The Science Fair I Didn’t Know Existed (and Other Tales of Mom Mental Load)

The other morning was… well, let’s just call it character building.

I’m juggling homeschool lessons, packing the car for co-op, squeezing in a real estate client call, and mentally running through details for a Working Moms of San Antonio event that was happening first thing that morning. Because apparently, I thought I could be three people at once.

We roll into co-op and...oh no.

Every single family has their science fair projects on display. We’re talking trifold boards, glitter glue, kids beaming with pride.

And us? Not even a sad construction paper poster.

This right here? Classic mental load.

It’s not just that I forgot (though, yes, I 100% did). It’s that not one part of my brain even registered that the science fair was happening.

And clearly, this wasn’t a pop quiz. These projects looked like they took actual weeks. Meanwhile I’m standing there thinking… did I miss an email? A text? Smoke signals in the sky?

Cue the spiral: “How did I not know this? Is everyone silently judging me right now?”

Deep breath, Erika. Reel it back in.

Needless to say, I didn’t leave there feeling great.

The mom-guilt overlaps are real.

And then there are the rough scheduling moments, like the time I booked a podcast interview right before my daughter’s volleyball practice.

On the calendar? Totally doable.

In reality? Of course the interview ran long. Volleyball lost out. And guess who spent the whole drive home marinating in mom guilt?

It wasn’t my podcast guest.

Let’s not forget the 3AM wake-ups.

You know, those nights where your heart is racing because you’re positive you’re forgetting something.

(A deadline? A permission slip? The snacks you promised? All of the above?)

Even rest feels suspicious. Like if I have downtime, surely I must be dropping a ball somewhere. Because that’s how the mental load works… it convinces you that if you’re not spinning, you’re slacking.

But here’s what I’ve realized.

The mental load isn’t proof that we’re failing. It’s proof that moms are carrying the weight of entire households, businesses, and families in our heads.

And honestly? No brain is built for that!

The rare times I actually feel light aren’t when I’ve done everything perfectly. They’re when I’ve gotten enough off my plate to sit down with a book, take a breath, and not feel like I’m drowning.

For five minutes, I remember what calm feels like.

And friend, that’s what I want for you too!

Here’s your reminder.

Not more hustle. Not another sticky note on the fridge. Just rhythms and systems that let you set the weight down. Even for a moment.

Because you’re not disorganized. You’re not failing. You’re doing the work of ten people, without a net.

And here’s the good news: the mental load doesn’t have to feel this heavy forever! There are ways to put pieces of it down, to create rhythms that feel lighter, and to finally breathe again.

You don’t have to have it all figured out today. Just knowing you’re not alone in this is the first step. And the more we talk about it, the more we find ways, together, to make life and business feel a whole lot calmer.

So take this as your reminder: you’re doing amazing. You’re building something beautiful in the middle of real life.

And one small step at a time, it’s absolutely possible to carry less and live more.

About the Author

Erika Radis is a San Antonio-based realtor, entrepreneur, and mom of three. She’s the founder of the Working Moms of San Antonio community—a 7,000+ strong network of women balancing motherhood and career—and co-host of the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. With a background in design and a love for marketing, Erika helps moms grow confident, connected businesses rooted in authenticity, strategy, and a little bit of humor.