Working Mumma

Why the Mental Load Gets Bigger When Your Kids Start School (And What to Do About It)

When you're in the thick of the baby and toddler years, it can feel like that's the hardest it will ever be. But what nobody tells you is that the challenge doesn't disappear as your kids get older - it just changes shape.
In this solo episode, I'm getting real about a phase of working motherhood I didn't see coming: the school-age years. From navigating school hours that don't align with work hours, to managing a never-ending rotation of sports trainings, WhatsApp groups, Compass and Storypark alerts, school events, and the invisible mental load of coordinating everyone else's lives - this one's for the mums in the thick of it.I talk about:
Why the transition from childcare to school can actually increase the mental load for working mums
The concept of cognitive labour (as described by Professor Leah Ruppanner) and why it still falls disproportionately on mothers
The hidden logistics of school-age sport, and why I wouldn't have it any other way
The beautiful moments hiding inside the chaos (yes, they're there)
A few honest things that are helping me survive this season without losing my mind
This episode isn't about complaining. It's about naming something that so many of us are quietly carrying, and reminding you that you are absolutely not alone.
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Feeling Lost Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Rebuild Your Career Confidence with Natalie McDonald

What happens when you return to work after maternity leave… only to be made redundant six weeks later?
In this honest and deeply relatable episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie McDonald, founder of Working@It, former LinkedIn editor, journalist, content strategist, and mum of two.
Natalie opens up about:
Returning to work after maternity leave
Being made redundant during the AI transformation in tech
The emotional impact of redundancy as a mother
Identity shifts after motherhood
Building confidence after career setbacks
Starting a business after redundancy
Why working mums need community more than ever
The importance of personal branding and networking
The reality of balancing work, ambition and caregiving
 
This episode is for any woman who has ever questioned:“Am I still valuable after becoming a mum?”“Could this happen to me?”“How do I rebuild confidence and a career after being made redundant?”
Natalie’s story is raw, empowering, practical, and incredibly validating for working mothers navigating change, uncertainty and the pressure to “hold it all together.”
If you’re navigating maternity leave, returning to work, redundancy, burnout, or career transition, this conversation will make you feel seen.
 
Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?
In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.
From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.
This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:
Like she’s failing at work or at homeOverwhelmed by the mental loadGuilty for not being “present enough”Exhausted from trying to do it all
In this episode, we chat about:
What the “perfect parent trap” actually is
Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing
The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures
How perfectionism shows up in motherhood
Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards
A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent
If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.
Connect with Lisa: 
Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn
Find out more via Natalie's website
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Are You the Mum You Want to Be? A Simple Values Framework to Help Close the Gap

Have you ever felt like everything in your life looks fine on paper… but something still feels off?
In this solo episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina explores the hidden tension so many working mums experience, the gap between the mother you are today and the mother you want to be.
This episode isn’t about productivity hacks or doing more. It’s about alignment.
Carina shares a practical and deeply reflective framework to help you:
Define your version of motherhood (not society’s)
Identify your core values and where you’re out of alignment
Understand why guilt, burnout, and frustration show up
Set boundaries that actually protect what matters most
Take small, realistic steps toward a version of motherhood that feels right for you
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How to drop perfection in motherhood without dropping your standards with Lisa Taylor

Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming, even when you’re doing everything “right”?
In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I speak with Lisa Taylor, author of The Perfect Parent Trap, about the invisible pressure modern mothers are carrying and why so many working mums feel like they’re constantly falling short.
From unrealistic expectations to the mental load, Lisa unpacks how the idea of “perfect parenting” has quietly shaped how we work, parent, and judge ourselves. We explore why this pressure is hitting working mothers especially hard, and what needs to change.
This is an honest, validating conversation for any mum who has ever felt:
Like she’s failing at work or at homeOverwhelmed by the mental loadGuilty for not being “present enough”Exhausted from trying to do it all
In this episode, we chat about:
What the “perfect parent trap” actually is
Why working mums are set up to feel like they’re failing
The role of societal expectations and systemic pressures
How perfectionism shows up in motherhood
Practical ways to let go of unrealistic standards
A new way to think about being a “good enough” parent
If you’ve ever wondered “why does motherhood feel so hard?” - this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone.
Connect with Lisa: 
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Buy The Perfect Parent book
Check out Lisa's website 
Connect with Carina and Working Mumma 
Follow on Instagram 
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Connect with Carina on LinkedIn
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Is the system set up for working mums to fail? What we can do about it (without burning out)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind…like you’re failing at work, at home, or both…here is an episode for you.
Because here’s the truth: You are not the problem. The expectations of you are.
In this episode, I unpack why so many working mums feel overwhelmed, stretched, and stuck in a cycle of “trying harder”, and why it’s not about better time management or being more organised.
I chat about: 
The viral ABC post "Working mums. The maths ain't mathing" and why it resonated so deeply
The pressure of the “juggle” and why it’s actually a trap
The mental load and invisible labour working mums carry every day
The motherhood penalty and how it impacts careers, pay, and confidence
Why workplaces, systems, and society haven’t caught up with modern families
Breaking down what needs to change into 4 key areas and micro actions you can take today to create change
This episode reframes “mum guilt” as something much bigger: a system that was never designed to support working parents.
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Are You the Default Parent? How to Rebalance the Load with Michael Ray

When we talk about working parents, we often focus on mums. But what if one of the biggest missing pieces in the conversation is dads?
In this episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Carina speaks with fatherhood advocate Michael Ray about why working mums cannot carry the load alone, and why fathers need to be seen, supported and expected to be equal parents from the beginning.
Michael shares his own story of becoming a father at 49 and then unexpectedly becoming a solo dad to his daughter Charlie. From being banned from backstage at his daughter’s ballet concert because “no males were allowed”, to speaking out about the lack of change tables in men’s bathrooms and the stigma dads face when asking for flexible work, Michael opens up about the systems that still assume mums are the default parent.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why working mums burn out when fathers are treated as “optional” parents- The hidden “fatherhood forfeit” and what dads miss when work comes first- Why men are more likely to have flexible work requests denied- How unequal parenting starts in the newborn stage- Why fathers need more parental leave and support- How workplaces can better support dads and working families- Why sharing the mental load at home is critical for gender equality
If you are a new mum, returning to work after maternity leave, or feeling like you are carrying too much at home, this episode will make you feel seen, and remind you that you were never meant to do it all alone.
 
Connect with Michael:
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn 
Check out Michael's website 
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The 90 Days Nobody Prepares You For: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

If you're about to go back to work after maternity leave, or you're already back and wondering why it feels so much harder than expected, this episode is for you.
The truth is, no one really prepares you for the emotional reality of the return. The guilt. The overwhelm. The strange feeling of being expected to show up as the same person you were before, when you are fundamentally, beautifully different.
In this episode, I'm walking you through what the first 90 days of returning to work after parental leave actually looks like - the messy, the hard, and what genuinely helps.
 
Episode resources and links 
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Podcast ep https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lighten-your-mental-load-ditch-the-mum-guilt-and/id1495282250?i=1000719634108

How to Reclaim Your Career Identity & Confidence After Maternity Leave with Rebecca Houghton

You came back from parental leave a different person - more resilient, more decisive, less tolerant of nonsense, and more capable. The question isn't whether you can do your role. It's whether you will give yourself permission to show up as the upgraded version of yourself.
This week on the Working Mumma Podcast, I chat with Rebecca Houghton, founder of Bold HR and author of More Impact, More Easily — a book that started as a guide for middle managers and turned out to be essential reading for every working mum navigating her way back after maternity leave. 
Rebecca has over 20 years of experience in leadership, talent, and organisational transformation.
In this episode, we go deep on what the return to work really involves, and why most women are doing it harder than they need to.
In this episode we cover:
Why returning to work after having a baby is actually one of the most powerful career resets you'll ever have, and how to use it consciously
The two-part reset every working mum needs: one for your home system, one for your professional identity
Why nobody does two jobs well and what has to change before you go back (hint: it's not just you)
The worthiness vs capability confidence model and why your inner critic goes into overdrive when you return
The difference between input and impact and why your boss is measuring you by a completely different currency than you think
Why the "let it go" mindset shift is the single most important tool for working mums in their first year back
How to have a conversation with your inner voice (yes, really) and why Rebecca named hers Desdemona
 
Episode resources and links 
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn and check out her book "More Impact, More Easily" on boldhr.com
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Made Redundant on Maternity Leave: Rebuilding Career, Confidence & Direction with Karis Dorrigan

What happens when the job you thought you were returning to after parental leave no longer exists?
In this episode, I speak with executive leader and solo mum Karis Dorrigan, who shares her experience of being made redundant while on maternity leave during COVID, and how that moment became a turning point in redefining her career, ambition, and life.
This is an honest and powerful conversation about the realities many women face but rarely talk about - redundancies whilst on parental leave, job insecurity, lack of support from employer, navigating the return to work, and the pressure to “be grateful” just to have a job.
It’s also a story of rebuilding, advocating for what you need, and designing a career that actually works for you as a mum and senior leader in an organisation.
If you’re returning to work after parental leave, or questioning what you want your career to look like after having children, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated and empowered.
We chat about:
Karis's career journey from Qantas to executive leadership, and how becoming a mum changed everything
Being made redundant on parental leave during COVID, and what employers should do differently
How getting clear on your values becomes your compass for every big career and life decision
The systems and structures still holding working mums back (and the small changes that would make a real difference)
Why Karis works four days a week, rarely goes into the office, and has a no-meeting Tuesday and how she made that happen
The truth about solo parenting in Australia: 1 in 5 households, high rates of poverty, and why policy needs to catch up
Why you should stop being grateful for flexibility and start advocating boldly for what you need
Her call to action for every leader: would a single mum apply for this role? If not, rewrite it.
 
Episode links
Connect with Karis on LinkedIn
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Back at Work After Maternity Leave? How to Avoid the “Prove Yourself” Trap with Rachel Debeck

Returning to work after maternity leave can come with an unspoken pressure many women don’t realise they’re carrying - the need to prove that nothing has changed.
In this episode of the Working Mumma Podcast, Carina sits down with Rachel Debeck, former lawyer, tech CEO, and mum of three, to unpack the “prove yourself” trap that so many working mothers fall into when they return to work.
Rachel shares her honest experience of coming back to a senior role when her first baby was just seven months old, the internal pressure to overcompensate, and the moment she received feedback that changed how she showed up as both a leader and a role model for other women.
We explore why pretending it’s “easy” can actually make things harder for working mums and what it looks like to lead, work, and parent more honestly.
This conversation is for any mum who has returned to work feeling like she has to be exactly the same as she was before, or better, while quietly carrying the mental load, guilt, and exhaustion that no one sees.
In this episode, we talk about:
The invisible pressure to “prove yourself” after maternity leave, especially in senior roles
Why overcompensating can lead to burnout, and how to recognise when you’re doing it
Why working mums don’t need perfect role models, they need real ones
How each return to work can feel different (and why that’s normal)
The daycare sickness season and why it’s often the point many women consider stepping away from their careers
How to think about your career as non‑linear with seasons of acceleration and steadiness
Why motherhood doesn’t end ambition, it often reshapes it into something more intentional and meaningful
 
Episode links 
Connect with Rachel Debeck on LinkedIn.
Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn