Episode 3: Why Is It Hard To Ask For Help?

ParentingGender RolesSocietal ExpectationsMotherhoodWomanhood
Written By Among Other Things

Season 1, Episode 3

Why Is It Hard To Ask For Help?

Partner Dialogues

In this second episode of Mommy Has Questions, Cristina is drowning in laundry. Joined by her co-hosts and fellow moms from New York City, the conversation quickly unfolds into something much deeper: the mental load, emotional labor, and historical forces that have made moms the default household managers, even in 2025.

Together, the women dive into the systemic roots of unequal labor at home. From 1950s propaganda and the whitewashed dream of suburban life to the way modern women are still expected to “do it all.” They unpack how the GI Bill (government funding btw!) helped build suburbs only for some, how women were pushed out of the workforce post-WWII, and how those outdated ideals still shape who’s expected to do the dishes today.

It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s painfully relatable. Whether you’re a mom drowning in laundry or just trying to renegotiate chores without a fight, this episode is your reminder that your frustration is real, and you’re not alone. It's a call to rethink how we divide labor, advocate for ourselves, and raise a new generation with different expectations.

This one’s for the mom who’s ever come home from a trip and thought, “Wait, how is nothing done unless I do it?” Welcome to the conversation.

💬 What We Talk About:

  • Why it's so hard to ask for help

  • How stay-at-home work gets undervalued

  • Money, power, and perception in partnerships

  • Emotional labor and mental load

  • Gendered social conditioning and communication barriers

  • Practical strategies for better conversations 

  • How to validate your own worth beyond motherhood

📚References:

👯‍♀️ Meet Your Hosts:

🔗 Follow Along:

Among Other Things https://momsamongotherthings.com
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Episode 4: Is Social Media Bad for Moms Too?
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Episode 2: Why Am I Drowning In Laundry?