One mom’s viral meltdown about ‘doing it all’ perfectly captures the math of modern motherhood
Credit: Instagram/emily.gross
Emily’s reel did not go viral because it offered a solution. It resonated because it named what so many parents are carrying
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When content creator Emily Gross Bailey posted a video asking, “How are people doing it?” nearly half a million viewers instantly understood. In her reel, she lists the impossible checklist most parents face every day: work, meals, errands, cleaning, social plans, and somehow sleep. Then she laughs in disbelief.
“I only have one child and a supportive husband,” she says, pausing mid-sentence. “What the f— is going on? How are people doing it?”
It was funny and raw all at once, and it struck a nerve because every parent has felt that same mix of exhaustion and wonder. How are any of us doing this? And are we even meant to?
The question that says what so many moms feel
Behind Emily’s laugh is something bigger than frustration. It is the quiet truth that no amount of planning or positivity can stretch 24 hours into what parenting demands.
There are the tangible tasks like packing lunches, paying bills, or folding laundry. Then there is the invisible weight that never turns off: remembering, anticipating, scheduling, and worrying. It is the mental load, and it has a way of blurring the line between loving your family and feeling completely spent.
Research from the United States Department of Health and Human Services reports that “41 % of parents say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function and 48 % say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming (compared to 20 % and 26 % of other adults, respectively).”
The research explains the exhaustion, but Emily’s video captures the emotion behind it: the disbelief of realizing that “doing it all” may simply be impossible.
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What people are saying
The comment section became a shared confession booth filled with humor, truth, and solidarity.
- “This is so relatable! Would it be okay if we shared this video on our social channels, with credits? If so, reply” — thebump
- “I rarely workout anymore, even more rarely see friends, we haven’t gone on vacation in 6 years, haven’t slept well in 5, I work wayyyy too much. Supportive husband 1 kid feel like I’m always failing. ❤️❤️❤️” — jackandgemmedia
- “I don’t sleep. I pay for full-time childcare. And we eat out A LOT.” — rebeccapetersonstudio
- “None of us are doing it all – letting the balls drop and rotating which ones land on the (dirty) floor!” — mama_knows_car_seats
- “We aren’t. I don’t sleep enough & some ball is always being dropped. Hope this helps.” — aloprofile
Each comment reflects a familiar ache. Everyone is trying to hold it together, and everyone feels like they are falling short. The thread reads less like social media and more like a support group.
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Why this feels universal
Every generation of parents has faced fatigue, but today’s version feels heavier. Expectations have risen while support systems have thinned. Families often live far apart. Childcare costs more than ever. Work seeps into nights and weekends. And social media keeps showing everyone else’s tidy living rooms.
Research published in Narra J found that social media amplifies what experts call “comparison stress.” When people share only the highlights, it distorts our sense of what is normal. For mothers, that pressure lands hardest, reinforcing the idea that balance should be effortless.
Emily’s words resonated because she did not hide her overwhelm. She said what so many parents think privately: that loving your child deeply and feeling completely depleted can coexist.
Small ways to ease the load
No list can solve the exhaustion of modern parenthood, but small changes can create breathing room.
1. Simplify expectations
Some tasks can wait. Your worth as a parent is not measured by the number of boxes you check.
2. Share the weight
Ask for help early and often. Partners, friends, and community members may not see what is invisible until you name it.
3. Redefine success
A peaceful moment with your child counts. So does a quiet coffee alone. Rest and joy are not rewards for productivity.
4. Talk about it
Conversations like Emily’s make other parents feel seen. Saying, “This is hard,” does not mean failure. It means you are human.
What this video reminds every mom
Emily’s reel did not go viral because it offered a solution. It resonated because it named what so many parents are carrying. Her question, “How are people doing it?” is not about comparison or complaint. It is an acknowledgment that we are all doing our best in a world that keeps asking for more.
Maybe the most honest thing any parent can say is, “I can’t do it all.” That admission does not make you less capable. It makes you real.
Because the real story of motherhood has never been about perfection. It has always been about persistence, love, and finding meaning in the middle of the mess.
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