The Mental Load Solution: The New Tool That *Actually* Sets You Free
From After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings by Dear Media and Big Little Feelings
May 6, 2026 · 44 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the concept of the mental load in parenting and offers a new perspective on managing it.
You are not overwhelmed because you’re bad at balance. You’re overwhelmed because you’re carrying an entire operating system in your head for running a home and caring for kids, and no one ever taught you how to turn it off. You’ve split the tasks, had the talks, been very clear about “I just need more help.” And still, you’re the one remembering, anticipating and managing everything. This isn’t about who’s doing more, it’s about who’s mentally running the entire show. And if that’s you?? Of course you’re exhausted. In this episode, we’re blowing up the biggest lie we’ve all been fed: That the mental load is a communication problem. It’s not. It’s an infrastructure problem. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it, which is exactly why this conversation is so crucial. Deena sits down with Kelly Hubbell, founder of Sage Haus , mom of three, and an accidental genius who built a solution most of us didn’t even know was possible, to break down: • Why even “equal” partnerships still leave moms carrying ~70% of the mental load • The 5 invisible layers running in your brain 24/7 (this alone will blow your mind, and unlock real change) • Why “just tell me what to do” is actually adding…
People in this episode
Host: Deena
Guest: Kelly Hubble
Topics covered
- mental load
- parenting
- work-life balance
- communication
- infrastructure problem
Keywords
- mental load
- parenting
- overwhelm
- communication
- infrastructure
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sage House
More episodes of After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings
- The Anxiety Playbook Every Parent Needs: What Anxiety Really Is, Why Reassurance Backfires, and How Brave Kids Are Built. · June 10, 2026 · 41 min
- 3 Things Your Strong-Willed Kid Needs to Hear · June 3, 2026 · 36 min
- The Real Reason You’re Exhausted All the Time · May 27, 2026 · 1h 0m
- Stop Escalating Your Kid’s Meltdowns (And What To Do Instead) · May 20, 2026 · 39 min
- Your Hardest Parenting Questions, Answered · May 13, 2026 · 48 min
- From Trauma to Peace: Deena's Third Birth Story · April 29, 2026 · 41 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings podcast page.