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Motherhood is, without a doubt, the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has molded me into a better, stronger, more loving, and compassionate person. I never knew how much my heart could love until I had children. Motherhood has also made me very tired, a bit more anxious, and even more of an over-thinker and worrier. If you’re a mom reading this, I’m sure you can relate to a few of these.
While we want to do everything we can for our children and be a good mom, sometimes (or oftentimes) we over-extend ourselves because we want to show them (and maybe the world) how much we care. It comes from the very best of intentions, but it can lead us to take on too many responsibilities and commitments. The load that we carry as mothers is heavy. That’s why we refer to it as “the mother load.” And while, of course, we would do anything for our children, mothers need to remember this . . . all of those things were never meant for one person to carry. Our guest, Erica Djossa, knows all about the mother-load, as she literally wrote the book. She discusses this topic in-depth with us and explains how mothers can make a positive change.
Who is Erica Djossa?
Erica Djossa is a registered psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health with over a decade of experience. She is the author of Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More, CEO and founder of Momwell, and the host of the Momwell podcast. As a mother of three rambunctious young boys, Erica understands first-hand the challenges of motherhood. Perfectionism, pressure, and loss of identity fueled her battle with postpartum depression, and she realized how difficult it is to seek care. She founded Momwell to set a standard of care for providers and ensure mom-centered, specialized mental health support at any stage of motherhood. Erica has been featured in media publications, including Time Magazine, USA Today, The Toronto Star, Breakfast Television, and Scary Mommy.
What Did We Discuss?
In this episode, we chat with Erica about the invisible “mother-load” all moms carry and how moms can learn to carry less and enjoy motherhood more. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:
- What are some of the most common mental health issues you see in mothers today?
- Where does this “invisible load” come from? How can we break away from it?
- So many modern moms feel pressure to be the “perfect mom.” Why is this harmful, and how can we change it?
- What are your thoughts on gender norms and how moms can end up carrying more of the load? How does this affect relationships?
- How do you recommend moms communicate with their partners about how they are feeling and how they can help?
- What is your advice for the mom who always feels like she needs to do and be “more”?
If you are feeling burned out and overextended in motherhood, or perhaps even experiencing resentment or rage toward your partner, take a moment to listen to this episode. Erica shares some powerful information, tips, and resources that can help you in your motherhood journey.
Mentioned in the Show:
- Motherly’s 2024 State of Motherhood survey
- My podcast episode on Modern Mom Probs podcast with Tara Clark
- Tara’s episode on our podcast is coming next week!
- The reel that Erica did about the “invisible load”
- Erica’s FREE downloadable PDFs
Erica Djossa’s Resources:
- Website: momwell.com
- Book: Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More
- Instagram: @momwell
- Podcast: The MomWell Podcast
Related:
- The Secret to Enjoying Motherhood and Not Just Surviving It
- Mom’s Silent Workload Takes Its Toll
- 20 Tips To Avoid Mom Burnout and Find Balance
- 25 Things “Perfect” Moms Don’t Want You to Know
- There’s No Perfect Mother: Letting Go of the Illusion
- How Letting Go of Perfection Let Me Be a Better Mom
- The Benefits of Doing Less as a Mom
- You’re A Good Mom, Even If You Have Bad Mom Days
- 7 Ways to Handle a Bad Mom Day
- 5 Things to Remember When You Feel Like a Bad Mom
- You’re Not A Bad Mom If…Common Misconceptions That Need to Stop!
Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you’d like us to cover. Cheers to lightening your load and thriving in motherhood!
