube, Facebook, RenegadeMomy Facebook Group.

CONTACT:

Christa Smith
[email protected]
405-757-9868

SOURCE: RenegadeMomy