The Mental Load Chronicles

Send us Fan Mail This Thanksgiving week, we’re doing something a little different. Guided by our teenage daughter, we sat down for a real “getting to know us” Q&A. In this heartfelt conversation, we reflect on 21 years of marriage, raising three kids across three very different life stages, our career paths, our hopes for the future, and the gifts of the “good old days” we’re living in right n...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re talking about the mental load of gift giving — and how to make it meaningful without the guilt, pressure, or drama. From the emotional labor of shopping, wrapping, and remembering everyone’s favorites, to the art of giving gifts that actually land , we’re sharing our best hits (and a few epic misses — looking at you, “urine-be-gone”). We’ll walk through ideas for...

Send us Fan Mail One minute your kid’s supposed to be asleep. The next, you’re calling 911 because her retainer is stuck in her throat. In this episode, we share what really happened — the chaos, the calm, the fire truck in our driveway — and what it taught us about dividing the mental load when life takes a sharp left turn. From staying calm under pressure to learning when to just let go (literal...

Send us Fan Mail If last week was about awareness, this week is about action — and continuing a conversation too good to rush. In Episode 15, we started unpacking what it really takes to share the mental load. The dialogue ran deep, so instead of cutting it short, we kept going. This week, we pick up right where we left off: talking about accountability, self-understanding, and how defining succes...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid check-in, we talk about how things are really going as we try to share the mental load. From garlic confusion and weekend dinners to birthday parties and even an unexpected ER visit, this episode unpacks the tiny shifts that add up to big changes. We get real about what’s working, what still feels heavy, and how learning to let go — and let your partner actually hel...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever tried to talk about the mental load and ended up in a full-blown argument — this one’s for you. We’ve been there. More than once. In this episode, we get brutally honest about what didn’t work (spoiler: “you never do anything” is not a winning opener) and what finally did. It’s equal parts laughter, therapy flashbacks, and practical advice for anyone who’s ever reac...

Send us Fan Mail You planned it, packed it, and somehow still ended up carrying the toddler uphill to a castle. In this week’s episode — Two Weeks, Four Backpacks, Seven Countries: Running Uphill With a Toddler on Your Back — we wrap up our travel trilogy by unpacking what it really takes to “relax” on vacation when you’re the family trip planner. From hangry moments at Epcot to surprise injuries...

Send us Fan Mail Packing is never just about clothes—it’s about anticipating every scenario, lightening the mental load, and making sure the whole family can actually enjoy the trip. In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles , we share how we packed for a two-week, seven-country European adventure with three kids… using just four backpacks. From building a DIY medical kit with a label maker, t...

Send us Fan Mail In this first episode of our three-part Travel with Five series, we dive into the mental load of travel planning . From researching flights a year in advance to sprinting through train stations with three kids, we unpack what it really takes to pull off a two-week, seven-country European adventure. You’ll hear: Why backpacks > suitcases when traveling in Europe What went wrong...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles , we dive into what happened when Dad took full responsibility for planning our son’s birthday party—for the very first time. From scrambling for contact info and navigating RSVPs, to forgotten candles, late-night Target runs, and the chaos of seven laser-tag-hyped kids, we unpack the invisible labor that goes into pulling off a “simpl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mental Load Chronicles , we continue exploring the caregiving portion of the Fair Play deck—this time focusing on the realities of pet care, parenting, medical needs, and school responsibilities . From managing a beloved pet’s cancer treatments to dealing with homework, school transitions, and never-ending paperwork, they unpack how these responsibilities ad...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when pop culture’s biggest power couple collides with the everyday realities of marriage and mental load? In this episode, we use Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s whirlwind romance as a springboard to unpack the conversations every couple should have before tying the knot. From dividing household labor, balancing career demands, and navigating money and kids, to making...

Send us Fan Mail Tooth fairy fails, surprise haircuts, and why “helping” sometimes makes things harder—this episode dives into the caregiving side of the mental load. We work through the Fair Play deck and unpack how small tasks highlight bigger truths about partnership, parenting, and communication.  Highlights include: Why surprise “help” (like an unexpected haircut stop) doesn’t always lighten...

Send us Fan Mail Birthday parties look simple from the outside, but behind the balloons and cake is a mountain of invisible labor. He's offered to "own" birthday parties! Yay! So, in this episode, we unpack the hidden checklist of planning a kid’s party: RSVPs, food drama, decorations, thank-you notes, and the chaos of managing 20 kids at once. He says, "Piece of cake!" go...

Send us Fan Mail From pet loss to home renovations gone rogue, we’re diving into the “Wild” section of the Fair Play deck. These are the unpredictable life moments that don’t fit neatly into a category — but still demand teamwork, compassion, and a good sense of humor.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fair Play and Mental Load Chronicles 01:49 Navigating Death and Grief in Family 04:43 Home Renovat...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we continue through the Fair Play deck by Eve Rodsky to see how our family’s responsibilities stack up — and who’s really holding the cards. From civic duties to cultural outings, travel plans to kids’ activities, we talk through what’s working, what’s… not, and how we can better share the load. It’s part strategy session, part reality check, and a whole lot of honest c...

Send us Fan Mail In this premiere episode of The Mental Load Chronicles , one married couple kicks off their real-time journey to rebalance the invisible labor of family life. This episode gets brutally honest about what it really takes to “keep the household running.” It’s vulnerable. It’s relatable. And it’s probably your life, too. This episode sets the tone for a podcast that blends humor, hon...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 2 of The Mental Load Chronicles , we do a thing: sit down with a literal deck of cards to sort out who does what in our household. Enter: the Fair Play method. We talk through the realities of managing a full house—three kids, two jobs, multiple dogs—and how it all becomes a blur of unspoken expectations, unbalanced responsibilities, and surprise tensions about photos....

Send us Fan Mail This one’s for every parent who’s ever stayed up late wrapping birthday presents, stuffing goodie bags, or scrambling to explain why the tooth fairy forgot to come (again). In this episode, we get into the invisible labor behind the “magic”—from planning birthday parties and making cupcakes from scratch, to managing the ever-growing calendar of childhood traditions. We talk about...