This exhausted mom wrote a letter to her husband about needing more help

Facebook / Celeste Erlach - The Ultimate Mom Challenge

There’s an expectation in our culture that moms can “do it all.” That we can go to work all day and bring home the bacon — and then come home and fry it all up (all while cleaning the house, folding the laundry, breaking up fights over toys, packing lunches for the next day, etc.). In other words, we expect women to be superhumans who spend every waking moment serving their families, even to our own detriment.

Research shows that the average working mom now carries the equivalent of two full-time jobs, meaning she works around 98 hours a week. No wonder we’re so darn tired all the time!

Well. one mom has finally had enough. Mom and author Celeste Erlach has finally put into words what so many women have been secretly thinking for years. It basically boils down to this: “Husband, I need help!”

She posted a message on her Facebook page:

“I. Need. More. Help,” writes Erlach at the beginning of her post. She goes on to detail the tasks she juggles from day to day, the things she could use help with, the guilt she carries over needing that help.

“I know it’s not how our parents did it, and I hate even asking,” she sums up at the end of her post. “I wish I could do it all and make it look effortless. And I wish I didn’t need kudos for doing things most people expect from a mom. But I’m waving a white flag and admitting I’m only human. I’m telling you how much I need you, and if I keep going at the pace I’ve been on, I will break.”

Since being posted, Erlach’s message to her husband has been shared hundreds of times, and many moms have posted comments letting her know that she’s not alone. It turns out that many women can relate to Erlach’s struggles, and to how tiring it can be when you’re expected to do it all without any thanks or support.

But women aren’t the only ones who have taken to social media to express their support for this message. Many dads have also given kudos to Erlach, with one commenting, “I applaud you!”

After the overwhelming response to her post, Erlach posted an update, detailing how she and her husband had talked about the ways she was struggling, and what they could do to better share that load.

“If you are breaking. If you are on the edge… Speak up,” she writes.

She also posted a video, thanking readers for their support:

It’s so wonderful to see moms and dads working to support each other, and it’s inspiring to see women like Erlach bravely speaking up and sharing their stories. This isn’t about tearing men down or taking dads to task, but rather simply saying, “Hey, I need help here.” After all, that’s what a partnership is all about!

Mom’s Sleep Struggle Goes Viral

On a related note, this Facebook post from blogger Meredith Ethington should give you a good, hopefully-not-too-defeated chuckle.

In her Facebook post, she talks about her post-work thoughts as a wife and mom compared to her husband’s. Whether you’re a mom or not, chances are you’ll be able to relate.

After all, there’s so much to do after work and not enough hours in the day, right? And as much as we want to stop our brains from thinking of every last-minute detail, it’s tough — and Ethington nails it in her post.

Check out her post below, which goes through the long list of items on a mom’s mind after work. Then she segues into the thoughts on a dad’s mind after work. They are: “I’m going to lay down here and take a nap real quick.”

Have you ever felt the way these two women do?

Family & Parenting, Life
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About the Author
Bridget Sharkey
Bridget Sharkey is a freelance writer covering pop culture, beauty, food, health and nature.

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