A notification from the pharmacy about my prescription being ready. A ping from the school reminding me of an upcoming fundraiser at a local restaurant. An email alerting me that my youngest’s lunch account is down to $1.50. A reminder for my daughter’s next dental appointment. A text from my partner asking for our son’s shoe size for the summer (as if I have a magic crystal ball to predict how quickly they grow). And that’s just before noon.
The mental burden of managing all these details is real, and it often falls squarely on moms. Our smartphones, while intended to help us organize our lives, can also amplify the chaos. Leah Ruppanner, an insightful Australian author, describes the “mental load” as the ongoing planning required to ensure the kids make it to soccer practice, that dinner ingredients are stocked, and that the smoke detector batteries are replaced. It’s a constant, exhausting cycle, and it often disproportionately affects women.
I can totally relate. The beeping smoke detector in my home is a prime example. Figuring out where that noise is coming from can be a challenge—turns out it’s in the attic. I know it requires a 9-volt battery or two AA batteries, but I keep forgetting to pick them up. And with a to-do list so extensive it rivals a CVS receipt, I’m destined to misplace the shopping list before I even make it to the store.
Oh, and let’s not forget the influx of emails today, notifying me about my seventh grader’s recently posted grades. While this post isn’t specifically about online grading systems, I certainly have my opinions on that too. The flood of messages from the kids’ schools about safety protocols, scheduling parent-teacher meetings, dance events, and Little League updates can be overwhelming—my head is close to bursting just thinking about it.
It doesn’t end there. I received multiple group texts detailing game schedules for my boys’ basketball tournament, along with reminders for baseball practice, including a note that all catchers need to bring their gear and wear proper pants. Plus, I need to book hotels for our upcoming baseball trip to New York and the Memorial Day tournament in New Jersey.
Today, I was pleasantly surprised that the group chat didn’t explode with replies, questions, and a barrage of emojis, which usually leads to my phone buzzing incessantly until I want to toss it out the window. Maybe I should add “YouTube how to fix a wall” to my mental list, but I’ll likely just hang a picture over any damage like I usually do.
I know, I know—I could just mute the notifications. But there are two roadblocks to this solution. First, I’m not entirely sure how to do it. More importantly, I often forget things—a lot of things. I rely heavily on these reminders to keep my family organized. While it’s one thing to forget my own dentist appointment after multiple alerts, it’s another when my kids miss their cleanings or show up at events on the wrong day. Yes, I have done that before at a birthday party.
To all the mothers gearing up for another whirlwind day filled with alerts and reminders, take a deep breath. And perhaps indulge in some peanut M&Ms. But if you’re stopping by the store for those M&Ms, could you please grab some batteries too? And while you’re at it, I could use a new fitness tracker because it seems mine isn’t as waterproof as I thought, and I really need to step up my activity after all these M&Ms.
In summary, stay organized, take breaks when needed, and don’t hesitate to lean on your support system. If you’re curious about more topics related to family life, check out this insightful piece on pregnancy and home insemination at Make a Mom. Also, for further resources, visit WHO’s pregnancy page or explore Modern Family Blog for expert insights.