The Mental Load Chronicles

A suburban family

One couple’s real-time journey to rebalance work, home, and everything in between. We’ve been married for 20 years. We’ve got three kids, multiple dogs, demanding careers—and more mental tabs open than our browsers can handle. We’re not experts. We’re just two longtime partners trying to unpack the invisible labor that’s been building between us for years—and we’re doing it out loud, on purpose, in real time. Each week, we sit down (sometimes tired, often interrupted) to talk through what the mental load really looks like in our home, what’s working, what’s not, and how we’re learning to share the weight more equitably. With honesty, humor, and zero perfection, we’re inviting you along as we figure it out—one messy, meaningful conversation at a time. Expect: Real talk about modern relationshipsBehind-the-scenes of our wins and failsTools, conversations, and messy progressAnd plenty of “Oof, same” moments Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or just tired of doing it all, you’ll find solidarity—and maybe some solutions—right here.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    When Romance Becomes One More Thing on the List

    Send us a text Romance doesn’t disappear because people stop loving each other—it disappears when there’s no capacity left. In this episode, we talk honestly about how the mental load affects romance, intimacy, and connection in long-term relationships. From becoming “roommates,” to keeping score, to why even planning a trip can feel exhausting, we unpack what actually happens when life is operating on hard mode. We talk about: Why romance isn’t effortless—and never really wasHow small imbalances quietly erode connectionThe difference between performative gestures and meaningful onesWhy quality matters more than quantityAnd how communication (not grand gestures) has kept us in the game for over 20 yearsThis isn’t an episode about “keeping the spark alive.”  It’s about what romance looks like when real life is loud. Check us out on Instagram

    35 min

  2. 2 FEB

    From ‘Tell Me What to Do’ to ‘How Can I Help?’: Fair Play Home Deck, Part Two

    Send us a text Six months ago, we worked through the Home Deck from the Fair Play system. In this episode, we revisit it — not to start over, but to see what actually changed. What surprised us most wasn’t a chore swap or a new system. It was language. We talk about why “tell me what to do” still leaves the mental load intact, how concrete offers of help can feel radically different, and what it looks like when both partners are actually seeing the full picture of the day. Along the way, we cover weekend meals, laundry, garbage, money lessons for teens, childcare realities, work flexibility, and the small shifts that quietly make partnership feel lighter. This episode is about progress — imperfect, ongoing, and real — and why revisiting the work matters just as much as starting it. Check us out on Instagram

    36 min

  3. 26 JAN

    Halfway Isn’t Done: Revisiting the Fair Play Home Deck (Part 1)

    Send us a text This week, we’re revisiting the Fair Play Home Deck — because it turns out splitting the cards once doesn’t magically mean the work stays split forever. In this episode, we walk back through the cards we originally labeled as shared, mine, or yours and ask the uncomfortable (but necessary) question: Is this actually how it’s working in real life? From tidying, organizing, and donations, to hosting, groceries, dishes, and money management, we talk honestly about what’s improved, what’s still lopsided, and what we’ve quietly let slide. Along the way, we unpack why “halfway” isn’t the same as “done,” how invisible labor sneaks back in, and why the mental load is never a one-time conversation. This is Part 1 of a two-part revisit of the Home Deck — and proof that rebalancing the load is ongoing work, not a checkbox. Check us out on Instagram

    20 min

  4. 19 JAN

    New Year, Shared Load: Supporting Each Other’s Resolutions

    Send us a text Every January, we make resolutions with the best intentions — and by February, most of them are gone. In this episode, we talk about why New Year’s resolutions fail so often — and how the mental load plays a bigger role than we realize. Instead of just sharing what we want to change this year, we do something different: we talk about how we’re going to support each other in actually making those changes stick. From exercising regularly and getting organized, to creating real quality time and sharing the invisible work of planning, remembering, and managing — this conversation is about shifting resolutions from solo effort to shared responsibility. If you’ve ever abandoned a goal because life got busy, exhaustion took over, or the mental load crowded it out, this episode is for you. We want to hear from you: What’s your New Year’s resolution — and what kind of support would help you keep it? Check us out on Instagram

    16 min

  5. 12 JAN

    When the Holidays Go Well… and Still Wear You Out

    Send us a text The holidays are over. They were wonderful. So why are we exhausted? In this episode, we’re recapping what really happened over Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas: what went well, what quietly drained our energy, and what we didn’t fully anticipate about traveling, togetherness, and family dynamics. From packing presents across time zones to navigating expectations when vacationing with family, we talk honestly about the invisible mental load that shows up even when things are “good.” We unpack why travel can make holidays feel harder, how simplifying meals and gifts helped, and what we’d do differently next year. If your holidays weren’t magical — or they were great and exhausting — this conversation is for you. You’re not broken. Or maybe you are? Listen until the end to get that joke ;) Check us out on Instagram

    23 min

  6. 26/12/2025

    A Short Pause (We’ll Be Back in January)

    Send us a text Sometimes the mental load looks like powering through. And sometimes it looks like knowing when to pause. We planned new episodes for the end of the year — and then real life happened. Energy ran out. The calendar filled up. The load showed up. So we’re taking a short break and will be back in January with new conversations about sharing the work, the weight, and the invisible labor of family life. Thanks for being here — and for understanding that rest is part of the work, too. Check us out on Instagram

    1 min

  7. 15/12/2025

    Sick Days, Midnight Meltdowns, and Dad in High Heels!?! Magic Deck Revisited

    Send us a text Sick days, snow days, thank-you notes, tooth fairies, parenting possession arrows, and yes… the moment one partner wonders what their legs would look like in high heels. We’re revisiting the Magic Deck—the cards that shape the “fun” and “meaning” parts of family life—and asking what’s working, what’s slipping, and what still needs a major reboot. In this episode, we dig into: – Why sick days and school closures keep defaulting to the same parent – How middle-of-the-night wakeups reveal so much about load coordination – The chaos of thank-you notes (and why a simple sign-in sheet could save us) – Tooth fairies, Santa season, and the emotional labor of magical beings – The mental load of gifts—birthday, holiday, extended family, VIPs – How we’re using a parenting possession arrow to make sick-day decisions more fair – Which “shared” cards we actually share… and which ones need a tune-up It’s honest, funny, painfully relatable, and a true behind-the-scenes look at how magical moments actually get made—and why they sometimes fall apart in spectacular fashion. Check us out on Instagram

    31 min

  8. 08/12/2025

    The Disney Diaries: Why This Was Our Most Relaxed Trip Yet

    Send us a text This week, we’re taking you inside our Thanksgiving trip to Disney World — a vacation that somehow became our most relaxed Disney trip yet… even with strep throat, checklist mishaps, extended family dynamics, and a whole lot of mental load along the way. We unpack the real moments parents know too well:  • the fridge “celery incident” that wasn’t actually about celery  • why handing off tasks before a trip is so tricky  • the tiny gestures that make all the difference (yes, including the last dry towel)  • the emotional weight of trying to meet everyone’s expectations, from kids to grandparents  • and the magic that shifts as kids grow up and can finally ride everything For the first time ever, we also recorded “Disney diaries” — little audio clips from the trip — and we react to them together. Spoiler: He was right about the quiet room. Whether you’re a Disney regular, a theme-park newbie, or someone who just wants to feel seen in the chaos of family travel, this episode is a warm and honest look at how vacations evolve — and how sharing the load evolves with them. Check us out on Instagram

    30 min
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About

One couple’s real-time journey to rebalance work, home, and everything in between. We’ve been married for 20 years. We’ve got three kids, multiple dogs, demanding careers—and more mental tabs open than our browsers can handle. We’re not experts. We’re just two longtime partners trying to unpack the invisible labor that’s been building between us for years—and we’re doing it out loud, on purpose, in real time. Each week, we sit down (sometimes tired, often interrupted) to talk through what the mental load really looks like in our home, what’s working, what’s not, and how we’re learning to share the weight more equitably. With honesty, humor, and zero perfection, we’re inviting you along as we figure it out—one messy, meaningful conversation at a time. Expect: Real talk about modern relationshipsBehind-the-scenes of our wins and failsTools, conversations, and messy progressAnd plenty of “Oof, same” moments Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or just tired of doing it all, you’ll find solidarity—and maybe some solutions—right here.

Information

  • Creator
    A suburban family
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mental Load Chronicles
  • Show Website
    The Mental Load Chronicles