Signs of “Mom Brain” and How to Cope
Have you ever walked into a room, and stood there wondering why you came there in the first place? Or maybe you started tidying a room and ended up working on dishes and then folding laundry? Perhaps you have a color-coded planner, plus digital reminders, and a whiteboard calendar in the kitchen to remind people of key dates, appointments, etc. If any of these things are true, you might have “mom brain.” Over the past few years, there has been a growing conversation about the mental load that mothers carry. Even married women without children can find themselves carrying more mental load than their husbands no matter how equitably the household tasks are divided. When women invoke mom brain, they’re typically describing the experience of feeling scattered, distracted, forgetful, or disorganized as a result of being pregnant or having children. The hormones of pregnancy and postpartum have significant impacts on brain chemistry. Plus sleep deprivation can cause a temporary collapse of cognitive function. Beyond the postpartum period, you may continue to have seasons of forgetfulness, distraction, trouble focusing, and so on. If you are responsible for the well-being of yourself and multiple other people (spouses, children, pets) you are going to burn out if you don’t take proper care. As a mother, caring for your family is often your top priority, from making decisions regarding school, driving to extracurriculars and appointments, managing a household, and possibly even a job your brain is constantly fluttering from thought to thought. There are meal plans, groceries, and chores to do (or teach children to do, which is also a process). The sheer amount of brain power directed toward the care and keeping of a family is massive and often invisible. When left alone, this type of mental load can lead many women to [...]
