Nina Bandelj: How moms can fight the emotional burnout fueled by modern parenting
Nina Bandelj: How moms can fight the emotional burnout fueled by modern parenting
- June 6, 2026
- Nina Bandelj, sociology, explains in this piece for the Chicago Tribune
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“At this time of year, family calendars implode under the weight of school performances, sports tournaments, award ceremonies, teacher gifts, graduation traditions, summer camp forms and holiday travel plans. How to deal with it all?
Moms often get a piece of well-intentioned advice: Just trust your instincts. Follow your heart. Tune into how you feel.
Here is a different message: It's OK to not listen to your feelings.
I'm a mom, and I know how incredibly hard this is to hear. In the overload of Facebook mom chats, WhatsApp school parent group messages, Substack posts, and viral celebrity toxic mom group drama, every parenting decision I make feels morally and developmentally consequential for my child.
I'm exhausted, like so many other moms, not only because I am doing so much physical, mental and emotional caregiving labor. But also because an inner voice is convincing me that I must feel everything, be in control of everything and listen to my instincts to sift through the overload.”
Continue reading, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.
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