There’s a version of this story that happens in a lot of households. One parent does the dishes. The other parent notices the dishwasher needs rinse aid, remembers the pediatrician appointment needs rescheduling, realizes the school forms are due Friday, and mentally files that the babysitter hasn’t been paid yet. The one who did the dishes gets credit for helping. The one who held all of that in their head — tracking, planning, anticipating, remembering — is just called “organized.” That second job is the mental load of motherhood. And if you’ve been feeling exhausted in a way that doesn’t…
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Nobody tells you that moving abroad with kids adds a specific kind of invisible labour to your life. It’s not just the logistics — the new school system, the healthcare paperwork, the banking in a second language. It’s the mental load of navigating everything without your usual support network. The friends who used to be around the corner are now a time zone away. The family who helped with the kids on a bad week isn’t here. And you’re supposed to keep working, keep the household running, keep showing up as the mother your children need — in the middle…