Being the default parent is exhausting

 Being the default parent is exhausting.

I’m the one they call when they’re sick.
I’m the one they want when they wake up scared.
I’m the one who knows what size they wear, when the dentist appointment is, which kid hates what food.
I’m the one carrying the mental checklist that never ends.

And it’s not that I don’t love being their mom because I absolutely do.
But sometimes I wish someone else would notice how heavy this role really is.

Because being the default parent means I can’t just “switch off.”
I can’t just “relax.”
Even when I’m away, my mind is still on them.

So if you know a default parent, don’t just tell her to “enjoy it.”
Step in.
Step up.
Share the weight.

She’s carrying more than you think.