The Mental Load with Paige Connell

05/22/25 • 25 min

If you’re in a heterosexual relationship and you’ve got kids, chances are you’ve had at least ONE argument with your partner about the mental load... even if you don’t realize it.

Today, women are expected to pay half the bills but still handle the lion’s share of the cooking, cleaning, childcare, and household management. So, how do you get OUT of that cycle, and start to distribute these tasks more equitably?

Paige Connell, aka SheIsAPaigeTurner on Instagram and TikTok, has been tirelessly advocating for working moms on social media, highlighting what the mental load looks like. She’s a mom of four, and absolutely fits the definition of rebellious mom.

In this conversation, we talk about the complexities of the mental load that women often bear in heterosexual relationships, particularly in the context of parenting.

We also discuss the invisible work of caregiving, the societal conditioning that leads to unequal distribution of household responsibilities, and the importance of communication and accountability between partners.

Paige eloquently shares her experiences as a mother of four and highlights the systemic issues surrounding childcare and emotional labor, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to address these challenges and model healthy relationships for future generations.

If you’re in a heterosexual relationship and you’ve got kids, chances are you’ve had at least ONE argument with your partner about the mental load... even if you don’t realize it.

In this conversation, we talk about the complexities of the mental load that women often bear in heterosexual relationships, particularly in the context of parenting.

Previous Episode

Tough as a Mother with Jenn Hildreth & Aimee Leone

For young women today, it can feel next to impossible to break into male-dominated industries. Especially when those industries include sports and sports broadcasting. Throw in a couple of kids, and you've got a real recipe for stress, burnout, and mom guilt.

This week on Rebel Mom Boss, Robyn is joined by Jenn Hildreth, ESPN broadcaster, and Aimee Leone, Vice President of Talent Relations at Fox Sports. Jenn and Aimee are two incredible moms who are breaking barriers and redefining what it means to thrive in both sports media and motherhood.

Their new book, Tough as a Mother, talks about the struggles and triumphs that we all share as moms, as well as their own journeys as leaders, mothers, and trailblazers in an industry that hasn’t historically made space for women. Especially those juggling diapers with deadlines.

Next Episode

Surviving the Sunday Scaries with Kaitlyn Rios

Nothing causes the Sunday scaries quite like a toxic workplace.

So many women deal with unhealthy, unsupportive and sometimes even downright abusive working conditions. That’s exactly what happened to Kaitlyn Rios, the founder of Faced With Grace.

After leaving her toxic workplace, Kaitlyn founded Faced With Grace, a charitable organization that offers mentorship, coaching, and leadership development for women navigating toxic workplaces.

*A note about this week’s episode: we will be discussing depression, mental health struggles and suicidal ideation, so if you’re not in the right headspace, please practice self-care and go give one of our other episodes a listen. If you need someone to talk to, call Canada's National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)