Mental Health Working Mom's Gripe Session

Mental Health Working Mom's Gripe Session

What makes a recovery professional’s gripe session so relatable? This conversation brings together a group of mental health working mums from Sanford Behavioral Health, comparing notes on careers, kids, and that constant feeling of being stretched thin.

You’ll hear single-parent logistics at full tilt – one mum crying on the phone while explaining dance class outfits, bedtime clothes, sunscreen rules and sock preferences to a bewildered grandpa, then realising she’s “giving away your scales and like feeling like you have nothing left for you.” Another talks about texting her cousin with “unsolicited advice” to find a village early, because that support network is the only reason she’s staying afloat.

Art therapist Janna and Director of Nursing Kate share how shifting roles has shaken up family routines, from “school of dad” summers to losing the luxury of time for meal prep and slowly accepting more grilled chicken and burgers. Kate describes learning to be “a lot more intentional with my time,” making sure her kids get a real connection when she walks through the door, even when her job now follows her home.

CEO Tracy pushes back on the myth of perfect balance, saying she’s stopped “chasing the balance… and [tries to] create alignment” so work and motherhood both match what matters most. The group swaps stories about pumping in offices, kids thinking mum’s a doctor because she “works at a hospital,” and the guilt of wanting leadership roles while also wanting to be there for bath time.

Through humour, honesty and a lot of emotional candour, these mums talk about not hiding their motherhood at work, redefining success, and giving themselves grace when life is messy. If you’re juggling recovery work, parenting, and a career, how might your own idea of success need a reshuffle?