These comics describe *exactly* what the mental load of motherhood feels like

The mental load of motherhood is heavy, but it can be difficult to explain what it really feels like to others. It’s that never-ending to-do list that has to get done, but only seems to get longer. It’s the constant worry of having to get all of those things done, from routine check-ins to managing the emotional balance of the household.

Simply put, it’s invisible work that has to be done by someone—and that usually falls on mama.

If you’re having trouble explaining that load to others, whether it be friends or your partner, Karen Kleiman, a well-known international maternal mental-health expert, put it into words. And Molly McIntyre, an illustrator and comic artist drew beautiful images.

Illustrated by Molly McIntyre. Molly McIntyre is an illustrator and comic artist with a background in traditional printmaking and book arts techniques. Her illustrations have been featured in Bitch magazine, Everyday Feminism, ScaryMommy, Psychology Today, and more. She is currently working on a collection of comics about new motherhood, called Momzines. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and young son.

Comics from Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, an accessible collection of comics and resources, releasing March 1st from Familius and available at bookstores everywhere.

You might also like:

• 3 simple steps to lessen the mental load of motherhood this year
• You are slaying the mental load of motherhood every single day, mama
• The weight of my mental load is heavy—but I don’t know how to fix it