Ep19. Are You Drowning in the Parenting Juggle?

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This episode offers a compassionate look at what’s really going on behind the scenes for busy mums.

Drawing on real-life stories and powerful quotes from other mothers, Nina breaks down the emotional weight of the parenting juggle and explores what truly helps when you’re overwhelmed.

If you’ve been feeling like it’s all too much - you’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong.

You’ll Learn

• The four biggest reasons modern motherhood feels so hard

• Why knowing what to do often isn’t enough - and what to focus on instead

• Practical ways to slow your internal pace and create breathing room (see below)

• Gentle communication shifts that invite cooperation instead of conflict

• A simple mindfulness practice you can use today.

Ways to slow down without adding more:

• Pause for three deep breaths once the kids are in the car.

• Let the shower be a sensory reset—notice the warmth, the scent of your conditioner.

• Rub in hand cream slowly, focusing on the feeling and scent.

• Rest while the kettle boils—just sit and breathe.

• Watch your kids play silently, being fully present.

• Try a grounding moment: hand on heart, noticing three things around you, or standing outside barefoot.

• Choose to rest instead of tidying. Let the mess wait.

These micro-moments reduce your baseline stress and create a little more capacity for calm.

Why This Episode Matters

We hear a lot about how to parent better, but not enough about why it’s so hard in the first place.

This episode speaks directly to that truth. If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just get it together?” - this conversation will help you understand that you’re not the problem.

The parenting juggle is real, and you deserve support, not self-blame.

Take Home Action

Before you rush to the next task, pause. Place your hand on your heart and ask:

• How am I really feeling?

• What do I need right now?

• What can I let go of?

Let that moment of mindfulness be enough.

Take the Next Step

As a listener of this episode, you’re invited to book a free 30-minute chat with Nina. These private sessions aren’t available anywhere else and are designed to give you tailored support for whatever’s feeling hardest right now.

Book your free session here.

Links and Resources

• Book your free 30-minute listener-only support call

• Related episodes:

  • Ep13. Are You Really Listening to Your Child? Part 2: How to Be a Better Listener

  • Ep12. Are You Really Listening to Your Child? Part 1: Why Kids Stop Talking

  • Ep9. Can Mindful Parenting Really Make a Difference??

  • Ep5. Can Connection Really Help Your Kids Listen Better?

    
    

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you! Send me a DM on Instagram or shoot me an email! Let me know how this episode resonated or what challenge you’re working through right now.

• Follow Nina on Instagram

• Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au

• Email: nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au

About the Host

Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach, speaker, and mum to three boys. She helps overwhelmed parents move from chaos and yelling to calm, connected communication that actually works in real life. Drawing from her training in Parent Effectiveness Training and her lived experience as a working mum, Nina offers a grounded and honest approach to modern parenting.

Her work is rooted in the belief that parenting isn’t about perfection - it’s about presence. And in episodes like this one, she opens the door for parents to feel deeply seen and supported. Nina knows firsthand how exhausting the parenting juggle can be, and she’s passionate about helping mums build small, sustainable shifts that lower their stress and increase their sense of calm.

Through Your Calm Parenting Path, Nina creates a space where real-life parenting struggles are met with real-life strategies - and where you’ll always be reminded that you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

Transcript

This transcript has been copied and pasted but not proofread or edited, so it may contain errors or inaccuracies.

You're listening to Your Calm Parenting Path. I’m your host, Nina, a mindful parenting coach and mum, here to help you go from overwhelmed and reactive to calm, confident, and connected with your kids.

This show is for parents who want to raise their children with more patience, less stress, and a whole lot more joy. Because small shifts make a big impact—and you can build the parenting life you’ve always wanted.

If you want to see what I’m up to, follow me on Instagram at [your handle]. And don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Now, let’s get started!

Hey lovely listeners,

This episode is a little different. It’s not a list of tips or a lesson on parenting strategies. It’s a real, honest look at what so many of you are feeling.

Because I see you. I hear you. And I’ve been listening—deeply.

Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with dozens of mums through market research, coaching calls, and chatting to mums I meet at school or at networking events. And I’ve heard the same themes over and over again. It doesn’t matter how old your kids are, how many days you work, or how many systems you’ve tried to set up—this parenting juggle is a lot.

So today, I want to name the four big challenges I’ve heard again and again. And then we’ll talk about what actually helps—not to fix you, because you’re not broken, but to support you.

Part 1: Four Reasons This Feels So Hard

Challenge #1: The Invisible Mental LoadYou are carrying everything. Appointments, activities, shopping lists, meal planning, who needs new shoes, who hasn’t pooped in three days. Your brain is constantly juggling tabs—and they never close. Even when you’re resting, your mind is still solving problems or remembering someone else’s needs.

One mum said, “My brain is never quiet. I feel like I’m managing five people’s lives and barely holding mine together.”

You remember what’s in the fridge. What form needs to go back. Who’s outgrown their socks. And when you’re the one noticing and holding it all, even rest doesn’t feel restful.

Challenge #2: No Space to Regulate YourselfYou know what you’d like to do in tricky parenting moments—pause, take a breath, respond with calm. But the reality? You’re already maxed out. There’s no space between the trigger and the reaction. Your body is wired, your brain is on edge.

As one mum put it, “I know what to do—I just don’t have time to think before I react.”

You’re not lacking discipline or tools. You’re lacking capacity. When you’re depleted, it’s near impossible to be mindful. And it’s not your fault—it’s what happens when your own nervous system is stuck in survival mode.

Challenge #3: The Pressure to Do It All WellThis one came through loudly. You’re expected to be present and engaged with your kids, excel at work, keep your house running, maintain friendships, feed everyone well, stay across school admin—and somehow also be grateful for it all.

Someone shared, “I feel like I’m failing at everything. Work, parenting, being a partner—none of it gets 100%.” And that pressure? It’s unsustainable.

It’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed. The bar keeps moving, and rest always feels just out of reach.

Challenge #4: You’re Still the Default, Even With SupportEven in homes where partners are helpful, the emotional labour still often falls on mums. You’re the one who notices what’s needed. Who reminds. Who coordinates. Who follows up.

I heard this a lot: “He’s great when I ask. But I don’t want to have to ask. I want to not be the only one noticing what needs to be done.”

Being the default parent is draining. It makes you feel like the responsibility is endless, and even when you're getting help, you're still holding the weight.

Part 2: What Can Actually Help—Without Adding More

Why Slowing Down Matters (Even When It Feels Impossible)I know what you’re thinking. “Slow down? Are you joking? I can’t even go to the loo by myself.” But hear me out.

Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less. It means shifting your internal pace.

Here’s an analogy I love:Imagine your stress level on a scale from 1 to 10. If you live most of your life at level 6, it doesn’t take much to push you to 9 or 10. That’s when yelling happens. That’s when everything feels like too much.

But if you can bring your baseline down—maybe to a 2 or a 3—you build in buffer space. That means when your child spills paint, or your toddler refuses their shoes, or your partner forgets to do that one thing… you have more patience. More empathy. More choice.

So what helps bring that baseline down? I have a heap of suggestions, This isn’t an ‘all or nothing’ approach - so take what will serve you, and leave the rest.

Try:

• Pausing in the car for three deep breaths once the kids are strapped in, before driving off.

• Taking a few extra moments in the shower to really feel the water on your skin and smell the conditioner in your hair.

• Rubbing in hand moisturiser and noticing the sensation—how it feels, smells, and the warmth of your hands.

• Sitting down and doing absolutely nothing while the kettle boils, instead of rushing to squeeze in one more task.

• Watching your children play without saying a word—just observing them, fully present.

• Grounding practices like hand on heart, noticing three things around you, or standing outside barefoot.

• Letting the house be messy and choosing to rest instead.

Slowing down might mean waking your kids with a cuddle instead of a rush. Sitting with your coffee before checking your phone. Speaking one sentence at a time instead of barking a list.

It’s about presence, not perfection. And every time you choose to slow down, even a little, you model that to your kids. You create space for calm.

Communication That Creates CooperationWhen you’re burnt out, it’s easy to default to barking orders or snapping. But connection is the foundation of cooperation. That’s why one of the best shifts you can make is choosing connection before correction—or even, connection before demand.

Try starting with how you feel, instead of what they should do:

• “I’m feeling a bit frazzled right now. Can we slow down together?”

• “I love how into your game you are—and we need to get ready for school. Can we work as a team?”

• “I’m feeling really tired. I’d love a hand getting the table set.”

When you name your internal state, it invites empathy. It shows your child that feelings matter, and that you’re on the same side.

And when you listen to their feelings—underneath the whinging or defiance—you’re offering them the very thing they need to settle: connection.

These aren’t magical fixes. But they shift the energy. And over time, they build trust, safety, and real cooperation.

A Tiny Action You Can Take Today

Before you rush to the next thing, pause. Place your hand on your chest.

Ask yourself:

• How am I really feeling?

• What do I need right now?

• What can I let go of?

Let this moment be enough.

And before we finish, let’s circle back to those four challenges I shared earlier:

1. The invisible mental load

2. No space to regulate yourself

3. The pressure to do it all well

4. Being the default, even with support

If you’re listening right now and think, wow this is me! I want to remind you - these are not signs that you’re failing. They’re signs that you’re carrying too much, often without recognition or rest. And while we can’t wave a wand and remove these pressures, we can build in systems, strategies, and support that soften the load.

You deserve that. You deserve to feel held, even while you’re holding everyone else.

Call to ActionIf this episode has struck a chord, I’d love to offer you something special—just for listeners of Your Calm Parenting Path.

I’m opening up a few spots for a free 30-minute session where we can chat about whatever’s feeling hardest right now. You’ll walk away with clarity, support, and 1–2 simple strategies tailored to your family.

These sessions aren’t listed on my website—they’re just for you. Head to the link in my show notes for more information.

OutroThanks for joining me on Your Calm Parenting Path. Whether you’re listening on the school run or hiding in the pantry—know this: you’re doing better than you think. You’re enough. And you’re not alone.

Speak soon.

Thanks for listening to Your Calm Parenting Path! I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope this episode gave you something useful to take into your parenting journey.

If you’d like to dive deeper, sign up for my mailing list at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au for more tips and insights, or book a free chat to learn how we can work together. And don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

I look forward to speaking with you next time on Your Calm Parenting Path.